A Peaceful Holiday in Kalkan, Turkey

The hillside village of Kalkan, Turkey is a peaceful resort with an easy-going atmosphere. This is a quiet Turkish retreat in a traditional town, suitable for couples wanting time alone. If you are looking for a get away from the hustle and bustle of city life or even of other typical holiday destinations, then Kalkan holidays will be perfect for you.

If your idea of a perfect holiday is a beautiful view of the sun over the mountains and the sparkling blue sea beneath, then you will be at home in Kalkan. Turkey is a country that offers everything for the holidaymaker: a stunning landscape, long beaches, the excitement of water sports and nightlife, a rich and varied history, and a summery climate. All of these elements can be experienced within a short distance of the resort, but Kalkan holidays are on the relaxed side of things, making it a good place from which to pick and choose. Two of the best beaches in Turkey, Kaputas and Patara, are just twenty minutes from Kalkan, and there's a pebbly beach at the resort too. While this cannot rival the neighbouring beaches for long days of sunbathing on the sand, it is a remarkably picturesque spot, ideal for quiet contemplation.

Kalkan holidays are about absorbing some of the local flavour and the Mediterranean joie de vivre. You can explore the quaint town's cobbled lanes and snug, winding market streets leading down to the water. At the pale, sundrenched rocky shoreline you'll find turquoise shallows leading to the deep blue open sea. The harbour is the heart and soul of the town, with yachts and pleasure craft passing through as they tour the bay. You can embark on a gulet cruise of the local islands from the harbour.

To get the best of the landscape, you will want to take a walk into the hills during your Kalkan holidays; the further you venture up into the hills, the more you will be rewarded with amazing views overlooking the bay. The resort is located on a hillside with the popular destination of Olu Deniz an hour and a half up the coast to the North West, and the Greek island of Rhodes about a hundred kilometres across the sea. Kalkan is Turkey's southernmost town of the Turquoise Coast except for the neighbouring town of Kaş, from where you can pick up a cruise excursion to see the underwater ruins at Kekova.

The town is intricate and colourful, with sloped streets and for the best view of Kalkan try dining in one of the many rooftop restaurants in the town, which serve fresh seafood dishes. If you intend to bring home souvenirs from your Kalkan holidays, there's plenty of window-shopping to be done. The shops sell silver jewellery and locally made Turkish rugs, which decorate and line the alleyways of the town. Both are examples of the traditional local craftsmanship. There are planning restrictions in place to limit further development of the resort and preserve the authentic local character of the town.

You can enjoy the best of the Turquoise Coast region on holidays in Kalkan: Turkey's hot, dependable climate and some of the Mediterranean's most beautiful coastlines.