The Turkish Riviera - Winter Sunshine

This is an area of Europe that I love, it has something to offer for everyone and having just returned from another trip, I thought I would share my experience. This time I travelled with my family (husband & son) as well as a family friend, so 2 adults and 2 x 13yr old boys. Once you see that crystal-clear water, it is very obvious how the area gained it's name - Turquoise Coast.

We spent most of the holiday in and around Kalkan. This little town is one of the most picturesque I have ever visited. As the town is built on hills, if you had mobility issues, you would make use of the many taxis available. We have been to Kalkan at various times of the year, and the hills are certainly more of a challenge in the summer heat, however this time, the pleasant evening temperatures of circa 18°, made it very manageable. Even if the summer heat is too much, taxi’s are very easy to get either at the rank or by pressing a button in the street and one will appear within a minute, they are happy to do even short journeys and you will be met with a smile.

There are excellent restaurants in the area, and we sampled many dishes, the best being the fresh fish.

We were very fortunate to be in Turkey on Republic Day (29 October); this is a national holiday which celebrates the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, on 29 October 1923. We enjoyed the celebrations from a rooftop restaurant, enjoying the best view of the parades and fireworks. Apparently, nearby Kas, is the best place for the celebrations – next time we know where to go, however, we were impressed by Kalkan’s efforts.

The beach in Kalkan is white pebble and is stunning with lovely beachside restaurants and bars, you would need to go a little further afield to get sand. There are many Beach Clubs in the area, most will provide a complimentary transfer. Some of the Beach Clubs are more tailored to adults but most provide a great option for kids, with inflatables, sea trampolines, pedalos, kayaks etc. You pay a small amount for your sun lounger and then have the full use of the facilities, it is just food & drink to pay on top, again it is inexpensive.

Kaputas beach is on the road between Kalkan and Kas (10 minutes outside Kalkan), this must be reached by many steps, so not suitable for all. You can get the bus from Kalkan to Kas and it stops at Kaputas on the way. This is a stunning beach and is often referred to as Turkey’s finest. It is very popular with both locals and tourists. A great activity near here, is to Sea Kayak over the sunken city, 3000-year-old ruins which are clearly visible with the clear sea. There is the famous Blue Cave to visit here too.

Patara beach is also within 20 minutes’ drive of Kalkan, again reached by bus or taxi. This is part of a National Park and has a rich collection of birdlife and is a breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead turtle, known locally as Caretta Caretta. The turtle’s nest between May and October, during those months the beach is closed at night to ensure no disruption to the nesting turtles, you will see their nests protected by cages during the day. The ancient sites of Patara is also reached from here. This is a must see, consisting of a Roman Theatre, the partially restored main street of Patara as well as the city ruins.

Going on a boat trip is a ‘must do’ in this area. It is possible to either charter a boat or go on a boat trip, from Kalkan. On this occasion, we had friends staying in Dalyan, so we decided to charter a boat together and meet in Gocek, around 1.5 hrs from Kalkan. Gocek is a beautiful harbour town which is not to be missed, six stunning marina’s, various coves, beautiful beaches and pine coves. This is definitely a town I would recommend spending a few days in, it is unspoilt and enjoys protected status, which ensures there are no high-rise buildings. The yachts on display here would rival Monaco! We chartered a boat, with friends, and enjoyed the 12 islands for a full day, dipping in and out of the sea, enjoying the boat and the amazing local cuisine on board – there was certainly enough to occupy several 12-13 year olds. A highlight for the children, was the visiting ice cream man, hitching up to our boat and having all the options our ice cream man in the UK would have, but with the novelty value! We only had the boat for a day, however, there are some fabulous options for longer trips on board yachts and gulets.

We self-catered, in a Villa this time, however, on previous trips have stayed in various hotel options from 5* All Inclusive to smaller family run hotels, I can give recommendations on all options and have travelled this coast both with and without kids as well as with extended family and Grandparents – there is something for everyone and a fabulous option for out of season sunshine!

I will do a future blog covering the coast a little further down, incorporating Fethiye and Dalyan, equally as beautiful with lots of different holiday options.