Kalkan
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Kalkan
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Kalkan (Greek Kalamaki - Καλαμάκι) has mushroomed since the 1980s from a former Ottoman/Greek fishing port into a vibrant and often noisy tourist resort. The old town, rising up the slope above the small harbour, is now surrounded by a vast swathe of modern hotel and older houses jazzed up in many pastel colors. The harbour itself is hemmed in by bars, restaurants and discos. The harbour is, nevertheless, a convenient stop for yachts on passage around the coast between Fethiye and Antalya and is the best port from which to visit the ancient sites of Xanthos and Patara and the natural phenomenon of the Saklikent Gorge. Its small but crowded 'marina' is just 14 nM west of Kas.
Weather
See Turkey.
Charts
- BA
- 236 Hisarönü Körfesi to Taslik burnu
- 1886 Approaches to Fethiye Körfezi
- Imray-Tetra
- G36 Marmaris to Kekova Adasi
- NIMA
- 54421 Kadiga to Ilbiz Burnu
- Turkey
- 312 Marmaris - Fethiye
- 313 Fethiye - Kaş
- 3122 Fethiye Körfezi
Communication
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
There are no hazards in the entrance, though you are beam on to any swell if the winds are W/SW and there is not a lot of room to leeward since a swimming area is buoyed 50 metres off the beach.
Berthing Options
Yachts moor on the SW quay, where there is room for about 12-14 yachts. Harbour staff will hail you on arrival and help you anchor moor back to the quay. The holding is mediocre here and you should aim to lay out at least 30 metres of chain. Absurdly, tripper gulets and dive boats moor on the quay at the end of the harbour, laying out their anchors at 90 degrees to the chains of yachts moored on the SW quay. One needs to be aware of this if planning to leave early. Also note there is a ground chain running down the middle of the harbour - decide either to lay your anchor short or well beyond the mid point and hope it digs in before the chain. Divers are readily availiable from the Gullets anchored on the north wall if you catch the chain.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
The harbor is operated as small and very crowded marina.
Anchorages
Yesilköy Liman
Yesilköy is a pleasant anchorage just 2 nM west of Kalkan with very clear water. The bottom is sand and weed and only good holding if you can get your anchor in a sandy patch. The best position is in the NW corner in about 5-10 metres. If the anchorage is busy, you may need to take a line ashore. Many gulets use the anchorage during the day and at night.
Yacht Repairs and Services
Marine Stores
None.
Repairs/Yards
None.
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Fuel
- can be delivered by tanker
- Water
- available on the quay ( steep charge of 20 Turkish lire per day is made)
- Electricity
- available on the quay ( steep charge of 20 Turkish lire per day is made)
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
Kalkan, while very touristy and noisy at night, is not unattractive, and the old town is worth exploring. Kalkan is also the best port from which to visit the ancient sites of Patara (the former port of the Lycian capital, Xanthos), Xanthos itself (a World Heritage Site with an impressive Roman theatre and Lycian necropolis) and the Saklikent Gorge, an 18km long cleft through the Akdağlar Mountains where you wade thigh-deep across the ice-cold spring at the entrance and can then explore the upper reaches through an increasingly narrow defile that winds through what is claimed to be the second-deepest gorge in Europe. Wear sensible waterproof shoes and quick-drying shorts. Excursions to the Gorge TL50pp, rafting on the river TL35.
Grocery & Supply Stores
- Minimarket on the NE side of the harbour
- Others in the town
Eateries
- Korsan Kebap has good food at (for Kalkan) reasonable prices. It also has one of the best views of the bay. It is up the steps just opposite the green harbour marker.
- Zeki's was good and inexpensive
Internet/WiFi
None.
Laundry
Laundry at the root of the quay.
Motorbike & Car Rentals
- Pars Rent a Car are good for car and (especially) scooter rental. They are up the hill on the way out of town on the NW side of the roundabout opposite the taxi rank.
Garbage Disposal
Bins near the harbour.
Transportation
Minibus hire (at a price) down at the harbour.
Routes/Passages To/From
See Aegean.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Kalkan at the Wikipedia
- Patara
- Xanthos
- Saklikent Gorge
References & Publications
See Turkey.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- Kalkan is not an especially cheap place to stay at 40 Turkish lire per night for a typical 12 metre yacht, plus extra for water (20 lire), electricity (20 lire) and showers (5 lire) - prices as at June 2010. Also there is the ridiculous mooring situation where boats anchor moor at 90 degrees to one another. However, it is a good base for visiting the adjacent sites as long as you're confident your anchor won't be lifted while you're away --Athene of Lymington 13:39, 22 June 2010 (UTC)
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Kalkan and this page's details validated: Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- August 1997 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis
- June 2010 --Athene of Lymington 13:39, 22 June 2010 (UTC)
- July 2012 --Monterey
This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
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Names: Lighthouse, Istioploos, Athene of Lymington |