Want to relax in Kalkan, Turkey, but are after adventure as well? Here are a few activities to consider during your stay at this gorgeous beach resort.

If you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday amidst stunning surroundings, look no further than Kalkan, Turkey. It is regarded as one of the more peaceful and unspoilt resorts in Turkey, a world away from the frantic atmosphere of Marmaris, and is an ideal destination for couples and families looking to enjoy a little peace and quiet on their holidays.

Just because it is one of the quieter resorts doesn’t mean that there is nothing to do. If you’d like to more than admire the scenery and lie on the beach, don’t worry – there are numerous more active things to get up to during a holiday in Kalkan! Here are a few ideas to get you started…

Scuba Diving in Kalkan and Kas

With the breathtaking coastline right at your doorstep, you may well be tempted to get under the water and discover the sights and wildlife that live between the waves, and Kalkan is an excellent base for a scuba diving holiday. Even if you are a total beginner you can enjoy scuba diving here, since Kalkan is home to a dive centre that runs courses for first timers. There is plenty of great diving to be done in Kalkan itself, and only thirty minutes away is Kas, renowned as the best diving area in the country.

Walking the Lycian Way

The Lycian Way is the most famous single walking route in Turkey, and Kalkan is a great place to stay if you want to get some quality walking done on your holiday. The 500km route runs through the major highlights of the region, offering stunning walking through mountains, towns, historical ruins and the coast. Kalkan is located right in the middle of the route, allowing you to choose whether you want to embark on a journey of several days or just go on a single or half-day hike.

Horse Riding along Patara Beach

With 18km of glorious golden sand, unspoilt, untouched by development and backed by a stunning nature reserve, Patara beach is understandably one of the major attractions of a visit to Kalkan. Its sheer length makes it a great beach to explore on foot, but to go one better, consider going horse riding instead. Riding along the edge of the sea sounds like something out of a film, but there are a number of local companies that offer this, no matter what your level of experience. In addition to Patara beach itself, there are plenty of routes in the National Park and surrounding countryside as well.

A Gulet Cruise

The traditional wooden sailing ships, known as gulets, are an ideal way to get out on the water, and out of the many resorts in Turkey, Kalkan offers some of the best island scenery to explore just off the coast. Gulets can be chartered for single day trips out to local sights such as the sunken city of Kekova, or you can even go on a more extended journey of a week or more if that takes your fancy.

Nick Wrightman is the founder and M.D. of The Tapestry Collection, specialist holiday tour operators who can arrange a stay in Kalkan, Turkey as well as packages for Crete, Kefalonia and Morocco. The Tapestry Collection includes boutique hotels, villas, exclusive apartments, gulet holidays and riads in a selection of delightful resorts.

One of the most beautiful towns on the Lycian Coast, Kalkan Turkey takes on an entirely different guise after dark. During the day, the town has a charming laid-back feel and it is the beaches which are bustling. However, as twilight falls, Kalkan really begins to liven up. As the lights of the harbor emerge and dusk cloaks the tiny seaside town, the streets begin to come alive with locals and visitors coming out to sample the delights of an evening in this enchanting Turkish jewel…

Shopping

In Kalkan, shopping is as it should be; relaxing and hassle-free. Most of the shops open early and stay open until midnight which means there is no pressure to discover the bargain of the century before dinner. Even if you’re not in the market for any of the colourful clothing, rugs, or arts and crafts, (but who could resist) window shopping can be just as much fun in Kalkan. Turkey is famous for its traditional ‘kilims’ – traditional hand-woven rugs – and it is a joy to browse the huge variety on show. Every region has its own unique designs and stories attached to these beautiful rugs and, if you have the opportunity, you can pick up a wonderful souvenir of your travels for a bargain price. Like a huge open-air Aladdin’s cave, Kalkan is also a fabulous place to buy jewellery as it is sold by weight and can work out much cheaper than home. You could also treat yourself to a made-to-measure item of clothing from one of the tailors, who will whip you up something from their store of fine-quality Turkish cloth.

Time for Dinner and a Drink

Once you’ve had your fill of shopping, it’s time for an evening aperitif and then dinner. Kalkan reportedly has the highest concentration of bars and restaurant on the Turkish coast, so you won’t find it hard to get a drink! There are countless numbers of rooftop establishments where you can enjoy uninterrupted sunset views over the Mediterranean as you sip a cocktail. Restaurants in the town will offer you everything from traditional Turkish fare to modern fusion cuisine. But when in Kalkan, Turkey’s traditional ‘mese’ plates are hard to resist. These huge platters of dips, breads, olives, vegetables and cold meats will whet your appetite for the main course of delicious hot seafood or meat dishes. If you feel like working off some your dinner, you can head to one of many bars in the town, which will keep you moving with live music and belly-dancers until the early hours.

A Peaceful Walk

If you aren’t really a night-owl, and are more likely to hit your pillow than the dance floor, you can end your evening with a peaceful stroll through the quaint winding streets of the town, and down to the picturesque harbour of Kalkan. Turkey’s coast is studded with fishing villages and traditional towns, but standing on the seashore with the stars twinkling above, and the fairy lights of the town behind you, you may be convinced that Kalkan has a certain something that makes it truly magical.

Nick Wrightman is the founder and M.D. of The Tapestry Collection, specialist holiday tour operators who can arrange a stay in Kalkan, Turkey as well as packages for Crete, Kefalonia and Morocco. The Tapestry Collection includes boutique hotels, villas, exclusive apartments, gulet holidays and riads in a selection of delightful resorts.