How long is the airport transfer from Dalaman to Kalkan?

Dalaman to Kalkan is roughly 1 hour 40 minutes by road, around 130 km along the D400 coastal highway. Our VIP transfer is door-to-door in a Mercedes Vito with flight tracking, child seats on request, and bottled water on board.

Which airport should I fly into for Kalkan?

Dalaman (DLM) is the closest at ~130 km / 1h40. Antalya (AYT) is ~210 km / 3h15 but often has more direct UK flights in shoulder season. We transfer from both — book whichever flight fits your schedule and we’ll meet you airside.

Do I need an international driving permit to rent a car in Kalkan?

UK and EU driving licences are accepted directly for stays under six months. Drivers from other countries should bring an International Driving Permit alongside their home licence. Minimum age 21, one year of driving experience, and a credit card for the deposit.

When is the best time of year to visit Kalkan?

Late May through early October. June and September are the sweet spot — sea temperature 24-26°C, fewer crowds and easier hotel availability. July and August are hottest (35°C+) but suit families with school-age children.

Do I need a passport for the Meis Island day trip?

Yes. Meis (Kastellorizo) is Greek territory, so a valid passport is required for the ferry. UK and most EU passport holders enter visa-free for the day. We collect passport details at booking and handle the boarding paperwork on your behalf.

How long is the Saklıkent gorge tour?

The standard combined Saklıkent and Tlos tour runs roughly eight to nine hours door to door — pickup around 09:00, return by about 17:30.

How deep is Saklıkent gorge and how far do you walk?

Saklıkent is around 300 metres deep at the entrance. On a normal day trip you walk roughly 45 minutes to an hour into the gorge — about 1.5 kilometres each way.

Clothes you do not mind getting wet — quick-drying shorts, a t-shirt, swimsuit underneath, and grippy water shoes or old trainers.

What's the entrance fee?

The Saklıkent gorge entrance fee for 2026 is roughly 200 lira per adult. On our combined tour, both Tlos and Saklıkent entrance fees are included in the £50 price.

Is the tour family-friendly?

Yes — the gorge is one of the trips children remember most strongly. We recommend it from around six years old upwards.

Can I do gorge tubing?

Yes. Tubing costs around £5-7 for a 15-20 minute ride and is paid separately on the day.

Can I book a private Saklıkent tour?

Yes. Private day tours from Kalkan to Saklıkent and Tlos start at around £290 for up to six guests in a minibus.

Is there a Saklıkent jeep safari option?

Yes. The Saklıkent jeep safari combines the standard programme with off-road driving in an open-top 4x4.

When is Saklıkent gorge open?

Saklıkent is officially open from around April to early November. Early in the season the water can be too high for the wade.

What's the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup on shared tours, and up to 72 hours on private departures.

A day inland

Saklıkent Gorge Tour from Kalkan

The Saklıkent gorge tour from Kalkan is the obvious counterpart to a day on the water — a full day inland, into a canyon so narrow and so deep that the floor stays cool even at midday in August. You walk into the gorge along wooden boardwalks, wade waist-deep through ice-cold turquoise water, climb to the Lycian rock tombs of Tlos, and have a long lunch of fresh trout grilled at riverside tables.

Walkers wading through cold turquoise water in the Saklikent gorge

Duration: Full day
Highlights: Gorge · Tlos · trout lunch
Group: Small (max 8)
Price: From £50

Saklıkent canyon day trip — what the gorge is actually like

Saklıkent ("hidden city" in Turkish) is the deepest canyon in Turkey — around 300 metres deep at the entrance. From the car park at the gorge mouth, a wooden boardwalk takes you across the river over the famous turquoise water that pours out of the cliff base.

Most visitors walk in for about 45 minutes to an hour from the entrance. The water is genuinely cold (around 12-15°C even in August) and that is exactly the point: by the time you come back out, the contrast with the heat of Kalkan feels like a small reset.

Saklıkent and Tlos combined tour — the standard day

Our standard Saklıkent day is the combined tour: pickup from your Kalkan villa around 09:00, drive to Tlos around 10:30, and spend an hour at the Lycian-Roman site. From Tlos it is a 25-minute drive to the gorge entrance.

You spend roughly two hours at the canyon, and lunch is served around 14:00 at the trout restaurants that sit on wooden platforms directly over the river. You are usually back at your villa by 17:30.

Family with kids, group size, and our small-group approach

Saklıkent gorge tours from Kalkan are family-friendly from around six years old upwards. The wade through the gorge is the part children remember the rest of the holiday.

We deliberately keep the Saklıkent gorge tour small — maximum eight guests in one minibus rather than a coach group of forty.

What to wear and what to bring

Quick-drying shorts (not jeans), a t-shirt or rash vest, and a swimsuit underneath are ideal. Footwear is more important than clothing — proper grippy water shoes or old trainers you do not mind soaking.

Bring a small dry bag for your phone, a towel, and a change of dry clothes for after the gorge. Lunch is paid separately at the trout restaurant — count on around £10-12 a head.

Saklıkent gorge tour price from Kalkan, fees and add-ons

Shared small-group Saklıkent gorge tours from Kalkan start at £50 per adult in 2026. The price covers door-to-door minibus transfers, the English-speaking guide, the entrance fee to Tlos, and the gorge entrance fee for Saklıkent.

The most popular optional add-on is gorge tubing — riding a rubber inner tube on the river — which costs around £5-7.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Saklıkent gorge tour?: The standard combined Saklıkent and Tlos tour runs roughly eight to nine hours door to door — pickup around 09:00, return by about 17:30.
How deep is Saklıkent gorge and how far do you walk?: Saklıkent is around 300 metres deep at the entrance. On a normal day trip you walk roughly 45 minutes to an hour into the gorge — about 1.5 kilometres each way.
What should I wear?: Clothes you do not mind getting wet — quick-drying shorts, a t-shirt, swimsuit underneath, and grippy water shoes or old trainers.
What's the entrance fee?: The Saklıkent gorge entrance fee for 2026 is roughly 200 lira per adult. On our combined tour, both Tlos and Saklıkent entrance fees are included in the £50 price.
Is the tour family-friendly?: Yes — the gorge is one of the trips children remember most strongly. We recommend it from around six years old upwards.
Can I do gorge tubing?: Yes. Tubing costs around £5-7 for a 15-20 minute ride and is paid separately on the day.
Can I book a private Saklıkent tour?: Yes. Private day tours from Kalkan to Saklıkent and Tlos start at around £290 for up to six guests in a minibus.
Is there a Saklıkent jeep safari option?: Yes. The Saklıkent jeep safari combines the standard programme with off-road driving in an open-top 4x4.
When is Saklıkent gorge open?: Saklıkent is officially open from around April to early November. Early in the season the water can be too high for the wade.
What's the cancellation policy?: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup on shared tours, and up to 72 hours on private departures.