Villa Serpil

Villa Serpil can be found nestled in the hills two kilometres above the quaint harbour town of Kalkan, situated on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, the jewel of the Mediterranean Sea. Kalkan was originally a Greek enclave called Kalamaki, and Ottoman and Hellenic influences can be found in the winding streets of the old harbour town. Walk through the cobbled streets full of traditional white houses, home to a reputed one hundred and fifty restaurants, cafes, bars, enticing souvenir shops, and designer brand stores stuffed with objects of desire. After dark, dine in one of the famous rooftop restaurants with stunning harbour and sea views, sampling traditional Turkish delights and international cuisine.

Villa Serpil is located on a small complex of luxury properties designed by an award-winning Turkish architect. Staying at the villa includes complimentary use of their semi Olympic sized swimming pool, restaurant, cocktail bar, and lounge, perfect for meeting up with other holidaymakers and swapping stories and tips.

From the villa it is a short drive into Kalkan, where you can find supermarkets and banks, and a local Thursday market, that can cater for all the provisions you will need for a happy holiday. Take a trip into town, and at the harbour get aboard one of the complimentary water taxis to one of the many exclusive beach clubs. The beach clubs all have bathing platforms, sea views, sun lounger waiter service, restaurants, and bars, and some offer full size swimming pools, water sports, and spa services too. For the beach bunnies, Kalkan has its own pebble beach with organised sun loungers and brollies, easy access into the calm Mediterranean sea, and its own cute cafe. Travel further afield to the stunning Kaputas Beach set in a natural gorge, only two hundred steps down and two hundred steps back up, but well worth it for the scenery and the sea. Take a trip to Patara, where you will find twenty kilometres of unspoilt golden sands, and a protected area for the hatching Caretta Caretta turtles. Patara also boasts an archaeological site over two thousand years old, with not just one but two ancient amphitheatres, not to mention the most stunning sunsets, best seen from the ever-changing sand dunes. 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 that memories are made of. All aboard for a day of swimming and snorkelling in beautiful bays, enjoy a meal of local homecooked meze, take afternoon tea, and then sail back to harbour cocktail in hand to watch the sunset.

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.