Beach Clubs: A day in Kalkan

Kalkan’s picturesque shoreline is marked by numerous waterfront beach clubs. Each boasts a unique view of the town, harbour and sea. Some are embellished with quaint platforms, others with pebbled coves. Many have water themed amenities such as floating platforms or sea trampolines. Whichever establishment you visit expect a full service of food and beverages as well as sun loungers and access to the sea. You will be blown away by the choice of stunning views and crystal clear sea waters to swim in!

A get-away to the charming town of Kalkan is never complete without a visit to one (if not several) of the fantastic beach clubs this seaside resort has to offer. Read on to discover which of these sea-front havens may be the perfect spot for you. 

Indigo Beach Club

Indigo beach club is located on the far side of Kalkan harbour. An early morning stroll to the entrance is a great opportunity for you to see the various gullets which inhabit the marina. Indigo has a generous bar and restaurant area which boasts spectacular views out to sea.

Indigo Beach Club dining area

The sunbathing terrace is one level below the restaurant and has plenty of sun loungers and parasols. You can access the sea directly via steps above the rocks . A daily highlight you will surely enjoy is the complimentary Turkish Çay (tea) and cake which is served late in the afternoon.

Indigo Beach Club

If you are an adrenaline junky Indigo beach club is a great place to spend the day. It is home to Kalkan’s excellent water sports company Aristos. They have their main platform at Indigo although they do provide services to several other beach clubs. You can get picked you up from across the bay in one of their speed boats.

Aristos Water Sports
Aristos Water Sports

Aristos cater for all demographics and offer various activities and services. Sailing, boat renting, speed boat trips, paddle boarding, kayaking, motorised water sports-inflatables and jet-skis are all available for you to try. Perhaps you would like to learn a new skill? Then why not take a lesson in Water-skiing, Wake-boarding, Mono-skiing or even Knee-boarding.

Indigo Beach Club Wedding
Entrance fee:

A fee is charged per person for use of the sunbeds and showers.

Food & Drink:

A varied menu of food and drinks is available day and night at an extra cost. Definitely try the fishcakes for lunch, they are the best we have had in Kalkan. There are also semi-regular themed nights at Indigo where you can try a variety of world cuisine. We have visited on Thai and Mexican night and the menu was delicious and varied for a great price!

Special Occasions:

Indigo beach club is one of the frequently chosen venues for holding wedding ceremonies and parties. The venue can be hire privately for the day and they have great facilities for catering for a wedding group.

Access:

You can reach this beach club on foot by walking along the harbour. If you have a car parking is available near to the side entrance of the club.

Palm Beach Club

Palm beach club is situated on the opposite side of the bay from Indigo beach club and is a fantastic place for you to observe Kalkans’ stunning sunsets. Its’ position means it gets the sun late into the evening so you can enjoy a cocktail and watch the sun sink behind the mountains.

Palm Beach Club

You have a choice of sunbathing spots as the platforms are split over several levels. For frequent dips in the sea you can settle yourself on the large wooden platform just above the sea. If you have smaller children in your group there is a small private pebble beach next to a cave. This little beach is ideal for getting in and out of the sea easily with toddlers. Prefer a quieter spot? Choose a bed placed among the plush greenery that grows around the club. Other facilities at Palm beach that you can enjoy include a games area with table tennis, foosball and pool table as well as a large platform and trampoline in the sea (free of charge).

Palm Beach Club Trampoline
Palm Beach Club Pebble Beach

If you feel like having a break from the sun to pamper yourself a professional masseur is set up at Palm Beach. A private massage room overlooks the sea and a range of therapies are available including reflexology, head and face massage and full body massage. Aristos water sports services are available from this beach club just ask the staff to help you arrange a sport and available time.

Palm Beach Club Massage
Palm Beach Club Massage
Entrance fee:

You will be charged a fee per person during the daytime for use of sun beds and showers.

Food & Drink:

Palm beach offers a variety of food and drinks from breakfast to dinner with Turkish cuisine as well as classic snacks and popular lunch choices like salads and pastas. A new a la carte restaurant was constructed and opened for the 2020 season with a once-a-week live traditional Turkish music performance with a menu that features seafood and Turkish mezzes. We recommend one of their tasty fresh salads for lunch and the stuffed calamari form the evening al a carte menu is divine.

Special Occasions:

This beach club is another favourite venue for wedding ceremonies and parties and can help you to arrange decorations on request.

