Sunseekers, foodies and adventure-seekers will love a villa holiday in Kalkan, a gem of a town located on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Fringed by turquoise waters and set against the lush backdrop of the Taurus mountains, it’s the perfect setting for a family villa holiday, couples retreat or escape with friends, and renting a Kalkan villa is the ideal way to do it. The town itself is steeped in Ottoman Greek history, with winding cobbled streets, treasure-trove boutiques and family-run restaurants serving up mountains of mezze, while its coastline boasts white sandy beaches. Offering more than sun, sea and sand, there’s hiking in the Taurus’ pine forests and abseiling in nearby Kaputas Gorge.
Things to do in Kalkan
Kalkan is so much more than just a seaside holiday destination, and from one of our luxury villas in Kalkan you’re primed to explore all the town and area has to offer. Kalkan itself makes for a fantastic day out, with its picture-perfect whitewashed Ottoman Greek buildings and cobbled lanes centred around a twinkling bay. There are some great restaurants in the town serving up Turkish delights like meats from the charcoal, kebabs, koftas and mezze.
Nearby, there’s the Kalkan Dive Centre offering a range of courses suiting all abilities and the sands of Patara – Turkey’s longest beach. In Patara, villa guests will also find the remains of a mysterious ancient Lycian city, concealed behind dunes and home to a Byzantine church, amphitheatre, Roman baths and the remains of the main street.
Beaches offer opportunities to sunbathe, swim, surf and enjoy water sports, while the backdrop of the Taurus mountains offers plenty of hiking and trailing opportunities, along with the chance to visit some traditional mountain villages. There’s even a paragliding school in nearby Kaş. A Kalkan villa holiday truly offers something for everyone.
From a villa in Kalkan, you can easily access the town, which, come dusk, pulsates with energy from harbourside lounge bars and rooftop restaurants.
History and culture in Kalkan
Modern-day Turkey is firmly rooted in antiquity, home to the iconic ancient cities of Troy and Ephesus. Ancient history is written across this corner of the world, and in Kalkan, history-hungry holidaymakers have not only Patara but Tlos and Xanthos, too. The ruins of the ancient Lycian capital of Tlos lie at the top of a citadel an hour’s drive from Kalkan, while the ruins of Xanthos, with their magnificent amphitheatre, are just 20 minutes away.
Staying at a villa in Kalkan also allows you to see the sunken remains of the ancient trading post of Simena. Located on the island of Kekova, the site sees the ruins of houses, staircases and the original harbour half-submerged in the gin-clear waters. Combine this with a trip to Simena’s Ottoman castle.
Family holidays in Kalkan
A Kalkan villa is the perfect escape for a family, with the area offering plenty to do for children and families. Of course, the number one attraction is the beach, with miles of sands clinging to the aptly named ‘Turquoise Coast’ and offering warm and shallow waters for splashing in. Blue flag Akcagerme Beach is a protected shingle beach with rentable lounges, umbrellas and nearby water park facilities. A villa with a private pool will also suit families, offering space and the chance to go mad with inflatables.
Adventurous activities in Kalkan
Kalkan is one of the most outdoorsy and adventurous towns on the Turkish Riviera, nestled in the lush pine forests of the Taurus mountains, lined by beaches and surrounded by gorges. If you fancy a challenge, walk a segment of the Lycian Way – an ancient trek 540km in total between Fethiye and Antalya, which offers spectacular views of the coastline.
From Kalkan, it’s also just a 40-minute drive to the Saklikent Gorge, which offers rafting, mud bathing, gorge walking and wading in its warm, shallow waters. Being a beach town, Kalkan draws in adventurous travellers with its wealth of opportunities for watersports, and Kalkan Dive Centre is a great place to take a diving course. Other adrenaline-filled aquatic activities in Kalkan include surfing, paddle boarding, paragliding and snorkelling.
Romance in Kalkan
Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is a wildly romantic destination, offering the chance for couples to enjoy lazy beach days, sunset strolls, spas days in Turkish hammams and romantic boat trips. Untouched by mass tourism, couples staying in one of our romantic Kalkan villas can enjoy more peace and tranquillity than neighbouring resorts. For a romantic date night away from the villa, it’s best to head into Kalkan itself, where you’ll find sultry harbourside lounges and rooftop cocktail bars offering sunset and sea views.
A boat trip is also the perfect way of injecting some romance into your Kalkan couples’ villa holiday, especially for those planning a proposal or celebrating an anniversary. Head to Kalkan harbour for a sunset cruise out into the bay, before returning to shore to dine on fresh seafood in a local eatery.
All Villas in Kalkan
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