Kundu→Kalkan

This transfer links two very different kinds of holiday. Kundu is a flat, sandy stretch of big all-inclusive resorts east of Antalya city. Kalkan is a small hillside town in the old Lycian country, with white houses stacked above a bay, rooftop restaurants and villas with private pools. Between them lie about 140 km of road and roughly 147 minutes of driving, which is a little under two and a half hours without stops. Almost all of it follows the coast, so the journey is part of the holiday and not only a way to get from one bed to another.

A private transfer from Turkey Transfer collects you at your Kundu hotel and takes you to your Kalkan hotel or villa. You do not change vehicles and you do not wait at a bus station. Nobody else is in the car, so you can ask for a stop at a beach, a bakery or a viewpoint whenever one catches your eye. This page describes the road, the town at the end of it, and how to plan the day so that it feels easy for everyone, including children.

The first part of the journey is the least scenic and the most likely to be slow. You leave the Kundu strip, with its resort gates and red pine forest behind the beach, and head west toward the centre of Antalya. The road passes the Lara coast and the area near the Lower Düden Waterfalls, then enters the city's busy ring of avenues. This is where traffic can add time, especially in the morning when people head to work and in the evening when they return.

West of the old town, the road runs above the long pebble sweep of Konyaaltı beach, with the Beydağları range rising behind it. Once you pass Konyaaltı the city thins out and the real coast road begins.

Beyond Antalya the road follows the shore past Beldibi and Göynük and into Kemer. From here the mountains come close to the sea. The slopes are covered in pine, and the road rises and falls between small coves where the water is a vivid turquoise. Tekirova lies a little further on, and close by is the ancient city of Phaselis, set in a pine-lined harbour that is easy to spot from the road if you know where to look.

This is a good place for a first break if anyone in the car is restless. Kemer has plenty of cafés and petrol stations, and you will not find as many convenient stopping places for a while after this.

After Tekirova the road climbs through the forested headland and the villages become smaller. Turnings lead down to Çıralı and Olympos, famous for their ruins and for the flames of the Chimaera on the hillside, and to the quiet bay of Adrasan. You do not need to go to any of them to enjoy the view, because the highway gives you glimpses of the coastline from above for much of this section.

Then the landscape opens up. The coastal plain around Kumluca is covered in greenhouses and citrus orchards. Finike is known for its oranges, and in the right season the air smells of fruit and warm earth. This is the flattest and fastest part of the journey, and it is a pleasant change after the bends of the forest road.

Demre sits at the edge of the plain. The town is best known for ancient Myra, with its rock-cut Lycian tombs carved into the cliff, and for the church linked to St Nicholas. From the main road you can also see signs for Kekova, the sunken ruins and boat trips to Üçağız and Kaleköy. If you want to see Myra on the way, tell us at booking so that your driver can plan the time.

After Demre the road leaves the plain and climbs again. The last stretch before Kaş is the most winding part of the whole route. Hills fall steeply to the sea and the road follows them in long curves. Passengers who feel sick in cars may prefer the front seat here. A few minutes with the window open can also help.

Kaş is a small harbour town with a pretty old quarter and a lively waterfront. Across the water you can see the Greek island of Kastellorizo, which is a short ferry ride away in season. It is a pleasant place for a late coffee, a swim or a longer lunch.

Beyond Kaş the road follows the cliffs toward Kalkan, and it is on this stretch that you reach Kaputaş. The beach lies at the foot of a narrow gorge between steep rock walls, and a long flight of steps leads down to it from the road. The sand and the colour of the water make it one of the best-known photo spots on the coast. If you ask your driver to pause at the viewpoint above, you can take pictures without having to climb down. If you want to swim, allow extra time for the steps in both directions.

Soon after Kaputaş the road begins to descend. Kalkan appears below, with the roofs of the old houses, the small harbour and the bay opening out in front of you.

The 147 minutes is the driving time without stops. Real journeys are a little longer, because most people pause at least once. A coffee break adds 15 to 20 minutes. A visit to Myra or Kaputaş can add an hour or more. In July and August, when the coast road carries more traffic, slow lorries and holiday coaches can lengthen the winding sections. The road is quieter outside the main season, and in spring and autumn the same drive often feels shorter.

As a rule of thumb, plan for three hours in your day if you want a stop and a relaxed pace. If you have a villa key appointment, a restaurant booking or a boat trip on the day of arrival, build in a margin rather than counting on the exact minutes.

Over this distance the practical differences are clear. A long bus route may involve a change of buses or a drop-off at Kalkan's bus stop, from where you still have to reach your accommodation with your luggage. Kalkan's hillside lanes are steep, and a villa can be a long way up a slope. With a private transfer you leave from your hotel door and arrive as close to your accommodation as the road allows. You control the air conditioning and the music, and you can ask for a toilet stop when you need one.

