Kas & Kalkan: Saklikent Gorge Jeep Safari with Village Tea & Kaputas Beach

Summary

Jeep safari from Kas to Saklikent Gorge with village tea, mud bath and Kaputas swim

You’ll ride open-air jeeps from Kas or Kalkan through mountain roads, sip tea in a quiet Turkish village garden, laugh through wild water fights on the way to Gizlikent canyon, trek cool waters at Saklikent Gorge with your guide, soak up mud baths by Eşen River, then end swimming at Kaputaş Beach—all with lunch and entry included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Jeep safari with canyon and beach

• Depart from Kas at 09:00am
• Pass Kaputaş Beach slowly
• Stop at village for tea break
• Visit Üzümlü village for light breakfast
• Prepare and join water fight
• Walk to Gizlikent canyon waterfall
• Have lunch near Gizlikent canyon
• Explore Saklıkent canyon with guide
• Drive to mud pool for mud bath
• Visit Xanthos ancient city
• Swim at Kaputaş Beach
• Return to Kas or Kalkan

Top questions

How long does the Saklikent Gorge jeep safari take?

The tour lasts most of the day, starting around 9:00am from Kas or Kalkan and returning after swimming at Kaputaş Beach.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

Yes, lunch is included at a restaurant near Gizlikent canyon as part of the tour.

Do I need to bring extra clothes for the water fight?

Yes—it’s recommended to bring an extra shirt and shorts since you’ll likely get wet during the water fight between jeeps.

Are entry fees covered for Saklikent Gorge and Kaputaş Beach?

Entry fees for both Gizlikent canyon and Kaputaş Beach are included in your booking.

Can children join this jeep safari tour?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for infants or travelers with spinal injuries or during pregnancy.

What activities are possible at Gizlikent canyon?

You can walk to the waterfall; extra activities like quad biking or ziplining are available for an additional fee.

Is transportation provided from both Kas and Kalkan?

Yes—pickup is available from both Kas and Kalkan towns at the start of the tour.

What’s included

Your day covers pickup from Kas or Kalkan, all entry fees for Gizlikent canyon and Kaputaş Beach, a light breakfast with tea in Üzümlü village garden, buffet lunch near Gizlikent gorge, plus time for mud baths before returning home sandy and happy.

What’s the experience like?

We were already bouncing along the road out of Kas when I realized my shoes were probably too clean for what was coming. Our guide Cem cracked a joke about “Turkish car washes” (I didn’t get it at first—turns out he meant the water fights). We stopped in Üzümlü village for tea under some vines, and I swear the air smelled like warm bread and wood smoke. An old woman handed us pancakes so thin you could almost see sunlight through them. I tried to say thank you in Turkish — she just smiled and patted my arm.

After that, chaos: everyone loading up water guns for this ridiculous water fight between jeeps. My shirt was soaked before we even reached Gizlikent canyon, but honestly, it felt good in the heat. Gizlikent itself is narrow and cool; you can hear water echoing off the rocks as you walk. Lunch was by the river—simple stuff, grilled chicken and salad—but sitting there with wet hair and dusty feet made it taste better than any fancy restaurant.

Saklikent Gorge is something else entirely. Cold water rushing over your ankles, sunlight cutting through all that blue-grey stone. Cem led us through, pointing out little details—plants clinging to impossible places, a frog that startled me (he laughed). We finished caked in mud after a dip in a pool by Eşen River. The mud bath was supposed to be good for your skin but mostly we just ended up looking like lumpy statues.

Xanthos went by fast—a quick stop while Cem told stories about ancient Lycians and their tombs carved into cliffs. By the time we rolled down to Kaputaş Beach for a swim, my arms were tired but I didn’t care. The sea looked impossibly bright against those cliffs. I still think about floating there with sand stuck between my toes, not really wanting to leave yet.