The reason to prefer Kalkan / Turkey

Kalkan is a place to fall in love with …

A small peaceful Mediterranean resort and fishing town on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not been touched by mass tourism.  More sophisticated than the usual resort town, Kalkan appeals to travelers looking for more than a “sun and sea” holiday. According to the Sunday Times, Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who would also enjoy Tuscany or the Dordogne.  The Guardian likens the town to “the Italian Riviera minus the poseurs.”

Because of its great charm, Kalkan has a growing number of perennial visitors who say the town is the only holiday destination they would choose to visit repeatedly.  There is simply no other town quite like Kalkan along Turkey’s coast.

Kalkan curls snuggly around a historic harbour sheltered at the foot of the towering Taurus Mountains. The town overlooks a beautiful bay in which islands seem to magically float upon the shimmering sea.

Narrow streets twist down to the harbour, lined with    old    whitewashed    villas    with    shuttered

windows situated alongside small local specialty shops and restaurants in historic buildings. Overhead hang original carved Ottoman Greek timber balconies garlanded with thick masses of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea cascading to the streets below. It is a very special place with a unique atmosphere.

Why is Kalkan so special?

Not only is Kalkan beautiful, but unlike other Turkish coastal resort towns Kalkan’s main economy is tourism and therefore its citizens put much pride and effort into the town’s historic preservation.  Because of this, Kalkan has retained the texture of its history by protecting its distinctive Ottoman Greek architecture (it was once an Ottoman Greek and Turkish fishing village).  Very strict building codes keep the town small and architecturally blended with the historic heart of the town known as “Old Kalkan”.

Besides the famous “Kalkan Style” historic architecture, the many excellent restaurants of Kalkan contribute to the special atmosphere within Kalkan.  Good dining has always been the way of life in Kalkan and continues today.  In fact, Kalkan is said to have the highest number of restaurants and bars per inhabitant or square meter on the Turkish coast (over 100 of them!). Additionally, Kalkan is especially renowned in Turkey for its numerous roof terrace restaurants and bars which offer a wonderful view of the town, sea and stars.

It’s also nice to sit at one of the many fine harbour-side restaurants and watch the pleasure boats and fishermen leave early in the morning as you eat your breakfast, or see the fishing boats return with the day’s catch in the evening.

There is lots to do during the day and nightlife is fun, but laid-back. You won’t find noisy, wild nightlife here, like in some other coastal resorts.

Kalkan has many fine qualities, but without a doubt, it is the people of Kalkan who make the town extra special. 

The people of Kalkan warmly welcome you, and you may at first be surprised by the universal friendliness within the town.  This, along with warm Turkish hospitality is the basis of life here and the people of Kalkan sincerely enjoy getting to know their guests.  So don’t hesitate to accept one of the many tulip-shaped glasses of çay (tea) you will be offered while you amble along Kalkan’s winding streets.  You won’t be hassled while you are a guest of Kalkan – the town is hassle-free and is proud to be so. You will find a mixed population here, consisting of locals, some Istanbul Turks and Turks from other cities who have made Kalkan their home and own small businesses, as well as a small number of well-educated foreigners who have settled in the town.

So, “Hoş Geldiniz!” – we extend a warm welcome to you from Kalkan and look forward to meeting you soon.

Dalyan

A unique place closest to paradise with exquisite beauty and ancient history. Dalyan village which is 20 minutes away from Dalaman Airport lies by the side of the river completely environed by green fields and mountains. The second largest archaelogical site in Turkey, the ancient city of Caunos is situated on the opposite side of the river.

The wildlife around Dalyan is diverse and well-preserved. The climate carries the typical Mediterranean characteristics. The underground springs enable the big rivers around flow throughout the year and make the area a perfect venue for rafting. The home of extra ordinary Caretta Caretta turtle is Iztuzu Beach that can be easily reached with a twenty-minute drive or even better by a short boat trip.

Caunos

Ancient City Caunos lies on the west bank of the river and on the other side meets a 6 kilometers long beach and the sea. Caunos, who gave his name to the city, was the son of Miletos. The ruins, among which there is a theatre with 5000 seats, a channel adorned with Lycian type tombs, the city wall, which surrounds the acropolis and belonging to the period of Mausolos, an agora, stoa, baths, churches and temples revealed by the recent excavations, date back to 3000 BC. Caunos is reached by boats which today attracts great attention

Rafting in the Dalaman Stream

Dalaman River, once called Indos in the past, is the perfect place for rafting, offering levels both for beginners and for more experienced ones. Buying exciting and joyous rafting tours is possible through a number of travel agents.

