Villa Saribelen

 Villa Saribelen is nestled in the hills of the village of Saribelen, twelve kilometres east of the charming harbour town of Kalkan. The villa is situated in nature, surrounded by lush forestry with views down the valley to the Turkish Turquoise Coast, the jewel of the Mediterranean Sea. Saribelen is 135 kilometres from Dalaman Airport, a scenic hundred minute journey through the Turkish countryside and Taurus mountains. The area was originally Greek, and you will notice Byzantine, Ottoman, and Hellenic influences throughout. From the villa you can walk to the local shops for provisions, or a short drive into Kalkan, where you can find supermarkets, banks, and a local Thursday market, that can supply all you could wish for for a happy holiday.

A fifteen minute car journey through the green hills will take you to Kalkan, originally called Kalamaki, where you will find winding colourful cobbled streets of the old town, traditional white washed and pastel painted houses, and a working harbour. The town of Kalkan reputedly has almost one hundred and fifty restaurants, cafes, and bars, you’ll be spoilt for choice deciding on whether to eat traditional Turkish food, or dine on gourmet delights in international establishments.

Kalkan is well known for some of the best and most exclusive beach clubs, with bathing platforms, fabulous restaurants, and some with full size swimming pools. Take a trip down to the harbour, where you will find complimentary water taxis to ferry you to a beach club of your choice. Located all around the coastline, from Kalkan Beach Park in Kisla to Kulube at Kalamar Bay, there’s a beach club for everyone. Have some fun in the sun at family-friendly resorts offering water sports and swimming pools, unwind at exclusive luxury destinations where you will be waited on hand and foot, wine and dine in their on-site sea view restaurants, or lie back and relax whilst enjoying alfresco holistic spa treatments. No stay in Kalkan is complete without a boat trip from the harbour, whether it’s a shared one with family and friends or you charter your own gulet, a day out at sea with your favourite captain and crew, is one to treasure. Ships ahoy for a day of swimming and snorkelling in beautiful bays, enjoy a meal of local homecooked meze, then sail back to harbour in time for tea. Make memories to last a lifetime aboard a private chartered evening sunset cruise, sail off, cocktail in hand as the sun sets, and dinner is served. For the beach bunnies, Kalkan has its own pebble beach with easy access into the sea.

Travel further afield to the stunning Kaputas Beach set in a natural gorge, or take a trip to Patara, where you will find twenty kilometres of unspoilt golden sands and a protected area for the hatching sea water Caretta Caretta Patara turtles. For those with itchy feet Villa Saribelen is situated on the Lycian Way walking trail. Follow in the footsteps of thousands of years of history, as you trek the trail it will take you through major archaeological sites, local villages, dramatic coastlines, and the areas’ flora and fauna.

Take a short journey to the town of Kinik, which has the best local Friday market, and where you can step back in time to the Lycian city of Xanthos. Follow the D400 to Fethiye, and discover the historical sites of Patara, Letoon, Tlos, and Pinara, where you can see the ancient ruins, amphitheatres and temples with Lycian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine influences.

The harbour town of Fethiye is also full of ancient sites worth seeing, as well as a foodie-heaven fish market, and home to some seriously good designer labels and fabulous jewellery shopping. Whilst the nearer town of Kas is just twenty kilometres away in the other direction, and well worth the journey alone along one of the world’s most stunning and dramatic coastlines, or better still from Saribelen take the back roads, and wind your way through the real Turkey and traditional village life. Pass the new Kas Marina, full of super stylish yachts to the original harbour and working town, with its cobbled streets full of Ottoman architecture and overhanging balconies festooned with pastel coloured bougainvillaea, Barter for unique handmade and antique goods in its many shops, and make memories dining in one of the traditional restaurants serving authentic Turkish cuisine with mesmerising sea views. And if you’re feeling terribly intercontinental, hop on the daily twenty-minute ferry from Kas to the Greek island of Meis, where you can explore the magical Blue Cave and dine by candlelight at the lapping water’s edge.

Read more about Kalkan

Kalkan has become boutique resorts, with cobbled streets and converted Greek houses, which belonged to the Greek merchants before the exchange of population in the 1920’s. Once quiet fishing harbours these days you are more likely to see traditional wooden gulets taking tourists to soak up rays on the sparkling turquoise Mediterranean. A boat trip is a must do, from the boat you can snorkel and usually a delicious lunch is prepared on board. Keen walkers should check out the Lycian way for designated walking paths in the area.

You cannot come to this area without spending  some time exploring the many Lycian sights, such as Xanthos, Patara, Myra or the sunken city of Kekova.

Patara is said to be where democracy started (they excavated stone voting block) and is also said to be the birthplace of St Nicholas, who became bishop at nearby Myra. The ruins here include an ancient theatre, city walls, government build and agora. The lighthouse on the site is said to be the earliest of its kind. Visit Patara in the late afternoon and finish the trip with a drink on the sandy beach watching the amazing sunset.

The Salikent Gorge is a great place to visit, especially if you want to cool off in the fresh waters whilst walking up the gorge. For the more energetic there are rafts and rings to ride the flowing waters. Further down you can enjoy a day canoeing toward the beach.

Islamlar sits 8 km above Kalkan. Once the place Kalkan folk went to cool off at one of the trout farms built to make use of the mountain’s springs. Today Islamlar houses many a villa, enjoyed by Istanbul Turks who prefer a holiday in slightly cooler and cleaner air. Here the locals grow grapes and pomegranates, but you’ll mainly see the men sat gossiping next to the local teahouse. The trout farms remain a place to come for a wonderful fresh meal, or a breakfast consisting of fresh local fare. The rocket will be the freshest & most tasty you’ve ever had; and the fresh chips cooked in olive oil take some beating.

By night both Kalkan and Kas come alive. Kas has more of a bohemian feel, people ambling through the cobbled streets, passing the ancient tomb in the street, haggling for textiles, carpets and other goodies, maybe stopping for the traditional Turkish ‘maras’ ice cream, a tulip-shaped glass of tea or a wonderful kebab in the shadow of the mosque. Most of the villas in Kas are just out of town on the Cukurbag Peninsula. A reasonable (5km) taxi or Dolmus (local bus) ride into town. Be sure to try the Piyaz, a white bean salad with tahini sauce.

Travelling along the coast, towards Kalkan you pass the modern marina, the children’s beach park (run by the local hotel school) and halfway to Kalkan the stunning Kaputas Beach, cut in a gorge with all different shades of turquoise in the sea.

Kalkan is a more sophisticated resort, with the villas built onto the mountainside. Evening are spent enjoying the rooftop restaurants, perched on the top of the old ‘konak’ houses. Then wandering to a seaside bar for a cocktail, after shopping for glass lanterns, Iznik pottery, handbags or pestemel towel. Do visit the ‘pastane’, local patisseries which do the most delicious morning pastries and you must try the ‘Gozleme’ pancakes at the Thursday market.

Other things to do in the area include scuba diving as the visibility is excellent, paragliding, horseriding on Patara Beach or kayaking around the sunken ruins at Kekova.