Kas makes up for with rocky access to crystal-clear Mediterranean waters. Kas is also an optimal jumping off point for trips to Kekova, Myra, and some of the regions' best undiscovered mountain villages. The abundance of outdoorsy activities around Kas has also helped to maintain its reputation as a relaxed, satisfying, and generally inexpensive holiday destination.
Scuba Diving
The waters off Kas have some of the best visibility in the Mediterranean and a wide variety of sea life. Sponge divers have been navigating these reefs for decades, and it was along the coast of Ulu Burun that a 14th-century-B.C. merchant shipwreck was discovered, now displayed in the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum. Several dive outfitters with certified dive masters provide a gateway to the reefs, caves, and shipwrecks; even there's even a plane wreck. For more information, please visit Likyadiving.com.
Paragliding
Skysports, the reputable provider of tandem flights off of Babadag, over Ölüdeniz, runs an adjunct shop in Kas, taking advantage of the 1,050m (3,500-ft.) summit Asaz Mountain. Pilots fly you off the ridge and over the sea, landing you safely at the marina in Kas. The newcomer, Nautilus Tandem Paragliding, offers the same deal; both outfits are out in the town center in the evenings marketing their adventures with videos played on an oversized screen.
Boat Tours
In their haste to get on a boat, many people overlook Üçagiz, a perfect example of a sleepy fishing town, with a cluster of truly remarkable Lycian tombs woven into the fabric of life at the far end of the village (some visible by sea). Visits tend to ignore the ancient site of Aperlae as well, located west of Üçagiz on the mainland and accessible by boat from the sea via the Akar Pass; the effort required to get there has ensured the preservation of another "sunken city" here, and you can plan some time on land to explore the ruins on foot.
OTHER SPORT ACTIVITIES:
Canoeing The Esen river, 45km from Kas, is a great place for canoeing, with several agencies in the area supplying equipment and organizing tours. Beginning at the Kinik region, a 15km paddle ends at Parara beach. The river is calm so it is a relatively easy journey, with attractive surroundings of trees and foliage. The trip also includes breaks for food, swimming and mud baths. For canoeing in the sea, the best place is the village of Üçagiz, accessible from Kas by road. The four-hour organized trip involves paddling past unique bays, and the historical sites of the Submerged City and Simena, with breaks for swimming and food.
Trekking As Kas and the Lycian cities are close to each other, trekking is a popular way of exploring the region, with routes and maps available. Paths available for walking will go around the peninsula to Limanagzi, Gedife Hill, Phellos, Gokceoren, Mount Asaz,and the Gombe plateau. Kas is a good place to start the Lycian Way, Turkey’s first walking trail, which is a 30-day walk around the coast and mountains.
Sailing Kas is one of the most important stops on the Blue Voyage, as well as a good starting point, and exploring the coast between Kas and Bodrum on motor schooner or yacht is popular with visitors. The boats for hire around the Kas Harbor are usually well equipped with water, electricity, gas, shower and laundry service often provided.
WHERE TO VISIT?
Gömbe An ideal place to escape the summer heat is Gombe, 60km north of Kas, in the cool plateau of the Akdag mountain range. The forest-covered route with pine and cedar trees almost conceal the village, famous for its cools springs and apple orchards.Akdag is the highest mountain in this range, reaching 3024m, and the villages of Yesilgol and Ucarsu are good for trekking. The herbs which grow in this area are used in local cooking and there are several restaurants in the main square. There is a famous festival of the local Tahtacis in June, and a farmers’ fair in late August.