Climate

Mediterranean climate is effective all along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey with long, hot summers and moderate winters. Consequently, the region is surrounded by the forests of Eucalyptus, Elm, Oak, Sandal trees and also very rare Sweetgum trees.

Dalaman Airport

Dalaman Airport has been renovated recently and has CAT1 qualities. Its International Terminal is mainly used by the British and British Airways has scheduled flights from London to Dalaman. With the increasing international flights, the number of foreign visitors is expected to rise up to 10 million annually.

Iztuzu Beach & Caretta Carettas

This rare beach was indeed discovered ages ago by Caretta Carettas. The beach which is also known as the “turtle beach” is 5 kilometres long and has fabulous golden sand and crystal clear water. A splendid place under protection where one can enjoy the unspolied nature.

Lovely Loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta Carettas, that face the danger of extinction, go to Iztuzu Beach to lay their eggs once in two or three years, bury their eggs in one of the holes that they dig. In Iztuzu Beach the nesting period is approximately two months from May to July. Cute baby turtles follow the light reflections in water to make their ways to the sea once they get out of their eggs, so entering Iztuzu Beach is prohibitied from sunset till dawn to prevent the babies following false lights caused by people.

Koycegiz

The town, lies at the northern end of Koycegiz Lake, bears the combination of the history dating back to 3500 B.C. with excellent natural beauties. This protected area is the only place in Turkey where sigla trees grow. There is a weekly open “Monday Market” that attracts many foreign and local tourists all year round.

Gocek

The legends say that, it is in the Gocek area that “Ikarus” fell in the sea after his famous flight, trying to escape from the tower where he was imprisonned. Apart from bearing the traces of ancient civilizations, Gocek is a sailors’ paradise with significant number of expensive yachts which is also a meeting point for the World’s and Turkey’s high society with its charming restaurants, bars and glamourous boutiques.

12 Islands

You may find hundreds of boats at Fethiye marina which will take you on a daily trip to 12 Islands. Sit back and enjoy the fascinating views and swim in the sky clear waters.

Calis

An ideal place for lazing in the sun especially for families. You will notice the bars and restaurants will be full of people watching the sunset paired by a cool breeze.

Fethiye

One of Turkey’s well-known tourist attractions which is at the hillside of Mount Mendos, Fethiye was once a small fishing town. It is possible to Scuba dive, paraglide off a mountain peak, hike through ancient mountain paths. Also you can try one of many international restaurants and then visit the local markets in and around Fethiye.

Oludeniz

Probably the most photographed beach in Turkey, The Blue Lagoon of Oludeniz has still, clear waters, ideal for a variety of water sports and a safe place for children to swim. Part of the lagoon is now a concervation area and a national park.

Healing Thermal Waters

Dalyan is also famous for its ‘healing’ thermal waters. The hot sulphurous waters are credited with healing rheumatic and skin diseases. Particularly, the Sultaniye thermal waters, 15 minutes from the town centre, has quite a reputation to become a main tourist attraction.

Mud Baths

Altough Mud’s healing effect on the body has not been scientifically proved, the common belief in the area suggests that a mud bath will take you ten years back. As the mud dries, it makes the skin tighter and the wrinkles disappear upon frequent application. Surely it is an amusing activity to try.

Kalkan

A small peaceful Mediterranean resort and fishing town on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not been touched by mass tourism. More sophisticated than the usual resort town, Kalkan appeals to travelers looking for more than a “sun and sea” holiday. According to the Sunday Times, Kalkan attracts the kind of visitor who would also enjoy Tuscany or the Dordogne. The Guardian likens the town to “the Italian Riviera minus the poseurs.”

Because of its great charm, Kalkan has a growing number of perennial visitors who say the town is the only holiday destination they would choose to visit repeatedly. There is simply no other town quite like Kalkan along Turkey’s coast.

Butterfly Valley

Butterfly Valley is a breathtaking fyord now declared as a first degree conservation area that can only be reached by the sea, where after a difficult climb to the rocks, there can be seen millions of amazing butterflies.

Sarigerme

Sarigerme is a fantastic place with a long, white sandy beach which hosts all water sports and is only 15 minutes drive to Dalaman Airport. The whole area is a wash with nature and in summer it gets very lively. The Sunday market is a joy to shop for everyone. Additionally, this small village has a strong British and European community in it.