Mediterranean Boat Cruise
From £12.00 per person
No trip to Kalkan would be complete without venturing out on to the Mediterranean in one of Turkey’s traditional wooden boats or gulets. Trips start mid morning from Kalkan harbour.
Usually the day begins with the longest non-stop part of the journey, about 4.5 kilometers to the east, to Güvercinlik and Güvercinini caves around the Iğne Ada Burnu. The deepest point of the entire Mediterranean, where depth plunges to several thousand meters, is one and a half kilometers away. These caves can only be visited by swimmers. The second stop is at small but wonderful Kaputas beach. The Blue Cave is the next port of call. It is possible for a very small boat to enter this cave but this is not recommended since the best way to appreciate the incredible color effects is to swim in or better still, dive and swim underwater. Some boats will also provide fishing lines – your catch will then be cooked for lunch!
The boat journey itineraries do vary from captain to captain – and occasionally due to sea and weather conditions. However, they will usually return, journeying west, via Sidek Island. Some of the boats anchor, for a swim break, between Mouse and Snake Islands which are uninhabited and named for their shape. These are the islands which can be seen from Kalkan. You will then proceed to Gerenlik Bay on the western shore of Kalkan Bay. This bay has a very fine sand beach and is inaccessible by road. If a barbecue is planned, it may be cooked at this location but a better spot is Pinara Kürü which has a fresh water supply and is a little closer to Kalkan. Although there is no sandy beach at Pinar Kürü, there is plenty of shade offered by the huge trees, which is a bonus not to be overlooked in the hot summer months.
The final stop is Firnaz Bay and this large natural harbor provides a haven for sailors seeking protection from the strong breezes. Afternoon tea and biscuits may be enjoyed before or after last a swim and Kalkan is in easy reach, only twenty minutes away.
Frenk Limanı (French Cove), on the eastern shore of Kalkan Bay, is also a very pleasant place for a swim stop and it is often included on the itinerary.
Private boat charters are usually around £100 and take approximately 8 persons.