Kas Travel Guide
Adventure Capital of the Mediterranean
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The pretty backstreets behind the harbour are a major draw for Kas but it’s the sheer variety of activities available has enabled the town - with much justification - to style itself as the ‘adventure capital of the Mediterranean’. From Kas you can embark on easy walks, difficult treks, white-water rafting trips, diving and snorkelling, jeep safaris, mountain biking, canyoning, tubing and sea-kayaking. You can visit ancient cities, go paragliding and take boat trips – the list is almost endless. The town is very family-friendly and is popular amongst travellers of all ages, abilities and levels of fitness.
Until fairly recently Kas was a small, pretty fishing town and little harbour, known in antiquity as Antiphellos. It’s beautiful location and fledgling tourist industry has changed all that yet it remains largely unspoilt, being intimate and tasteful - not overly developed yet with enough services to make it a good base for exploring the region.
The pretty harbour is home to gulets, yachts, day trip and dive boats; behind which the network of bougainvillea-clad backstreets are home to gift shops, restaurants, quiet bars and the occasional pansiyon. Life is pretty relaxed in Kas. The town has no real beaches of its own (though there is a small shingle bay around 1km east of town); swimming is nonetheless possible from the platforms on the shoreline that restaurants and hotels have built. Notwithstanding this the large number of waterborne activities means that swimming is integral in many day trips.
From the town the choice of activities is bewildering - sea-kayaking over the ruins of sunken Kekova is a popular pastime, whilst there is some fantastic SCUBA diving and snorkelling to be had. From the mountains that rises behind Kaş daring travellers can take to the sky, paragliding down to Kaş harbour or make the descent by mountain-bike. These mountains are wonderful for exploring on foot and jeep safaris can take you further inland to small villages where tourists are still rare.
For those that like an adrenaline rush canyoning is possible at Saklikent Gorge. It’s even possible to take a day trip to the Greek island of Kastellorizo whose classic Greek harbour is surrounded by tavernas. Most visitors to Kas leave planning to return.
Attractions in Kas
There is no single must-see or do in Kas. Some use it as a base from where to explore along the coast in each direction. Others laze by their hotel pool and do the odd day trip which could be nothing more exhausting than a coastal boat ride, and yet others want the rush of high adrenaline sports: all are catered for.
Activities in Kas
There are so many things to do unless one has almost unlimited time you’d have to visit more than once to cover them all. Most popular are sea-kayaking excursions to Kekova, jeep safaris into the mountains and, with over 30 dive sites, SCUBA diving/snorkelling trips is justly popular; all abilities are catered for, from complete novices who want to Discover Scuba to qualified divers. Kas is on the Lycian Way and walking the trail is very popular (it can be walked in either direction from here). Paragliding is extremely popular amongst the daring and Saklikent Gorge has over the last few years become renowned for its canyoning. Mountain-bikers will be in their element with many downhill trails as well as more challenging mixed sections available. Popular excursions take people to Demre to explore its associations with St Nicholas – Santa Claus - and on to Olympos to see the famous ruined seaside city. Visitors to Olympos walk the trail up to the legendary Chimaera – the fire-breathing monster that in reality is a strange geological phenomenon of burning natural gas.
Relaxing
After a hard day out and about there are a wide variety of restaurants and bars to choose from, from intimate places with just 3 or 4 tables to larger affairs overlooking the harbour; all price ranges are catered for. Bars are open till late, often till the last person leaves which can be early the next morning. Again a variety of choice is available, from quiet places tucked away in courtyards playing eclectic music mixes to livelier bars and dance venues where the latest songs are belted out.
Getting Around
Kas can be reached by long-distance bus from both Fethiye and Antalya. Taxis to Dalaman and Antalya airports are relatively expensive and a better way of travelling to these destinations may be by private vehicle which will arguably provide more comfort and flexibility. Once in the town transport is not required as all places can be reached on foot.
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