Kalkan→Kundu

Kalkan and Kundu sit at opposite ends of the Turquoise Coast. Kalkan is a hillside town of whitewashed stone houses in the Kaş district, close to the western edge of Antalya province. Kundu is a flat, sandy resort district on the eastern side of Antalya city, built around large beachfront hotels. Between them lies one of the most scenic roads in Turkey.

The transfer covers about 140 km and takes around 2 hours 27 minutes on average, so plan for roughly two and a half hours in the car. It is a private point-to-point ride from one resort to another. There is no airport stop, and you do not share the vehicle with other passengers. Turkey Transfer collects you at your Kalkan accommodation and takes you to your Kundu hotel entrance.

This page explains what the drive is like, how to time it, and what to expect at each end. It also covers where to stay in Kundu, what to do there, and how to plan the trip back.

Most travellers on this route fall into a few groups. Some have spent a week or two in Kalkan and now want a second base in a big all-inclusive resort. Some have a flight from Antalya Airport and are travelling across the region to reach it. Others split a holiday on purpose, with a quiet fishing-village week followed by a week of long sandy beaches, kids' clubs and hotel entertainment.

Kundu suits that second half well. It sits close to Antalya Airport, with beach resorts along a broad stretch of coast, and it has a very different feel from Kalkan. Kalkan is about stone lanes, harbour dinners and small boutique hotels. Kundu is about wide beaches, big pools and hotels that run their own entertainment programmes. Travelling between them by private car lets you make that change in one comfortable move.

The route follows the coast road known as the D400. It runs east from Kalkan along the Mediterranean and carries you to Antalya. Nothing about the first hour is hurried. The road climbs and drops along the cliffs, and sea views keep appearing between the pines.

Kalkan to Kaş

The first stretch leaves the harbour area and climbs out of town. Soon you pass above the bays east of Kalkan. A short distance along is Kaputaş, a narrow cove below the road where a stone staircase leads down to a small beach. The water there is a strong turquoise colour, and the cliffs on both sides make it one of the most photographed places on this coast. Your driver can pause at the viewpoint above it if you ask when you book.

The road then continues towards Kaş, a small harbour town with Lycian rock tombs, a Greek-island view across the water, and a busy line of cafés and dive centres. The route passes through or beside Kaş, depending on traffic and road works. Because Kaş is on the way, you see it as part of the journey rather than at the start. If you want a coffee break, Kaş is the natural place to take one. A short break there costs very little extra time on a trip that already lasts about two and a half hours.

Kaş to Demre and Finike

East of Kaş the coast opens a little. The road runs through Kekova country, with bays and small islands offshore and a mix of scrub, pine and farmland on the inland side. Demre is the next town of any size. It is known for the Church of St Nicholas, which draws visitors interested in the early Christian story behind the Santa Claus legend, and for the Lycian rock tombs of ancient Myra just inland.

After Demre the land flattens and the greenhouses begin. This part of the coast is farming country, and you see plastic tunnels and citrus orchards rather than hotels. Finike follows, a harbour town with a working marina and a reputation for oranges. The Mediterranean stays in view for much of this stage, although the road sometimes pulls inland through valleys.

Kumluca, Olympos and Çıralı

Past Finike the road continues through Kumluca, another agricultural town. Side roads here lead to the Olympos and Çıralı area, a stretch of coast known for pine-shaded valleys, ancient ruins, and the natural gas flames of the Chimaera on the mountainside. These are more often day trips than stops on a transfer, but the junctions are a reminder of how much of the Lycian coast lies just off the main road.

The Gelidonya headland and Phaselis

Beyond Kumluca the road passes a rugged headland known for its lighthouse. Here the D400 hugs the coast with sea cliffs on one side and mountains rising on the other. The scenery is at its wildest in this section, with forest running almost to the water. Further on, the road passes Phaselis, a ruined ancient harbour city in a pine forest with three small bays. It is close to Tekirova, one of the Kemer area's resort villages.

Kemer and the approach to Antalya

Kemer is where the coast road becomes busier. You meet hotel complexes, roundabouts, shops and tourist traffic. The mountain behind the resort is Tahtalı, famous for its cable car. After Kemer, the road runs through the Göynük and Beldibi area and then drops towards the Antalya plain. Here the character of the journey changes. The empty coast gives way to a large city, and you travel through suburbs and junctions rather than between forest and cliff.

Through Antalya to Kundu

Your driver takes the route around the city rather than into its historic centre. Kundu lies on the eastern side of Antalya, beyond the airport area and the Lara coast. So you cross the city from west to east before you reach the beach district. The last part of the trip goes by the Lara and Kundu hotel strip. When you arrive, you will notice how flat the land is compared with the mountainous road you have just travelled.

The average journey time is 2 hours 27 minutes. That average hides some variation, and the main risk is traffic around Kemer and Antalya rather than the cliff road earlier on.

