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Kalkan reviews We have found two magazine reviews and desciptions of Kalkan from three different holiday companies, and decided that they could tell you what Kalkan has to offer the visitor better than we ever could – so here they are: Exclusive Escapes KALKAN: This beautiful and sophisticated bougainvillea-covered harbour village is set in a breathtaking landscape in the heart of the old Lycian region. The ancient sites of Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Tlos and Patara are all close by, with Kekova, Demre, Myra, Phaselis, Olympos and Aspendos slightly further afield, but all easily accessible. Strict conservation laws have ensured that the heart of the village retains an authentic ambience that attracts (according to The Sunday Times) the sort of visitor who might also be enchanted by, say, Tuscany or the Dordogne. The result is a discerning mix of predominantly British guests together with Istanbul Turks attracted by Kalkan’s reputation within Turkey. Winding cobbled streets, colourful shops and excellent harbour-side or roof terrace restaurants and bars are combined with stunning views – whether you are looking up to the dramatic mountains behind the village, or down across the harbour to the broad sweep of the Mediterranean – a view of which we guarantee you will never tire! The many roof terraces are a highlight of the evenings, a time when Kalkan is at her significant best. You can dine by candlelight to the strains of jazz or classical music whilst admiring the stunning views across the tiled rooftops to the harbour and out to sea. A truly unforgettable experience. DINING Due to the type of visitor that Kalkan attracts there have been continuing gastronomic improvements, especially at the higher end of the market. This has resulted in an eclectic selection of restaurants that provide good value for all tastes. BEACHES & BEACH
CLUBS Patara is a 45-minute journey by local dolmuş or easily accessible by car or taxi, and is regularly featured as one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and undiscovered beaches. Its eighteen kilometres of sand are untouched by a single building. The only real signs of civilisation are Lycian, with the crumbling ruins of the ancient port of Patara and Letoon scattered along the coastline. The dramatic Kaputaş beach is a ten-minute dolmus or taxi ride from Kalkan. It is a beautiful sandy beach found at the foot of a ravine down many, many steps! Several beach clubs complete the swimming options available in Kalkan. Accessible by water taxi, taxi or on foot, these clubs are much more than simply platforms cut into the cliff side – they provide a scenically stunning setting and a peaceful haven in which to relax by the water’s edge listening to the sounds of the sea and occasional background music. The swimming at the beach clubs is fabulous, with access steps leading directly from the rocks into the clear waters of the bay, some parts of which are freshened by several natural underground springs. Most of the clubs also provide water sports for the more active. GENERAL
With so much of interest in the surrounding regions and the village itself, Kalkan is a destination that encourages guests to return time and time again. Whether your interests are historical, cultural, epicurean or you just wish for the most relaxing of stays, Kalkan is sure to satisfy. Kalkan has managed to retain that most elusive of mixtures – an authentic ambience with the relative sophistication that makes it an unusual, picturesque and uniquely welcoming destination.
************************** Woman Magazine Time Away – Kalkan, Turkey This was my first visit to Turkey, and I wanted somewhere that hadn’t been overdeveloped and was safe for kids. We travelled with Tapestry, which specialises in holidays to authentic Greece and Turkey, and it exceeded my wildest expectations. As promised in the brochure, Kalkan is authentic, undiscovered Turkey – a buzzing little market village which really welcomes tourists. We found the local people generous, charming and honest. By the end of our week there, we felt like we’d become part of village life. People would wave and talk to us in the street and we were greeted by our first names in the bars and restaurants. I soon discovered that’s it’s a perfect place to be with teenagers – totally safe, yet not dull. Within a few days Ben, Hannah and Lilly had made dozens of friends, both other British holidaymakers and local people, and they just ‘hung out’ together. It’s small enough for them to be able to do their own thing… …The town of Kalkan itself is a short walk away. There are shops and restaurants and a village feel. There’s a small pebble beach and they’ve constructed pontoons out to sea, from which you can do a variety of water sports. But to enjoy a proper beach, we caught a bus to a beautiful bay called Patara 20 miles away, where there’s a 10-mile stretch of sand which is never crowded. Apart from that, we took a few excursions to local ruins. Even the kids enjoyed the archaeological remains, but one site is probably enough. Kalkan comes alive at night with more than 120 restaurants. We