Our vehicles are air-conditioned. Child and infant seats are available on request, so tell us your child's age and weight when you book and we will fit the right seat before pickup. If you are travelling as a larger group, we can send a minibus, so everyone stays together and the luggage stays in one vehicle. Mention any surfboards, golf bags, pushchairs or extra suitcases at booking, and we will choose the right vehicle for them.

Kundu hotels are large, and each has its own way of handling arrivals and departures. We regularly collect guests from Titanic Beach Lara, Delphin Imperial, Delphin Palace, Nirvana Cosmopolitan and Royal Holiday Palace. Some of these hotels have a lobby set back from the road behind gardens, and some have a pickup point that is not at the front entrance you might expect. Our drivers know these details, so you do not have to carry your bags around the grounds looking for the car.

To make the start smooth:

• Check out of your room and settle any bar or minibar bills before the pickup time, since resort checkouts can take longer at busy hours.
• Put medication, snacks, water and anything the children need in a small bag that stays with you in the cabin, not in the luggage space.
• Give us your mobile number and your Kalkan address at booking, so the driver can contact you if the hotel has several entrances.

An early start is usually the best choice. A departure in the early morning avoids the worst of Antalya's city traffic, gives you more daylight for stops, and lets you reach Kalkan with the afternoon still ahead of you. A late start works too, but the winding stretches after Demre are less pleasant in the dark, and many travellers prefer to see the coast.

Kalkan is built on a steep slope above the sea, and that shapes everything about arrival. The old town has narrow stepped lanes, and many of them are closed to larger vehicles or too tight to turn in. Villa roads can be steep and winding, and a few are unpaved for the last part.

Our drivers know the town and the nearest places where a vehicle can stop. When the lane is too narrow for the car, the driver stops at the nearest accessible point and helps you with the luggage from there. This is normal in Kalkan, and it is the same for every vehicle. For a smooth arrival:

• Send us the exact name and address of your accommodation, and a map pin if the property has one.
• Give us the phone number of the owner, the property manager or the reception, so the driver can reach someone if the street layout is confusing.
• Check the expected check-in time with your host. Many hosts need notice of your arrival time so that someone can open the property.
• If you arrive late at night, tell your villa host in advance. Hillside properties can be hard to find in the dark, and a short message can save a long wait.

Hotels in the old town and around the harbour are easy to reach on foot once the car has stopped. Villas in the upper districts can need a longer walk, or a short ride in a smaller vehicle arranged by the owner, if the access road is very steep.

Kalkan is small, but the part you choose changes the feel of the stay. The words below describe the general character of each area. Check the exact distance from your property to the harbour before you book, because the slopes make a short distance feel longer on foot.

This is the heart of Kalkan. White houses with wooden balconies and bougainvillea stand along stepped streets, and the small harbour is lined with restaurants, cafés and shops. Rooftop restaurants have views over the bay, and in the evening the whole area fills with diners. It suits couples, friends and anyone who likes to walk to dinner, but it also means more noise at night in peak season. If you want an early night, ask for a room away from the main restaurant streets.

Kalamar is one of the bays near the centre. It is a good choice for guests who want to be near the water and also within reach of town. Hotels and apartments here face the sea. The beach options in Kalkan itself are modest, because the coast is rocky. Most visitors use sunbeds on platforms along the shore, or relax by a pool. If you want a long sandy beach, Patara is a short drive away.

Many Kalkan holidays are based in villas with private pools in the hills above town. The views over the bay and the quiet evenings are the main attraction, and the villas suit families and groups who want space and privacy. The trade-off is the slope. You need a car or taxi for most trips, and the walk back from dinner can be steep. For a family with small children, check the access to the property and whether there are many steps inside the villa grounds.

Small villages in the hills offer a quieter option, and some are known for farm-style restaurants and views over the valley. Islamlar, for example, is a village above Kalkan known for its restaurants and its cooler air in summer. The villages suit visitors who prefer a slow pace and are happy to use a car or transfer for beaches and shops.

Kalkan's own beaches are small, and this surprises some visitors who come from sandy Kundu. Do not treat that as a problem. The sea is deep blue and clear, and the choice of nearby beaches is wide.

• Kaputaş: a small cove beneath the road, framed by cliffs. It is beautiful but popular, so go early in the day in summer.
• Patara: a very long beach of fine sand with dunes behind it, next to the ruins of an ancient Lycian city. The beach is also a nesting site for sea turtles, and areas are protected, so follow the local rules and signs.
• Kalamar and the town platforms: easy swimming from sunbeds, usually combined with a drink or lunch.

