Kalkan for the first time!

[BoydieBobs]

Hi, we have less than 6 weeks until we go to Kalkan for the first time. It has been recommended to us by friend and judging by all the forum posts it looks like we have made the right choice!
We are looking for a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of life.
We have been to the Bodrum area previously but never this region.
We are flying from Gatwick to Dalaman on the 21st July and have hired a minibus from the airport as there will be seven of us. We have had a bit of a nightmare getting car rental companies to respond to our emails, hopefully this will go without a hitch!
We should be arriving in Kalkan at 2300h-2400h so hopefully the drive shouldn't be too fraught, however the road to our villa looks a little challenging, the villa we have rented is on the Islamlar road next to the Mosque - does anyone know this area?
Does anyone know of any table tennis tables in the kalkan area?
We have been struggling to get Lira so plan on taking stirling and exchanging in Kalkan.
Just wondering how far Yakapark and Saklikent gorge are from Kalkan as google map seems to give me different info every time I search?!!
We have booked Whisper boat for a day - price seems to have jumped up to 900TL this year compared to previous years, however for 7 of us still seems a really good deal with the exchange rate as it is.

All advice welcome! Any tips?

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=12151.0

[Lizilu20]

Hi BoydieBobs and welcome to the forum. 

It sounds as though you are very organised and have a few adventures in mind already.  Unfortunately I can't help much with some of your questions as we have never been on Whisper boat before so I can't really comment on the price, but it has fantastic reviews so I'm sure you won't be disappointed. It will be our 8th visit to Kalkan this summer but we've still not been to Sakklikent or the Yakapark so again, I'm sorry I can't help you although I'm sure someone willl be along soon who can!

We have been to Islamlar quite a few times and I think there is a restaurant close by the mosque if I'm not mistaken, so may well be in close walking distance. It will be a little cooler for you up there and I'm sure you'll love it away from all the hustle and bustle. The road is a bit hairy though - especially in the dark!

It's been mentioned on here before about the problem with getting hold of lira at home just recently but you'll be fine exchanging it in Kalkan and will probably get a much better rate too. We usually change ours at the kiosk outside the PTT in town.
We usually try and exchange a little before we arrive, for emergency EFES etc, depending on what time we land of course. 

I'm sure you will have a wonderful holiday  - 8 weeks and 4 days for us! 

[Chris S]

Saklikent is about a 40 minute drive through pine forest.  If you keep going through the Saklikent complex, look for the right hand turn signs to Tlos (which is certainly worth visiting) and keep going upwards until you reach the Yakapark for lunch, probably another 30 minutes from Saklikent.
All three places make a great day out.

[Lucy Lou]

BoydieBobs,

In case you've not seen on the forum the police are doing random stops on the A400 & breathalysing drivers.  Not sure if it's a no alcohol limit but sure it's less than Britain.  The advice has been not to drink on the plane, big fines given, payable at once like in France.

I'm sure someone will be able to point you to where the message was or use the search box.

Lucy Lou

[chrissy1]

I am sure you will have a great time as you seem very organised and informed already - on our 1st trip we researched stuff for months but that still didnt prepare us for the Wow when we got there and still does even after many visits it still brings a lump to my throat thinking about it - 2 days and we will be there again for our 1st visit this year. C'ant advise on any other of your questions apart from Whisper Boat which we went on last year and you will not fail to be super impressed - the boat is lovely, Captain Yasin is the lovliest man and the food etc is to die for (I have never had food like it on a boat, it is superb, just like a floating top restaurant) Hope it all turns out just as you wish it to, long as you are prepared to catch the Kalkan bug - enjoy.

[Blue Lizard]

If you are driving the limit is the equivalent of one beer if you are by yourself....if you have passengers NO alcohol is permitted.

[Kalkan regular]

If you go up to have lunch at Yakapark make sure you go to the 'orijinal Yakapark', that's how it's spelled if I remember rightly, as there are a number of places with the same name but they aren't as good. It's better to arrive just after 2pm as earlier it is full of coach and minibus parties. You also can do the lovely ruins at Tlos as you go past them to get to Yakapark. It's a great day out saklikent, yakapark the Tlos and very doable in a day.

[BoydieBobs]

Thank you everyone for your replies!

Lizilu20 -  There is a restaurant just up the road called Bodamya Tepe which looks walkable! I am glad it will be a bit cooler up there I have a teenager who gets grumpy if it's too hot! 8 visits definitely is a recommendation, you must love it. You'll be getting ready to go when we come back!

Chris S and Kalkan Regular, Tlos sounds excellent and we will definitely visit, I hadn't realised it was so close. I hadn't realised there were  different Yakaparks so I will make sure we find the right one!

Lucy Lou and Blue Lizard, thanks for the heads up - luckily for us one group member is teetotal and loves being the designated driver!

Chrissy1, I am the same I have researched everything! I am so glad we chose Whisper as it looks amazing and was almost booked up for the two weeks we are there.

Thank you everyone for your replies - I don't think I could be anymore excited!!

[Bob & Jayne]

Welcome to the Forum BoydieBobs.  Imagine you are getting really excited, I know we certainly are, can't wait to go out at the end of July.  We were at Bodamya Tepe in April, and the food and hospitality are second to none.  You need to try their Trout Fishcakes, they are wonderful! Saklikent, Tlos and Yakapark as everyone says are definitely worth visiting, a fab day out, as of course are Kas, Meis, Sunken City, all the amazing boat trips from the harbour, oh gosh I could go on and on and on! 

Feel free to ask any more questions, everyone is so nice on this Forum, and someone will always have an answer to any questions asked.

Jayne

[Charlie]

Bodamya Tepe, with its wonderful views is a great little restaurant serving lovely food from breakfast to late in the evening.  Hassan will make you very welcome.

[clara 50]

Over the years been gallavanting around all the local beauty spots. Kas, Saklikent, Islamlar, Patara, Letoon etc,etc. How have we missed Tlos andnYakapark, although I do recall seeing signs. So directions please and what to expect when we get there. It would be great to visit somewhere fresh always enjoy a new adventure especially as it goes without saying we get lost. Great fun asking the locals with our pidgeon Turkish and well perfected signing.  All good fun, maybe with a spattering of wedded bickering   

[Lizilu20]

All good fun, maybe with a spattering of wedded bickering   

Clara50 that did make me laugh - just summed me and OH up to a tee!!