Turkish Experiences

There are myriad activities, day trips, tours, places to see and things to do from your Kalkan base. Here are a few ideas to offer inspiration but let us know the sort of activities you like and we can advise on more specific ideas just for you.

Less than an hour from Kalkan, a national conservation area which includes several traditional villages, stunning scenery and the real wow of the sunken city, only accessible by boat. Spend a day aboard sunbathing, swimming, sight seeing and enjoying fabulous homemade food or take the more adventurous route and opt to head over to the island in kayaks.

An area of outstanding natural beauty created by water coursing through the mountain rock, splitting it in two. Just 40 mins from town, Saklikent Gorge offers something for the whole family – gorge walking, rafting, mud bathing or simply relaxing over a leisurely lunch on the köşk seating of the pontoon cafes.

Where to start, Turkey has so many sites of massive historical interest and importance?

They are continuously being worked on by archaeologists uncovering and piecing together ancient structures and their stories. It’s fascinating to see the minute detail and care taken. Quite often you’ll see material of relics numbered so they can fit all together like a giant jigsaw puzzle!

With it’s varied history, including being part of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Lycian and Ottoman empires, is chronicled across the land in ancient ruins at local sites such as Patara, Tlos and Xanthos – all within an easy short drive of Kalkan. If you want to try further afield, Ephesus is mighty.

Whether you’re a qualified scuba diver or fancy trying it for the first time, the Turquoise coast of the Mediterranean, abounds with great dive sites; beautifully clear waters making it popular with divers from around the world. Kalkan boasts its own dive centre, a fantastic facility whereby we can arrange intro dives through to PADI dive courses and interesting dives off boats, shorelines, exploring wrecks, caves and night dives.

Kalkan has some excellent sites including islands, reefs and walls. There’s plenty of marine life rainbow wrasse, bonita, starfish, octopus, turtles, dolphins, monk seals, barracuda, nurse sharks, moray eels and more! Water temperatures are comfortable ranging from around 16’c in April to 28’c in August. Visibility is usually excellent even in excess of 25m. Tidal streams are generally negligible to very modest. Other items of interest include ancient pottery remains and an old wreck of a steamship.

Kalkan dive centre is a great place to try your first ever dive. It’s safe, provides all the equipment and teaching necessary. You’ll be escorted after your lesson by your instructor into the shallow waters by the school. Here you’ll explore the calm waters and feed the fish. Fantastic fun for your first introduction to diving.

Suitable from ages 12 upwards

Meis – or as the Greeks call it, Kastellorizo, the Greek island opposite Kaş, just 25 mins from Kalkan. Meis has a post card pretty harbour area, surrounded by colourful cafes and restaurants, a lofty ruined fort you can climb up to and enjoy breath-taking views. The harbour has resident loggerhead turtles who will happily swim alongside while you take photos. There is a daily ferry from Kaş harbour, or we can arrange a sailing boat trip for you which includes a visit to Blue Cave – don’t forget your passport!

For a real adrenaline rush, there are plenty of options for paragliding. The nearest centre is at Kaş but there are other places too. You’ll be taken up to a high point in the mountains and then simply asked to walk off the edge – easy as 1, 2, 3!

Although we admit to being mildly terrified the higher up the mountain we went and, of course just as we’re about to do what feels totally illogical, once in the air it was the most amazingly peaceful sensation and such a privilege to view the world from up high. We’d 100% jump at the opportunity to do again.

Experiences tend to last between 20 and 40mins, depending on the winds.

If you would like to learn how to cook some of the delicious Turkish dishes you will encounter in the restaurants, then we can organise a cookery class with an internationally renowned, qualified chef who also happens to be a Kalkan born and bred. He’ll provide the freshest ingredients according to your menu selection and you’ll learn to prepare and cook your dishes in his charmingly rustic yet, very professional kitchen. Learn new cookery skills, have a few giggles along the way and end with a fabulous meal prepared by your own fair hands on the most amazing roof top setting with a glass of wine that complements your food perfectly (he’s also a sommelier).

Get up into some of the most stunning scenery and freshest of air, see a little of village life as you journey into the mountains. With home cooking and rustic BBQ, it is a very different pace of life. You’re looked after in a traditional village home on gorgeous land with dedicated ottoman style seating, a large pool, beautiful gardens and loungers to relax on. There’s fun stuff to do such as water polo and learning how to shoot a rifle at a line up of bottles. It’s quite interesting just how competitive groups can get!

Again, an activity that has a plethora of options, from small self hire/drive boats, to large boats for up to 50 guests. From comfy gulets to sailing or fishing boats. All are possible. Full day or sunset cruises include a beautifully cooked meal. All usually involve some swimming, snorkelling and generally relaxing and having fun on and in the water.

A particular treat is a sunset cruise from Kalkan harbour, head out into the bay and watch the sunset over the Mediterranean before sitting down under the stars to a delicious home cooked dinner with the freshest food, often including fish caught that day from the waters you are floating on. After dinner you sail gently back into harbour and of course can finish your evening off with a few cocktails or a coffee in one of the many harbourside cafes and bars.

Believe us cocktails don’t just happen, they are created through all the senses, a wonderful skill to learn from Kalkan’s very own internationally acclaimed, award winning master mixologist. No further words really needed, just ask for details and prepare to have a hugely entertaining and educational few hours.

Kalkan is perfectly placed for walkers who would like to try the walk along the ancient Lycian Way. It is some 540kms long in total and passes through Kalkan on its long distance route between Fethiye and Antalya. You can of course choose to walk only a short part of it, and we can put you in the safe hands of a local guide. Sensible shoes and a love of stunning scenery are definitely required.

A fun paddle in 2-man canoes along the Xanthos river which runs all the way from Saklikent Gorge to Patara Beach; we meet it on its journey further down from Saklikent. You’ll see spectacular wildlife from birds such as kingfishers to little sea snakes and terrapins. Stopping on the way for some fun in the mud and a drink, carrying on a bit further to the lunch stop where our food is cooked on an open bbq, then continuing all the way to the open sea at Patara. Here we alight for a well-deserved swim and rest. A great team building experience with plenty of laughter.

Kalkan has a phenomenal array of beach clubs stretching from end to end of Kalkan Bay and around the corner into Kalamar Bay. They all have different attributes and amenities and generally charge a fee for entrance which includes sunbeds and parasols. All have bars/restaurants on site offering bar to sunbed drinks service.

Access to the sea for swimming is generally down metal ladders. They’re great for snorkelling and some have inflatables and pedalos. A few offer water sports such as parasailing, boat hire, jet ski and mono ski, wake and knee boards, paddle boards, hover board/fly board, and as mentioned earlier Kalkan’s own dive school is located at Kalamar beach club.

There’s a beach club to suit everyone from small children to adults wanting a sumptuous bed to relax on and a salt water pool to dip into. Feel free to let us know who’s in your party and we’ll gladly suggest a few suitable ones.

They are hugely popular during peak season and well worth booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you like the idea of a few away days, with overnight stops, then private tours to places such as Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadoccia, Alaçatı, Cesme, Izmir, Istanbul, Oympos, Adrasan and Antalya can be arranged through us for parties of 6 -12 people or we’re happy to help advise on the best way to see these places.

Why not tie in a tour of one of Turkey’s great cities before your relaxing stay in Kalkan?