Deep rooted and nostalgic inside many of us lies a dream to escape with families, loved ones and friends to the great outdoors and disconnect. Anyone looking for a simple, rustic, affordable break in a priceless location need look no further than our hotel, the Hotel Patara Viewpoint. The hotel is situated on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast and for years visitors have retreated here to relax in the atmosphere of this unique destination. Awarded the Trip Advisor certificate of Excellence for several years running, the hotel offers a perfect escape from the stresses of everyday life!
Patara’s unique location close to the sea, mountains, gorges, forests and many of the country’s most fascinating archaeological sites, make it an ideal base from which to explore this beautiful part of Turkey. There is something here to suit everyone, whether you are a culture vulture, a beach lover, an action seeker. Here are a few of our highly recommended highlights.
Patara beach:
The longest beach in the Mediterranean is right on our doorstep. For beach lovers, this is paradise. 15km of golden sands, backed by sand dunes and forest, not a building in site. Voted by the Sunday Times newspaper as one of the top ten beaches in the world. There is a low key café, providing drinks and lunches. Other facilities include showers and toilets, sunbeds and umberellas. We provide free transport from the hotel or for those who prefer to walk, it is a stunning walk passing through the archaeological site of Patara, which together with the beach, forms part of a protected area and National park.
Kekova:
Spend a day on a boat exploring this area of outstanding natural beauty. Relax on deck admiring the stunning scenery, stopping ocassionaly for a swim in the turquoise waters and to partake in a delicious freshly cooked barbecue lunch. Explore the remains of the city of Kekova, semi submerged in the sea, climb up to the byzantine castle above the village of Simena, passing a tiny Roman amphitheatre carved out of the rock, several Lycian rock tombs and the remains of an ancient olive oil factory. Finish off with an ice cool drink or a large bowl of home made ice cream, perched on the terrace of one of the tiny restaurants that overlook the water’s edge at Simena. (a tiny village only accessible by boat).
Saklikent gorge:
The stunning gorge of Saklikent has been carved through the mountains by the rain and melted snow that falls from the mountains during the winter months. A wooden walk way has been constructed, to provide access into the mouth of the gorge and then for the more adventurous it is possible to trek right into the gorge which truly is a phenomenal. At the mouth of the river here, there are many laid back eateries, providing fresh mountain trout as their speciality, several of them offering relaxing cushioned seating platforms either perched over streams or up in the trees in the form of tree houses. Just a little further along the road from Saklikent gorge is the archaeological site of Tlos set in a stunning position with spectacular views over the valley below.
Archaeological sites.
As Patara lies in the heart of ancient Lycia, there are many superb archaeological sites to visit in the area, all in stunning locations. A good half day can be spent exploring Patara, right on our doorstep. Other cultural sites easily accessible from Patara include: Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Sidyma, Myra, Andriake (a fabulous museum here too) and Tlos. A little further afield, Olympos, Phaselis and Aspendos.
Walking part of the Lycian way.
The Lycian way (Turkey’s first long distance footpath) passes our front door! Several sections of this walk are easily accessible from Patara and the rewards are stunning views of the mountains and coast, warm hospitality from local village people and snapshots of village life that has remained unchanged for years. We recommend sturdy footwear and are happy to provide further information, copies of maps, transport (if necessary, to the start and end points of walks) and advice on the local terrain, levels of difficulty etc. Further information on this pathway can be found at www.lycianturkey.com
Kalkan and Kas:
Kalkan is a 15 minute drive from Patara and is well worth a visit (particularly in the evening). It offers a sophisticated alternative to the laid back vibe of Patara. The village nestles snugly on the cliffs overlooking the bay, the whitewashed bougainville covered houses and steep cobbled streets leading down to the pretty seafront and harbour. The winding cobbled streets are filled with colourful shops selling carpets, leather, textiles, jewelry, local crafts and foods. Kalkan has an excellent reputation for its restaurants and has become a bit of a “foodie haven”. There is an enormous selection of restaurants offering a wide variety of both Turkish and international menus of exceptional quality in all sorts of charming locations from stunning roof tops, to harbourside to hidden back streets.
Kas is a little further along the coast, the road clinging to the mountain side, offering stunning views. A journey that you could do every day and never tire of! Kas, like Kalkan was once a Greek village and has the pretty whitewashed houses with gorgeous bougainville covered wooden balconies. It has a more bohemian vibe than Kalkan and attracts an artisan crowd, many of the shops selling handmade jewelry, clothing, hand woven textiles,and hand painted pottery. Kas is also developing into a base for outdoor adventure sports including diving, trekking, mountain biking, canyoning and sea kayaking. The restaurants here tend to be in hidden courtyards or on roof terraces overlooking the square and harbour, offering a wide selection of delicious foods. From Kas harbour boats leave for Kekova, Meiz (Greek island), for a tour of the local coastline and some for the short trip over to Limanagzi (a great place for snorkeling and if you are lucky you might see turtles!) A short video clip can be seen on our facebook page from August 2016)
Patara Sand dunes
A visit to the sand dunes is a “must see” when you stay in Patara. From the dunes you can see the whole length of Patara beach stretched out before you. Take a walk over the dunes and down onto the beach in the early morning and admire the breathtaking views. Return again at sunset to watch the sun slowly disappear from the horizon. For the more active, it is possible to take a horse ride over the sand dunes and back through the archaeological site of Patara. Stunning!
For more information on what to do in the area, please take a look at our activities page.