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Welcome to "Kalkan Secret" and thank you for visiting our site; we hope that you will like what you see! As you will discover, Kalkan is one of the best kept secrets in the Eastern Mediterranean and so this site is, by its very existence, a bit of a contradiction: of course, we want to attract guests to our apartment but we also want to keep this place a secret, so that its unique character and charm can be preserved and remain hidden from the masses. That's a bit of a tricky one! So…before you go any further - can you keep a secret?

Whilst talking about contradictions, that one word just about sums up the whole experience of a holiday in Turkey, even more so with regard to Kalkan - and most definitely when you see what our apartment has to offer: friendly but classy, peaceful but never dull, relaxing but with plenty of activities if you want them - these are just a few of the contrasts you will discover, and these are the precisely reasons why nearly all the other visitors you meet there are either on a return visit or intend to return next year!

If you have never visited Turkey before, you probably need to set aside some deep-seated preconceptions. We certainly did! Forget the clichéd image of belly dancers, magic carpets, bazaars and Turkish delight. Of course, these traditional attractions are available if you want them, but you'll be missing out on a myriad of other Turkish delights (pun intended). For a start, some of the natural scenery is absolutely breathtaking - including the journey from Dalaman Airport to Kalkan - and there are countless ancient sites and places of historical interest in and around the Lycian Coast area, in which Kalkan occupies a central location. This is hardly surprising, considering Turkey's geographical position and its strategic importance for many cultures over the last nine thousand years or so: the Hittites, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Mongols and Islamic armies have all occupied this area so that, by the time of the formation of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey already had a rich cultural diversity.

This cultural diversity is probably the main reason why Turkish cuisine is so highly regarded. Although there are some similarities with Greek food - after all, parts of the Lycian Coast were, until recently, actually part of Greece - this is mainly because some of the ingredients are so plentiful in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish food, in our opinion, is far more varied, adventurous and cosmopolitan than Greek. Turkey in general - and Kalkan in particular - offers international cuisine of the highest standards (and at relatively low prices by Western European standards).

The climate also offers something for everyone. As you would expect, the high summer months can be very hot - temperatures of up to 40°C being common during the day in July and August - ideal for sun-worshippers, but air-conditioning is a must for most British people who want to get a good night's sleep! However, the early and late summer months are less extreme with temperatures of 25-30° C being nearer the norm in May/June and September/October. Even in April and November it can still be shirtsleeve weather during the daytime, although it can be a bit chillier in the evenings.

Hopefully, you will now have an idea why we are so enthusiastic about our Kalkan Secret. Please feel free to explore this site to find out more, and please don't hesitate to contact us (details on the 'Contact' page) if you want to discuss a booking - or even if you would just like to have a chat about the apartment, the wonderful village of Kalkan or any other aspect of a stay in this beautiful part of the world.

(But only if you can keep a secret)!

Warmest regards

Martyn and Fiona Ellis





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