The Moon is closest to the
earth in Antiphellos (Kas)
Herodotos (V.century
BC )
Kas- a beauty port
opening out to the Mediterranean
Sea. In
Kas, the center of the historic Lycian
Region, the Taurus Mountains embrace the sea as they continue to the great
depths of the Mcoastline. The area is rocky all around and this
helps to keep the bay crystal clear.
Kas is a small historical town
on the south coast of Turkey. It was one of the most important marine
cities and wine production sites of the Lycian civilization and is now
surrounded by rock tombs and ruins of the ancient city
Antiphellos.
Right across Kas, there is the Greek Island
Nisos-Costellorizon. It is only 3 miles away from Kas. There are daily
excursions by boats to Nisos-Costellorizon and also to another antique
city of Lycian Civilization called the Kekova Island.
Once you
decide to come to Kas, you must arrange your flight to Dalaman or Antalya
Airports. Kas is right between the two airports. 150 km. from Dalaman and
180 km. from Antalya airport .
Kas is a lovely town surrounded on
three sides by mountains. In Kas you can hire a water taxi to take you to
a favorite bay, cave or beach along the coast. The swimming and diving are
excellent in the clear cool waters around Kas.
Kas was once the
site of an ancient city Antiphellos. Today the only remains of this Lycian
city are the rock-cut tombs and sarcophagi. You can wander through the
streets stopping to examine the souvenir shops that offer Turkish
handicrafts, leather goods, silver items, cotton clothing and handmade
carpets. After shopping, stroll along the flower-lined Akdeniz Promenade
or relax under the shade of a palm tree. There are many bars and
restaurants in Kas that offer plenty of night life.
The
mountains which surround the town provide their share of activities and
sights. You can walk through forested hills to visit remote villages and
ancient ruins. If you are prepared you can attempt to scale the highest
peak in the area, Mt. Kizlar Sivrisi (3,086 metres).
On
a rise between the open sea and the hill, which was the acropolis of the
ancient city, lays a rock tomb formed like a Doric structure with Doric
triglyphs on the facade. Inside the tomb is to be found a frieze of
dancing female figures. The acropolis was surrounded by a fortified wall,
of which traces are to be seen on the facade facing the island of Meis
(Kastellorizon). No traces of fortifications are to be seen on the
northern or western slopes. To the west of the modern town stands the
ancient theater overlooking the sea. This structure possesses a remarkable
view. It was constructed of local limestone and today the tribunes and
outer walls are still visible although no trace of the skene is left. On
the western edge of the acropolis are traces of a temple. Tombs of the
Roman period are scattered about the town and along the coast.
Kaya Village
A few kilometers from Fethiye,
climbing past the ancient fortress and rock tomb of King Amyntas, the
pine
trees give way to the bucolic landscape of the Kaya
Village. Here a dwindling number of local families till the land and tend
their animals. Some of the old Greek stone houses have been carefully
restored to provide atmospheric and peaceful holiday homes. Visitors can
walk, cycle or even horse-ride around the pathways and lanes of the
valley, pausing at the simple teahouses, restaurants and general stores or
continuing the few kilometers down to the Gemiler Beach.
Perhaps everyone's most vivid memory of Kaya Valley is the haunting choreography of the houses, shops and churches of the once thriving Greek town of Levissii.
Gemiler Island
This early
Christian Island dedicated to St, Nicholas can be visited from the Gemiler
Beach below Kaya village or while on one of the daily boat trips out of
Oludeniz.
The Lycian Way
The Lycian Way
begins near Oludeniz and ends just before Antalya, taking in choice
mountain landscapes and seascapes en route. It follows 500 km of ancient
footpaths and mule roads that linked the villages of the Turquoise
Coast.
What really distinguishes this
walk is it's intimate, almost careless relationship with history. Lycian,
in particular enjoyed a period us ascendancy and unique culture before
falling into the hands of Alexander the Greta's successors and then the
Romans. Later, Arabs, Crusaders and Genoese established themselves.
Traces of all these hands are visible still, and nowhere more so than along this path, their romance and charm enhanced by the old stones lying naturally among the scrub and goat pastures. Tombs just out of mule tilled fields, sections of columns are stacked in the hedges.
There are castles,
harbors, forts and lots of vernacular monuments too: sheepfolds and
cobbled mule tracks, where the herders take their flocks and where the
peasants repair for coolness in the summer.
Ovacik / Fethiye
Just above Oludeniz amongst the pines on the lower slopes of Babadag the village of Ovacik straddles the mountain road between Fethiye and Oludeniz.
It's convenient situation, clear air, quiet
country trails and excellent accommodation make it an ideal base for
enjoying all the diverse aspects of this captivating area.