How to get there:

Palm beach offers a complimentary water taxi that leaves regularly from the harbour or can be reached by car or local taxis.

Zest Beach Club

Zest beach club is a fairly new addition to Kalkan as it launched in 2019 and is the next club along the bay from Palm beach club. You have a choice of stone paved or wooden sunbathing terraces which get day-long sun. As well as access to the sea for swimming there is a 25 metre saltwater infinity pool ideal for those in your group who are less confident at swimming in the sea. A word of warning however. If you are nervous about heights then this may not be the best beach club for you. To access each platform there are a maze of steep steps some of which look right down to the sea below.

Zest Beach Club
Zest Beach Club Pool
Zest Beach Club dining
Entrance fee:

A fee is charged for entrance and use of sunbeds and facilities, they do have a reservation system unlike the other beach clubs. Reservations must be made by email/whatsapp request before arrival and beds will be reserved until 11 a.m.

Food & Drink:

Zest offers you a choice of two bars and two restaurants which provide breakfast lunch and evening meals with fantastic burgers and wonderful fruit salads if you fancy a sweet treat. There is a good cocktail menu you can choose from. The location is great for enjoying a sundowner.

How to get there:

Zest also offers a complimentary water taxi that leaves regularly from the harbour or can be reached by car or local taxis.

Mahal Beach Club

Mahal beach club is part of the Villa Mahal Hotel but will welcome you as an external guest. The beach club area consists of platforms built into the hillside hidden under the shade of olive trees. These platforms are spaciously arranged to give you more privacy. So as you may have guessed this beach club is best suited to couples/adults. If you are a family with children don’t worry you will still be welcomed although there are fewer child-suited amenities here. Mahal is another beach club which is perfectly positioned on the left side of the bay to enjoy the sunset views.

Mahal Beach Club
Mahal Beach Club Bar
Mahal Beach club dining
Entrance Fee:

You will be charged a fee per guest during the day for use of the sun beds and showers

Food & Drink:

You can use Mahal’s offers a restaurant and bar throughout the day. In the evening the dining area and platforms are transformed into a chic waterfront restaurant with soft lighting and spectacular views of Kalkans’ harbour. If you want a romantic setting this is great as you can see the hills lit-up with their twinkling lights reflecting across the waters. The most popular dish at lunchtime is a pide- a Turkish style pizza cooked in a stone oven.

How to get there:

Mahal offers a complimentary water taxi for you to use which leaves regularly from the harbour or you can get there by car or local taxi.

Kalkan Beach Park

Kalkan beach park is found towards the edge of the left side of Kalkan’s main bay below the area known as Kışla. If you have younger children this may be the one for you. Kalkan beach park is the most family friendly beach club with a children’s playground, small beach, trampoline and platform in the sea. It’s also the best place for you to get a chance at spotting sea turtles. Being furthest from the harbour means the waters are less disturbed by passing boat traffic.

Kalkan Beach Park
Kalkan Beach Park
Entrance fee:

This is the only beach club that will not charge you to the use of the facilities. However, as a visitor you are expected to make use of the bar or restaurant. You are not permitted to bring in any food or drink from outside.

Food & Drink:

Dining is available served morning to evening at the restaurant. You have the choice of two bars at each end of the beach club serving hot, cold and alcoholic refreshments throughout the day. Try the seafood pizza for a delicious lunchtime snack.

How to get there:

Similar to other beach clubs Kalkan beach park offers a complimentary water taxi that leaves regularly from the harbour or can be reached by car or local taxis.

Yalı Beach Club

Yalı beach club is on the opposite side of the bay from the above-mentioned clubs and is spaced across several levels of wooden decking built into the rock cliffs. If you are staying on the Kalamar Road area of Kalkan this beach club is more conveniently located. Plus the position means you get a different viewpoint with the towering mountains above the seascape.

Yali Beach Club

You can hire large Ottoman seating areas for the day. You will pay an extra fee but it is worth it if you have a special occasion you would like to celebrate. Choose from two floating platforms which are anchored in the sea at Yalı beach club for sunbathing on the turquoise waters.

Yali Beach Club
Yali Beach Club Dining
Entrance fee:

The beach club has agreements with a few hotels in Kalkan and for their guests entrance to the beach club is free. So don’t be put off if you are paying and someone else doesn’t! There is a set charge per guest for use of sun beds, umbrellas, showers and towels for all other visitors.

