Kabak
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Kabak is a small village in Lycia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, 20 km south of Ölüdeniz and 35 km south of Fethiye. Officially it's called Uzunyurt, which comprises Kozağaç, Kirme, Hisar, Faralya (separately described), Kızılcakaya and Kabak. The upper village is a scattering of pansiyons along the road, which deteriorates into a dirt lane and descends to the beach settlement or Kabak Koyu. Time was it had a hippy vibe and next-to-nothing prices, but nowadays it can feel touristy, with prices to match.
Get in
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A narrow road winds 20 km from Ölüdeniz, branching off the main highway from Fethiye near the Blue Lagoon. Allow 40 minutes to drive it, dodging potholes. The road runs through Faralya to dead-end at Kabak. Dolmuşes ply the sealed road, but stop 1 km out where it becomes a dirt lane descending into the valley. 2WD vehicles may continue, but with a trailer / caravan you might need 4WD to get out.
1 Kabak Vadi Otopark is the village car park, where some guy will demand a parking fee that he's just thought of, pocket it and not issue a receipt. In 2024 the going rate was 200 TL. The dirt lane continues another 500 m to the beach, form your own judgement on whether your vehicle can safely continue.
See below for the Lycian Way hiking trail.
Get around
[edit]Walk everywhere, the dirt lanes are ruinous to cars.
See and do
[edit]- Kabak beach is shingle. It's only 200 m long so on summer weekends it gets crowded and trash-strewn.
- Kabak canyon trail starts south end of the beach and follows the flank of the steep valley. For 2 km it's way-marked with red and white stones as part of the Lycian Way. You then take a rough steep side trail past a series of rock pools and waterfalls.
- The Lycian Way officially starts from Ovacık on the edge of Ölüdeniz, though many hikers start from Fethiye. The trail leads south through Faralya to Kabak then you either continue along the coast or go further inland via Alınca.
Buy
[edit]- Deniz restaurant in the upper village is also a general store.
- Ölüdeniz and Fethiye have the nearest supermarkets and ATMs.
Eat and drink
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- Restaurants with rooms include Kabak Mamma's, Olive Garden and Misafir Evi, see Sleep.
- Deniz 50 m east of Mamma's is open daily 08:00-23:00.
- Tospa 200 m from the beach is open daily 11:00-04:00.
Sleep
[edit]- Many places will allow you to pitch your own tent.
- 1 Bağ Camp, ☏ +90 532 553 0448. Friendly place with cabins above main village.
- 2 Kabak Mamma's, ☏ +90 555 604 3190. Pansiyon with restaurant, good meals but the rooms are basic.
- Olive Garden (100 m downhill from Mamma's), ☏ +90 252 642 1083. A restaurant with rooms. You can use the pool as a day visitor with a minimum spend. B&B double 3000 TL.
- Kabak Misafir Evi (50 m east of Mamma's), ☏ +90 553 985 5298. Restaurant with comfy rooms. B&B double 1000 TL.
- 3 Fullmoon Camp, ☏ +90 536 729 2238. Rustic bungalows with great views, home-grown food, and a swimming pool. Bungalow B&B 3500 TL.
- 4 Reflections, ☏ +90 530 771 9116. Pleasant bungalows close to the beach.
- 5 Sea Valley Bungalows, ☏ +90 252 642 1236, info@seavalleycamping.com. Comfy relaxing cabins right on the beach, slick service. B&B double 4000 TL.
Connect
[edit]As of Aug 2024, Kabak and the road from Ölüdeniz have 4G from Turkcell and Türk Telekom, but the signal from Vodafone gives out south of Faralya. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.
Go next
[edit]- By road this is a dead-end: turn around to return through Faralya and Ölüdeniz to Fethiye.
- Kayaköy is a ghost town near Ölüdeniz, abandoned in the early 20th century.
- The Lycian Way twists and turns inland, eventually approaching Antalya.
| Routes through Kabak |
| Fethiye ← Faralya ← | W  E |
→ Yediburunlar → Xanthos → Antalya |