Activities & Places
Activities and Places of Interest
Beaches
There are plenty of options in and nearby Kas for enjoying the sea and 
relaxing. One of the high points of a trip to the beach is a sighting of one of the many turtles so keep an eye out but remember not to get too close.
On the Kas peninsula there are several hotels with sea access open to non-residents. You can use the sea platforms as well as the other hotel facilities, restaurants, bars etc. There are also three beaches:-
Blanca Plaj – Hidayet Koyu
This is the most exclusive of the peninsula beaches. There is a parking area 
with valet service. The beach is fully equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas as well as changing facilities, restaurant and café. It is set in a bay which makes for a lovely swim.
Coming from the peninsula you will come to a roundabout. After this roundabout, the first road on the right will take you to Hidayet Koyu beach. This road hairpins down to a beach area set in a cove. The dolmus also stops here to and from Kas town.
Ince Bogaz
Approximately half a mile after turning onto the peninsula road from town the road dips down and there is a beach on either side of the road. Both beaches have sun loungers and umbrellas to rent. There is parking on the right-hand side or further on by the road on the left. There is also a small café, toilets and showers/changing cubicles. The beach on the left (coming from town) is not as sheltered as on the right and can get quite rough when it is windy. The beach on the right is the best beach to go to when there is a breeze as it is more sheltered than the other beaches in Kas and the water is calm. The entrance to the water is shallow and good for young children.
You can walk from town, drive or take the Peninsula dolmus which stops here.
Halk Plaj – Belediye Plaj
50metres further on from Ince Bogaz there is a road down to the left which takes you to Halk Plaj. This is a large beach run by the local council. There is plenty of parking area. There are changing facilities, toilets as well as a fitness area and small café. There are sun loungers and umbrellas for rental. The swimming area is a lengthy bay which is good for an energetic swim.
Beaches
In Kas, the following are your beach options
Limanaǧzı
Located across the bay from Kas town, Limanagzi is only accessible by water taxi from the old harbour or an hour’s hike along the ancient Lycian Trail. In the height of summer, it is most popular to take the water taxi which costs 20tl. They pootle back and forward from the town to the four beaches throughout the day. Each bay has its own facilities which you can use for the price of a drink or something to eat. It is a very chilled and relaxing area but can get crowded on the Sundays or public holidays. The water taxi will drop you at whichever beach you choose. Don’t worry about missing the last shuttle back in the evening as they will announce this.
The walk is worth doing but not for the faint hearted as there is a steep rocking descent with ropes to hold on. Sturdy shoes are definitely a must.
Büyük Ҫakıl
A five-minute drive, or 20-minute walk, from the heart of town, in the direction of Limanaǧzı, Büyük Ҫakıl or “Big Pebble” Beach is a lovely smooth stone cove wedged between tall cliffs. There are restaurants which have their own marked areas with sun loungers and umbrellas. Find your ideal location and they will look after you. Most restaurants have changing and toilet facilities. The waters are run from underground springs so are very cool in the summer. There is a dolmus which runs several times a day to the beach from the town centre.
Swimming Platforms
There are also plenty of swimming platforms along the sea front in Kas. Some are run by hotels on the road past little pebble beach on the way to Big Pebble Beach and on the other
side of the harbour there are independent sea platforms. The views are wonderful and there is often a cooling breeze. All of the swimming platforms are attached to restaurants/bars which have sun loungers and parasols and all you have to do is to order a drink or two from the bars in order to use the facilities. The sea is reached by short ladders from the lower platforms, as a result, they are not the best for small children. There are toilets and changing facilities. Most of the restaurants and bars are open in the evening so you can also enjoy a drink and dinner listening to the sea and enjoying the sunset.
Further afield if you want to try somewhere a bit different and make more of an afternoon or day trip of your beach outing there are the following options:-
Akҫagerme Beach
A 5-minute drive or dolmus ride in the direction of Kalkan takes you to Akҫagerme beach. This is a very child-friendly beach with shallow waters and pontoons for easy sea access. During high summer there are two water slides. There is also a large grassy play area and table tennis tables and a tennis court. The canteen serves food and drinks and has wi-fi. There is a shaded sunbathing area as well as bathing on the pebble beach. Umbrellas and sun loungers can be hired. There are also changing facilities, showers and toilets. Above the beach is a separate picnic/BBQ and play area.
