Twin Türkiye and Greece for a full scale Aegean adventure with teens

A Türkiye holiday is always fun for younger kids, but what about teens. Georgina Blaskey finds out on a multi-destination tour with even a visit to Greece tacked on.

Fethiye, Turquoise Riviera, Turkiye

With teens growing up fast and only a few more family holidays on the horizon, there were a number of boxes to tick on our summer break this year.

We wanted to start off in a villa so the kids could each bring a friend. They wanted a buzzy town with some fun nightlife and beach clubs to mix things up a bit. Well-priced restaurants with local food were priorities for us too, and we wanted plenty of activities, including snorkelling and boat trips. On our second week with just the family, we were keen to explore a variety of towns and bays with easy travel between them and a dose of culture on the side, as well as good value for money. We also wanted to look beyond countries we’d visited before and discover a destination that offered an element of adventure, so when a friend suggested a Türkiye holiday on the Turquoise Coast, I was eager to know more.

How to find the perfect family villa for a Türkiye holiday

Kalkan soon appeared in our searches as a lively but contained resort, right on the water, with hundreds of villas to rent. Some are close of the centre of town, located in or around the Likya Estate, just a few minutes walk from the harbour, and some are above the town, high on a steep hill (the whole town is very hilly, take flat shoes!).

We went for a property that was about 10 minutes walk away from the centre, in a coastal neighbourhood called Komurluk, which offered uninterrupted views of the sea and headlands. Close to various beach clubs, this side also treats you to the most wonderful sunsets every night and our villa, Villa Setara, rented through Kalkan Escapes, had large balconies in each bedroom and a sprawling rooftop terrace from which we could all enjoy the nightly sundown.

The villa itself was contemporary with cool, minimalist interiors, good-sized bedrooms, plenty of chill-out spaces, and an infinity pool. Stylish sun loungers, al fresco dining and even table tennis tucked in a shady courtyard, sealed the deal. Our host, Altan, greeted us on arrival with a welcome hamper of the basics, and someone came to maintain the pool every day. Compared to similar villas in the Algarve, this was a really well-priced Türkiye holiday option and, yes, it ticked all the boxes!

Beautiful Aegean beaches, Kalkan

The daily bliss of beach clubs and beautiful bays

As well as days spent lounging by the pool, we also visited nearby beach clubs. Our favourite was Zest, built on the edge of the rocky, steep coastline, it’s a multi-level set-up with lots of sun loungers on wooden decks, a swimming pool and a restaurant. Jumping off high-level platforms into clear waters, the kids spent hours flipping and somersaulting. One of our best days was a boat trip on Sunset 3. Under the care of Captain Yalcin we were treated to multiple stops in beautiful bays; dramatic cliffs which were ideal to clamber up for yet more somersaulting and also populated by some rather nimble goats; plus a generous, delicious lunch, rustled up in the modest galley kitchen. Everyone agreed this Kalkan trip was one of the highlights of our Türkiye holiday.

Kalkan Harbour, Türkiye

Evenings catching sunset from Kalkan rooftops

Evenings were spent wandering into town and exploring the labyrinth of streets and alleys. Be warned, designer fakes are big business in Kalkan and I did find it pretty bizarre the first evening I walked in and saw replica Gucci, Hermes and Chanel goods displayed in shop windows. But that aside, every other building houses a charming rooftop restaurant with a range of options, from authentic Turkish dishes to simple, fresh seafood to something more international – perfect to catch an evening breeze at sunset while you listen to the call to prayer from the mosque beyond.

Fethiye, Turquoise Riviera

Where to embrace the freedom of the coast on this Türkiye holiday

After a week of standard Türkiye holiday activities, it was time to be a bit more adventurous and embrace the new-found freedom of holidaying with teens.

We travelled up the coast towards Fethiye, a large town situated on the coast between Kalkan and Dalaman; where the airport for the region is and where we said goodbye to our kids’ friends. Then, winding along a coastal road that felt more like the route to a ski resort than a beach hotel, we negotiated the hairpin bends and arrived at Nautical by Naturally Luxurious Getaway (NLG), a hidden gem in the idyllic enclave of Faralya that is, literally, concealed within a pine forest. I later learned that a minimal number of trees were disturbed in the construction and, when you look back from the water, you can barely see the hotel.

