Johnny WardYou might be wondering how I ended up here as your presenter. I’m Johnny Ward, from TRT World’s travel show Where To Next.
I first made my name in the travel world by visiting every single country on Earth — all 197 of them.
Along the way, I combined that with climbing the Seven Summits, including Everest, reaching both the North and South Poles, and taking on a few long-distance challenges by land and sea.
But these days, I’m happy to slow things down. And that’s what brings me to Türkiye — a country that’s easy to travel in, incredibly rich in history, culture, and everyday life.
This time, that journey takes me to Kas, a small town on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Türkiye. It’s the kind of place where ancient history meets turquoise water — and where adventure is never far away.
During the summer months, Kas becomes a magnet for travellers from around the world.
Surrounded by green hills and overlooking the deep blue Mediterranean, it’s known for its relaxed atmosphere, history, and especially its reputation as one of the best scuba diving destinations in Türkiye.
And that’s exactly why I’m here — to try something new.
Joining me today is Sinan Albayrak, a well-known Turkish actor who spends part of his year living in Kas.
While many people know him for playing historical characters in major television dramas, here he’s simply another local enjoying the sea and the quiet pace of life.
For him, Kas is more than just a holiday destination. It’s somewhere he describes as a personal sanctuary — a place where the pace slows down, and nature takes centre stage.
It’s easy to understand why.
The town sits along the famous Lycian Way, a long-distance walking route that follows the ancient coastline of the Lycian civilisation, which flourished here more than two thousand years ago.
Along the trails you’ll find ruins, old settlements, and traces of a culture that once dominated this part of the Mediterranean.
Hidden treasures
But today, we’re exploring a different side of Kas — the world beneath the water.
With a local instructor guiding us, we begin preparing for our first dive. For me, there’s always a moment of hesitation before trying something unfamiliar. Diving requires trust — in your equipment, in your instructor, and in your ability to stay calm underwater.
Fortunately, the waters around Kas are famous for their clarity. Visibility can stretch for dozens of metres, creating ideal conditions for both beginners and experienced divers.
As we slowly descend beneath the surface, the noise of the world disappears. Breathing becomes steady and rhythmic. And suddenly, the Mediterranean reveals an entirely different landscape.
Coral formations, schools of fish, and even unexpected sights appear along the seabed.
One of the more unusual attractions here is a sunken military tank, deliberately placed underwater to create an artificial reef and a point of interest for divers. Over time, marine life has made it part of the ecosystem.
Moments like this remind you why diving captures people’s imagination. It’s not just about adventure — it’s about discovering a world most of us rarely get to see.
Back on land, Kas continues to reveal its character through its people.
I meet Paul, a French chef who arrived here years ago and decided to stay.
Like many visitors, he initially came for the beauty of the town. But what kept him here was something harder to define — the atmosphere, the community, and the rhythm of life.
Paul never formally trained as a chef. Instead, he learned through experience, working his way through almost every role in the restaurant industry.
After several years living in New York, he eventually settled in Kas and opened a restaurant that blends international influences with local ingredients.
Stories like his are surprisingly common here. Many visitors come for a short holiday — and end up staying much longer than planned.
There’s a certain spirit to Kas that draws people in. Locals often say that if you truly like the town, you’ll find yourself returning again and again.
Just a short walk from the centre of town is one of its most peaceful landmarks: the Ancient Theatre of Kas.
Built during the Hellenistic period and later expanded under the Romans, the theatre faces directly towards the sea. Today, it’s a quiet gathering place where locals and visitors sit together to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean.
It’s a reminder that the region’s history stretches back thousands of years, long before tourism ever arrived.
Travel, of course, isn’t only about landscapes or historical sites. Often, the most memorable moments come from meeting people with extraordinary stories.
In Kas, I meet Ufuk Kocak, a musician whose life reflects remarkable resilience.
After surviving the devastating 1999 Marmara earthquake, he lost both of his legs. But instead of allowing that moment to define him, he rebuilt his life in a completely new direction.
Ufuk is recognised as Türkiye’s first disabled scuba diving instructor — a role that inspires countless others who come to learn from him.
His story is a powerful reminder that strength often appears in the most unexpected forms.
Back along the coastline, adventure continues in another form: coasteering.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, it combines swimming, scrambling over rocks, cliff jumping, and navigating along rugged coastal terrain. The activity began in Wales in the 1980s and has slowly spread to other parts of the world.
In Türkiye, Kas is one of the few places where visitors can try it.
The experience is both physically demanding and incredibly rewarding. Moving along the rocky shoreline, jumping into clear water, and climbing back onto the cliffs offers a completely different way to experience the coastline.
Turkish hospitality
After a day like that, there’s only one proper way to recover: a traditional Turkish breakfast.
In Türkiye, breakfast isn’t rushed. It’s a social ritual — a table filled with small plates, local cheeses, olives, fresh bread, herbs, honey, jams, eggs, and vegetables.
At a countryside restaurant run by Guzin, the ingredients come directly from her own garden and farm. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, fresh eggs, and even herbs are harvested on-site.
It’s a reminder of something simple but important: food tastes very different when you know exactly where it comes from.
And perhaps that’s part of what makes travel meaningful — reconnecting with traditions that slow life down and bring people together around the table.
From Kas, the road continues east along the Mediterranean to Demre, home to the ancient city of Myra.
More than two thousand years ago, this was one of the major cities of the Lycian civilisation. Today, visitors can still see the dramatic rock-cut tombs carved high into the cliffs, along with a remarkably well-preserved Roman theatre that once held thousands of spectators.
Standing in a place like this, it’s impossible not to imagine the lives that unfolded here centuries ago — the performances, the gatherings, the everyday moments of a civilisation long gone.
Nearby stands another site with a very different legacy: the Church of Saint Nicholas.
Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop who lived in this region, became known for his generosity and acts of charity. Over time, his story travelled across cultures and centuries, eventually inspiring the global legend of Santa Claus.
It’s a reminder that even the most familiar traditions often begin in unexpected places.
Eventually, the journey returns to Kas, where the final moments are best spent quietly — away from crowds, with the sea stretching endlessly into the distance.
From the hills above the town, the view reveals why this place captures people’s hearts so easily.
Sometimes the best destinations are the ones you never expected to find.
And Kas, with its history, its people, and its calm Mediterranean spirit, is exactly that kind of place.