The beach is run by the students at the local tourism school.
Kaputaş
Kaputaş Beach is a local gem, picture perfect and just a 20-minute drive towards Fethiye. There is a dolmus from Kas bus station which stops at the beach. The few amenities on offer are improving annually so now there are sunbeds and umbrellas for rental and it is possible to purchase refreshments. Please note that there are almost 200 steps from the road down to the beach. There is no marked parking but people park by the road which means on public holidays or peak times it can get very busy. The waters are a wonderful turquoise colour.
Patara
About 45 minutes’ drive from Kaş is Patara. This is a historic site so you will need to pay to enter the area near the beach for parking, 5tl per person. There is a dolmus from Kas bus station which runs regularly to Patara during the summer season. As you approach the parking for the beach you will pass the site of ancient Lycian ruins which you can visit and turn your day into an educational outing as well as some beach fun. The beach itself is an 18km long white sandy beach with beautiful sand dunes. Some areas may be sectioned off further up as the beach is popular for nesting turtles.
Sports and Activities
If you would like to engage in pursuits other than relaxing by the sea or enjoying the many the cafes and tea gardens in Kas town then there is plenty of other activities to entertain you. Whilst in Kaş you can enjoy some typical Turkish experiences such as a Hamam or, for the gentlemen, a visit to the barbers. You can try your hand at making some Turkish meze or crafting a piece of pottery.
Spa Hamam – Spa Marin or Hera Hotel
From the moment you enter the Turkish bath you will be stepping into a haven of relaxation and tranquillity. The ‘camekan’ is the reception and changing room and also the cooling room where you drink tea afterwards. You can be as modest as you like, wearing a costume or a bikini. You are supplied with a sarong and a pair of clogs. You then move into the ‘sogukluk’ which is a passageway where there are normally lavatories. Next is the ‘hararet’, the hot room where the washing and massage take place. It is the most elaborate chamber of all, with a large central marble slab called a ‘belly’ stone heated from below, a high domed ceiling, marble alcoves and basins and taps encircling the marble slab. Once you have worked up a sweat you will be rubbed with a camel hair glove. This is followed by a warm soapy wash and finally a rigorous but relaxing massage, all performed by a friendly Turkish masseur. Leaving you squeaky clean and relaxed the whole ritual takes about an hour. Its great fun and a most sociable occasion.
There are a couple of Turkish spas in Kas. The most popular are the spas at the Spa Marin at the marina, Hera Hotel and Phellos Hotel on Kücük Ҫakıl.
Barber
The luxury of an old-fashioned shave. First, you have your hair washed, together with a really good scalp massage, after the cutting of the hair, a neck and shoulder massage, then comes the shave. The barber will approach you with an old-fashioned cutthroat razor after the shave your face will feel as smooth as a baby’s bottom. The barber will then dip a cotton bud into a liquid and set it alight. Very quickly he’ll pass it by your nostrils and earlobes singeing the hair whilst doing so. You will be left, feeling squeaky clean and 10 years younger. The barber will then splash you all over with refreshing lemon cologne.
There are several Turkish Barbers around town for you to choose from so which ever you think looks the more inviting.
For more energetic pursuits there are many sporting activities on offer in and around Kaş. Paragliding, Scuba diving & snorkelling, mountain biking, trekking, horse riding, sailing and kayaking to name a few. If you are interested in getting involved we can help you to arrange this.
Paragliding
You will descend from the summit overlooking Kaş and start a slow gentle descent over the mountainside, the town and the coast. The best views of Kas and a wonderful experience. The landing is in the old harbour.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
Kaş belongs to the Top 100 diving destinations worldwide. This is because this area has lots of underwater life, combined with very clear water (up to 40 meters visibility) and beautiful underwater landscapes.
Cycling / Mountain Biking
You can hire some bikes and take to the mountains and country roads around Kaş. Some of the ascents are challenging but it is a great way to see the near countryside. However, it’s best enjoyed in early or late summer as the temperatures in July and August make it rather uncomfortable. Some of the local tour guide offices arrange daily cycling tours.
