First time to Kalkan - some suggestions please!

[jonathan_bude]

Evening everyone - we (myself, my wife and our two teenage daughters) are traveling to Kalkan for the first time on the 19th August, staying in a villa.

We have a few questions which perhaps some of you can answer/make suggestions.
Thanks in advance!

I wonder if you can recommend a good company for us to experience diving - we are beginners but might take the opportunity to take a course while we are there.
Also does anyone know if any of the beach clubs (or anywhere else) have a banana boat as the girls are keen to have a go (not so sure I am though! )
Finally (sorry to shoot out so many questions in one go) are there any veggie restaurants in Kalkan - or do many offer good veggie options?

Again thanks for any suggestions you might have!




Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=11379.0

[Babs]

Welcome to the forum.....how exciting to be getting ready for your first holiday in Kalkan.....be warned....it won't be your last!
Sorry I don't know anything about diving, only know that I think there is a company working out of Kalamar Beach Club.....I'm sure someone will come along and point you in the right direction.
You can do banana rides at Kalamar too and also some different rides there and at Palm Beach....both great with teenagers......speaking from experience as have spent many holidays in Kalkan with teenage daughters and their friends.
Don't think there are any specific veggie restaurants but there is plenty of choice everywhere.....fruit and veg are delicious there and all menus have veggie options, one of my daughters friends is veggie and she loved the food.
Don't apologise for asking questions.....that's what the forum is for!

[JenJen]

Hi Jonathan,

There are no veggie restaurants in Kalkan but everywhere serves veggie meals. I've been veggie nearly all my life and some of the best meals I've ever had have been in Kalkan. The best restaurant for veggies (in my opinion) would have to be Fez. The owner's wife (a Brit) is veggie and has made sure there are some really interesting dishes on the menu. Most places will offer veg moussaka, veg casserole etc but this can get a bit repetitive after a while. Cafe Zula and Korsan Meze are probably the next best in terms of offering great veggie meals.

Can't help with the diving but I think Palm Beach and Kalamar Beach Club both offer banana boats

[MartynE]

The Olive Garden is also a good bet for veggies. Lots to choose from

[chrissy1]

Hi Jonathan, how lucky it being your 1st visit I remember our 1st time it was so magical it brought tears to my eyes, in fact it still does whenever I get there. Down on the harbour there is the Kalkan Diving Centre boat - don't know much about it and not sure if they do stuff for beginners but its worth looking into, maybe they have a website? also further along there is Indigo beach club which has a water sports centre (banana boats and the like) be warned they are not cheap though and think all the beach clubs organise such things and watching some of the kids on them they have great fun. As for veggies I know just about all of the restaurant do veggie options - even thou I am not a veggie I often opt for one just beacuse I don't always want meat, in fact when we visit Mussakka I always at least once have their veg curry which is lovely. Hope you have a great time in kalkan - you will and of course will return as everyone does. Happy holiday.

[chrissy1]

Sorry I got the name wrong for the diving boat it is called Dolphin Scuba team and they have a website www.dolphinscubateam.com

[pw]

The Kalkan Dive Centre, based at Kalamar beach club do cater for beginners. If you haven't already done it you can do your PADI there - much cheaper than in the UK I believe.

Sorry cant work out how to paste link into post on iPad but you can google it.

pw

[Bob & Jayne]

Kalkan Dive Centre at Kalamar Bay.
B

[kalkan4eva]

Its a good few years since I've seen a Banana Boat in Kalkan - lots of other rides available like Big Bertha and Ringos though. We've come to Kalkan early season for the last two years so perhaps the Banana Boat comes out in peak weeks when Kalkan is full of teenagers
As the others have said there is plenty of choice for veggies - I'd just check the menu boards outside before you go in or book a particular restaurant to be on the safe side.

[chrissy1]

ooops your prob right K4E when i've said a banana boat I am prob meaning the ringos and big bertha but to me they are all one and the same really, things that get pulled along in the sea very fast (wouldn't venture on any myself lol).

[kalkan4eva]

me neither, chrissy....not even if my life depended on it

[cocobarker]

Lucky you Jonathan!!  My wife + kids are at our place now, and are down at the Kalamar Beach Club as i write this.... Both my children got their padi at the Kalkan Dive Centre run by Altan who lives in our road, fantastic value and very professional... You can do a test dive there beforehand to try it out... They have all the kit... Kalamar Bay Beach Club has all the water rides and most of the beach clubs can organise a speedboat to be with you pretty quickly for bananas,ringos , waterskiing etc... While you are out there you should do a boat trip from the harbour... Great food,lovely views and great value as well.... As for Veggie Restaurants I've not seen any totally vegetarian but I'm sure if you ask they will all be more than happy to cook for you.... I'm going out 31st July for 3 weeks... Can't wait... Another great thing to do is Sundowners on Patarra Beach... take a cab/dolmus there for about 4.30 pm with a coolbox full of CHILLED Efes and Lal.... Grab a spot on the beach and just kick back and watch the most beautiful sunset.... Unmissable

Have Fun!!!

Coco

[jonathan_bude]

Thanks everyone for some great suggestions - really looking forward to getting out there now!

[Babs]

Ah yes......a piece of advice, if you haven't been on a banana or ringo before then don't let yourself be conned into it by your teenagers....,,something's are best left to the younger generation! Actually had whiplash after being determined not to fall out of a ringo.....serves me right for clinging on for grim life!

[Charlie]

My daughter also completed her PADI course at Kalamar Dive centre, thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had never dived before, so great for beginners. Enjoy!

[cptergun]

Welcome to Kalkan .

If you want to go for diving Kaş would be the best option for diving because there are really nice dive spots surrounding of Kaş area that's why there are at least 20 diving schools in Kaş area.

Most of the restaurants in Kalkan offer veggie options.

Regards

Cpt. Ergun