Kas

Kas, though popular, has maintained its charm and boutique feel. It was once the ancient trading harbour town of Antiphellos – today, most of the original ancient settlement is now the narrow stone alleys lined with white stone houses. The town developed firstly as a working fishing village, and in more recent years, as a yachting and scuba diving centre.

Like its Lycian neighbour Kalkan, it has an attractive harbour and winding cobbled streets, which slope down from the hillside towards the waterfront and mouth of the harbour.

Uncovering the real beauty of Kas

Kas has a distinctly bohemian feel and relaxed way of life – attracting a diverse range of visitors from all over the world.

Its sloping streets, plentiful fish restaurants and boutique shopping for Turkish treasures like handmade carpets and jewellery, make it the ideal place to relax and indulge.

But much more than this, Kas is hugely historical, boasting some of the best preserved archaeological sites, hillside tombs and a stunning amphitheatre that sits on top of a hill, and is best experienced at sunrise or sunset for the amazing views out over the water. And if you’re up for something a bit more lively, dig out your walking shoes and discover the ancient cliff tombs, or get really serious and hike the famous Lycian Way.

Kas is also the main centre for glass-bottomed boat trips to the sunken cities around Kekova Island. You can also arrange visits to other historical gems like Demre, Myra and Xanthos Valley.

Rustic, authentic Turkish guesthouse accommodation is easily found in Kas, along with an increasing number of more western standard boutique options and privately owned villas and apartments. The surrounding villages offer some excellent country style retreats too.

Kekova Island

A pleasant boat ride (glass-bottomed) from Kas is Kekova Island, where you can see the remains of mysterious civilisations and underwater ruins of Aperlae. Beneath the surface you can clearly see the remains of the quay, the outline of streets, foundations of buildings and even a Byzantine Church - all submerged due to earthquakes.

Most boat trips will also take you to the village of Kale for a stop-off – it’s a well-preserved, idyllic Turkish village made up of a small cluster of houses scattered up along the hillside. Simple restaurants serving good, cheap local fare, line the foothills, perfect for a rest and a refreshing apple tea if you’ve made the steep climb up to the Byzantine fortress at the top where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Islands and peninsula.
 

Kalkan’s rich history

During the 19th century, Kalkan was a significant port – more so than Fethiye and Antalya – it’s larger, more well known Lycian neighbours. In days gone by, camels bought goods to Kalkan from the nearby Xanthos valley, and even as far a field as the mountain highlands near Elmali. Cargo ships were then loaded at the harbour before setting sail to the farthest reached of the Ottoman Empire.

Settled 150 to 200 years ago by Turkish and Greek, it was once a thriving fishing village. Today, while its fishing heritage remains, its main source of income is through tourism, but on a much smaller scale than it’s neighbouring harbour towns.

Kalkan's Ottoman Greek origin is still very much in evidence in the town where the architecture bears a striking resemblance to that of nearby Greek island, Meis (Castellorizo).

Lazy days and balmy evenings

Almost anyone who has spent time in Kalkan would concur that it’s the people of the town that make it such a special place, the locals are a friendly bunch who genuinely value tourism for their economy. But more than this, they thrive on making you feel at home, and ensuring you experience the best that Kalkan has to offer, whether in vistas, or in the delicious food you can so easily find there.

By day, there is plenty to see and some particularly stunning and tranquil beaches. The pace of life is relaxed and leisurely.

There’s a small stretch of sandy beach in Kalkan itself, adequate for a few hours of lounging. But many people choose to take a water taxi from the harbour and discover the many beaches just around the headland, such as Kalamar Bay.

Evenings in Kalkan are easily wiled away, eating and drinking in pleasant company and people watching down by the harbour. There are many excellent, and cheap restaurants in Kalkan, where good dining has always been a way of life. There’s a cosmopolitan atmosphere and plenty of choice to cater for all tastes and budgets - the bustling waterside is lined with seafood restaurants grilling freshly caught fish – perfectly washed down with a glass of wine as you watch the sun go down and the world go by.

In fact, Kalkan is renowned in Turkey for the many roof terrace restaurants and bars, all offering stunning, uninterrupted views of the town, sea and stars.

Places to visit nearby

Nestled approximately half way along the Kalkan to Kas road (10 minutes by bus) lies the stunning Kaputas Gorge – an untouched and unspoilt cove and sandy beach. A steep set of steps lead you down to the clear blue sea, where a steep drop off make it an ideal place for a refreshing swim.

Kalkan is close to a number of ancient Lycian treasures, offering a wealth of gems to discover on locally organised day trips, or by hire car. Around twenty major sites sit close to Kalkan, giving you many an opportunity to see some of the best preserved examples of funerary architecture – dotting the mountainsides and valleys surrounding the town. You can discover many of them less than an hour’s drive away.

Saklikent Gorge, the longest canyon in Turkey is just and second longest in Europe is just 45km away. It’s spectacular sculpted walls soar high above the gorge, 4km of which is walkable from April onwards - when the snow from the Taurus Mountains has melted it’s way to the Xanthos River.

The rich emerald of Green Lake is perfect for the more energetic or those who enjoy walking. Its shores are inhabited by semi-nomadic people who live in tents close to the lake where their flocks graze. They represent a long history of Turkish people who migrated from central Asia.

The lake sits amid the pastures of the Taurus Mountain highlands, some 6,500 ft above sea level – a pilgrimage centre people from all over Turkey flock to, to drink its sacred healing water.

The town of Elmali is a traditional Ottoman town in the Taurus mountain highlands – the largest in the southwest region of Turkey – a place to see Turkish life much as it was 100 years ago.

Famous for its well-preserved wooden houses (some from the 17th century), Elmali was inhabited by Ottoman Turks, Greeks and Armenians together – until the 20th century. Traditionally its people made their living through crafts like blacksmithing, copperware and making Turkish Delight – this is still the case today.
 

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Articles written by  Nev