Restaurant, Hotel Nautical, Fethiye

Back to nature activities and Robinson Crusoe vibes

Nautical comprises a selection of luxury lodges meticulously crafted from local materials. Also, teenagers age 14 and over are welcome, and the resort encourages guests to reconnect with nature through a variety of adrenaline-inducing excursions.

Primely positioned in the centre of The Lycian Way, guests can choose from ten guided scenic hikes; explore the surrounding sights on four wheels with a jeep safari tour; pass through the ‘Seven Capes’; witness kaleidoscopic sunsets at Patara Beach and explore ancient cities to uncover the region’s storied past.

Activities aside, the hotel itself gives Robinson Crusoe vibes, with rustic accommodation hidden down twisting footpaths for total privacy. There are a couple of restaurants to choose from, including Perdue restaurant which serves seasonal, local dishes and is located in the sister property of the same name next door. Also, NLG group has just opened a beach club next door called Rups, oozing style, it’s a chic collection of decks for dining, cabanas for snoozing, and even a yoga studio.

Why you should charter a yacht on the Turquoise Coast

The next morning we packed up and boarded Perdue Yacht, one of NLG’s two boats which guests can charter. Although as a first timer, I was apprehensive about being at sea overnight and I wondered whether, after the initial novelty wore off, everyone would get a bit restless during the day. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It turned out to be one of the best experiences of our entire Türkiye holiday.

Beyond the boat itself – three double cabins, expansive decks to lie on, a friendly, attentive crew and delicious meals – the coastline here is breath-taking. We spent two days sailing around Göcek and discovered countless bays offering, yet again, the clearest waters for snorkelling: it’s called the Turquoise Coast for a reason. Perdue Yacht also has sea bobs on board, as well as a kayak and paddleboard, so there’s plenty to do. Although my favourite pastime was simply lying on the front deck, watching the spectacular scenery pass by.

I found the evenings on board particularly enjoyable. As day trippers emptied out from bays, we enjoyed secluded sunsets and incredible stargazing into inky night skies. Waking up to calm waters, a morning dip followed by a peaceful breakfast, time felt like it had been suspended and I’ve never felt more mentally reset than I did after this short stay.

The end of our Türkiye holiday and the start of Greece

We disembarked at Fethiye harbour, sad to leave the yacht and the crew, but it was time to end our Türkiye holiday and embark on our next adventure.

We dragged our wheelie cases across the paving from yacht to ferry, destined for Rhodes and the chance to explore the other side of the Aegean. After just an hour and a half sail, we disembarked and jumped into a cab bound for Lindian Village resort, located on the other side of the island, near the historic town of Lindos.

Although this was the only large, resort-style stay of the trip and beforehand I was concerned that it might be a bit of a culture shock after our smaller, more personal choices, I needn’t have worried.

Built like a small village with low rise buildings and winding paths, it maintains an intimacy throughout, even in the communal areas. However, there are also four restaurants as well as a pool bar and in-room dining, so plenty of variety even if you were here for a week or two.

Lindos Village, Rhodes

Rhodes wins us over with diving and ancient history

We spent our days on the sand and pebble beach, which slopes gently into the sea. There’s a water sports centre offering jet skis, kayaks and glass-bottom boat trips on the beach, and within the hotel is a Dive School from which you can go out and learn to scuba dive. My son tried the five metre beginner’s session; once that’s completed you can venture to other bays and dive deeper and had we stayed longer, he definitely would have. There’s also a simple but effective spa on site where they really know how to deliver a good massage, and a gym and tennis court if you’re feeling more active.

Nearby is the typically Greek, white-painted town of Lindos, which has a remarkable acropolis on its clifftop. Clever restoration works have combined original ruins with reimagined constructions, creating an engaging site that gives a magical re-enactment of what once was. It’s a steep, long walk up but we arrived just in time to watch the sun set before strolling back down to the town.

Lindos is a lively place where every rooftop houses a restaurant or bar – reminiscent of Kalkan – and the views across the buildings are quite mesmerising. The shady streets below are full of tourist shops with some more authentic boutiques dotted in between, and the whole town offers that lovely buzzy atmosphere you want on a summer evening abroad.

Overall, taking a couple of weeks to combine a Türkiye holiday with a trip to Greece felt like we elevated our family summer from a typical break to a jam-packed adventure. Being in nature, out on the water, in lively towns, seeing some sites, but with plenty of time to relax too, gave all of us what we wanted: new experiences, family bonding time and plenty of memories.