Kalkan is ideally situated for exploring all that this region of Turkey has to offer from ancient archaeological sites to stunning beaches. You can be as active or as inactive as you like! These are just a few examples of places to visit and things to do in the area.

Day trips can be arranged via numerous agencies in Kalkan village. We would recommend ABI Travel - www.abitravel.net - a well established agency situated in Kalkan Village who operate very well-run excursions to a selection of interesting places.

In addition, there is a reliable minibus service that operates routes from the village centre (and from the main bus garage) to Patara Beach, Kaputas Beach, Kas, Xanthos, Saklikent and Fethiye Market.

You can also read about our previous guests' favourite things to do in and around Kalkan by looking at their comments via the links on the home page / individual villa page.

Kalkan Beach: The small pebble beach next to the harbour has recently been attractively extended by the Kalkan Foundation. For those of us who visit Kalkan frequently, we know that the local beaches are stunning. These include the following -

Kaputas Beach: A 'dolmus' (local bus) from Kalkan village centre takes 10 minutes to reach the frequently photographed Kaputas Beach, a lovely sandy beach positioned at the foot of a ravine - though be warned about the many steps - around 216 in total! It should be noted that there are no cafe or toilet facilities on this beach.
	Patara Beach: Slightly further a field, though well worth the dolmus ride (approximately 20 minutes), is Patara Beach. Its 12 miles of golden sand is home to protected turtles and it has been described as one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in all of Turkey. It is also a great place for a spot of horse-riding! The entrance to the beach is through the ruins of the ancient city and if you come by car, you'll need to pay a small entrance fee per person. Sunbeds and parasols are available for hire on the beach and there is a well-run cafe for snacks and drinks.
Beach Clubs: These abound and are very easily accessible. They are basically 'rock gardens' cut into the hillside with direct access to the sea and offer sunbathing, swimming, water sports and excellent restaurant facilities, together with a relaxing ambience and stunning settings. Sun loungers and parasols are available to rent for the day. The excellent Palm Beach club offers a free water taxi service from the harbour and / or a free taxi ride home at the end of a hard day's sunbathing and snorkelling! - click here for more details on what this beach club has to offer.

Scuba Diving: The waters off Kalkan provide some of the best venues for scuba diving along the Mediterranean. If you’re interested in arranging a dive, there is an excellent dive centre based in Kalamar Bay. Please click here for further information.

Watersports: For watersports enthusiasts, Kalkan offers a wide array of activities, including water-skiing, ringos, jet-skiing and bananas. These activities are available from most of the previously mentioned Beach Clubs.

Canoeing: Canoeing along the Xanthos River is an exhilarating way to spend the day. A typical day tour usually includes a stop at a mud bath, lunch and a few hours at Patara Beach.

Gulet Cruising: A lazy day at sea will include a BBQ style lunch, afternoon tea and several interim stops at various bays for swimming & snorkelling. A very relaxing experience!

Walking: The lush green countryside, fertile plains and rolling hills that surround Kalkan are perfect for long walks. There are a series of well-known trails to explore and the area also boasts a diverse array of wildlife (storks, eagles, tortoises and snakes to name a few).

Other options open to you, include Jeep Safari’s, Parascending or Horse Riding. Our agent in Kalkan can provide you with further information and in some cases, can arrange tours / excursions for you. 

Xanthos: The old Lycian capital (approximately 21km from Kalkan), was buried under an ancient earthquake and is still being excavated today. You will see a magnificent amphitheatre, several monuments and the ruins of a large church with some clearly visible coloured mosaics.

Letoon: This was an important religious centre for the ancient Lycian people and has remains of temples to Leto, Artemis and Apollo. It also has an amphitheatre and the remains of many other buildings. Letoon is approximately 25km away from Kalkan.

Kekova: A day trip to Kekova, Ucagiz and Kale could be the highlight of your stay in the Lycian region. Usually reached by boat from Kalkan or nearby Kas, this little bit of the coast is full of history and surprises. By road, Kekova is approximately 40km away from Kalkan. A typical day trip will include the sites of three ancient cities - Aperlae, Teimiussa and Simena (Kale). The island of Kekova will probably be the next stop on the itinerary and here you will be able to see the remains of buildings beneath your boat. A couple of swimming/snorkelling stops are usually scheduled also.

Saklikent: This is home to the rushing torrent of the Xanthos river, which has carved itself into the rock. With the aid of a guide and a ropeway, it is quite safe to enter the gorge if you don't mind getting wet - a great way to cool off on a scorching hot day.

Kas: The slightly bohemian town of Kas is a 30 minute drive away from Kalkan (roughly 25km). The stunning coastal road snakes its way along the edge of a rocky coastline providing truly spectacular views out to sea. It’s well worth a visit just for the journey alone! Kas itself is situated in a sweeping curved bay (the name ‘Kas’ translates as ‘curved’). It was first mentioned in Lycian times as ‘Antiphellos’ and the modern town is built on the ancient site with the ruins of Antiphellos still scattered around the town. Wandering around the winding streets, you may stumble across the ancient sarcophagus. Out of town, 500 metres along from the harbour on the Hastane Caddesi Road, sits a small well-preserved Hellenistic amphitheatre. Situated behind the amphitheatre on the top of a hill is a Doric tomb.

Local Villages: Many of the villages around Kalkan remain untouched by tourism and their way of life has remained unchanged for centuries. Bezirgan Village is 11km inland and has several Lycian rock tombs to explore. Islamlar is situated in a cool, green valley next to Kalkan. The village itself has a rambling collection of old houses, a beautiful mosque and an original water-powered flour mill. It’s also famous for its trout farms and restaurants (typical food on offer consists of freshly prepared local meze, fried goats cheese, local trout and fresh fruit – delicious!).

Please CLICK HERE to complete our enquiry form, email us at info@kalkan-villas.co.uk, or alternatively call us on +44 (0)1959 700170 if you prefer.