Ovacik
is situated only 3 km away from Oludeniz Beach and is the neighbouring
village to Hisaronu.
Ovacik village is spread out in a big valley
just below Babadag mountain - hence there isn't a resort centre as such -
but most of the accommodation is situated within walking distance to main
road and Hisaronu village centre.
There are beautifully landscaped hotels with
views over the valleys down below, luxury villas with swimming pools, good
choice of apartments and self catering accommodation.
Ovacik is
good alternative to Hisaronu village - if you are looking for a more
private & relaxing holiday
contact us.
Patara
In the heart of Lycia Patara is best known for its beach, eighteen kilometers of soft white sand, backed by majestic dunes and in recent years the winner of a "best beach in the world" survey in the Sunday Times.
Evidence of its former glories as the
principal port for Lycia and an important Roman town can be seen at the
extensive site , still not fully excavated. Here too stood the Hellenistic
oracle of Apollo , thought to rival that at Delphi and a further claim of
Patara's fame is as the birthplace of the fourth century St. Nicolas , the
original Santa Claus.
Patara beach should not be missed with its
gorgeous landscape and great swimming. It is a national park and home to
many birds, also the breeding ground of the endangered Loggerhead turtle.
The beach is an 18 kilometre-long strip of sand bordered on its
ends by mountains and along its length by sand dunes and the large marshy
area which once was the celebrated port of Patara.
Saklikent
Saklikent Gorge ("Hidden City") is
the longest and deepest gorge in Turkey, 18 km long and so steep and
narrow that the sun does not penetrate the water, leaving it deliciously
icy-cold in the summer. Once inside, water-sculpted limestone canyon walls
soar above you.
Saklikent Gorge is a beautiful place and a great place
to explore. Be sure to bring submersible shoes as you will sometimes be
walking in shallow water or mud. Plastic shoes can also be
rented outside of the gorge. The gorge is approached along a long wooden boardwalk above the river. Once inside, you reach the Ulupinar springs where water bubbles up under great force from the base of the cliffs and you wade across the river into the gorge proper to begin your walk. The walk is easy for 4 km, after that a rock slide blocks the passage for all except rock climbers.
Xanthos
Xanthos was the
capital city of the Lycian Federation and its greatest city for most of
Lycian history. It was made famous to the Western world in the 19th
century by its British discoverer Charles Fellows. Xanthos's very old finds date
back to the 8th century BC, but it is possible that the site may have
existed during the Bronze Age or during the first centuries of the Iron
Age
The history of Xanthos is quite a violent one - the Xanthosians twice demonstrated the fierce independence of the Lycian people when they chose to commit mass suicide rather than submit to invading forces. The Xanthosian men set fire to their women, children, slaves and treasure upon the acropolis before making their final doomed attack upon the invading Persians. Xanthos was later repopulated but the same gruesome story repeated itself in 42 BC when Brutus attacked the city during the Roman civil wars in order to recruit troops and raise money. Brutus was shocked by the Lycian' suicide and offered his soldiers a reward for each Xanthosian saved. Only 150 citizens were rescued.
Xanthos stands atop an elevated area within the Xanthos valley with
the Xanthos River flowing closely
under the city's west side. From this elevation one
receives a supreme view of the valley surrounded by the spectacular Taurus
Mountains.
Although Charles Fellows carted away most of the finds of
Xanthos (now in the British Museum) many interesting monuments and
structures remain, including two of the most interesting tombs in
Lycia.
Features of Xanthos
include:
" The "Harpy Tomb" - Sitting upon a massive base is a thick
pillar with a grave-chamber and crowning slabs. The whole thing stands
about 25 feet high. The chamber at the top was marble and decorated with
splendid relief's (which some belief to depict harpies). The relief's are
now in the British Museum but have been replaced by some very nice casts.
" Pillar Tomb - A completely unique tomb in Lycia, actually
two-tombs-in-one - a normal Lycian sarcophagus stands upon a
shorter-than-usual pillar tomb. It is quite tall, only a little shorter
than the Harpy Tomb. 4th century BC.
" The "Xanthian Obelisk" - a tall
pillar tomb covered with Greek and the longest Lycian inscription known to
exist. This writing was instrumental in helping to begin to understand the
riddle of the difficult Lycian language.
" Other
Features of Note include an amphitheatre, a Roman arch, a Byzantine church
with lovely mosaic floors and a fortress at the top of the acropolis.
Kalkan Beach
Patara Beach In the heart of Lycian Patara is best known for its beach, eighteen kilometers of soft white sand, backed by majestic dunes and in recent years the winner of a "best beach in the world" survey in the Sunday Times.
