The Turquoise/Lycian Coast is truly spectacular. Although there are plenty of things to do in Kalkan to keep you amused, the surrounding area is just as beautiful and entrenched in its history. It is well worth taking yourself further a field and exploring the sites if you can tear yourself away from the beach platforms! Excursions can be booked from the resort or Kalkan village. Alternatively most sites are reached by the local bus service (dolmus) from the road outside of the resort. We also have a recommended reasonable car hire company called Paradise Car Hire located in the village should you want to venture further afield. The places outlined below are just a handful of the many places to visit in the area and our personal favourites!

KAPATUS BEACH

About 7km east of Kalkan, Kaputus is a striking mountain gorge crossed by a small highway bridge. Below the bridge is a perfect little sandy cove and beach (Lonely Planet, 2005). Kaputus is a lovely sandy swimming cove and the sea is a brilliant turquoise blue, truly spectacular. A dolmus from kalkan runs here in the summer.

Perhaps combine a trip to Kaputus beach with lunch in the atmospheric seaside town of Kas (a beautiful journey down the coastal road) where the locals gather in the shady tea gardens to discuss life and the fisherman bring in their daily catch.

ISLAMAR

Islamar is a traditional Turkish sleepy small hamlet set in the Taurus mountains above Kalkan. The hamlet has spectacular views and a few wonderful restaurants. Islamar specialises in trout farms hence why the food is so good and it is a memory to treasure spending a relaxing afternoon in a vine covered restaurant sipping a glass of wine with views to die for! Islamar is about ten minutes by car above kalkan.

KAYAKOY

Once a thriving Greek village, this town of over one thousand houses, two churches, fourteen chapels, and two schools, was completely deserted in 1923 when the 25,000 Greek inhabitants living there, along with more than a million other Greeks living throughout Turkey were repatriated to Greece through a massive government mandated population exchange between the two countries following the Greek war of independence. Since then, the village of Kayakoy, as it is called in Turkish, or Karmylassos, as it was called in Greek, which had been continually inhabited since at least the 13th century, has stood empty and crumbling, with only the breeze from the mountains and mist from the sea blowing through it's empty houses and streets. A wonderful place steeped in history that touches you to the very soul. Louis de Bernieres's novel ‘Birds Without Wings' is based on kayakoy (copy in the apartment) an excellent read which gives you a true idea of what kayakoy was like before the exchange.

SAKLIKENT GORGE

The spectacular Saklikent Gorge is cut into the Akdaglar Mountains . The gorge is 18km long and so steep and narrow that the sun doesn't penetrate, so the water is icy cold even in summer. You approach the gorge along a wooden boardwalk above the river that opens out into a series of wooden platforms suspended above the water where you can buy and eat trout. From there you can wade across the river, hanging onto a rope and then continue well into the gorge, sometimes walking in mud sometimes water (Lonely Planet, 2005) A fun day out amongst wonderful scenery.

XANTHOS

The ruined city of Xanthos was once the capital and grandest city of Lycia , with a fine roman theatre and pillar tombs with Lycian inscriptions. This is a site of archaeological interest set in some stunning scenery. There are plenty more Lycian historical sites in the area outlined in the tour guides that are well worth a visit.

PATARA BEACH AND RUINS

Patara beach is stunning and makes an enjoyable visit as well as the nearby ancient lycian site of Patara, its gorgeous landscape and great swimming.  Part of a national park, it is a key biodiversity area, rich in birdlife and the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta).  Luckily the beach has been declared off-limits for development because of the turtles, they are nearing extinction and protection of their nesting sites on the Turkish coast is very important.  The beach is closed after sunset from May to October to give the turtles peace in which to lay their eggs as it is the second most important turtle nesting beach in Turkey . 

KEKOVA (THE SUNKEN CITY)

Kekova is the area of and around the ancient Lycian sunken city of Simena (partially submerged in water seen by boat) by several earthquakes in the 2nd century A.D.   A charming mix of ancient, medieval and modern history makes the Kekova area interesting as well as beautiful.  Kekova is an enjoyable place to visit for its beauty alone.  It is a peaceful place of history, gorgeous turquoise water, sun, islands, unspoilt nature, blue skies and lots of wonderful(!!) swimming.  A great day out on a boat!

OLU DENIZ

What can I say a truly spectacular beach (the picture says it all!) Best combined with a trip to the town of fetihye to visit the Tuesday market, followed by an explore of the wonderful ancient kayakoy and a lazy afternoon on the lagoon at olu deniz!