Food & Drink:

Yali beach serve food and drink morning to evening and their dining area sits on a platform just above the sea with wonderful views. Their frozen cocktails and frozen smoothies are perfect to cool you down in the heat of the summer.

How to get there:

Yalı beach club can be accessed by taxi or on foot and is located in the Kalamar area of Kalkan.

Kalamar Beach Club

Kalamar Beach Club is the only beach club found in Kalamar bay. Here the waters are a little warmer than other areas of Kalkan if you prefer a more temperate dip!.Unique to this beach club, kayaks and pedalos are available to use free of charge to visitors. Kalamar beach club is popular amongst families with children and young adults and has a capacity of up to 200 guests. Reasonably priced food and drink is readily available from morning until evening.

Kalamar Beach Club
Kalamar Beach Club

Are you into diving? Perhaps you are a novice and fancy giving it a try? The Kalkan Dive Centre platform and team are well equipped to help you. They offer everything from scuba diving to jet skis and private boat hire to trampolines. Book a diving trip with the team and discover stingrays, turtles and starfish which make an appearance from time to time around the reefs and islands. You can expect visibility of up to 30m in clear blue water and sea temperatures between 18 – 30C.

Kalkan Dive Centre
Diving in Kalkan
Entrance fee:

There is a charged a per person fee for the use of sunbeds, pedalos and kayaks.

Food & Drink:

You can enjoy reasonably priced food and drink is readily available from morning until evening. Chicken skewers and grilled fish are a popular choice from their restaurant.

How to get there:

There is no water taxi to Kalamar beach club it is situated in Kalamar bay. This is a separate bay from Kalkan’s main bay. They do however pay for taxis for guests. When you arrive you can go town to the restaurant area to open your tab without paying the taxi driver.

What can Kalkan Holiday Property do for you?

We understand that your time on holiday is precious and you want to make the best of your travels. That’s why we offer a round the clock service to all guests staying at our properties. We will be happy to help you plan your itinerary, arrange meals or book days at any of the local establishments. We can even help you to plan celebrations for special occasions. Whatever your question our friendly team will be happy to advise, just contact us for more information.

The Lycian Way- A Walk Through Time (Part 3)

If you want to discover Turkey then this epic trail is the perfect place to start. The Lycian Way is a long-distance hiking trail which follows the Teke peninsula in the Mediterranean part of South Turkey. You will explore local nature, culture and history. There are numerous fascinating historical sites for you to visit along this route. Whilst at the same time you can explore lessor known areas of Turkey’s natural beauty. From breath taking coastline to fruit-filled rural hamlets this trail will lead you on a truly enriching cultural adventure. With 509 km of walkway to cover, hiking the whole trail is a big commitment. It takes around a month to complete so unless you are a seasoned hiker choosing a section to hike for a day or two is perhaps more realistic. You will still find it a very rewarding way to spend some of your holiday.

Lycian Way starting point

Following the Trail

The route, which was ‘launched’ in 1999 after a significant research project. It is not, however, comprised of one single road. There are a combination old Roman roads, forest trails and dirt tracks. Impressively a total of 25 antiquated sites are connected by the trail, which tell the story of the great Lycian League. The intention for this project was to both preserve and share the ancient marvels which populate this epic trail and to bring tourism to more rural areas of Turkey.

Helpful Guides

A British/Turkish amateur historian named Kate Clow embarked on the mammoth task of researching, designing and waymarking this epic trail. She rallied political and financial support and assembled a team of volunteers to help plan the best route. Furthermore, she has created fantastic resources to allow travellers like you to make the most out of the route. These include a guidebook for the trail and in collaboration with the Turkish Culture Routes Society a Lycian Way app. The app is available to you on iphone and android. They give you extensive information on points of interest, contoured maps and accommodation options.

Lycian Way trail waymarks

Lycian Way Waymarks

The standard waymarks for the route reflect the colours of the Turkish flag (although other colours are also used). You will see red and white rectangles painted on rocks and garden walls. These are more frequent in areas where the trail curves and coils and less frequent on straighter parts of the route. You should look out for signposts along the route topped with the header Likya Yolu. Yellow arrows are position below pointing you in the direction of the nearest calling points in each direction of the walkway.

Lycian Way trail waymarks

Which Lycian Way Route Should You Take?

Embarking on the full 29 day journey required to complete the trail is almost certainly too great a challenge for most. You can easily spend a few days of your holiday exploring parts of the trail, as the walkway is separated into many different sections. There are lots of great ‘short routes’ you could complete in a day or two. And yes they are within relatively easy reach of our beloved town of Kalkan.

