Kalkan Newbies

[edthered]

Hi all,

Myself and my girlfriend will be making our first visit to Kalkan this July! We can't wait to get away as it's been a tough year at work for both of us and we have heard nothing but good things about Kalkan. We will be staying at the Pasha Apartments- does anybody know what they are like for location? Would we be far from the town center?

We have done a little research and know that we will have to make some boat trips, what else would you guys recommend. We are a young active couple- so we would give anything a try. We will also be staying for 2 weeks, so we should get plenty of opportunities to get out and about as well as relax.

Also, I have something special in mind for when we are over there... Would there be any very picturesque areas in, or near, Kalkan that would be perfect for this type of thing?

Also- any recommended jewelers? Yardan seems to be recommended by some on this forum... Oh- one more thing, what's the best option for getting a transfer from Dalman into Kalkan?

Thank you all in advance for any answers!

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=9598.0

[Skunk]

Hi Edthered
Welcome to the forum - you will definitely enjoy yourselves in Kalkan.  Well where to start!! Ideas for things to do apart from boat trips:
Scuba diving, watersports (jetski, waterskiing, banana etc)
Beach clubs - get a boat from the harbour to a beach club (several to choose from) and spend the day relaxing by the water, having lunch or a picnic, etc. then get the boat back (or some do taxi instead) - Kalamar best for water sports
Saklikent Gorge - river and white water rafting
Mountain village trips eg. Islamlar does trout lunches/dinners, Akbel, Arycanda etc. Slightly cooler up there!
Lycian ancient sites - Letoon, Xanthos, Tlos
Kekova boat trip (underwater ancient site, nice boat trip and lunch)
Patara beach and ancient site - sandy beach totally unspoilt, dolmus ride away
Kas - the next town on from Kalkan - ancient rock tombs, different atmosphere, large harbour.
Jeep safari
Fethiye market - the biggest in the area and the town is quite big too.

Picturesque spots - depends what the something special is but if its romantic -
There's not much more romantic than the Mahal Beach Club - if you google Villa Mahal you'll get the picture - they have platforms for two with a beautiful view and the sea just there. Also there are some lovely woods just up the hill which are beautiful too. The rooftop restaurants have beautiful views for a romantic dinner 
Jewellers
If you look at www.kalkanturkishlocalnews you will see a business map, business directory, webcams and all sorts of information about kalkan including jewellers and restaurants etc. Yardan is probably the most popular but there's a guy near the harbour who makes jewellery to order - Silver 61 I think its called. Also Infinity and Wishes and co (new).  You will find several boutique shops that do quite artisan stuff. Depends what you're looking for.
Transfer - well it depends on your budget. If you want to push the boat out there are several tour firms who pick you up from the airport - Abi travel, adda tours, brave tours etc.  About £55 each way.  Then on the Kalkan news website there is a "transfer with me" link where you can advertise for someone to share with.  There are often transfer share requests on this forum as well. I think Exclusive Escapes and Thomson do coach transfers and may be able to help if they have spare places for a smaller fee.   If choosing a taxi I would go for Abi or Brave tours. Look on their websites!
OK well that's a start for you.  Hope it helps!
Skunk XX 

[Lizilu20]

Welcome to the forum Edthered.
Pasha apartments are just down the kalamar rd - a good location, about 10-15mins to centre of town. We have never stayed there but walked past a few times on our last holiday. They look very nice and I have very good reviews.
Skunk has given you some fab ideas - don't think I can think of much else other than if you do fancy going a little further afield and visit Fethiye I would recommend a visit to Kayakoy which is very near to Fethiye. Look it up on the internet - it's a "ghost town", not haunted (as far as I know!!), but an abandoned village which is very atmospheric and really took my breath away when we first went there. There are also a few really lovely restaurants too and the drive up through the mountain road and forest is beautiful with spectacular views of fethiye bay below. Don't miss out on the paspatur too, which is fethiye's old town and is a maze of shops, bars and restaurants, with a great fish market and restaurants.
Kaputas beach, between Kalkan and Kas is somewhere we have not yet visited but looks spectacular on photo's.
I'm sure you will have a fantastic time and good luck with your "something special", I hope you find the perfect romantic location. 

