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Hire a car or join a local excursion to visit one of the many historical ancient sites such as Patara, Xanthos, Tios, a trip to the Taurus mountains or the amazing Saklikent Gorge.
Enjoy mountain walks, climbing, trekking, caving and parascending, have a relaxing Turkish bath or massage to ease away the aches and pains.
Transport
A car is not necessary.
We recommend and can arrange transfer from Dalaman or Antalya airports direct to the villa by air conditioned vehicle as follows :
Dalaman Car 1/3 people £55 Minibus 4/7 £65 Minibus 8/14 £80 (each way).
Antalya Car 1/3 people £95 Minibus 4/7 £105 Minibus 8/14 £115(each way).
Taxis are relatively cheap and readily available to and from the villa. Hire a car locally, from £20 a day. Dolmus buses operate between Kalkan and local beaches and towns. Local excursions are available to many interesting and historic sites.
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The Surrounding Area & Interests
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On those days when you wish to venture away from the villa there are many places to visit and if you do not wish to hire a car you can book escorted trips through agents in the village. There are also many trips offering canoeing, jeep safaris, white water rafting, horse riding in the mountains and scuba diving You can also hire your own boat to explore the coves around Kalkan, they usually include and ice box and mobile phone, life jackets and flares, sun canopy and detailed operating instructions. The cost is about £45 per day and will take 4 people. Highly recommended by us and our guests, hire for the day a boat with skipper who knows all the coves and where lunch is provided for approx £75 for a party of six.
The following are some of the visits that will provide varied and a good days outing.
Acropolis of Tlos
As one of the six principal cities of Lycia, Tlos once bore the title of "the very brilliant metropolis of the Lycian nation". It is one of the oldest and largest settlements of Lycia and was inhabited until the 19th century by Turks. Tlos lies on the east side of the Xanthos valley, and is dominated by its acropolis. This rocky outcrop slopes up from the plateau, but ends on the west, north and northeast in almost perpendicular cliffs. On its slope are several Lycian sarcophagi and many temple-type tombs are cut into the face of the acropolis hill. The influence of many cultures upon Tlos has resulted in an interesting collage of structures.
Xanthos and Islamar
Xanthos the ancient city, once the grandest capital of Lycia, stands atop an elevated area within the Xanthos valley with the Xanthos River flowing closely under the city’s west side. From this elevation one receives a supreme view of the valley surrounded by the spectacular Taurus Mountains.
The history of Xanthos is quite a violent - the Xanthosians twice demonstrated the fierce independence of the Lycian people when they chose to commit mass suicide rather than submit to invading forces. The Xanthosian men set fire to their women, children, slaves and treasure upon the acropolis before making their final doomed attack upon the invading Persians. Xanthos was later repopulated but the same gruesome story repeated itself in 42 BC when Brutus attacked the city during the Roman civil wars in order to recruit troops and raise money. Brutus was shocked by the Lycians' suicide and offered his soldiers a reward for each Xanthosian saved. Only 150 citizens were rescued.
Xanthos is about a 30 minute drive from Kalkan and well signed posted. The site of the Lycian capital city and has been excavated by the French from 1954. It contains a good example of an amphitheatre and mosaics. It is best to arrive here about 4 pm as the site is open until 7pm and most visitors have left, it is cooler at this time. There is a shaded area to sit where you can buy drinks, and use the loos. From here you can take approximately a 30 minute drive to reach the mountain village of Islamlar where there are several good restaurants which serve trout that is farmed in the area.
Beautiful Patara Beach
Patara beach should not be missed with its gorgeous landscape and great swimming. It is a national park and home to many birds, also the breeding ground of the endangered Loggerhead turtle. The beach is an 18 kilo meter-long strip of sand bordered on its ends by mountains and along its length by sand dunes and the large marshy area which was once was the celebrated port of Patara.
Kaputas,
seven Kilometres from Kalkan, along the most beautiful coastal road to Kas is the most striking gorge. Plaques on the bridge commemorate the deaths of the workers killed during the road construction. Accessible by 120 very steep steps nestles the most perfect sandy shingle cove and beach. Close by the Blue Cove is marked by a road sign, but simply look for a small gathering of yachts admiring the spectacle.
Kas,
a twenty seven kilometre drive from Kalkan along the most wonderful coastal road is a pleasant working town surrounded on three sides by the mountains, life centres around the harbour and town square with the usual tea houses, bars, restaurants and shops. Shops on the main street serve the local community, however the charm still remains and it is a pleasure to wander the cobbled streets checking the shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, leather goods clothing and the silver and gold items.
Little is left of the ancient Antiphellus, which Kas was named in the fourth century BC, however the well preserved and restored Lycian theatre and the several tombs hewn out of the sheer mountain are illuminated at night. In the town is the a Lycian Sarcophagus, the Monument Tomb.
Local harbour boatmen will take you to fascinating bays and coves where the swimming and diving is excellent in the clear water or to admire the luxury villas on the peninsular.
A popular boat tour from Kas is to the Kalekoy, the sunken city, submerged in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Sunken City of Kekova and the Village of Kale
You need to do this on an organised tour as you are driven to the village of Ucagiz, about 1hr 15mins form where you will travel by boat to the ancient Lycian city of Kekova, the remains which are mostly submerged as a result of the 4th & 5th century earthquakes. You will also stop off on the boat at the village of Kale where you can climb up to the St John’s crusader castle, which have the most wonderful views. Here you can buy good locally made textiles. Most boat trips will stop during the day for swimming and lunch is provided.
Saklikent Gorge,
18 kilometres long and cut deep into the Akdalglar mountains, is the deepest in Turkey. It is best visited on a late hot summers day, as the water is not quite as cold and deep, making the paddle more enjoyable. Have a beer, snack or freshly caught trout at the waterside raft restaurants and bars, decked out with Turkish rugs and cushions, and shaded by fig trees. An adventure, not to be missed, for the young and old.
Kaputas Bay On The Road To Kas
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Kaputas Bay
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Kas Harbour
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Lycian Sarcophagus the Monument Tomb
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Saklikent Gorge
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Saklikent Gorge
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Saklikent Gorge Rafts
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Saklikent Rafts
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Acropolis Tlos
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Letoon
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Patara Beach
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Patara Monument
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Kas Street
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Kalkan Viewed From The Road To Kas
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Tours
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Typical Costs Re Visits
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THE WEATHER
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