Kalkan

Kalkan used to be a Greek Orthodox village but was taken over by the Turks in 1922. It’s an attractive spot, with bougainvillea and jasmine tumbling out of the buildings and lovely views out over the bay. Kalkan is a good base from which to visit the white sand beach at Patara – it’s one of the longest continuous strands in the Mediterranean - and the Xanthos valley. The remains of hilltop Xanthos, with their breathtaking views of the river valley, are amongst the most fascinating in Lycia. 

Charles Fellows controversially stripped the site of many artefacts – including the fourth century Nereid Monument, now in the British Museum - in the mid nineteenth century, but he left enough behind to make a visit well worthwhile. As well as a stunning beach, Patara also has an important Roman archaeological site, with a largely intact triple-arched first century gateway and baths complex. Scuba-divers are well catered for around Kalkan, with a couple of dive-shops in the village and twenty dive-sites within easy reach. Beginners could try Snake Island while more advanced divers could explore the spectacular Sakarya Reef and its sunken wrecks.  

Back in Kalkan, you can reward your diligent sight-seeing or adventurous diving with a few drinks and a meal at one of the town’s many good restaurants, some of them quite sophisticated, and a browse around the shops before setting sail again on your Kalkan yacht charter.