Kaputas Beach Kaputas Beach is on the way to Kas and it is 7km far from Kalkan.This beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of this coast. But you have to be careful about the waves in the sea when the weather is windy.
The Blue Lagoon
Oludeniz, a
beautiful inland bay that stretches behind the cape, is now closed to
yachts. The reason this heavenly place is called Oludeniz ("Sea of the
Dead") is attributed to the following legend.
Once a
father and son were caught in a storm here and were in danger of sinking.
The son claimed that if they approached the rocks ashore they could take
shelter in a cove. The father on the other hand asserted that their ship
would be driven onto the rocks and break up and that there were no coves
around here anyway. In his terror of running around on the rocks, the
father knocked his son
(who was at the helm) into the sea with an oar and took over the helm
himself. Just as the ship was about to hit the rocks on the cape, she
turned into this calm, smooth watered bay. This is the reason they say the
bay is called the Sea of the Dead, whereas what with the pine clad sandy
beach stretched out like a tongue, the name "Paradise Bay" would be more
fitting.
The Blue Lagoon of Oludeniz has clam, crystal clear waters which makes it ideal for a variety of water sports and a very safe place for children to swim. Part of the lagoon is now a protected area (and it's a national park).
The Butterfly Valley
Butterfly Valley is a great day trip from Oludeniz. It is home to the unique Jersey Tiger butterfly. Between June and September, butterflies in thousands of colour and countless varieties can be seen here. This valley is an interesting canyon with steep cliffs up to 350 meters high and stretches back from the cove some 3-4 kilometers. To get to Butterfly Valley, you can take a boat from either Oludeniz or Fethiye .
Taxi boats leave from Oludeniz three times a day in both directions - an alternative for the adventurous and well-shod hiker is to follow the steep and rocky slope down from the upper rim of the valley, following the footpath from in front of "George House," on the road to Faralya/Kabak (gauge about 30 min.).
Butterfly Valley with it's untouched nature, most amazing beach and basic facilities (no electricity, TV or any earthly possessions) - only a small restaurant and simple beach huts - is a total relaxation destination.
Dalyan
Dalyan is a small
village built along one side of the Dalyan river, close to the ancient
site of Caunos. A group of spectacular Lycian tombs are carved into the
cliff face onto the opposite side of the river.
Fish
restaurants line the quayside at the centre of the village, while small
pension and attractive hotels are built at the waterside on either side of
the village.
By night the waterside restaurants and
bars come alive with music and laughter and many new friendships are
forged
The pretty riverside village of Dalyan offers many diversions including impressive rock tombs, the atmospheric site of ancient Caunos and famous mud baths. Not least of its' attractions is the reed fringed delta along which wooden boats ferry visitors to the wide expanse of Iztuzu beach, made famous by the successful campaign to protect the eggs of the loggerhead turtle.
A full boat tour starts at the hot springs near Koycegiz Lake, and then follows a meandering course down the river through the thick reeds and bamboos towards Caunos. A system of gateways, constructed across the river, catch sea bass and grey mullet as they return the sea after spawning in the lake.
Elmali
Elmali is
the largest Ottoman town of the southwest area of Turkey, located high on
a mountain plain. It is famous for its well-preserved wooden houses (some
from the 17th century) in which Ottoman Turks, Greeks and Armenians once
lived together until the 20th century. People here live much as they did
in the past and old crafts such as blacksmithing, hand-crafting copperware
and making Turkish Delight in the traditional way are still practiced. A
very large mosque complex exists in Elmali dating back to the 16th century
with hand-painted tiles rivalling those in Istanbul's grand mosques.
The Elmali area is rich in archaeology and
natural beauty. Some very significant antiquities
including the famous Elmali Treasury have been found in the area and
excavations are currently underway at a large mound where antiquities have
been found dating back to the 12th century BC. Alexander the Great once
marched through Elmali with his troops in 333 BC on his campaign against
the Persian army. The road they used can still be seen today.
The misty peaks of the great Taurus
Mountains, rushing streams and lush greenery offer excellent photo
opportunities and the alpine pastures and famous cedar forests
(6,000-7,000 feet) are attractive to hikers. Many semi-nomads live in the
area as well, as the highlands are good, cool summer pasture for their
flocks of sheep and goats.
Fethiye
Once the
Lycian settlement of Telmessos, Fethiye is a lively port and market town
where Turkish life and tourism exist side by side. Along the pretty
waterfront you can watch the traditional wooden gullets, motor launches
and fishing boats.
