Kas holidays

Expect a coastline fringed with pebble and shingle beaches, each serviced by stylish beach clubs that are equipped with everything from sun-loungers and umbrellas to menus laden with seafood and cocktails. Alternatively, take the 20-minute ride along the coast in a dolmuş (a shared taxi following a set route) to Kaputaş, one of the best sandy beaches in Turkey.

Though it’s a couple hours’ drive from the nearest airport at Dalaman, the relative remoteness of the town doesn’t mean you’ll want for things to do – there are plenty of activities to keep you busy on a Kaş holiday (many, unsurprisingly, are water-based). Highlights include trips along the coast in traditional wooden gulets, visiting secluded bays for swimming, and days out to some of the region’s archaeological sites. Scuba diving is also increasingly popular, with a good mix of beginner-friendly and challenging dives combining marine life and wrecks.

April and November are pleasant, particularly for active breaks, with temperatures in the late teens. As a thriving town rather than an exclusive holiday resort, Kaş doesn’t feel abandoned out of season – businesses stay open for locals and there’s a friendly atmosphere.

Even from December to March, it rarely drops below double figures in Kaş. And while it’s the wettest time of year, it’s also the cheapest.

During the Roman period, Kaş was known as Antiphellos. There isn’t a huge amount of this ancient settlement remaining, with the honourable exception of the amphitheatre. Just outside the town centre, the 26-row curve of limestone seating has been sensitively restored, and is sometimes used for public events.

It’s a lovely spot for a picnic, with gorgeous views over to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, or Meis as it’s known in Turkey.

Kekova and Kaleköy

Along the shore of the uninhabited island of Kekova, the crystal-clear waters provide a perfect window onto the sunken city below. Destroyed by an earthquake in 2 AD, you can see several houses, some public buildings and a harbour.

Opposite Kekova, the pretty hamlet of Kaleköy has a narrow main street lined with cafes leading up to a crusader castle on the hilltop, with views over a field of Lycian tombs. Day-long gullet trips out of Kaş visit both spots, and stop for swimming and sunbathing.

Saklikent Gorge

A 300m-deep, 18km-long gash through red rock, Saklikent Gorge is one of the deepest and most dramatic in the world – and it’s just over an hour’s drive from Kaş.

Hike along the canyon and you’ll be met with towering walls of rock punctuated by shafts of sunlight and gushing waterfalls. You can also river raft on the gentle rapids in an inflatable ring.

A Greek island escape

The island of Meis is only a mile off the Turkish coast, but you’ll still need your passport – this is Greece, you see, and here the island is known as Kastellorizo. It’s small, but that’s exactly why it makes an ideal day trip.

The harbour-front is a rainbow of colourful houses, with plenty of cute cafes vying for your attention. Don’t miss a trip around the island to the Blue Grotto – a stalactite-scattered sea cave that glows an unearthly shade of sapphire. A ferry from Kaş will get you there in half an hour.

Dive with a Dakota

With 30 dive sites all within 30 minutes of Kaş harbour, it’s little wonder the town is making a name for itself within the scuba community. Off Limanağzı Beach, you can dive down to the wreck of a wooden Ottoman boat, as well as a scrapped Dakota airplane from World War II.

On the nearby reef, you’ll find triggerfish, groupers, rays and turtles. At the other side of the bay, Pigeon Island is a great starter dive site.