Beldibi→Kalkan

This is one of the prettier drives on the Turkish Riviera, and it is not a short one. The route covers 113 km and takes about 119 minutes, so plan on a little over two hours in the car before you reach the door of your villa or hotel. Beldibi sits under the pine-clad foothills of the Taurus Mountains, a quiet beach resort strip between Antalya and Kemer. Kalkan is a different world: a whitewashed hill town of bougainvillea, rooftop restaurants and small yachts, on the Lycian coast towards Kaş and Fethiye.

Most guests make this journey to change the character of a holiday. They leave the family-friendly beach hotels of the Kemer and Beldibi belt and head for Kalkan's quieter villa and harbour scene. A private transfer from Turkey Transfer takes you from your Beldibi accommodation to your Kalkan address without a change of vehicle. This page explains the road, the stops on the way, and what to expect when you arrive.

The journey follows the coast road, the D400, westward and then southward along the edge of the Mediterranean. It is a scenic road, and the scenery changes every half hour. First come the pine forests of the Kemer coast. Then the greenhouse plains, then the cliffs of the Lycian shore. The last part is a winding road with the sea far below. Sit on the sea side of the car if you can.

Leaving Beldibi

Your driver collects you at the entrance of your hotel or apartment in Beldibi. From there the road runs along the coast with the mountain on one side and the beach strip on the other. Göynük, with its canyon, is the next place along the shore. After that comes Kemer, where the road passes the yacht marina area and the busiest part of the resort belt. Kemer is where traffic is most likely to slow you down in high season, because holiday coaches, rental cars and local buses all share the same road.

The Kemer and Tekirova coast

South of Kemer the road climbs and dips through pine forest, with glimpses of small coves and the long ridge of the Taurus rising to your left. This is the coast of Tekirova and the ancient city of Phaselis, which sits across three natural harbours inside a pine forest. The road is busy with excursion buses on summer mornings. The ruins are worth a visit on another day. On this transfer you pass without stopping unless you ask.

Kumluca, Finike and the greenhouse plains

Beyond the Phaselis coast the landscape opens up. The mountains step back, and the road crosses broad coastal plains. This is farming country. You see long rows of greenhouses, orange and citrus groves, and small towns such as Kumluca and Finike. For many visitors this is the most surprising part of the drive, because it looks nothing like a postcard beach resort. It shows how much of this coast is a working agricultural region, and the fruit and vegetables on your Kalkan restaurant table probably grow here.

The road is straighter and faster on the plains. Drivers often make up time here, which is why the total journey time stays close to the 119 minutes given for this route. Towns along this stretch have cafés, so a comfort stop is easy.

Demre and Myra

Near Demre the road passes close to the ancient Lycian town of Myra and the church of St Nicholas. Both sit just off the highway. The rock-cut Lycian tombs carved into the cliff face above the town are visible from the road when the light is good. St Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of Myra, is the historical figure behind the Santa Claus story, and the church dedicated to him draws visitors all year. A short stop here turns a long transfer into a small sightseeing break. Tell your driver when you book, or on the day, and the stop can be arranged. A long stop adds to the total journey, so mention it early if your schedule is tight.

Kaş and the final stretch

After Demre the road climbs again, and the last part of the drive is the most dramatic. The coast road rises above the sea, with sweeping views over the water. You pass the turn to the Kekova area, with its sunken ruins, and then reach the harbour town of Kaş. From Kaş the road to Kalkan hugs the coastline with long sea views. The Greek island of Kastellorizo, known in Turkey as Meis, looks very close on clear days, and Kalkan's rooftop restaurants are famous for their view of it.

Between Kaş and Kalkan the road passes Kaputaş, a narrow beach at the foot of a gorge, where a tiny strip of sand and turquoise water sits between two cliffs. It is one of the most photographed spots on this coast. If you want a photograph, ask your driver to pause at the viewpoint above it. The bay is visible from the road, and the stop takes only a few minutes.

Typical and busy times

The planned duration of 119 minutes is a typical figure for a normal day. In July and August expect the road around Kemer and the approaches to Kaş to be slower, especially from mid-morning to late afternoon. Weekends and villa changeover days are busier. Early morning and late evening are quieter. In spring and autumn the road is calm. Your driver adjusts to the traffic on the day, so you arrive relaxed.

Beldibi is a small place, and finding your door is easy. Most guests stay on or just behind the beach road, in hotels such as Nirvana Mediterranean Excellence, Larissa Beldibi, Club Palm Beach and Sultan Beldibi. Our drivers go straight to the hotel entrance, so there are no transfer-bus stops and no waiting for other passengers to be dropped off first. If you stay in an apartment or a villa in the hills behind the beach, send us the address and a phone number we can use.