ate local food whenever we could – it seems as if there are 600 ways to cook an aubergine in Turkey – plus we had tasty kebabs of all kinds and delicious salads. And the fish was so fresh it melted in the mouth. A three-course meal for four cost us around £25, and again the service was incredibly friendly. I’ve never felt so safe or welcome. Afterwards we’d go to our favourite bar, called The Yacht Point, where Ali the owner would greet us like long-lost family. We decided to try out diving. We spent three fabulous days exploring the underworld. None of us had dived before, but the team was excellent – professional, helpful and really good fun. The fish were so brightly coloured we couldn’t quite believe what we were seeing. To go to a place that was so disarmingly friendly was a life-changing experience for the whole family. ‘It was immense, Mum,’ Ben summed up as we headed for the airport to return home. He was right. ************************** Simply Travel Kalkan descends to the sea in terraces of whitewashed houses, its steep cobbled streets and colourful harbour sleepy under the midday heat. Once the sun has set, the pretty seafront and picturesque alleys come alive again as locals and visitors stroll along their favourite café or restaurant,or wander around the Aladdin's caves that line the principal backstreets. You will find fruit, vegetable and grocery stalls that stay open until bedtime, alongside a good selection of outdoor restaurants and a few bars catering for varied musical tastes. Diving down the narrowest of alleyways you soon find yourself in the tiny intricate maze of old houses - some crumbling, some restored. During the day, Kalkan is deliciously laid-back, as visitors choose to enjoy the crystal-clear waters lapping the Lycian coast. The pebbly beach next to Kalkan's harbour was recently extended and is more than adequate for swimming and sunbathing. In the heart of Lycia, Kalkan offers easy access to many of the great classical sites, almost all of which are set in stunning natural surroundings. It is easy to go into the mountains to explore, and enter a lush region of lakes and streams, pastures and alpine villages. However you choose to
spend your days, no-one can resist being back in Kalkan by evening, for the
variety and quality of eating places on offer is quite astonishing for such
a compact little place. There are backstreet restaurants so low-key, most
visitors never notice them - just the place to enjoy delicious and genuine
local cooking. Magical surroundings, a dash of relaxed sophistication and a
seemingly limitless variety of places to discover make Kalkan irresistible.
Tapestry Holidays During the day many guests visit one of the local beach clubs. These are rock platforms cut into the hillside on the water's edge, with sunloungers and umbrellas, steps to the sea for swimming, watersports and restaurant & bar facilities. While rock may sound less attractive than sand, the coastline is stunning - and you don't get sand between your toes! Should you wish to go out and about, there are many choices. Kaputas beach is about 15 minutes' away on the local bus (dolmus) service. This lovely, sandy beach is dramatically located at the foot of a ravine (though there are many steps to reach it). Patara Beach is about forty-five minutes' ride away (again by dolmus). There is a small entrance fee, valid for a week, but it is well worth the cost as this is one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful and unspoilt beaches - eighteen kilometres of golden sand. Kalkan is in the heart of the Lycian region and many ancient sites are relatively close by, including Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Tlos and Patara. Kekova, Demre, Myra, Phaselis, Olympos and Aspendos are also within reach - so those with an interest in history really are spoilt for choice. In the evening, the Old Town is the main attraction. The selection of restaurants is almost endless, with many tucked away from view on roof terraces or down little side streets. The quality of the food is generally high, with many restaurants serving a wide range of Mediterranean cuisine, along with Turkish favourites, to cater for the more cosmopolitan clientèle that Kalkan attracts. There are only a few late night music bars, where a pre- or post-dinner drink may be enjoyed while watching the world go by. Excellent rooftop and harbour-side restaurants, a variety of shops (supplemented by the Thursday market), a few late night bars, a small beach (with more within easy reach), a choice of beach clubs, a range of historic sites, beautiful surrounding countryside and a stunning coastline. Kalkan is the ideal choice for those seeking somewhere rather more sophisticated than the average Turkish resort. ************************** Woman & Home Beautiful Beaches in Turkey
Kalkan is a former fishing village and now one of those destinations that's at the perfect point for tourists - not so crowded that it has become overrun or tacky, but popular enough to boast lovely restaurants and shops. With mountains as a backdrop, there are stunning views over the water and the town slopes down to a beautiful Mediterranean bay. |