Hiking/Trekking
As Kaş sits in the Lycian Way walking trail there are many paths and trails in the local area which are good for a leisurely stroll or serious walking. If you are interested we can provide you with directions and guidance depending on what you are looking for.
Sailing
Sailing lessons are provided on the bay opposite the Kaş Marina.
Horse Riding
This is possible at Phellos, which is about 10 minutes’ drive from Kaş, and Patara beach.
Day Trips
Meis: The Greek Island of Megisti, or Kastellorizo
Meis is just over 3 nautical miles off the Turkish coast, the closest Greek Island to the Turkish mainland. During the high season, ferries run daily from Kaş leaving at 10 am and returning at 4 pm. It makes for a very interesting day out. The harbour area is very picturesque with many restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy lunch or a coffee under the watchful of the turtles swimming by the dockside. There are many back streets and coastal paths to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. There are organised boat trips from Kastellorizo to the Blue Cave in the south-east of the island. It is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. In the morning the reflection from the sun puts the cave in a blue light.
Meis is amongst the smallest of inhabited islands of the Dodecanese archipelago and is the most distant from the Greek mainland. An island 6km long and 3km wide. The highest point of the island is Mt Vigla at 273m, the terrain is very barren and hard limestone. The island has had an interesting history being under the control of the Turks until 1915 with the population peaking at about 9,000 people. The island’s prosperity was based around regular trading with Kaş and Kalkan but as ties were gradually severed with Greece this naturally suffered. The island was reclaimed by Italy in 1921 and thus all the peoples of the Dodecanese became legal Italian subjects. In 1926 an earthquake caused widespread destruction, and gradual restrictions placed on the inhabitants by the Italians meant that by 1940 due to emigration the population had fallen to approximately 1,400. In 1941 the British succeeded in overthrowing the Italians for a short-lived period but the Italians soon regained power until their surrender of 1944 and a subsequent fire completed the devastation. At the end of WW2 with the British in control and the inhabitants still classified as Italian, there was a heated debate as to whether Kastellorizo should be joined to Turkey or Greece. Eventually, in 1947 the Dodecanese, including Kastellorizo was reunited with Greece. From the 1970’s to today many families have returned to restore their family homes. In the mid-1980s an airstrip was introduced onto the top plateau of the island to help with the summer tourist trade, and now there are regular flights in the summer to and from Athens and Rhodes. The population is currently floating around the 200 mark and the military base on the island helps this significantly.
Kekova, the “Sunken City” less than 45 minutes’ drive east by car.
Forty minutes by car from Kaş, a turn off from the Antalya road will bring you to the delightful fishing village of Űҫaǧız (three mouths). Űҫaǧız village is in an idyllic setting on a bay amid islands and peninsulas. From here it is an easy step to hire a boat and visit Kekova Island and the sunken city. (Batık Șehir). Alternatively, you can take a day’s boat trip to Kekova Island from Kaş. This will give you the opportunity to enjoy the coastal views and some swimming along the way.
Along the shore of the island are Byzantine ruins, partly submerged below the sea. These are a result of a series of terrible earthquakes during the 2nd Century AD, most of what you can still see is said to be the residential part of ancient Simena. Foundations of buildings, staircases and the old harbour can still be viewed. A short distance by boat from the sunken city is Kalekӧy, a truly idyllic village overlooking this magnificent coastline. The village is home to the ruins of ancient Simena and spectacular views. A little theatre is cut into the rock and nearby you will find ruins of several temples and public baths, several sarcophagi and Lycian tombs. Kalekӧy is accessible only from Űҫaǧız by motorboat (10 minutes) or on foot (45 minutes) along a rough track which incidentally is part of the Lycian Way walk.
Saklikent Gorge: just under an hour by car.
Saklikent is an 18km long gorge set in a rural farming area. As you approach, walk under the bridge and along a 150-metre wooden catwalk spiked into the canyon walls, ending at springs which bubble up under great pressure from the base of the towering cliffs, adding to the torrent of water rushing down from the top of the gorge. During the summer months, the water levels decrease and it is possible to walk up inside the gorge for some 2km although this is largely a wading experience requiring rubber shoes. The sun never penetrates to the depths of the gorge ensuring shade to walk in and the water can be freezing cold, as it comes from the 3000m high Mount Akdaǧ.