Ovacik Route

The easiest of these is the 6 km section at the start of the trail leading from Ovacik, through Oludeniz with its’ breath taking Blue Lagoon and onto the Ghost town of Kayakoy.

Lycian Way route sections
Lycian Way route sections, Kayakoy

Faralya and the Butterfly Valley

Another moderate section of the walkway runs between Faralya and Kabak. You will follow rural roads through unspoiled forests and meadows for approximately 8 km. The small village of Faralya is located in an elevated position above the Butterfly Valley. Here you will find a few highly recommended pansiyons for spending the night. If you prefer camping accommodation for tents is also available in this tranquil spot. You will love the incredible views over the valley and out to sea.

To add a real challenge to this section of the walkway you can descend down the butterfly valley to the beach but beware it is incredibly steep. In order to get to the bottom you will use ropes fixed to the rocky facade. We advise you not to take heavy rucksacks as the descent it tricky. You should allow a few hours for this detour. If you decide to take it to allow time for steady climbing as well as enjoying the views from the beach and a dip in the waters.

Lycian Way route sections, Butterfly valley

Local Village Routes

For a taste of traditional village life you could try the route which goes between the villages of Uzumlu, Islamlar, Bezirgan and Saribelen. These villages are all local to Kalkan. They have kept their traditional charm and are scarcely populated with families of farmers and shepherds. You will see old stone houses and wooden “ambarlar” where food is stored on stilts. You will come across multitudes of orchards with organic fruit trees, friendly-faced locals and of course the odd Mosque.

Lycian Way route sections
Lycian Way route sections

Spring is a particularly good time for you to walk this section. During this time the villages of Bezirgan and Saribelen are full of blossoming almond trees.  This section of the route is 23 km long with a steep incline between Bezirgan and Saribelen. So by the time you get to the end you may want to stay in one of the pansiyons at Saribelen for the night and regain some strength.

Village Life
Saribelen Village

You can access the start and end points for the above short routes by public transport. This is in the form of the local Dolmus services. These are small minibuses that charge you a minimal fee. They travel to other towns and main bus stations for connecting journeys.

Nature & Wildlife

Turkey's mediterranean coast

As well as the incredible historical and social exploration the Lycian Way has to offer, the terrain of the trail itself holds many natural wonders. As you trek your way up soaring mountains, through extended valleys and along hidden coastal paths with secluded beaches you will observe profoundly beautiful scenery and become acquainted with a variety of native creatures.

Baby Tortoise
Lizzard

You will commonly spot deer and wild goats along the route. Also expect to see smaller creatures such as porcupines, rabbits, red squirrels, lynx, tortoises and a variety of lizards including chameleons.

Mountain goats

If you are a bird spotter there are many species of birds which you can see throughout the year. Due the mild climate there are two rare breeds which you may come across: the Smyrna kingfisher and the wall climber.

Smyrna kingfisher
Rare wall climber

You may encounter endangered and dangerous animals along the way too. Snakes and scorpions live in certain mountainous areas along the trail so you should stay vigilant.

Scorpion
Loggerhead Turtle

The endangered loggerhead turtles lay their eggs at both Patara beach and Cirali beach near to the site of Olympos and you can often see them in the turquoise waters along the coast. So if you decide to take a much needed dip in the sea to cool off along the way be sure to look out for their heads bobbing above the waves.

Hiking the Lycian Way

Where to sleep?

You will find that most accommodation along the Lycian Way route are family-run guesthouses. These are locally known as Pansiyons. Although these modest abodes may lack luxury they certainly make up for in traditional charm and warm hospitality. If the early parts of the routes appeal to you there are several quaint B&B’s to choose from. The Kayakoy Pansiyon is a reasonably priced 3 bedroomed wooden framed guest house in the heart of Kayakoy village near to many eateries.

Pansiyons along the Lycian Way
Pansiyons along the Lycian Way

At Faralya the Montenegro Motel and George House are well known hosts for partakers of the Lycian Way. They will offer you help with the routes and information on wildlife, flora and fauna to look out for. Montenegro has a number of traditional stone and timber chalets set in a beautifully maintained garden full of brightly coloured flowers. George House also allows campers to pitch their tents on their sea view terrace provided they make use of the restaurant for refreshments.