For history, the region around Kalkan was the heartland of the ancient Lycians. Patara has a ruined gateway, a theatre and a lighthouse. Xanthos and Letoon, a short drive west, are among the best-known Lycian sites. Hills above the bay have rock tombs you can see from the road.

Kalkan has a reputation for food that is higher than its size would suggest. Evenings start slowly. People walk the harbour in the late afternoon, take a drink at a rooftop bar while the light changes, and sit down to dinner as the sun goes down. Menus mix Turkish meze, grilled fish and meat, and dishes with a Mediterranean twist. Seafood is a good choice by the harbour, and the meze plates are easy to share.

After the long Kundu to Kalkan drive, many guests are happy to eat close to their accommodation on the first night. If you plan to dine out, ask your host to book a table in advance for the first evening in peak season. Kalkan's nightlife is relaxed. There are bars and a few places with live music, but the character is of a small seaside town and not a party resort.

The journey is long for small children, so a little planning makes a big difference.

• Pack water, snacks and a few favourite toys or books in the cabin.
• Ask the driver to stop for a break roughly halfway. Kemer or Kumluca offers convenient places, and a short walk helps the whole family.
• Book the correct child seat in advance by giving us the child's age and weight.
• For children who get carsick, choose a morning departure, ask for the front seat for an older child and keep the windows or vents open through the bends after Demre.

Once you arrive, most Kalkan villas have private pools. Check the fencing and depth, and remember that the town's slopes and stairs can be demanding with pushchairs. Families who want a beach with easy access usually plan a day at Patara, where the sand is long and the water is shallow near the shore.

This route is hotel to hotel, so it is not tied to a flight, but many travellers connect it with one. A common pattern is to land at Antalya, spend a few days in Kundu and then move to Kalkan to finish the holiday. Antalya Airport lies about 18 km from Kundu, which usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. If you arrive late at night or in the small hours, you can book a night transfer. Night and early-morning journeys are routine for us, and your driver will be in touch before the pickup.

If you plan to leave Kundu very early to reach Kalkan for a boat trip or a lunch reservation, tell us the time you need to arrive and we will work back from it. Do not plan a tight connection on the day of a flight. If you need to fly out of Kalkan's side of the coast, Dalaman Airport is the nearest alternative to Antalya, and it is roughly an hour and a half from Kalkan by road. Check which airport your return flight uses before you book.

When your stay ends, the same road works in reverse. The 147 minutes is a useful starting figure for any journey from Kalkan toward the Antalya side of the coast. Add time for the airport. Allow for check-in and security, and add a margin for traffic in Antalya, which is heavier around midday and late afternoon in summer.

In practice:

• Leave Kalkan early. A morning flight needs a very early departure, and the road at night or before dawn can feel long after a late dinner.
• Tell us your flight time and the airport you use. We work out the pickup time from the flight, the road and a safe margin.
• If your flight is the next morning, consider a night in Antalya or Kundu, and sleep close to the airport.

If you base yourself in Kalkan for several days, these trips are easy to organise, and a private driver can take you to most of them.

• Patara: beach and ruins in one trip, about a short drive west of Kalkan.
• Xanthos and Letoon: ancient Lycian sites on the way to Fethiye.
• Saklıkent Gorge: a deep canyon where you can walk through cold water in summer.
• Kaş and Kekova: harbour town, boat trips over the sunken ruins and the island of Kastellorizo as a backdrop.
• Myra and Demre: rock tombs and the church of St Nicholas, on the route you drive on arrival.
• Fethiye and Ölüdeniz: further west, a longer day with a famous lagoon.

The Mediterranean climate gives this coast many sunny days. Summers are hot, often above 35 degrees, and winters are mild, with daytime highs around 15 degrees. The sea season runs from April to November, which is when most of Kalkan's businesses are open.

• Spring: wild flowers, clear light and quiet roads. A good time for sightseeing stops and for walking in the hills.
• Summer: hot, busy and long days. Expect heavier traffic on the coast road and book your transfer early. Early departures are cooler and avoid midday heat on the coast road.
• Autumn: warm sea, softer light and fewer crowds. Many visitors think this is the best season for the drive.
• Winter: mild but quieter. Some seasonal restaurants and hotels in Kalkan close, and mountain stretches can be wet after storms. Check ahead if you have a specific place in mind.

Give us your Kundu hotel, your Kalkan address, the date and time you want to leave, the number of passengers and any special luggage. Mention child seats, planned stops such as Kaputaş or Myra, and a contact number for the day. We will confirm your booking and send you the driver's details before the pickup.

With an early start and one or two good stops, the journey from Kundu to Kalkan can be one of the best days of your holiday.