Kas and surrounding area

Saklikent

The hidden town of Saklikent is a miracle of nature and lies about 60 Km from Kas. It can be reached only by a wooden bridge which leads over raging water into an enchanted world full of waterfalls and wonderful limestone and marble rock formations.

Over the millenia, water has carved an 18 km gorge, the sides of which tower 400m above the river. In ancient times, Saklikent was a sacred place. This unique wonder of nature, also a nature conservation area, invites you to linger awhile in really cosy restaurants. The mountain trout, served here in a pomegranate sauce, represents the high point of a visit to Saklikent Canyon.

6 of the 18 km of the gorge are perfect for walking and in the heat of the summer months, it is an ideal place to escape the heat and take a cool bathe.

Tlos

Tlos, town of poets and philosophers, is first mentioned in 184 BC as a party in the Trojan War. The town is situated 800m above sea level in an exposed position on the west slope of Mt Akdag (3025m), making it an impregnable fortress, even Alexander the Great was unable to take this town in a siege lasting for six months. From the acropolis, there is a wonderful all-round view if the Xanthos valley.

Xanthos
Xanthos, built in 168 BC, was the capital of the Lycian civilisation and lies 38 km west of Kas. The town is an excellent example of the Lycian resistance against the continuous onslaught of the Persians, the motto of the people of Xanthos being: “it is better to die than to surrender”. The greatest development took place under the Romans, who further enlarged the town in 42 BC. The impressive remains from Lycian, Roman and Byzantine times makes this area a ‘must’ for all visitors to south-west Turkey.

Kekova

The Kekova archipelago is a scenic paradise, an interlocking of land and sea. The sunken city, the little castle and the picturesque villages of Ücagiz, Kaleköy and Aperlae are unique in the whole of the Mediterranean.

Kekova island with the sunken city lies immediately opposite the little fishing village of Kaleköy (Simena) and can be reached in ten minutes by boat.

Ancient Aperlae is on the Sicak peninsula and the remnants of the Lycian settlement – the city walls, the sarcophagi and the mole in the sea, can all be seen.

Coins dating back to the fourth century have been found and various theories support the origin of this town to be within this period. The probability is that part of this area sank at one time due to tectonic movement.

Patara

The old town of Patara is 35 km from Kas. Its old harbour, dating from the fifth or sixth century BC, is now silted up. Legend has it that the nymph Lykia and the God Apollo were born here. Patara was also the birthplace of St Nicholas. When you enter Patara, you see the Lycian-style graves dating from the Roman period as well as a victory monument with three pillars and the remains of the baths. The 18km long stretch of sandy beach is a breeding place for turtles and is now a conservation area.

Gömbe, the Green Lake and the Cedar Forests

The picturesque area of Gömbe, the Green Lake and the ancient cedar forests (some trees are over 2000 years old) all offer the perfect setting for walking and rock-climbing.

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