The Turquoise Coast or Lycian Peninsula is ideal for lovers of beautiful beaches, for those who are interested in archaeology/culture and for nature and landscape enthusiasts.
Patara beach is one of Turkey's longest sandy beaches (14km), still unspoilt, and with a fascinating dune landscape. The beach is off limits at night as it is the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle. Patara beach can be reached from Kalkan in about 25 minutes by local dolmus (bus) .
Kaputas beach, which is about 10 minutes from Kalkan, is a stunning turquoise cove surrounded by a collar of steep cliffs with a small sandy beach reached down 300 steps. It can also be visited by boat from one of the daily yacht trips from Kalkan harbour.
Oludeniz: this dream lagoon with a flair of the South Pacific, which features on all of the Turkish holiday brochures is best visited in spring or autumn when it is not so busy. Tourist trips to Fethiye (about an hour from Kalkan) include it as an option.
Historical Sites
A wealth of ruined cities testifies to the importance of this coastal region in ancient times. In addition there are the rock tombs - a cultural inheritance from the intriguing Lycian civilization, which are found near Fethiye.
Xanthos and Letoon, both UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites are a must and both are available as trips offered by tourist organisations in Kalkan.
Natural Features
The magnificent Saklikent Gorge is Europe's longest gorge. Sheer perpendicular cliffs up to 300m high enclose a raging river. You enter the gorge on a narrow footbridge over the rushing water and this takes you to the 'restaurant corner' where you can relax in the shade, listening to the sound of rushing water, enjoying a drink and a delicious grilled trout. From here you can progress further into the gorge by wading through it - so take a change of clothes! The gorge is also popular for rafting.
The Taurus Mountains stretch the length of the Lycian Penninsula, with summits rising to 3000m. From Kalkan you can travel inland to visit the village of Gombe where Lake Yesilgol (Green Lake) and the Ucarsu Waterfalls are the highlights of the mountain landscape.
The Lycian Way, a 509 km long distance foot path runs along the coast from Fethiye in the east almost as far as Antalya in the west. Tourist organisations offer trekking opportunities along its paths.
Kekova (Sunken City): this lake-like area of the sea between Simena and the island of Kekova reveals the remains of ancient ruined cities beneath the water. It can be explored by boat or kayak.
Nearby Towns
Fethiye is about an hour from Kalkan (you go through it on the way from Dalaman to Kalkan). It has a weekly market on a Tuesday, large supermarkets, a Kasbah shopping area and is close to both OluDeniz and the ancient Lycian rock tombs.
Kas (about 25 minutes distant in the opposite direction along the glorious coastal route) is a picturesque resort renowned as a centre for diving.
