Turkish Delight
We flew from Manchester to Dalaman, but flights also operate from other UK airports. We then picked up a hire car and drove to the resort, taking about 1.5 hours. Transfers can also easily be arranged, if you don’t want to hire a car.
For me the highlight of Kalkan is the amazing choice of restaurants, whether on the rooftops in the town, or by the marina. They offer mainly Turkish food, such as mezes, slow cooked lamb, various casseroles, chicken or lamb shish (kebabs) etc. You will also find steaks, pizza and pasta on many menus, so there is something for everyone. The thing I like as well is that there are no restaurants offering you typical British fare, like egg and chips and Sunday roasts, which you can get in some of the busier Turkish resorts.
Accommodation here varies to suit all budgets, from 3 star to 5 star hotels and luxury villas, with your own pool. Something to be aware of is that the town is quite hilly, so for people that have difficulty walking it is worth considering whether it is a suitable resort.
A car isn’t necessary if you are staying in the resort, unless you want to sightsee independently at nearby points of interest. There are many Lycian sites along this coast, and we visited the ancient remains of Myra, which was about a two hour drive from Kalkan. It has the largest amphitheatre in Lycia, which was very impressive, along with the rock tombs which were carved into the cliff. It was very hot though, so make sure you take a hat!
If ruins are not your thing then you can take a trip to Saklikent Gorge, which is the second largest gorge in Europe at 20km in length. One of the highlights is walking through it, if you don’t mind getting wet!
We travelled in the last two weeks of September and I am pleased to say we had sunshine all day, every day.
June and September are the most popular times to travel to Kalkan, so if it is somewhere you like the sounds of, book early to avoid disappointment!
Please contact me if you would like any more information about the resort.