• Early morning. Leaving after breakfast, between about 08:00 and 09:00, usually gives the smoothest drive. The coast road is quiet, and you reach Antalya before the afternoon build-up.
• Late morning to mid-afternoon. This is the normal tourist window. Expect slower sections where the road passes through towns, and a few more vehicles near Kemer. The trip can run longer than the average, especially at weekends.
• Late afternoon. Traffic around Antalya is heavier as people return from the beach and from work. If you can choose, avoid arriving in Kundu in the early evening.
• Evening and night. The coast road is darker after sunset, so you see less of the scenery. Traffic is lighter and the driver may find the journey faster. If you have a late flight from Kalkan's region or an early arrival into Kundu, a night transfer works, but you miss the views.

Summer is the busiest season. In July and August the coast road carries more minibuses, coaches and holiday traffic, and Kemer and Antalya fill up. Spring and autumn are quieter. If your dates are flexible, aim for a morning departure in any season.

Allow extra time if you plan stops. A photo pause at Kaputaş, a coffee in Kaş and a short walk at Demre could add an hour or more to the trip. Tell us before you travel what you want to do, and the driver can plan the route around it.

Kalkan is built on a steep hillside, and many hotels and villas sit on narrow lanes that are hard for large vehicles to enter. Some are up steps or in the old part of town, and some sit on hills above the main road. Our drivers know this. When you book, give the exact name and address of your property, plus a phone number that works with WhatsApp. If the vehicle cannot reach the front door, the driver will tell you where to meet, usually at the nearest accessible point.

Be ready 10 minutes before the agreed time. Keep your passports and flight tickets with you, not in the luggage compartment. The driver helps you load your bags. If you are leaving a villa with a key box or a housekeeper, check out before the driver arrives so you do not hold up the schedule.

Kundu is a purpose-built resort area, and the large hotels have wide forecourts, reception halls and clear entrances. Drop-off is much simpler than in Kalkan. The driver pulls up at the main entrance, takes your luggage to the lobby area, and waits while you check that you are at the correct hotel.

Standard hotel check-in times in this region are usually in the early afternoon. If you arrive in the morning, the room may not be ready. Ask the front desk to store your bags. Most all-inclusive hotels let you use the pool, beach and restaurants while you wait. If you want to arrive when the room is available, schedule your pickup in Kalkan accordingly.

Kundu is part of Antalya's eastern resort belt. Hotels here sit along a sandy coast with gentle beach entry, and many are large, family-focused complexes. The area stretches into neighbouring districts to the west and east, so it helps to know the differences.

• Kundu itself. This is the core of the hotel strip. It suits families and groups who want a big resort with pools, water slides, clubs for children and organised activities. The beach is within walking distance of most properties.
• Lara, to the west. Lara is closer to Antalya city and is the most urban of the three. It suits travellers who want more restaurants, shops and the option of reaching the old town and city sights without a long ride.
• Aksu, nearby. Aksu sits beside Kundu and is quieter. It suits guests who want a resort holiday with less noise. There is a mix of hotels and local neighbourhoods, and prices vary by season.

If you have not yet chosen a hotel, think about what you want from the week. Choose Kundu or Lara for beach hotels with an Antalya city option. Choose a quieter pocket if you want calm. Whichever you pick, give us the exact hotel name when you book so the driver can head for the correct entrance.

The reason most people stay in Kundu is the beach. It is a long stretch of sand, and the sea is generally calm enough for children to paddle. Hotels operate sections of the shoreline with sunbeds, umbrellas and watersports. Many of these hotels have their own pools as well, so you can swim in the sea or stay by the water slides.

Beyond the hotel, a few things are worth knowing:

• The coast around Lara is known for its eroded cliffs, which in some places form a dramatic edge to the sea. Düden Waterfalls, where the Lower Düden stream drops into the Mediterranean, are within easy reach of the Lara area.
• Antalya's old town, Kaleiçi, is a short ride from the Lara and Kundu districts. It has Ottoman houses, a Roman harbour, and Hadrian's Gate, which is a monumental arch from the Roman period. It makes a good evening out.
• The Antalya Museum holds many finds from the region. It is a good choice on a day that is too hot for the beach.

Kundu is not a quiet fishing village. Its entertainment is the hotel entertainment, along with the nearby shops and restaurants. After Kalkan, expect a different rhythm: large buffet dining rooms, evening shows, and a lively pool scene.

In Kalkan you may have eaten mezze and grilled fish at a harbour table. Kundu offers a different kind of meal. Most visitors stay in all-inclusive hotels, which means buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks and drinks at the bars. If you want to try Turkish food outside the hotel, the Lara and Antalya areas have restaurants serving kebabs, pide, baklava and seafood.