Once there you will notice that there are lots of lovely cool, shady restaurants along the river to relax and enjoy the local speciality which is trout (Alabalık).
Patara: 45 minutes by car.
Patara was a powerful Lycian city. Today it is also well known for its spectacular 18km white sand beach, the longest and widest in Turkey, and one which, unlike much of the Mediterranean, has a tide that allows body surfing. The beach is also a breeding ground for the loggerhead turtles, and as a result, the beach is protected. Behind the sand dunes is the vast archaeological site, an important Lycian city and also the birthplace of St. Nicholas. Legend has it that this was the winter home of the sun god, Apollo, and had an oracle as famous as the one in Delphi. Patara was prosperous trading port before the sand engulfed the river in the Middle Ages. Today, the ruins are scattered over a huge area among the fields and dunes, many of them overgrown or hidden under the shifting sands that have drifted in and invaded much of the site.
Xanthos: about 40minutes by car.
Set in a beautiful location at Kınık, above Eşen Ҫayi (formerly the Xanthos River). Xanthos was the capital of the Lycian Confederation. Many of the tombs and relics (including the marble top to the Harpy Tomb, which has since been replaced by a cement cast of the original) can now be viewed in the British Museum. Sir Charles Fellows carrying off the greater part of its moveable artworks during his excavations of 1842.
The Lycians were a fiercely independent race, believed to have been of Cretan origin. They settled and defended the wide peninsula between Antalya and Dalaman around 1400BC. They had their own language, inscriptions of which many are still to be found and as yet, not fully understood. When the Persians besieged the city of Xanthos, in around 540BC, rather than surrender, the men burned their families and belongings before fighting to their death. Only 80 families summering in the upper pastures survived. Again in 42BC Brutus laid siege to the city, there was a mass suicide with only 150 Xanthians surviving. What remains, however, is spectacular, most notably the mosaic floors and theatre.
Tlos: just over an hour by car
Set high on Akdag, above the Xanthos plain, Tlos is built on a rocky promontory, so affording breathtaking views of the entire valley down to its capital on a clear day. As well as being the most ancient, it is referred to in Hittite records of the 14th century BC, Tlos was one of the most important settlements of the Lycian Empire and remained inhabited during the entire Byzantine era.
The home of the legendary winged horse, Pegasus, and later a 19th Century brigand known as, ‘Bloody King Ali’ who killed his own wayward daughter to save the family reputation. Tlos is actually three ancient sites in one. Firstly the spectacular rock tombs set in the side of a high rocky promontory, secondly Roman remains, and thirdly an Ottoman Turkish fortress dominates the Acropolis hill. Fine examples of sarcophagi, a theatre, a Roman stadium and baths, and a Byzantine church remain.
Letoӧn: 45 minutes by car
The Letoӧn, the shrine of the goddess Leto, was the official religious sanctuary of the Lycian Federation, where national festivals were celebrated and there are extensive ruins, including three temples, dedicated to Artemis, Leto and Apollo, a nymphaeum and a well-preserved theatre.
Arykanda: about 90 minutes Northeast by car.
It is widely acknowledged that the ancient city of Arykanda and the journey to it from Kaş offers some of the most breathtaking scenery to be found in Turkey. Heading into the mountainous hinterland and hamlets you can see traditional village life, the locals busy in the fields and an abundance of crops and flora. Arranged on terraces cut into the steep south-facing hillside overlooking the pine forested valley between the Akdaǧ and Bey mountain ranges, Arykanda’s remains are both extensive and impressive. Dating back to the 5th century BC, they include; a large basilica with mosaic flooring undergoing restoration, a 10m high façade of the baths, temple tombs, an Odeon, an outstanding theatre, a stadium curiously at the highest level and much more. Take the main road 32km due south to the seaside town of Finike, you can return via the spectacular coastal road at sunset.
Elmalı: two and a half hours north by car.