Kalkan (Kalamaki) A well-maintained and quiet harbor town, Kalkan is 25km west of Kas. It is an attractive town, once a fishing village occupied by the Ottoman Greeks. It has become increasingly popular since the 1980s, with a huge holiday village covering the southern hillside. The small town centre which overlooks the bay is filled with quaint, traditional white-washed houses, shuttered windows and balconies with brilliantly-colored flowers. The marina caters for the requirements of visiting yachts, as well as several restaurants and shops in the main centre. Saklikent Gorge Beyond Tlos, Saklikent is a spectacular gorge cut into the Akdaglar mountains. 18 km long, the sides are so deep and steep that no sun penetrates, so the water always remains icy cold. Access to the start of the gorge is along a wooden boardwalk suspended above the water, then after crossing the river, it is fairly straightforward to walk through the gorge for 6km. In the summer, there are tours arranged from Kas and Kalkan.Opening hours: Daily 08.00 - 17.00.
OUTSIDE KAS
Patara (Ovagelemis) Once a principle harbor of ancient Lycian, Patara was the birthplace of Apollo, according to Greek legend. This village covering a wide area on the eastern part of the harbor is 41km from Kas and has one of the best beaches in the area, a white golden stretch around 20km long. Patara gained importance during the Byzantine period, because it was the birthplace of St Nicholas, the 4th century bishop better known as his other identity, Santa Claus. St Paul, one of Christ’s disciples, boarded a ship from Patara to Rome. The ruins lie 1km from the beach, and include several Lycian tombs, a basilica, Corinthian temple and a theatre. Access is possible by dolmus from most adjacent towns, although not at night. The Lycian Roman monuments can be seen when entering Patara. From the Vespasianus Hamam, constructed between 69 – 79 AD, the adjacent footpath reaches the main, marble-covered street of Patara. At the end of the street are the wide walls of the Byzantine Castle, and east of that is the Corynth Temple. Patara Theatre, built in the 2nd century BC, is at the foot of the hill and had a capacity for around 10,000 people. It was filled with wind-swept sand but after cleaning revealed its structure, and archaeological excavations are still continuing. The beach is one of the longest in Turkey, with a width of up to 1500m. Declared a Special Environmental Preservation Region by the Ministry of the Environment, it is a major breeding area for the caretta-caretta sea turtles, and during the reproductive season there are strictly applied restrictions to preserve their habitat.
Xanthos Along the east coast of the Esen River, 45km from Kas, Xanthos was the capital and grandest city of the Lycian Union, but has had a chequered history. Surface findings from the city acropolis reveals that the settlement dates back to the 8th century BC. Initial research was performed by Englishman Charles Fellows in 1838, which probably explains why the Nereid and Harpy monuments, the Payave Tomb and Aslani Grave were taken to the British Museum in 1842. The city walls were repaired during the Roman and Byzantium periods, and strengthened with additions to the width. At the south end, a gate dates back to 2nd century BC, and behind this there is Victory Arch belonging to Emperor Vesoasianus. To the southwest, the original settlement of the city is the Lychian Acropolis, now badly ruined, with a Byzantine Church.
Felen Plateau (Phellos) The region of hills over the Felen Plateau, 12km from Kas, was a highly important city during the 4th century BC. Antiphellos was the harbor of Phellos, and some of the surrounding city walls still remain. Also surrounding the city is a tomb,decorated with reliefs, 4th century tombs and rock-cut graves.
Belenli (Isinda) Isinda, on the hills near Belendi village 13km from Kas, was a small Lycian city and surrounded by ramparts. In the middle of the city’s acropolis, two tombs with Lycian inscriptions are the main attractions. There are also many Lycian rock tombs from the Roman period.
Bezirgan (Pirha) This important plateau village is 20 minutes walks from Pirha ruins, an ancient city 850m above the sea. There are many rock graves, all facing the sea, and the tombs are more irregularly positioned. The statues and reliefs that were uncovered here are now in the Antalya Museum.
Sütlegen (Nisa) 80km from Kas, this is another important plateau village, with ruins 15 minutes walk away. Neiseus, the city’s Lycian name, is written on the theatre wall. In Nisa, there are ancient ruins from the Lycian and Roman periods, and on the front of some of the tombs there are images of spears, shields, women and men. Coins produced during this time are exhibited in Antalya Museum.
