KalkanHouse.com - a luxury villa in Turkey

Once a small fishing village on Turkey's turquoise Lycian coast called Kalamaki, Kalkan is now a charming sophisticated resort. Against the backdrop of the Taurus Mountains it spills its way downwards to its beautiful small harbour. Owing to its topography a view of the blue Mediterranean sea can be enjoyed from almost anywhere in Kalkan.

Kalkan's sophistication is not from vast wide manicured promenades nor immaculate shopping malls. There are unique and sophisticated boutiques within the 'old town'. There are also furniture & utility shops and a forge, a post office and a bank, garden centres and a weekly market, plus one or two extremely well stocked supermarkets.

Kalkan's ambience comes from an eclectic fusion of history, tradition and international high standards expected by tourists and homeowners alike. Prices are higher here than in many other parts of Turkey but not compared to most European countries. There is terrific value for money and a quality three course evening meal with wine can be enjoyed in a harbour or roof top restaurant for around Ł10-15 per person. However, many an appetising home cooked meal can be found for a quarter of this price.

The atmosphere, service, freshness and quality of the food in the multitude of restaurants match expectations. The 'Old Town' and beyond has a wonderful array of rooftop and harbour side restaurants, each one with personal and friendly service. Dining under the night sky looking out on to the harbour and the sea beyond is a memorable experience.

Along the steep cobbled streets of the 'old town', within many of the whitewashed shuttered buildings with their old Ottoman timbered balconies drowning in bougainvillea, are eclectic boutiques stocked with crafts and antiques, jewellery and rugs, colourful pottery, clothing and bags. Restaurants, estate agents and tour operators are dotted in-between.

These shops, spilling out on to the cobbled streets, stay open until around midnight from May to October. Late at night people of all ages stroll from one street to the other in safety and enjoy the relaxed but lively ambience.

The hospitable shopkeepers, often sitting outside their shops, offer you some apple tea in small tulip shaped glasses. They remember you from one day, one week, one year to the next. You might be introduced to their children who play freely and safely, the 'old town' their playground. You hear them run and laugh their way from street to street, shop to shop in the warm summer evening.

Remarkable friendliness is extended by the people of Kalkan to its visitors; they pride themselves that theirs is a hassle free town. Of course you are invited to look at their goods, check their menus even consider buying their villas but there is no pressure and they accept a 'not tonight, thank you' with a smile and often a polite 'next time, maybe - enjoy your meal'. You may have guessed that many but not all business people in Kalkan speak English.

Stopping at one of the many alfresco bars or cafes along the cobbled streets, up the rather steep hills from the elegant harbour, is a pleasant way of ending many a wonderful evening before returning to the villa for a nightcap.

Another way to end the day is to enjoy the atmospheric blues and jazz bars by the harbour well into the early hours of the morning. There are a few low key discos in the Old Town, but they seem more of a dance floor within a bar that opens on to the street rather than those with the pulsating, laser assisted alcoholic frenzy which are to be found in some of the larger Turkish resorts. Young and old, resident and visitor in Kalkan prefer it this way.

Daytime in Kalkan

At the villa the sun wakes you up. It is then time for a relaxing Turkish breakfast of fresh bread, honey, boiled eggs and cheese by the pool while gazing at the first of many 'gulets' anchoring for a few hours in Kisla bay below.

How easy it is despite good intentions to explore, to relax by the pool all day.

Some guests like to spend a day or two at one of the many Beach Clubs either side of Kalkan harbour. These Beach Clubs are platforms cut into the rock that offer facilities for sunbathing and swimming. They charge about Ł2 to Ł3 a day for the loan of sunbeds and umbrellas. There are restaurants in all the beach clubs.

Peaceful Villa Mahal Club is just below our villa and Club Patara is nearby. Kalamar Bay Beach Club is in the bay on the western side of Kalkan harbour and is very popular with a lively atmosphere and a good choice of watersports. Ibo Yacht Club is just beyond the harbour itself.

Next to the harbour Kalkan has a pretty, pebbly beach with clear water. Sunbeds and umbrellas are for hire.

The lighthouse point café/bar nearby is a pleasant spot to enjoy a freshly squeezed orange juice or a cold beer while watching the boats coming and going from the adjacent harbour. You might try the chewy homemade ice cream where the fresh waffle cones are made right there in front of you. Light meals are available here all day.

The waters around Kalkan have a coveted Blue Flag for cleanliness and are favoured by divers and snorkelers alike. There are a few good PADI diving schools to be found around the harbour and some of our guests have successfully combined gaining their PADI diving with the family holiday.

Gulet cruises (gulet is the traditional wooden Turkish sailing/motor boat seen above) are also extremely popular and can be enjoyed from Kalkan harbour. If you are a party of 6 or so, a gulet can be reserved exclusively for yourselves for a day, or even three or four days cruising along the beautiful coast with plenty of stops for swimming and exploring uncrowded shores, bays and islands. They are well crewed and the meals on board are of a high quality and freshly prepared. In fact on one of the smaller boats (Kartal) they caught the fish when we were out at sea and cooked it as part of our lunch.

Thursday is market day in Kalkan from around 8.30am to 7pm. The shaded outdoor market can be found on the right on the street that goes up from the junction with Kalamar Road to the garage. It is a fair trek uphill from the centre, but there is usually room to park on the street & there are also taxis around the entrance to the market in case you need any help with carrying your purchases home in the heat. It is quite a large market but not compared to the one in Fethiye (1 hour away) on Tuesdays which is probably the largest on the Turquoise Coast. Although the market in Kas (30mins away) on Fridays is similar, I believe that it is much more pleasant to stroll around Kalkan's market even though some say that the identical stall holders charge more in Kalkan than elsewhere! However, prices are reasonable and it is expected that you bargain. There is a wide variety of goods, from 'branded' clothing and watches, bags and household linens to traditional Turkish goods and plenty of cheap but good quality fruit and vegetables and beautiful honey, cheese and olives.