Climbing and snorkeling in Kaş

Every since seeing Kaputaş Beach from the road with my parents, I’ve wanted to go back there.  It’s a beautiful stretch of white sand and turquoise water, hemmed in by steep cliffs.  Then I learned that there’s climbing in the canyon there.  Well, that cinched it for sure.  Ferda and I rented a car and took off for a weekend in Kaş.

DSCN7276 by bryandkeith on flickr

DSCN7285 by bryandkeith on flickr

The drive from Antalya is long.  We opted to go via Akçay and Gömbe because I was told that way is faster than the coastal road.  It took us four hours including a stop for dinner in Akçay.  The pass after Gömbe is about 1600m, and then the road plunges in endless switchbacks to the sea.  Since we drove down that road in the dark, we opted to return via the same road so we’d get a chance to actually see it.  It’s a beautiful area.

We didn’t end up spending much time in Kaş at all.  We drove 20km to Kaputaş on Saturday and climbed in the shade in the canyon there before swimming in the beautiful water.  At the beach there’s even cold fresh water to wash off in afterwards.  Incredible.

DSCN7269 by bryandkeith on flickr

DSCN7275 by bryandkeith on flickr

DSCN7281 by bryandkeith on flickr

On Sunday the owner of our hotel recommended Hidayet Koyu.  The sea there is “like an aquarium,” he said.  Wow, yes, it was the best snorkeling I’ve done Turkey (which doesn’t say much).  The water was clear, there were quite a few fish, and even some really colourful ones.  I could definitely spend more time around Kaş though it’s really too far to come from Antalya for the weekend.

DSCN7294 by bryandkeith on flickr

DSCN7304 by bryandkeith on flickr

As the sun was setting on the drive back, we stopped at Sultan Abdal Musa’s tomb in Tekkeköy (Elmalı), an important pilgrimage site for Alevis.  He was a 14th century derviş, Sufi, Alevi, a follower (student?) of the more famous Hacı Bektaş Veli.  In the two years I’ve spent time with Ferda, this tomb affected her more than any other site we’ve visited.

An Alevi praying at Abdal Musa's tomb by bryandkeith on flickr

DSCN7326 by bryandkeith on flickr

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4 Responses to Climbing and snorkeling in Kaş

  1. Mike Painter says:

    Hi Bryan —

    It’s been very busy here, so I’m catching up again. What great adventures you’ve had!

    I signed up for email notification rather than RSS, because that stopped again. But I hope I’ll have time to keep up on my own now regardless. Don’t know how much time (or interest, given all the fun you’re having!) you have in keeping up with wilderness stuff here, but if you have a current email, send it to me for the Monthly Update.

    Take care!!

  2. Suzanne says:

    Still having adventures I see!

  3. Mike Painter says:

    Happy Thanksgiving, Bryan, wherever you are !!

    Long time, no hear. I sent out our UPDATE yesterday, but your email keeps bouncing back. If you have one that works and want to keep up, let me know! All the best, Mike

  4. Bill Wildenberg says:

    No updates in 6 months? I guess you haven’t been doing anything lately… I hope all is well with you! – Bill

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