Directly behind Kaş and Kalkan is the highest mountain in the region. Akdaǧ dominates a host of fertile valleys dotted with traditional villages and towns where the weather is cooler, the scenery spectacular and the atmosphere relaxed. The perfect introduction to Turkish community life and hospitality is a visit to Elmalı renowned for its fruit orchards and agriculture, substantially apples and sugar beet, the name Elmalı literally means “with apples”. The colours, sounds and smells of the fruit and vegetable market, where produce can still be seen arriving by donkey and cart, set the scene. Venture amongst the large number of Ottoman, timber – framed houses, whose higgledy-piggledy balconies straddle a maze of cobbled streets and alleyways ascending the hillside to the west. On the East side of the main road, the early 17th century Ӧmerpaşa Cami is a fine Classical Ottoman mosque open at prayer times and nearby the 16th century Bey Hamamı, where men can enjoy a traditional Turkish bath every day except Saturday, which is ladies day.
An essential part of the day is to join the townsfolk for lunch in a local Lokanta and pick up some unusual souvenirs from the artisan workshops, handmade sweets, intricate woodwork and colourful woven cloth.
Myra and the Church of Saint Nicholas
The coast east of Kaş offers beautiful bays, Lycian tombs and ancient sites. The town of Demre (modern name Kale), 50kms from Kaş is set in a fertile plain, now completely covered by greenhouses, between mountains and sea. One of the six most important cities of the Lycian Confederation, Myra, lies 2kms to the north. The way, well signposted, is via orchards of citrus trees. The site is open from 8 am and if you can get there before 10 am the house-style rock tombs regarded as the finest in Lycia benefit from the morning sun. Surviving reliefs include; a funerary scene, battle and presentation scenes. The large Greco-Roman theatre, one of the most important of Lycia, was rebuilt after an earthquake that devastated the city in AD141 and adapted for gladiatorial games. The second site known as the River Necropolis, 1500m inland contains several fine tombs including one, the Painted tomb, whose decoration still retains traces of red and blue.
Church of Saint Nicholas
The Church of Saint Nicholas situated in the centre of Demre would be a shame to miss should you be in the vicinity. Saint Nicholas, latterly Santa Claus, was born at Patara in the AD300 and became the Byzantine bishop of ancient Myra. Visitors to his tomb here told of wondrous events, bringing about his canonisation. Today’s church, however, dates to the 7th century and the Saint’s supposed sarcophagus is not considered genuine, the original having been destroyed in 1087 by Italian merchants absconding with most of the bones it contained. The present museum, gardens and the quirky souvenirs available area a pleasant distraction.
Olympos and the Chimaera
A geological phenomenon known as the Chimaera or Eternal Flame is one of the most unusual sites of Lycia. It is reached via 7km turn-off, to the hamlet of Ҫıralı, from the main coastal road approximately 140kms east of Kaş. In the foothills of Tahtalı Daǧ (Wooden Mountain), is a rocky hillside from which a uniquely formulated, natural gas escapes, resulting in a series of flames issuing from the fissures. The fire has been burning since antiquity and spawned many legends in mythology. Most notably the worship of Hephaistos (Vulcan to the Romans), God of Fire and that of the fire-breathing monster with a lion’s head and forelegs, a goat’s rear and a snake for a tail, which is the Chimaera.
Also accessible from the main road but more pleasantly approached by walking for 15 minutes south along the long, sandy beach from Ҫıralı are the ruins of Olympos, one of six major cities of the Lycian Confederation. There were over 20 mountains sharing the name of Olympos in the classical world. Although little remains and due to the luxuriant vegetation, exploration is not easy, the setting on the banks of an oleander and a fig-shaded stream is idyllic. A medieval castle and Byzantine-Genoese fortifications offer superb views of the beach from each bank of the creek. Most of the theatre seats have vanished leaving one entrance arch visible in the tangled growth. Aqueduct troughs provide the best pathways to a Byzantine villa with mosaic floors, a mausoleum-style tomb and a 5m high marble frame believed to be that of a temple. Cool off with a swim in the clear waters at one of the three small secluded bays which contain the ruins of Phaselis 20kms further north or visit the fine beach at Andriake near Demre on the return journey to Kaş.