Hidden at the end of steep lane, off a side street that’s off a side street off the hardly busy Kalamar Road in Kalkan, Turkey, lies the sleepy Likya Residence Hotel & Spa, (possibly just sleepy due to lower visitor numbers to Turkey this year, some business owners have told us they’re down nearly 90%).

Clinging to the hillside, with a beautiful view over the harbour, (from the pool and outdoor bar, as well as from the upper terrace), a resident tortoise and a manager (the very lovely Seviye) who rehomes abandoned kittens, (well that’s what she was doing the day we visited), this hidden gem of a hotel hides it’s own secret.

Through an unassuming door, in a typical, if small, hotel lobby, sits an unremarkable spa reception desk that is manned by a friendly spa manager who is flanked by four members of staff, (as I said, it’s not busy when we visit).

We are guided, beyond the desk, down a short corridor, to a basic but perfectly functional changing room and then up a set of stone stairs to the main spa area where we are given a refreshing glass of cold water, with slice of cucumber and lemon.

The simple but welcoming space houses a small but perfectly formed, and classically mosaic clad, pool with accompanying jacuzzi that is surrounded by comfortable loungers, a charming relaxation zone of huge scatter cushions, plus a small outdoor terrace (where we have our, post-treatment, honey tea & biscuit) which is surrounded by lush trees and views to the sea.

Back inside and the tranquility of the pool area is a little interrupted by the whirring of the treadmill in the adjoining mini gym (sometimes the compromise of the hotel spa) which is also equipped with free weights from what I can see without investigating (I’m here to spa, after all, not work out!).

The real surprise, however, besides the incredible Balinese massage is the cute waterfall cave which is lurking downstairs at the opposite end of yet another curiously unlit corridor (perhaps as we’re the only guests) which houses three showers of varying temperature – from cold to freezing – each in its own mini cave. This is set alongside another small relaxing area and the customary and comfortable sauna and steam rooms. [Apologies, too dark for photos!]

There is also a sign to the Turkish Bath but we don’t venture inside, still reluctant after our last “experience” of being battered and bruised by burly a Hammam-man in Jordan…but that’s another story!

—
Use of Spa £30 (if non resident)
Treatments range from around £25 for a Hammam Ritual to £75 for 90min Balinese or Thai massage
Packages available from £45 for the Relax ‘Pac’ to £160 for the 180min VIP Package and £240 for the 160min Romantic Couples (for two people)
Beauty treatments too, starting at £7 for French Manicure
—
www.likyakalkan.com/spa

Likya Residence Hotel & Spa, Yaliboyu Mah.Akdeniz Caddesi, Sumbul Sokak No:1, Kalkan / Kas Antalya, 07960, Turkey // +90 242 844 1055 // info@likyakalkan.com