At the nearby Calis Beach all manner of
water-sports are available. In the old port area 'Paspatur' sell
everything from aromatic herbs to 'designer' clothes, nomadic rugs and
hand-crafted jeweler. The famous rock tomb of King Amyntas is visited by
many every year.
Market Place
Located at the centre of the town, the
market place is a fascinating sight where al kinds of fresh vegetables,
herbs, fruit, fish, meat and dairy products, as well as local handicrafts,
are offered for sale.
Paspatur
This small square is named after the cold water spring called
Paspatur which flows into the pool here. Its history dates back to many
years. During the period when refrigerators were non-existent, water jags
and melons were submerged into the pool for cooling, while animated,
friendly chats were carried out at the coffee-houses and pubs located
around it.
At present
the Paspatur square has grown and expanded, with restaurants overshadowed
by vine and ivy, bars and discotheques; as well as shops exhibiting
touristic items and souvenirs as such as leather outfits, bags and
accessories,; golden and silver ornaments and jeweler; carpets and
rugs.
In addition to buildings which are outstanding samples of typical
Greek architecture, the Old Mosque and the Historical Turkish Bath are
located here.
Mountain Tour to Gombe and Green Lake - High Meadows of the Taurus Mountains
This tour is a
wonderful opportunity to see traditional, non-touristic Turkey high in the
Taurus Mountains, away from the coastal heat. A great outing for those
interested in walking in the pastures of the Taurus Mountain highlands and
learning about the semi-nomadic way of life that dominates the peaks all
summer-long. The semi-nomads represent the long history of the Turkish
people who migrated from central Asia.
Named after the spurge plant
endemic to the area, Sütlegen is a beautiful semi-nomad village at 5,000
feet tucked in a gorgeous alpine forest overlooking a magnificent deep
canyon surrounded by cedar of Lebanon trees, located between Kalkan and
Elmali. Locals here make their living from forestry and apple and the many
walnut orchards of the area, while semi-nomads tend their flocks in
mountain pastures here during the summer months before
returning to the
warmer coast for the winter.
Gömbe is the central semi-nomad town of the area, and
the largest. Surrounded by the snow-capped Taurus Mountains, Gömbe has an
interesting authentic market with local produce and handmade tools. The
mosque here makes an interesting visit.
Brilliant
Green Lake
is 6,500 ft above sea level and a pilgrimage center to
which people come from every corner of the country to drink its sacred
healing water. Semi-nomads live in tents near the lake with their flocks
and are very hospitable to visitors. Don't miss the "Wishing Tree" on your
walk to Green Lake - a tree upon which scraps of cloth are tied by
pilgrims along with a prayer.
The lake is formed
by the melting snow which stays on top of the mountains until early
August. It offers spectacular shots for photographers and is a cool place
to visit in the summer. The area of Green Lake overlooks a stunning valley
once travelled through by Alexander the Great and his troops on his
Persian campaign.
Green Lake is also located very near the sacred
"Flying Waterfall". Like Green Lake, the water here is considered holy and
people come from all over to drink its curative waters. It is believed to
have been given to people as a gift by the founder of a nearby dervish
monastery.
For lunch on this tour we eat at a wonderful restaurant
tucked away in a tranquil forest alongside a rushing stream, with many
delicious options from which to choose.
Hisaronu / Fethiye
Situated on a high plateau 4km from the coast
and surrounded by stunning mountains, the once sleepy villages of Hisaronu
and Ovacik have combined to create a lively resort which has a distinctly
British atmosphere. The nearest beaches are the famous lagoon of Oludeniz
or the pebble and sand beach of Belcekiz. A Dolmus leaves every five or
ten minutes.
The village is full of bars, restaurants and shops.
This is certainly the place to haggle for any imitation designer gear. The
cool mountain air can be quite a relief after a day in the sun and there
is plenty to do in the evening.
Hisaronu, and the Fethiye area in general,
are blessed with a rugged and beautiful landscape, the potential of which
for activity holidays (and holiday activites) is just being realised.
Hisaronu is special because its location means that you can paraglide in
Oludeniz one day, canoe down the Xanthos river to Patara the next,
paintball in the pine forests of Kaya Koyu and still take an overnight
trip to the classical ruins of Ephesus.
The area is nice if you
just want to relax on the beach or by the hotel pool but to get the most
out of your trip you ought to consider moving around a little
bit.
There are variety of hotels, villas & Aparts in the area, from
simple family run to luxury hill top hotels with views of Olu Deniz beach
below. Please check the hotels in Hisaronu section to view the hotel
accommodation options in the resort of Hisaronu
tel: +90 242 844 2097
Address: Cumhuriyet caddesi Kalamar road
07960 Kalkan - Antalya - TURKEY
Contact : info@kalkandomain.com