Pansiyons along the Lycian Way
Pansiyons in Saribelen

If the village route appeals to you the  Hidden Garden is a great half-way stop off point between Islamlar and Akbel villages where you could spend the night before continuing on to Bezirgan village. Similar to the Kayakoy Pansiyon, Hidden Garden offers a number of wooden cabins for accommodation all nestled in thick greenery in a quiet location.  Alternatively you could spend an evening at the much-loved Moonstone House  in Saribelen, a welcoming haven after the elevating trek from Bezirgan village. If you are an animal lover you will be in your element here as the hosts take care of a large number of cats and dogs on their grounds.

What will you need?

The Lycian Way route leads you through populated areas between its’ rural and historical calling points. So you don’t ned to worry too much about taking lots of food supplies or cooking equipment. Trust us there are plenty of great options along the way. You can stock up at local convenience shops for snacks. Alternatively you can take a break to have lunch and the pansiyons provide wonderful Turkish breakfasts and evening meals. Make sure you have bottles which you can refill with water at one of the many public water fountains along the route. You will also find villagers full or hospitality and are happy to share their water or provide refreshing Turkish cay or fresh fruit juice in their gardens.

Good hiking boots are a must as the trail cuts through rocky terrain and of course be sure to carry Turkish Lira as rural areas don’t tend to support card payments. Many of the archaeological sites have an entrance fee which you should keep in mind when planning your budget for any sections you plan to walk.

How can Kalkan Holiday Property Help?

If you are searching for a quality holiday property to stay in before or after walking any sections of the Lycian Way please get in touch. Our professional team will be happy to assist. We can also advise you on more interesting sites to visit and help you plan your itinerary. 

The Lycian Way- A Walk Through Time (Part 2)

Skirting the captivating turquoise waters of the Mediterranean coast is the Lycian Way. This is Turkey’s first long-distance hiking trail. The trail spans some 509 km through highlands, rural villages, coastal cliffs and secluded beaches. It connects popular holiday resorts from Fethiye to Antalya. If you were to trek the walkway in full from start to finish it would take you around 29 days. You follow the contours of the Teke peninsula through divided sections. This means you can try a 3 or 4-day hike or even a one-day excursion.

Lycian Way hiking

The walkway repeatedly appears in top 10 lists for the world’s greatest walking trails. It will lead you through a mix of beautiful coastline, intriguing ancient Lycian sites, rural farming villages and wild Mediterranean terrain. If you are looking for a Turkish cultural experience- this is it!

Sites of Historical Significance on the Lycian Way

While the Lycian Way connects a vast number of fascinating ancient ruins there are some major sites which are certainly worth exploring. Many of the sites of ancient Lycia are featured in the Unesco tentative list. This is because they are unique to the Teke peninsula of Turkey. They also bring to light a wealth of information about the Lycian civilisation, it’s traditions and Indo-European language.

Xantos

Another major significance of the Lycian union is that it is the first known democratic federation in history which is said to have inspired the democratic systems we are familiar with today. In this system, principle cities had 3 votes while the others had 2 votes or 1 depending on their size. Here is a brief introduction to some of the interesting places which had major roles to play in Lycian society: Xantos

Xantos ancient site

Discovered by the British archaeologist Charles Fellows in 1839 the city of Xantos was the capital city of the Lycian Federation and dates back to the 8th Century BC. Xantos is linked with the close-by site of Letoon. The Xantos-Letoon sites are the only sites on the Lycian Way route on the Unesco World Heritage site list. This is because the two neighbouring settlements exhibit the most comprehensive examples of Lycian architecture. They also housed the most important unveiled inscriptions of the Lycian language.

Remains at Xantos ancient site

Sadly you can no longer see some of the most elaborate artifacts belonging to Xantos. They were shipped to England by Charles Fellows and you can now view them in the British Museum. The most famous of these is the Neried Monument. This large tomb is believed to have been built for Arbinas, a Xanthian ruler.

Nevertheless you will still find a wealth of intriguing structures and carvings at Xantos. Stone tombs, a Byzantine street and mosaics are some of the intriguing artefacts you can explore.

Location:

Found on the western part of the Lycian Way 46 km outside of Fethiye.  This part of the Lycian Way leading to Xantos is largely asphalt and not very challenging. So many trekkers choose to use the local dolmus bus services to access the site. You can alight at the bus stop in the village of Kinik by the main bridge and go on foot (about 1.3 km) to the ruins. If you are determined to get your step count up then this part of the route is an easy section to tackle.

