The Turquoise Collection are specialists in Kalkan, Turkey and have been providing a wide range of accommodation in Kalkan since 2008. We have detailed local knowledge about Kalkan to give you an invaluable insight about the many ways to discover and enjoy your Kalkan holiday. Our collection of Kalkan accommodation has been chosen to offer Turquoise Collection guests what we consider are the best locations, amenities and views Kalkan has to offer. We work closely with the local businesses in Kalkan, and visit the properties in our collection frequently to ensure high standards for our guests. Our extensive pre-departure information and in-resort service from our highly experienced guest services staff are all included in a Turquoise Collection Kalkan holiday.
An overview of Kalkan, Turkey
Kalkan is set in one of Europe's most breath-taking, grand
sweeping Mediterranean bays, with the truly majestic Taurus
Mountains as a backdrop. Kalkan has an exquisite harbour, full of
Turkish wooden gulets and small fishing craft, bordered with
waterfront restaurants and the beach, it is where the
beautiful and historic Kalkan old town area extends back from the
sea.
Formerly an important coastal trading port, Kalkan is now a thriving but still unspoilt holiday resort with the bustling historic Old Quarter being the heart of the Kalkan town. After dusk, Kalkan's winding streets full of traditional houses, restaurants, small boutiques and local shops with overhanging balconies teem with people as the tantalising aromas of Kalkan's renowned cuisine entice people down to the harbour and surrounding streets.
From Kalkan's harbour, many of the beach clubs dotted around the bay are accessed by small colourful boats that provide a often complimentary service to transfer guests staying in Kalkan. You will also find traditional wooden Gulets in Kalkan's harbour that offer boat trips to the beaches, islands and inlets nearby. Water sports, diving and fishing trips are also offered here in Kalkan.
A glimpse into Kalkan's rich history
Kalkan, originally known as "Kalamaki," developed into a
significant 19th-century port due to its location between Kas and
Fethiye. It was settled 150 -200 years ago by people of Greek and
Turkish origin, serving as a hub for transporting goods by camel
from the Xanthos valley nearby and the mountain highlands near
Elmali. From Kalkan, cargo ships sailed for the far reaches of the
Ottoman Empire laden with cotton, grain, wine and timber.
By the early 20th century Kalkan had become quite a sizeable village in Turkey. At the turn of the century Kalkan had its own custom's house and in 1915 there were reportedly seventeen restaurants, a goldsmith, a shoemaker and tailors. Kalkan's first local elections were held in 1928 and in 1937 the present elementary school was opened.
Following World War I, the exchange in population between the new Turkish Republic and Greece took place in 1923 after the Turkish War of Independence. Most of Kalkan's population that were of Greek origin at the time then left Turkey. Some went to the Greek island of Meis, but most were resettled near Athens. They were resettled as a community) and named their new town "Kalamaki", after Kalkan's previous name.
Sea trade dwindled in the 1950s due to improved Turkish road networks and the adoption of overland transport, causing a gradual population decline as residents moved to larger coastal cities to find work. However, the arrival of English yachtsmen in the 1960s revived the town's economy through tourism. Kalkan's historical charm is preserved through strict building codes.
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