The Local Area
The Turquoise Coast / Lycia Region:
Temperatures peak in Kalkan from the beginning of July to mid-August. However, the "Meltemi" wind brings a welcome breeze to the scorching summer afternoons! Kalkan enjoys day time temperatures in the 20s as early as March and as late as November. From November to April, the weather is less predictable, but the cooler temperatures are often accompanied by sun, making it an ideal time to explore the area. The sea temperatures rarely drops below 16C.
Kalkan is situated on the Lycian Way, making it an ideal base for trekking holidays. The way of life in many of the villages around Kalkan has remained untouched for centuries. There are many historical sites in the area, including the ancient city of Xanthos and the sunken city of Kekova. The dramatic Saklikent Gorge and beautiful Patara Beach are within easy reach.
Kalkan area:
Kalkan is a small harbour town set in a bay with wonderful sea views and mountain backdrops. The heart of Kalkan is its old town, a maze of narrow, cobbled streets that lead down to the harbour - home to the elegant Turkish "gullets" that can be hired for lazy days out at sea. The streets are lined with whitewashed, shuttered buildings covered in bougainvillea and intermingled with a wonderful array of shops (that stay open until midnight!) and a multitude of excellent roof-top and harbour-side restaurants offering a variety of top-quality freshly cooked food.
There is a fabulous weekly market held in Kalkan every Thursday, that offers a wonderful variety of goods, ranging from Turkish rugs, wooden backgammon boards, good-quality leather and cotton goods to spices, cheese and Turkish Delight - haggling is compulsory!
Kalkan town's pebble beach adjoins the harbour, with sun beds for hire. There are numerous beach clubs that serve the resort, all either have water taxi or car service for guests. All water sports and activities are available. 5 minutes drive to sandy Kaputas Beach, dramatically situated at the foot of a ravine. Patara beach is about 20 minutes by road. It boasts over 10 km of golden sand and safe bathing - listed in the Times Top 10 world beaches. At night it is a nesting ground for turtles.
Other ancient ruins within easy reach of Kalkan are Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara and the sunken city of Kekova.
How to get there:
Fly to Dalaman from many UK airports with Thomas Cook, Monach, EasyJet, Thomson etc. The transfer time is 1.5 hours and can be arranged though ourselves. Alternatively flights are available to Antalya, where the transfer time is 3.5 hours.
