The Turquoise Coast

There are no prizes for guessing why this part of the world has been named The Turquoise Coast.  But the stunningly-blue, crystal clear water is only one of the attractions of Turkey’s beautiful Mediterranean region.

On western Turkey's southernmost tip and protected by two mountain ranges, Kaş and Kalkan enjoy an exceptional micro-climate. Summers are hot and dry, winters mild with occasional rainy spells, and spring and autumn (or 'second spring', as it is known here) are warm and dry. Spring comes early and autumn arrives late, so the holiday season here is far longer than in many European destinations and, indeed, Turkey’s own Aegean coast.

The region, which was originally ancient Lycia, is rich in history. Remains of civilisations dating back at least two and a half thousand years can be seen everywhere around. These range from almost-intact Lycian cities, later occupied by the Romans and Byzantines, complete with amphitheatres, agoras and churches, to remote tombs, scattered around farmers' fields and some submerged in the sea. Later occupiers also made their mark – castles built by the Knights of St John can be seen along the coast, with one remarkable example to be found at Simena – a few miles from Kaş – where the castle is built around the remains of an ancient Lycian settlement, enclosing its amphitheatre within its ramparts.

The area was made prosperous by its rich alluvial soils and, today, farmers carry on the traditions of their forebears, growing valuable crops of tobacco, cotton, tomatoes, peppers, corn and beans. Thousands of goats, seemingly constantly making the return journey between the higher and lower pastures, are part of the landscape, bred for their luxurious hair and their milk.