9. Regional Guide

Kalkan

Kalkan is a quintessential Mediterranean town built largely on hills that tumble down to a perfect postcard seafront. The harbour is a hive of activity and a picturesque focal point, surrounded by a good selection of artisan shops and a bustling, colourful café culture. 

The old town is worth some exploration, enjoy getting lost in cobbled alleyways. Marvel at the old buildings, some are crumbling in disrepair while others have been restored and still bear their covered Ottoman balconies with ornately carved decorative features.

The immediate area and wider Antalya, Mugla provinces are immersed in history and vastly diverse scenery. We highly recommend venturing out and about at some point during your stay to explore the region and warm hospitality of the local folk, their generosity and kindness is a way of life.

There is something to be enjoyed by everyone if you fancy doing more than just relaxing by the pool! Whether you have an interest in going off the beaten track and exploring remote mountain villages, trying your hand at Turkish Cookery Classes, visiting sites of cultural and historical interest, lazing at one of the many beach clubs or even trekking the Lycian Way you will be spoilt for choice.

We are pleased to suggest an array of guided excursions with local and reputable companies either as party of a group or privately. Additionally, if you would rather explore independently on your own esteem, we can point you in the right direction too. All you need to do is ask your local Korsan Representative.

Restaurants

Kalkan has an array of dining experiences on offer such as low key lokanta style and kebab eateries at the top of the town, elegant waterside and roof terraced restaurants near the harbour and an eclectic selection of bohemian cafes and bars. Kalkan is probably most well-known for its excellent roof terraced restaurants though with interesting views over the old town, stars overhead and magnificent seascape vistas.

Beaches and Beach Clubs

Kalkan’s Beach Clubs ring the vast horseshoe bay and have a barefoot laid-back vibe, the sea is only ever within a stumbling distance making it easy to spend time unwinding by the water’s edge. For first timers, the beach clubs are perched on tiered platforms dressed with day beds, parasols overhead and ladders lead into the sea. Please note that at most venues when you enter the sea the water is deep and it is not possible to stand.  Watersports are also available for those who wish to do more than bask in the sun. There are also restaurants on site serving cooling drinks, fresh juices, light bites and meals. We all have our favourites so suggest trying several over the course of your stay. 

Please note many do not take reservations and do not have telephone numbers but you can reach them on Instagram and Facebook.

There are water taxi services from the harbour to the following beach clubs; Palm, Zest, Patara Prince, Villa Mahal and Kalkan Park.

• Yali Beach Club
• Cakil Beach Club
• Indigo Beach Club
• Palm Beach Club
• Zest Beach Club
• Patara Prince Beach Club
• Villa Mahal Beach Club
• Kalkan Park Beach Club
• Kalamar Beach Club
• Kulube 

For further beach club information please visit; www.korsankalkan.com

Kalkan Town Beach

The public beach is situated next to the harbour and has a blue flag for swimming. The beach is shingle and pebbles, it does lack facilities and a restaurant but is a great place for a cooling dip in the heart of the town. It has a lovely vibe in the summer and attracts lots of locals.

Kaputas Beach

Kaputas Beach is 10 minutes by car, taxi or Dolmus east of Kas, just off the D400. This stunning spot is one of the most photographed beaches in Turkey it sits beautifully below an impressive ravine and is renowned for its illuminous turquoise waters. There are many steps to navigate down from the road onto the pebbled beach but it is worth the effort. We recommend visiting early or later in the day as it is extremely popular with the locals. There is a simple cafe on the beach serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Lounges and parasols are available to hire.

Patara Beach

Looking to build sandcastles? Kilometres upon kilometres of soft golden sand sit 15 minutes west of Kalkan. This undeveloped and lengthy beach is also a popular nesting spot for the loggerhead turtles. The area is rich with flora and fauna and has a nature reserve certification. For those interested in history, the ruins of a once-fine city protrude from the sand dunes. Patara is so special that it is regularly featured as one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and undiscovered beaches. There is a small cafe on the beach serving refreshments, sun lounges and parasols are available to hire and there are shower and w/c facilities here too.

Watersports

A variety of watersports are available in Kalkan including water-skiing, ringos, bananas, parasailing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, SUP, sea kayaking and more. 

Seapro Watersports:
00 90 531 286 5758

Aristos Watersports:
00 90 538 082 4405

Boat Trips

A stay in Kalkan is incomplete without chartering a traditional wooden gulet from the harbour. Over the years, many of our Guests have always rated their boat trips as a key highlight of their holiday. It is the only way to explore remote coves and bays that are otherwise inaccessible.

The days usually begin around 10 am and conclude at 5pm with lunch served on board and plenty of stops for snorkelling and swimming. Please contact our team should you require help with booking a boat trip. Or wander along the harbour early in your stay and book directly with the captains. The cost quoted includes lunch but all drinks are extra.

Scuba Diving

Kalkan and Kas are celebrated for being the best diving locations in Turkey. We highly recommend Kalkan Dive based in Kalamar Bay. Beginners and experts are well catered for here and the school is run by our close friends who have an exceptional reputation. Please ask the Korsan Representative for more details.

Call:
00 90 532 553 2006 
/
00 90 242 844 2361

Email:
info@kalkandiving.com

Barbers

Gentleman, a visit to the barbers should be on your Turkish holiday bucket list. You can experience a traditional cut- throat shave- a whirlwind of emotions from fear to complete relaxation. The experience lasts approximately 40 minutes and includes a haircut, shave, removal of any other facial hair (ears and nose) and a head and arm massage. There are plenty in the village so no need to make an appointment.

