| Getting There: | There are regular, direct charter and scheduled flights from
all major UK airports to Dalaman airport which is 90 mins drive from Kalkan. Transfers or car hire can be arranged on request. |
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| What to do: | Beaches: Kalkan Beach is situated next to the harbour. It's
a pebble beach so the sea is incredibly clear and just perfect for snorkelling.
Pedalos, sunbeds and umbrellas available for hire.
Kaputas Beach is 10 minutes away and costs just 45p by dolmus. A stunning, sandy beach dramatically positioned at the foot of a ravine. Patara Beach. Slightly further afield (40 minutes and £1 by dolmus)
is Patara. Regularly featured as one of the Med's most beautiful, undiscovered
beaches and boasting 18 km of soft golden sand, Patara is so outstanding,
it was voted the world's best beach in a 1998 survey of 100 tour operators
carried out by the Sunday Times. Amongst Patara's sand dunes, can be seen
the ancient ruins of a once-fine Lycian city, which make it even more
special. It's also a protected area as it's the breeding ground for turtles. |
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| Water Sports: | Diving, snorkelling, waterskiing, 'bananas', 'ringoes', etc, etc. See the outlets situated along the harbour. | |
| Cruises: | A day at sea is a must. Go on one of the many 'Gulet' cruises from the harbour which take in the 'Snake' and 'Mouse' islands visible from the bay plus other secluded coves in which you can swim and snorkel. | |
| Shopping: | The streets and alleyways of Kalkan are a veritable Aladdin's cave. Think traditional carpet bazaars, arty jewellery shops where pieces are made to measure in silver, gold, turquoise and amber, ceramic shops, stunning glasswear stores and the most amazing antique shops. Kalkan market should not be missed. Held on a Thursday in a labyrinth of tents situated just below Villa Florence, it's possible to buy an incredible array of goods there. | |
| Sights: | In the heart of Lycia, Kalkan offers easy access to many of
the great classical sights, almost all of which are set in stunning surroundings.
Sights within the immediate vicinity include Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Tlos
and Patara. Slightly further are the ancient ruins at Kekova, Demre, Myra,
Phaselis, Olympos, Aspendos and even legendary Ephesus is easy to get to.
Alternatively, hire a car and explore up into the mountains where you'll find a verdant region of lakes and steams, pastures and alpine villages where life has remained largely unchanged for centuries. |
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| About Kalkan: | Kalkan is a small, peaceful resort on the Mediterranean which
has not been touched by mass tourism. Set against the majestic backdrop
of the Taurus mountains, it's a truly enchanting place, occupying what is
possibly the most beautiful location along Turkey's stunning Lycian coast
- an irresistible combination of exquisite Greek architecture (Kalkan was
until the '50s a Greek village), ancient history, nature, welcoming Turkish
hospitality and unbelievably blue, crystal-clear seas. The town of Kalkan
descends to the sea in terraces of whitewashed and wooden houses, many boasting
ornately carved Ottoman timber terraces, draped in bougainvillea. The cobbled
streets and alleyways leading down to the harbour are truly picturesque
- as is the harbour itself. Fortunately, very strict building rules ensure
that the town remains small, in tact and unspoilt. Quite simply, it's one
of the most gorgeous places on earth!
Once the sun has set, Kalkan takes on even more magic - if that's possible.
Kalkan is famous throughout Turkey for it's many roof top bars and restaurants
which offer fabulous views of the town, the sea and the stars. For such
a small place, Kalkan has an astonishing range of restaurants. You can
sit cross-legged on kilims and floor cushions and be served traditional
Turkish food in the traditional Turkish way or enjoy freshly caught seafood
at one of the smart harbourside establishments. Alternatively, feast on
the closest thing you'll get to home cooking at one of the low-key, back
street eateries. |
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