mega-resorts found elsewhere on this coast but these neighbouring towns more than make up for it in character, as I discovered on a fam trip with Exclusive Escapes.
l KALKAN: BEAUTY CONTEST
It’s easy to see why this one-time fishing village has become a tourist resort: with a small, calm
bay framed by lush hills leading up into the Taurus Mountains and rooftop restaurants twinkling with lights at night, it’s worthy of any postcard. The town centre is no less
beautiful, with winding streets and Ottoman-style balconies draped in bright bougainvillea, only slightly diminished by the tacky tourist fare at its weekly market and in
some of its shopfronts. There is a comfortable sense of familiarity here, perhaps because of its high expat population, mostly made up of Brits. Yet it’s also unmistakably Turkish, from the gulets bobbing around in the harbour to the endless debates I overheard about the best way to deseed pomegranates.
The lack of a beach need not deter sun-seekers as beach clubs – paved platforms with sun loungers and steps down into the sea – are the order of the day here. One of the best is at Hotel Villa Mahal. Not only can guests enjoy top-notch facilities, spectacular views across the bay (stay until sunset for a real treat), but they can also meet no- nonsense owner Ipek, who greets
regular guests with a hug. A step up from the beach club, though, is the chance to get even closer to those sparkling seas on a traditional Turkish gulet. Exclusive Escapes’ hotel guests get a complimentary day trip on a shared gulet with each stay (villa guests can
pre-book for £65) and, with teak floors
and mahogany interiors, it’s a boat trip with a difference.
l KAS: CHILL OR THRILL Like Kalkan, Kas is small but full of character, provided you know where to look. Its shopping streets feature locally crafted wares sitting side by side with fake designer handbags – albeit pretty convincing ones. Visitors browsing for more than a minute will be invited for a cup of tea and
¸ ¸
Hotel Villa Mahal 56 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 16 April 2015
TOP TIP Anatolian Sky
Holidays suggests day trips to Patara beach, the historic
ruins at Xanthos or dramatic Saklikent Gorge
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