Give yourself a few minutes before the pickup time to settle the hotel bill and check the room. Your driver helps load the bags. If you have golf clubs, a pushchair or a large suitcase, tell us when you book so we choose a vehicle with enough room.

A late morning pickup works well for most guests. It lets you finish breakfast, take a last swim and still reach Kalkan in the afternoon, in time to check in, find the harbour and see the sunset. If your Kalkan villa has a fixed check-in time, ask the owner what it is before you pick your departure time.

Kalkan is built on a steep hillside above the sea, and many of its streets are narrow. This matters on the day of arrival. The old town, with its stone houses and cobbled lanes, is partly pedestrian, and large vehicles cannot always reach the front door. The driver takes you as close as the road allows. Then the driver helps you carry your bags the last stretch on foot if needed. Villas on the hills above the town usually have private access roads, but some end with a short walk or a flight of steps.

To make drop-off easy, send us three things when you book. The first is the name of the villa or hotel. The second is the exact address or a map pin. The third is a phone number for the owner or the property manager. In Kalkan, villa addresses are often described by the name of the neighbourhood and the property, and a map pin removes doubt. If you arrive at night, the pin also helps the driver find a place in the dark.

If you do not yet have a place to stay, ask for the harbour or the main street as the drop-off point. Both are central, and you can walk to restaurants and the shops from either one.

Kalkan is small, but the area where you stay changes the holiday. Here are the main choices.

• The old town and the main street. This is the heart of Kalkan. The old town has Ottoman and Greek stone houses, boutique hotels and rooftop terraces, with shops and restaurants close by. It suits couples and friends who want to walk to dinner and have no need of a car. It is livelier in the evening, so light sleepers should ask about noise before booking.
• The harbour. The small harbour sits at the foot of the old town. Yachts and gulets moor here, and boat trips leave from the quay. It suits guests who want the sea and the evening promenade on the doorstep. The climb back up to the hotel can be steep, so it is worth considering your walking ability.
• The hillside villas above town. Many visitors rent private villas with a pool and a sea view. These suit families and groups who want space and privacy. The walk back up at night is steep, so most villa guests use a car or a taxi.
• The bay and beach side. The coast east and west of the harbour has pebble coves and beach platforms. This is the choice for guests who want to swim every morning without a long walk.
• The villages above Kalkan. Villages in the hills, such as Islamlar, are quieter and cooler in summer. They suit guests who like mountain air and trout restaurants, and who are happy to drive down to the coast.

Because Kalkan has no airport and no railway, almost everyone arrives by road. A private car is far simpler than changing between intercity buses through the Antalya bus station, and it is especially useful if your villa is up a steep hill.

Kalkan is not a long-sand-beach destination. Its charm is in small pebble coves, sea platforms and beach clubs where you step from a sunbed into deep, clear water. Kalkan's main public beach is a modest pebble bay, and several beach clubs along the coast offer sunbeds and a place to eat. Many hotels and villas have a pool, so guests often swim at the pool in the morning and go to the sea in the afternoon. In the evening the town turns to the harbour, where people walk the quay before dinner.

For long sand, travellers go to Patara, west of Kalkan. Patara has one of the longest beaches on the Turkish coast and a ruined ancient city behind it, including a historic lighthouse and the remains of a Lycian assembly hall. A visit is easy from Kalkan by car or taxi, and it fits well into a half-day trip.

The old town is the best place to see Kalkan's character. The houses are built of stone, with wooden balconies and flowers on the walls. Streets run steeply to the harbour. Walk down in the late afternoon, when the light is soft and the shops open after the midday heat. Kalkan was a Greek-speaking fishing village in the past, and the old houses show it.

Evenings are the heart of Kalkan. The town is known for rooftop restaurants with views across the bay towards Kastellorizo, and the standard of food is high. You will find Turkish meze, grilled fish, lamb dishes, and local vegetables and olive oil. Dining is unhurried here, so book a table in advance in high season.

After dinner the town stays calm and sophisticated, not loud. There are cocktail bars along the main street and near the harbour, and some places play live music in summer. If you want a big club night, this is not the town for it, and you will get more nightlife in Kemer or Antalya. Kalkan suits couples and groups who like a drink on a terrace and a late stroll back to the villa.

On the way from Beldibi, the cafés near Demre and Kaş offer lunch if you leave in the morning. Kaş itself has a harbour with many restaurants, and some guests like to eat there and arrive in Kalkan in the evening. Tell your driver if you want a lunch stop.

The transfer is a long ride for small children, so some planning helps. Child seats are available on request, and you should tell us the age and weight of each child when you book. Pack snacks, water and a change of clothes. A short break at a café near Demre or the Kaş overlook often helps children who get car sick.

With a baby or toddler, plan the drive around nap time. The plains near Kumluca and Finike are the smoothest part of the trip, and the winding section after Demre is easier for a fed and rested child.

