Kalkan
As a small peaceful Mediterranean holiday resort and fishing town on the beautiful Turquoise Coast of Turkey, Kalkan has not been touched by mass tourism. More sophisticated than the usual holiday resort town, Kalkan appeals to travelers looking for more than a "sun and sea" holiday.
Kalkan was settled 220 years ago by Greek tradesman from the Greek Island of Meis that came to Kalkan to trade with the villagers around Kalkan region. Kalkan was a very important location because Kalkan was the only safe harbour between Kas and Fethiye. Cargo ships were loaded in the Kalkan port to sail for destinations of the Ottoman Empire (a coast line stretching from Morocco to Venice) carrying various goods such as charcoal, silk, olive oil which is still produced today, wine, cotton, grain, flour, grapes, acorns used for dye purposes, and lumber from the cedar and pine forests of Kalkan.
By the 20th century Kalkan had its own custom's house, as well as restaurants, a goldsmith, a shoemaker and a couple of tailors. In 1928 Kalkan had its first local elections and in 1937 the elementary school, which is still used today, was established.
Today many foreigners (mostly English) live in Kalkan. The beach of Kalkan is not sandy, on the contrary it is stony. If you look for a shallow sandy beach, you can visit Patara Beach only 13 km away from Kalkan.