Letoon

You will feel a mystical quality at this site which is entwined with sacred legend. It has origins in the worship of the Anatolian mother-goddess Eni Mahanahi and Greek mythological tales of nymphs and Gods.

Purportedly named after one of the national deities of Lycia Leto, the ancient site of Letoon was an important religious sanctuary for the Lycian people. At the spiritual centre three temples were erected. One to the Goddess Leto, and a further two: one to each of her twin children Apollo and Artemis.

Letoon ancient site
Nymphaeum at Letoon ancient site

You will see various architectural structures at this site. These include an amphitheatre, a Basilica, and a nymphaeum connected to a sacred spring and porticoes which rise out of amphibian filled water. The ties to water were of great importance. Nymph worship was predominant in the area until the 1st century and the Letoon springs were believed to influence fertility.

Location:

Found on the western part of the Lycian Way route, 65 km outside of Fethiye. Similar to the Xantos site the route to Letoon is largely on asphalt so there is not much to see. You can also use the local dolmus bus services to access this site. The bus stops at the Letoon junction. From here you will trek about 1 km on foot to the ruins.

Myra

The site of Myra was one of the six principle cities in Lycia and eventually overtook Xantos as the capital in the 5th century AD. The towering rock-cut tombs in the hills of this ancient site are an impressive sight. The largest amphitheatre of Lycia is also located at Myra.

Myra ancient site
Amphitheatre at Myra ancient site
Rock tombs at Myra ancient site

Further to these spectacular ruins you can visit the Museum of Lycian Civilisations. The museum is located near the site of what is modern day Demre. The building itself is a converted ancient granary and holds many artefacts of the Lycian Union.

A trip to this area would not be complete without a visit to the St. Nicholas Church. Yes that’s right! If you didn’t already know Father Christmas was actually born in Turkey. Reportedly in the ancient city of Patara between 260 and 280 AD. He served as a beloved Bishop in Myra and became known throughout the land. He was famed for generosity to the needy, his love for children and his concern for sailors and ships. It is this charitable nature that allowed his legend to develop into the character we know and celebrate today.

Church of St. Nicholas Facade
Church of St. Nicholas Facade
Location:

This route is in the Lycian Way’s central section in what is now known as the town of Demre. Myra comes at the end of at least a 2-day long hike. You should only try this section if you are more experienced. We do not advise this section for novices as there are limited places for refilling water and the terrain is tricky. Also the section of the route leading to the site has no accommodation. Camping is the only option you have when embarking on this section of the Lycian Way (Finike-Myra distance 19km)

Central Lycian Way- Olympos

The ancient site of Olympos tells the story of yet another one of the six major cities in Lycia. This was determined by its’ depiction on the Lycian Union coinage. The city’s geographical situation alongside the Akcay river and close to the sea means it served as a centre for trade and was a pirate refuge for many centuries. The ruins of the city are today encompassed in the Beydaglari Coastal National Park. This park has over 74,000 acres (30,000 hectares) of coastal cliffs, beaches, and mountains. For us the site of Olympos and connecting sections of the Lycian Way are particularly enthralling. The historical remains are in a truly spectacular natural setting.

Lycian Way route

A necropolis on the south side of the river contains striking chamber tombs cut into the rock. Beyond the necropolis lie remains of a small overgrown Roman theatre with an elaborate entrance and a Roman church. There is also a Hellenistic quay and ruins of a granary. You can see two well-preserved tombs further along the river. One has a poetic inscription in memory of an ancient ship captain together with detailed carving of his beached boat.

Ruins along the Lycian Way
Ruins at Olympos ancient site

Chimaera Flames

Approximately 13km west of the site of Olympos high in the mountains is another unmissable spectacle. Known locally as “Yanartas” which literally translates as “burning stone” it’s quite a sight to behold. The Chimaera Burning Stone is a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by natural gas. The gas emits from cracks in the limestone and serpentine mountainside, creating flames that dance above the rocks. Unsurprisingly these flames are subject to myth and have apparently been burning for thousands of years. In Greek Mythology the Chimaera was a fierce fire breathing creature made up of a lion, a goat and a dragon. This creature was said to have terrorised Lycia until slain by the hero Bellerophon and then fell and got trapped in the earth.

How can Kalkan Holiday Property Help?

If you are searching for a quality holiday property to stay in after walking any sections of the Lycian Way contact us. Our professional team will be happy to assist. You can also visit our properties page to browse our fantastic collection. We can also advise you on more interesting sites to visit and help you plan your itinerary.