[clara 50]

Welcome both, I'm positive you'll fall in love with Kalkan just as all of us Kalkan addicts on this forum have! We went there for the first time four years ago like you not knowing what to expect and we'll be back out on the 2nd of July for our seventh time, think that says it all really. This website was invaluable in giving us info about anything we enquired about and important advice that made our first visit much less stressful. I'm sure you'll find out too they're a great bunch!
If you're out and about and are visiting Saklikent gorge it's worth taking a small detour to Kinek where you'll find a really authentic Turkish market. Every time we visit we appear to be the only people there who aren't local but are made most welcome, it's a great traditional experience. They sell all sorts of items but the fresh fruit and veg and herbs and spices are to die for and we usually get more for our money than we normally do in Kalkan market. Trouble is we usually give in to temptation and buy far too much and end up giving lots of it away to people back in Kalkan, never mind we all get to enjoy it. The only thing we definitely drew the line at buying were the little chickens running around our feet, thought we'd leave those to the locals, guess they ended up being someone's dinner 
Well I'm sure you'll have a great holiday and will be dying to return. Enjoy yourselves, when you get there make sure you sit watching your first evening sunset with an iced cold Efes, we think it's one of the best feelings in the world 

[Skunk]

Thanks for your compliment Lizilu20 - love your ideas too, especially Kayakoy - very atmospheric place. Just thought as well, Olu Deniz beach is quite near and pretty.  A bit commercialised though maybe. S

[marilynL]

Hi edthered.Try a trip over to Meis the nearest greek island (very pretty and very cheap duty free).They do trips from Kalkan but the boat departs from Kas.Try Ramo,s for jewelry,I always buy from him as do a lot of the locals.Located top of old town not far from taxi rank before you get to the PTT(Post Office).I,m sure you will love Kalkan as we all do.

[Charlie]

Can highly recommend Sedat at Wishes & Co for jewellery.  He used to be at Infinity but opened up his own shop last year.  Personally wouldn't go past him and anything I've bought from him has been valued in the Uk at least double what was paid for it.  Great recommendtions from Skunk and I too would second Bravetours for a private airport transfer, complimentary water, freshenup wipes and a bottle of wine with each transfer!
Have a fab holiday - it won't be your last in Kalkan!

[babyboomer]

every one seems to have covered everthing you need  for your first kalkan holiday experience.Pasha is an excellent choice and has won some awards. the people who run it are wonderful. you have chosen well.it is on the kalamar road and it is no distance at all from all that kalkan has to offer. For your water sports i echo kalamar beech club. you can dive there or auqa water sports operating from kalamar beech club is fab. run by a young guy ,you have speed boats, little boats that you can take out yourself (how romantic is that) and of course the banana boats and rubber rings. pm me if you would like a phone number .my son has the owners details on a card
have a wonderful holiday, it would be so hard not to, dont forget the suncream it is now very hot out there.

regards babyboomer.

[edthered]

Thanks for all your help guys and gals!

There's plenty there for me to get researching and look forward to. Kalkan seems to be pretty well regarded by anyone who has ever visited there, so that's a very good sign. After spending nearly a month travelling around Vietnam last year, it will be great to be able to put down some roots in a location for a couple of weeks and really explore what it has to offer.

We will be heading out in late June- I take it the weather will be scorchio around then? Also- what about mosquitos and other bitey things? I can't wait for us to go now!

@babyboomer- The Beach Clubs sounds great!. I will drop you a PM for a contact number or email address for the guy doing the boat trips for sure.
@charlie- Thanks for the tips on the jewelers, I will be sure to bear Sedat in mind.
@marilynL- A trip to Meis could be a good option for a more energetic day!
@clara 50- Thanks for the tip about Kinek, we do love to get off the beaten track at times so that might be the ticket.
@Lizilu20- As with Kinek your recommendation of Kayakoy sounds like an interesting trip!
@Skunk- What can I say- your post was chocabloc with great information! Thank you so much, there are many things on there that will tickle our fancy for sure. Mahal Beach Club in particular could be the kind of romantic spot I was looking for. Cheers!

[Skunk]

My pleasure!

[babyboomer]

as i write, it is howling a gale here, trees and everything else in the garden blowing around. wet cold misserable. and two months before i go on holiday. will we ever have just a couple of days of warm dry in  weather
just to lift the spirits. in turkey you will have wall to wall sunshine and the most spendid clear blue sea, oh just wonderful.
i have the contact details for aqua water sports at kalamar beach club. whenever you need them

mossies are a problem , but you can get spray from the supermarkets to put on your body, and i spray my room and bed too.
regards.

[babyboomer]

hi edthered

i have p.m ed you twice so i hope you have received it now. pm again or i can give you the information on this open forum if we have a problem.

regards babyboomer