Evenings in Kundu are usually spent at the hotel. Many resorts schedule shows, live music and children's entertainment. If you prefer a quieter night, take a stroll on the beach after dinner. For a change, take a taxi to the old town of Kaleiçi, where restaurants and bars stay open into the evening. Plan the ride back so you are not stranded late at night.

This route works well for families, particularly those moving from a villa in Kalkan to a family hotel in Kundu. A long drive with young children needs planning, and a private transfer helps in several ways.

• Child seats. Tell us the age and weight of each child when you book. We can arrange a suitable seat for the vehicle so it is in place before pickup.
• Breaks. With about 2 hours 27 minutes of driving, children usually need at least one stop. Ask the driver to pause at Kaş, where there are cafés and toilets, or at another roadside place on the way.
• Timing. Younger children often sleep in the car. A departure after breakfast, or just before a nap, means more of the journey passes quietly.
• Luggage. Families travel with strollers, bags and beach gear. Tell us the number of people and bags when booking so we send a vehicle with enough room.

On arrival, Kundu hotels are designed for families. Many have kids' clubs and children's pools. Ask at reception about the schedule when you check in.

Many guests make this trip to connect with a flight. Kundu is one of the closest resort areas to Antalya Airport, so once you are settled in a Kundu hotel, an early departure is easy. But if you are travelling from Kalkan to Kundu to be near the airport before an early flight, plan with care.

• If your flight is early the next morning. Leave Kalkan in the morning or early afternoon. Reach your Kundu hotel with time to rest. This also avoids driving the coast road in darkness after a long day.
• If you land at Antalya and are heading to Kalkan. That is the reverse route, and the same timing logic applies. Add your baggage collection time to the landing time before you plan the pickup.

Many guests book the return as well. The journey from Kundu back to Kalkan follows the same road in the opposite direction, so expect a similar duration, about 2 hours 27 minutes on average.

Think about the timing in reverse. Check-out in most hotels is in the morning, and your room will be due before the middle of the day. Leaving right after checkout puts you on the road before the afternoon peak around Antalya and Kemer. You also reach Kalkan in daylight, which helps when your driver is looking for a villa on a hillside lane.

If you are flying out of Dalaman rather than Antalya, remember that Kalkan is the nearer base for Dalaman Airport. The airport is on the western side of this coast. Give yourself ample time on the day, and book a separate airport transfer from Kalkan if you need one.

If you are flying out of Antalya Airport from Kundu, the journey is short and does not involve the long coast road. In that case, arrive at the airport in good time for check-in and security. Peak summer travel brings longer queues, so many travellers allow a generous margin.

Once you are settled in Kundu, you have a good base for exploring the region to the east and north of Antalya. A private car with a driver makes a day out simple, particularly with children or a group.

• Belek. Belek is the golf resort area east of Kundu, with large hotels and a long beach. It is close enough to include in a half-day.
• Aspendos. The Roman theatre at Aspendos is one of the best-preserved in the Mediterranean. It sits inland from the coast east of Antalya. Allow a morning or afternoon.
• Side. The ancient town of Side has a temple of Apollo on the seafront and a theatre. It combines ruins with beach, shops and restaurants.
• Pamukkale. The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale are a long day trip from Antalya, so start early and expect a full day.

The Turquoise Coast has a long season. Each part of the year changes how this route feels.

• Spring (April to May). The hills are green, the weather is mild, and traffic is lighter. Sea temperatures are still cool. This is a good time for sightseeing along the coast road.
• Early summer (June). Days are warm and long. The beach is open, and hotels fill. It is a comfortable time to travel by car.
• High summer (July and August). Temperatures are high, and the coast is crowded. The road is busier, especially around Kemer and Antalya. Start early, bring water, and expect a warm car if you stop in the sun. The sea is at its warmest.
• Autumn (September and October). The sea is still warm, crowds ease, and the light is soft. Many travellers consider this the best time for beach holidays and for the drive.
• Winter (November to March). Many seasonal businesses slow down, and some large hotels close for the season. Rain is more frequent, and the coast road may be wet. Allow more time and check the weather.

At about 140 km and 2 hours 27 minutes, this is a long ride between two resorts. Public options are limited. Minibuses and coaches generally stop in the town centres and need changes, which means carrying luggage between stations. A street taxi may not want a journey of this length, and hotel doormen cannot easily arrange one. A pre-booked private car avoids those problems. It picks you up where you are staying, follows the route you choose, and delivers you to the hotel in Kundu without changes.

When you book with Turkey Transfer, give your pickup address in Kalkan, your hotel in Kundu, the date and time, and the number of people. Mention children, so we can plan child seats. Mention if you want a stop at Kaputaş or Kaş. After booking, you receive the driver details and can message us on WhatsApp with any change.

A morning departure from Kalkan, a short pause on the coast road, and an early-afternoon arrival in Kundu make a comfortable day. Your holiday moves from stone lanes and harbour dinners to long sandy beaches, with the Turquoise Coast passing by the window.