In Kalkan itself, families usually choose a villa with a private pool. Check that the pool has a fence or a safe access area, and ask the owner about steps and terraces, because the town is steep and not pushchair-friendly. The beach platforms have steps into the sea, so younger children need careful supervision. For a gentler swim, look for a quiet cove, or use the villa pool.

For older children, Kaputaş beach, boat trips and a day trip to Patara are the highlights.

Because this is a long drive, timing matters. A late evening departure from Beldibi means you arrive in Kalkan after dark, and the road after Demre is winding with few lights. Our drivers are used to night driving on this coast, but you should tell us your expected arrival time so the villa owner or hotel reception is ready to meet you. Check that someone will be there to hand over the keys. A late arrival at a villa up a hill is much easier if the owner knows when to expect you.

For an early-morning departure, for example if you want to reach Kalkan for a boat trip or a morning check-in, the road is at its quietest before the excursion buses start. Tell the hotel the evening before if you want to ask about an early or packed breakfast.

If you arrive in Antalya late at night on a charter flight and need to reach Kalkan, tell us the flight number when you book. We follow arrivals, and the driver can wait if the flight is delayed. The journey from the airport to Kalkan is longer than the 113 km Beldibi to Kalkan section, so allow enough time and arrange a late check-in with your villa.

When you leave Kalkan for Antalya Airport, plan carefully. The drive from Kalkan back towards the Antalya area takes about as long as the 119 minutes of this route, and the airport adds a little more, because it lies on the far side of Antalya city. On top of the drive, allow for check-in and security. For an international flight, most travellers arrive about three hours before departure. Add a buffer for traffic around Kemer and Antalya, and you can work out your pickup time.

As a guide, an afternoon flight means a morning departure from Kalkan, and an early-morning flight means leaving in the middle of the night. Many travellers choose to spend the last night closer to the airport to avoid a pre-dawn drive. If you must leave Kalkan very early, ask your villa owner about an early breakfast and have your bags by the door the night before.

In high season, add extra time. We can arrange the return transfer with the same driver, so one booking covers both legs of the journey. The driver meets you at the villa or hotel at the agreed time and helps with bags.

Kalkan is a good base, and many day trips are close by.

• Patara. A long sandy beach and an ancient city on the coast to the west. It is the best beach choice in the area for a long swim and a walk.
• Xanthos and Letoon. Ancient Lycian sites inland from Patara, often visited together. They are quiet and suit history lovers.
• Kaputaş. A small beach at the foot of a gorge, between Kalkan and Kaş. It is a short drive and good for a swim and a photograph.
• Kaş. A lively harbour town with shops, cafés and a lively old quarter. It is a short drive east of Kalkan, and boat trips and diving trips leave from here. Ferries to Kastellorizo also run from Kaş in the season, so check the details and bring your passport.
• Kekova, Üçağız and Simena. A boat trip to the sunken ruins in the bay, with a stop at a village that can only be reached by sea. It is usually a full day.

Kalkan has a Mediterranean climate with a long season. Summers are hot, with temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius and more, and winters are mild, with daytime highs around 15 degrees. The sea season runs from April to November, and the sea is warmest in late summer and early autumn.

• Spring (April to June). The countryside is green and the sea is cool but pleasant by late spring. The roads are quieter.
• Summer (July and August). The hottest and busiest months. Start the drive in the morning to avoid the heat of the day, and bring water.
• Autumn (September to November). The sea stays warm, the light is soft and the crowds fall. The drive is easy and the evenings are mild.
• Winter (December to March). Mild but quieter. The road can be wet after rain, and your driver adjusts speed to the conditions.

Tell us your Beldibi hotel or apartment and your Kalkan address, and we confirm the price for the whole vehicle in advance. It is a price per vehicle and not per person, and there is no meter. The driver meets you at your accommodation entrance at the agreed time, helps load the bags and takes the most sensible route on the day. Bottled water and child seats are available on request. Tell us the number of passengers and the amount of luggage so we send a vehicle with the right size.

Booking early in July and August helps you secure the pickup time you want, because those months are the busiest on the coast road.

How long does the Beldibi to Kalkan transfer take?

Plan on roughly two hours for the 113 km, with a typical journey time of about 119 minutes. In summer the road around Kemer and Kaş can be busier, so allow extra time if you have a fixed appointment at the other end.

Can I stop on the way?

Yes. Popular stops are Demre, for Myra and the church of St Nicholas, a café break near Kaş, and the viewpoint above Kaputaş. Tell your driver or mention it when you book.

Can you collect from any hotel in Beldibi?

Yes. We pick up from any hotel, villa or apartment along the Beldibi strip. We take you to your exact address in Kalkan: the harbour, the old town or one of the villas on the hillside above.

Is there an airport in Kalkan?

Kalkan has no airport of its own, so most guests arrive by road.