The huge sandy Patara beach on the Lycian coast is a wild and beautiful place to relax, where you can not only swim in the sea, but also watch turtles lay eggs, visit ancient ruins, ride horses and even climb rocks. Patara Beach has very fine honey-yellow sand, and its high dunes are somewhat similar to the desert – there are no other places like it in Turkey.
Most tourists know about the southern part of Patara Beach. But there is an equally beautiful and interesting northern part of the city, where it is much cheaper to vacation.
What is Patara Beach really like?
First of all, it is a really huge 12-kilometer-long almost wild sandy beach that stretches along the Xanthus Valley. Patara Beach has huge dunes and, unlike other Turkish beaches, there is not a single hotel on it.
Secondly, there is virtually no infrastructure on this beach because it is a protected coastline where loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs, which hatch in August.
Thirdly, the beach consists of two parts:
- southwestern and better known to all tourists – from the city of Gelemish to the Xanf River (Eşen), which is the natural border between the provinces of Muğla and Antalya.
- Northwest, stretching from the Karadere River to the Xanf River.
The difference in these parts of Patara Beach is significant. The first well-known Patara Beach is part of the Patara Nature and Historical Reserve, so there is a fee for entering it. But the second part is absolutely wild and free – you can even come here with tents to rest.
But then I will tell you everything in more detail and in order.
Southwestern part of Patara beach – the famous tourist location
This is the official and well-known part – this is the well-known Patara beach with fine golden sand and high dunes.
The sand dunes of this beach go as deep as 500 meters. Once upon a time, the ancient Lycian port of Patara was hidden under this sandy layer. Later, historians and archaeologists dug it out of the sand, and now, together with the beach, these ruins make up a nature and archaeological reserve.
There is almost no infrastructure on this beach. The only summer cafe is Patara beach Cafe, where you shouldn’t eat, but you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas. Most tourists come with their own umbrellas and folding tables and chairs, or sunbathe on towels. There is a parking lot, where in summer it is difficult to find a place in the shade of trees. There is also a paid toilet and shower to wash off the salt water.
The main thing is that the entrance to Patara Beach is paid. A ticket costs 60 Turkish liras ($3)! (price in 2022). But this ticket includes a visit to the ruins of ancient Patara and parking near the beach. It’s strange, because the beach seems to be a different location, but no – it’s all on one ticket.
What to do on Patara beach
Of course, swimming and sunbathing. The sand here is very good, the entrance to the water is gentle, and it’s a great place for children to swim. But there is no shade on the beach at all – take umbrellas if you plan to spend the whole day here.
Visit the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Patara. The amphitheater is very well preserved and the ancient theater has been restored. In general, the territory of the archaeological park is very large, so plan a visit in the morning or in the evening, as it is very hot during the day.
If they don’t seem enough for you, you can add the neighboring ancient city of Xanthos, where an amphitheater and many columns that bear witness to the ancient Lycian period have also been preserved. civilization.
See the nests of the Caretta Caretta turtles – this species of turtle has been coming to this beach for 40 million years in the summer (early June) to lay eggs in the sand. Egg clutches are marked with signs and plaques, and after 8 pm the beach is closed in summer.
Take a picture of the sunset from the large dunes. Many people come to see the sun go down in the sea and the dunes turn pink.
Walking along the surf – the beach is very long in this part, you can walk about 5 km in one direction – it will be a good walk.
Accommodation near Patara beach
There are no hotels in this part of the beach. But most tourists stay in hotels in the town of Gelemish. There are a lot of private offices, cafes and restaurants, food and souvenir shops. In fact, Gelemish is a resort that is not located by the sea, but for those tourists who decide to relax on Patara Beach.
Book accommodation on Booking-Gelemiş≫
How do I get to Patara Beach near Kas?
Patara Beach is located between Kas і Fethiye in the province of Antalya. It is located in the village of Gelemish, about 42 km from Kash.
- Public transportation. You can easily reach Patara Beach by public transportation. For example, minibuses depart every 20 minutes from the Kash bus station and go to the beach.
- By bus: There are also buses from the center of Antalya to Patara Beach.
- By car: since the center of Antalya is 220 km away, it is better to get there by rented car is the best option. There are plenty of parking spaces on site.
What is prohibited on Patara Beach
- You can come to the beach from 8:00 to 20:00 – it is forbidden to be here at night.
- You cannot set up tents and spend the night on Patara Beach. As well as making fires and leaving garbage.
- You should not touch turtle nests – in general, you should look carefully under your feet and avoid all signs that indicate that a turtle has left eggs here.
- Umbrellas and sun loungers can only be placed near the surf.
- Also, this beach cannot be reached by any sea transport – it is prohibited in summer also because of the turtles that breed here.
- You should not come to the beach with dogs – they can also destroy the nests of Caretta Caretta turtles.
The northwestern part of Patara Beach – a beach that not all tourists know
But this part is not known to everyone – most often there are tourists passing by on foot along the Lycian path. It is also a favorite vacation spot for locals and tourists with tents.
This part of Patara beach is called Karadere, after the name of the town that is adjacent to it. Mountains cling to the beach here, behind which the sun sets every evening. There is also a small river along which campsites for fishermen are built.
I spent the night in one of these campsites by the sea during my an independent hike in Lycia. And in the morning I walked along this part of Patara beach.
The beach is also sandy and long – about 5 km on foot from the cliff to the Xanthus River. Entrance to the beach is completely free, but there is practically no infrastructure here. A very good place for a wild vacation.
There are no large dunes on this part of the beach, but reeds grow along the edge, where you can hide from the wind. In general, this part of Patara beach is not so stunning, but I also really liked it for its wildness and immensity. It’s a nice place.
What to do on Patara Caradere beach
Swimming and sunbathing on the beach is very shallow, so it’s great for families with children. There are no deckchairs or umbrellas here – locals bring their own.
Staying in a tent at a campsite on the beach is a possibility here compared to the rest of the country. An alternative is wooden camping cabins with their own shower and toilet. The campground has a nice area with palm trees, a lawn and a small cafe with low prices.
Walking along the beach, watching the sun go down over the mountain. There are a lot of local dogs on the beach – they run and walk with people, it’s fun and not boring.
Horseback riding – there is a horse farm nearby, you can book a horseback ride along the beach. Or go for a ride on the beach on quad bikes – there is that here too. Turtles don’t make nests here, so you can walk anywhere and even drive a car.
Fishing in the river – there is even a guesthouse with rooms above the river, and fishermen who like to sit with a fishing rod come here.
See the ruins of the ancient city of Letoona – there are also an amphitheater, columns of temples and other historical artifacts.
How to get to Patara Beach near Karadere?
Karadere is located on the other side of the Xanf Valley, it can be reached from Kash and Fethiye on the D400 highway – at Kumluova turn towards Karadere.
- Public transportation. You can easily get to Patara Karadere beach by dolmus, a Turkish minibus that runs from Kalkan or Kinik (Xanthos).
- By car: since the center of Antalya is 240 km away, it is better to get there by rented car is the best option. There are plenty of parking spaces on site.
Useful articles and links:
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- Rent a car in Turkey
- Transportation in Turkey – the best options for traveling around the country
- Pamukkale, Turkey – what to do in two days
Green card for traveling by car abroad – online on the portal
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Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com
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