Kaş sits on the Mediterranean coast, and the excursions from the town reach the sunken city, the ancient Lycian sites, the beaches, and the dramatic landscapes of the region. The day trips below cover the best of the surrounding area.
Kekova and the Sunken City
The sunken city of Kekova is the essential day trip from Kaş, and the ruins beneath the clear water reward the visit like nothing else in the region. The boats run from the harbor to the coast and the bays, and the sunken city, with its streets and its walls beneath the water, gives the unique sight; the villages of the coast — Üçağız, Simena — give the stops with the castles and the harbors; and the day unfolds at the sea’s pace. The Kekova day trip is the classic excursion, and the water delivers the memory.
The practical Kekova note: the trips run daily through the summer, and the bookings come at the harbor; the swimsuit, the towel, and the sun protection are the essentials aboard; and the sunken city is best seen from the clear water. The Kekova day trip gives the highlight of the region, and the sunken city rewards the time.
Kaputaş Beach
The beach of Kaputaş, between Kaş and Kalkan, gives the dramatic swimming day trip, and the turquoise cove between the cliffs is the famous sight. The beach sits at the bottom of the cliff staircase, and the turquoise water and the sand give the setting; the water of the cove is the clear, the vivid one; and the beach fills in the summer, and the earlier arrival finds the space. The Kaputaş day trip gives the iconic beach day, and the cliffs deliver the drama.
The practical Kaputaş note: the drive runs about twenty minutes along the coast road; the staircase to the beach takes the short climb, and the return the longer one; and the facilities are the simple ones, so the supplies come prepared. The Kaputaş beach gives the iconic swimming day, and the turquoise cove delivers the scene.
The Lycian Sites of the Region
The Lycian history of the region gives the archaeological day trips, and the ancient cities and the tombs reward the explorer. The ancient sites of the area — the ruins of the Lycian cities, the rock tombs, the sanctuaries — scatter through the countryside and the coast; the site of Xanthos and the sanctuary of Letoon, to the west, rank among the great Lycian ruins; and the exploring of the ancient sites gives the depth of the region. The Lycian sites give the history day trips, and the ancient stones deliver the depth.
The practical site note: the sites are the spread-out ones, and the car is the way between them; the drives are the scenic ones; and the hat, the water, and the sunscreen are the essentials of the exposed ruins. The Lycian sites of the region give the deeper history, and the ancient cities reward the seeker.
Patara and the Long Beach
The ancient city of Patara and its long beach give the combined day trip, and the ruins and the sand reward the visit. The ancient Patara, the birthplace of the Lycian federation, holds the ruins of the city — the theater, the baths, the streets; and the long beach of Patara, one of the longest of the Mediterranean, gives the swimming after the ruins; and the protected nesting grounds of the beach add the nature. The Patara day trip gives the history and the beach, and the region delivers the variety.
The practical Patara note: the drive runs about an hour; the ruins and the beach share the day, and the entrance covers both; and the beach fills in the summer, and the earlier arrival finds the space. The Patara day trip gives the ancient city and the long sand, and the region delivers the day.
Kalkan and the Coast
The town of Kalkan, along the coast, gives the neighboring day trip, and the stone town and the harbor reward the visit. The old stone houses of Kalkan climb the hill from the harbor, and the town’s waterfront gives the restaurants and the boats; the harbor life and the views give the contrast to Kaş; and the drive along the coast is the scenic one. The Kalkan day trip gives the neighboring town, and the coast delivers the variety.
The practical Kalkan note: the drive runs about half an hour along the coast road; the old town and the harbor are the sights; and the lunch at the harbor gives the stop. The Kalkan day trip gives the neighboring scenes, and the coast rewards the drive.
The Lycian Way Hikes
The Lycian Way gives the hiking day trips, and the sections around Kaş reward the walker. The path runs through the hills and along the coast, with the views of the sea, the mountains, and the ancient sites; the sections around the town give the day hikes, and the spring and the autumn give the best walking; and the trail delivers the wild beauty of the region. The Lycian Way hikes give the active days, and the hills deliver the views.
The practical hike note: the sections around the town give the day hikes, and the map and the asking help; the water and the hat are the essentials of the hills; and the early morning and the late afternoon give the comfortable walking. The Lycian Way hikes give the active Kaş days, and the wild hills reward the walker.
The Saklıkent Gorge
The gorge of Saklıkent gives the nature day trip, and the dramatic canyon of the region rewards the visit. The gorge, one of the deepest of Turkey, cuts through the mountains, and the walk through the canyon — the water, the walls, the light — gives the adventure; the mountain scenery of the drive and the region follows; and the summer gives the cool relief of the gorge. The Saklıkent day trip gives the nature, and the canyon delivers the drama.
The practical gorge note: the drive runs about an hour and a half; the entrance and the walk of the gorge take the time; and the water shoes and the change of clothes are the essentials. The Saklıkent gorge gives the nature day, and the canyon rewards the adventurous.
The Practical Day Trip Notes
The practical day trip notes of Kaş: the car gives the freedom of the region, and the rental makes the excursions easy; the boat trips and the organized tours cover the popular routes; the summer heat plans around the midday, with the mornings and the evenings for the exploring; and the returns to Kaş always come home to the harbor town. The day trips of the region work from the Kaş base, and the coast sits well for the excursions.
The Day Trip Planner’s ViewnnFor the trip planner, the day trips from Kaş are the flexible backbone of the itinerary. The base of three or four nights in the Mediterranean town leaves the days free for the excursions, and the evenings return to the harbor and the local tables. The planner mixes the types: one day for the Kekova boat trip, one day for the Lycian sites and Patara, and one day for the beaches and the gorge. The planner also plans for the weather, because the summer heat shapes the timing, and the mornings and the evenings hold the exploring while the middays hold the water. The planner’s view of the day trips is the view of the whole region: small, connected, and full of the variety that fills a week without the repetition. The returns to the harbor town close each day, and the sea anchors the itinerary.n
The Getting There for the Day TripsnnThe getting there for the day trips from Kaş stays the simple one, and the transport of the region connects the excursions. The car is the freedom of the region, and the rental at the airport or in the town makes the excursions easy; the minibuses of the coast run the routes between the towns, and the boat trips cover the water routes; and the organized tours cover the popular excursions for the travelers without the wheels. The distances of the region stay the manageable ones, and the drives between the sights are the scenic ones. The getting there for the day trips keeps the excursions smooth, and the region’s transport delivers the traveler to the sights.n
The Takeaway
The day trips from Kaş reach the best of the region: the sunken city of Kekova, the turquoise Kaputaş, the Lycian sites, the long beach of Patara, and the canyon of Saklıkent. The base at Kaş sits well for the excursions, and the returns come home to the harbor town. The region around the coast delivers the variety, and the day trips reward the time.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best day trips from Kas?
Kekova and the sunken city, Kaputaş beach, the Lycian sites, Patara, and Kalkan.
How far is Kaputaş beach from Kas?
About twenty minutes along the coast road, with the staircase down to the turquoise cove.
Is Kekova worth the boat trip?
Yes — the sunken city and the coast give the classic excursion, and the day on the water is the highlight.
Can I visit Patara from Kas?
Yes — the ancient city and the long beach combine for the day, about an hour away.
Do I need a car for day trips from Kas?
For the flexibility, yes — the car makes the sites, the beaches, and the gorge easy to reach.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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