Speciality Massage

We are pleased to recommend the exceptional Ilhan for a small range of classical and specialist massages. Ilhan is based at Palm Beach Club relax in the cool shade while listening to the sounds of the sea. Alternatively, and if you prefer Ilhan can offer his services in the privacy of your villa.

Historical Sites and Places of Interest

Kalkan sits in the heart of an ancient Lycian civilisation, easily identified by the distinctive rock-tombs cut into the sides of cliffs running from Fethiye to Antalya. Most of the original six, city-states of Lycia can be explored on day trips from Kalkan. 

We do not exaggerate when we say the area is cluttered with ancient sites and you are likely to have them all to yourselves: basilica arches, floor mosaics and ancient amphitheatre lie as they fell making it even more special when you stumble across them.

Just behind the stunning dunes in the National Park of Patara lie the classical ruins of amphitheatre, sarcophagi, basilica and triumphal arch. Patara has recently received government investment and of course is very popular for its lengthily beach therefore is likely to be the busiest cultural site you will visit.

Even those who lack a historical interest will enjoy visiting the ancient hilltop fort of Xanthos, the location is impressive boasting incredible uninterrupted views over the Taurus Mountains. In an equally spectacular mountain setting is Pinara, whose ancient amiptheatre rises out of the tree. Tlos, is also one of the original six cities of Lycia and unlike the others was inhabited until the nineteenth century. Letoon, despite being a UNESCO World Herritage Site is less impressive than some of the others, it was a place of worship for the goddess Leto and her twin children, Apollo and Artemis.  

For those seeking adventure and wonderfully diverse scenery we recommend visiting Saklikent Gorge, the second longest in Europe and the largest and deepest in Turkey. The area is a National Park and recognised for its outstanding beauty. The gorge is encased by a fringe of red pine trees and fast flowing icey cold water. We suggest wadding through the water inside the gorge, having a go at rafting down the Xanthos river and then relaxing with a glass of cay in one of the small restaurants with seating over the water.

Weekly markets 

A local weekly market is held in Kalkan on Thursdays and can be found just below the Bus Station. Many of the vendors come the evening before to start setting up their stalls however it gets going at around 8 am and finishes as the sun sets. There is a vast array of products available to buy most of which are locally grown and organic such as honey, olives, fruits, vegetables, cheese and spices. There are also leather goods, ceramics, clothing and bric-a-brac. Many of the items are ‘genuine fakes’ please note they should not be confused with the real thing. There are also several food vendors offering traditional Turkish street foods such as chicken doner, gozleme and cay. It is definitely worth a visit, meander between the stalls and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. There is also an excellent and small market in Akbel above Kalkan on Sundays and for those wishing to travel a little further Kas has a thriving market on Fridays.

Shopping

There are several good small supermarkets in Kalkan these are; Macro, Migros, Carrefour and Anka. They sell all the items you will need for a week’s stay; groceries, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, bread, drinks, toiletries and so on. There are also a couple of independent and small good quality butchers, fishmongers and green grocers.

The old town comes to life in the evenings. The narrow alleys are filled with small shops selling local textiles such as hammam towels which are a great keepsake. Handcrafted jewellery, artisan ceramic goods and other souvenirs are also available. There are many leather goods shops selling more genuine fake handbags and other items as well as some jewellery shops focussed on diamonds and gold.

Hospitals, Doctors and Chemists

Hospitals

The closest hospital is a state hospital 20 minutes from Kalkan on the Kas Road.

In Fethiye there are two good private hospitals Esnaf and Letoon both are an hour’s drive from Kalkan. Alternatively, there are even more options available in Antalya, 3 hours’ drive. For minor issues there is a medical centre on the Kalamar Road, it is not necessary to book an appointment you can wait to be seen by the local GP. There is a small charge for a medical examination.

Chemists Eczane

There are several chemists in Kalkan. The chemist is ‘Eczane’ in Turkish and there is usually a large red ‘E’ on a signpost outside with a white backdrop. The usual opening hours are 09.00-19.30 Monday- Saturday. One chemist in the town is also always open on a Sunday this changes on a rotational basis from week to week.

Doctors and Dentists

Doctor Cem, is our recommend local General Practitioner, he is based at the medical centre on the Kalamar Road. If you need to see a dentist during your stay, we highly recommend Dr Cenk who is also located on the Kalamar Road. If you have any difficulty locating these practices, please contact the Korsan Representatives who will be pleased to provide directions. Directions are also available on google maps.

Dr Cem (for medical assistance)
00 90 532 423 1658

Dr Cenk (Dentist)
00 90 242 844 36 96

Banks, Post Office and ATM machines

Money can be changed at the PTT, post office, or at one of Kalkan’s many banks. ATM, cash points, are also in abundance in Kalkan. When withdrawing money on a debit or credit card from an ATM it is almost always cheaper to pay or withdraw in local currency. These days credit cards are also widely accepted in most restaurants and shops, sometimes with a handling fee.

The banks are open between 09.00-17.00 and are closed between 12.30 and 13.30 for lunch. 

The nearest Post Office in Kalkan (PTT) is in the centre of Kalkan at the top of the old village and a short stroll from the top taxi rank. The post office is open from 08.30 to 17.30 and again the office closes for staff lunch between 12.30-13.30.  You can easily identify the post office as the sign is bright yellow and ‘PTT’ is written in blue.