Honest Travel Review: Go straight to Kabak

Hear me out. I loved Butterfly Valley, see my previous review here. But after a quick visit to Kabak Valley this past weekend, I’m singing a different tune. It may be a hymn played by a long-haired hippie on a traditional Turkish guitar, not the familiar Spanish one, while I sunned on the beach. Or, perhaps it was the steep hike down, following the legends of the Lycian Way. (Later I had to hike that steep grade back up, while my body glistened, we’ll say, with an unprecedented force. Not glamorous, but rewarding, nonetheless.) Or, most crowning of all, the azure-painted sea that the valley gives way to. I don’t intend this to be an ode, or a love letter, but Kabak, you got me. 
It’s not overly British

Most rewarding of Kabak, unlike Ölüdeniz, there’s no mention of “a full English breakfast for 6 Turkish lira” or “Cultural Turkish Night” with plastered images of belly dancers. Rather, you’ll find mystic camp hideouts, such as “Reflections” or “Nirvana Art Camp”, each with tree houses, huts, or camping plots, with some that overlook the sea. On the flip side, if you’re not a self-proclaimed hippie, like me, the universal hippie greeting of Namaste may be too much.

Hike the Lycian Way

It’s probably not a secret that Kabak is located directly on the Lycian Trail, Turkey’s best long-distance hike. It skirts the sea from Antayla to Fethiye. At 300 miles, the Lycian Way grants a glimpse at Turkey’s unique flora and fauna, plus reveals the remnants of yet another ancient civilization that took power in Turkey. The path is riddled with haunting tombstones and more. Option two, for those short on time and energy, you can simply follow it down the valley to the sea. I did. The trail is splashed with red and yellow painted stones, you can’t miss it.

Local, homemade food

Prefer eco-tourism to the pre-packaged deal? Me too. So, it’s highly likely you also like backyard honey and recently dried sage rather than scores of identical flip-flops at each beachside stall. (Side note, the sage makes an easy gift for that friend who you also consider a sage and likes unique teas.) The honey and sage, plus more, can be sourced here. I didn’t have time, but I wanted to opt for the quail kebab as a satisfying and local dinner. Instead, I plucked figs and juicy grapes from the trees and vines. Next time!

Adventure, or ultimate chill zone

Hike to a waterfall, wake up with yoga, read under a thatched gazebo, or do nothing but sleep on the beach. That’s the ultimate beauty of Kabak, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place. Plus, it’s free from any resort and those unwanted consequences of mass tourism that have inevitably sprung themselves upon Turkey’s turquoise coast.

It’s not perfect. It’s not paradise. But if you believe the local signage, it may a stepping stone to nirvana.

 

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