Kalkan: The Turkish town where there is never a dull moment!

What was once a traditional fishing village is now an upmarket and cosmopolitan coastal town! Kalkan, on Turkey’s south-western coast, is brimming with chic bars, trendy shops and exclusive seafood restaurants. Though despite its sophisticated makeover, what’s especially appealing about Kalkan is that it hasn’t lost its traditional roots. Its old town is lined with the quaint whitewashed houses and possesses a timeless and traditional feel that is synonymous with much of Turkey.

So asides meandering round the desirable shops, enjoying deliciously fresh seafood in an upmarket restaurant and having a refreshing drink in a trendy seafront bar; what’s there to do in Kalkan?

Spend a day on the beach

At Kalkan you’ve got the choice of visiting several great beaches, including the town’s main beach, a small pebbly beach which lies just to the east of the harbour. Kalkan Beach has earned a Blue Flag Award, due to its cleanliness.

For those seeking sand, you could spend the day at the sandy cove of Kapatus, which is just ten minutes from Kalkan. This stunning beach lies at the foot of a beautiful mountain gorge. Such is the beauty of Kaputas Beach that it is regularly featured on brochures for Turkish holidays!

Another great choice is Patara Beach, this 12-mile stretch of sand backs on to a National Park, so needless to say the scenery is stunning. Patara Beach is less than half an hour from Kalkan. In 2005 the Times Online voted Patara Beach as one of the top beaches in the world!

Water sports

With such a diverse range of beaches, lapped by translucent water, water sports are plentiful in the Kalkan area. Whether it’s water skiing, jet skiing, banana boats, or snorkelling, you are never too far from a water sport centre on this stretch of Turkish coast.

Scuba diving

Due to the water being so clear around Kalkan, the region is a popular spot for scuba diving. The diving sites in the area include reefs and islands where divers have been known to swim alongside a vast array of fish and even turtles, octopus and dolphins!

Scuba diving lessons are put on from all abilities, from beginners to advanced.

For those seeking land activities rather than water, there is plenty of ways to explore the fabulous area around Kalkan. Tours run daily in the tourist season and visit many great nearby towns including Kas, Patara and Fethiye.

You’ll never be bored of something to do in the diverse and exciting lands of Kalkan!