Hiking Turkey’s Lycian Way

Overview

This trip follows Turkey’s spectacular Lycian Way, walking along scenic coastal trails between little-visited ancient ruins & time-forgotten villages. Enjoy traditional hospitality and home cooked meals staying in rural village guesthouses.

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Join trip Kayakoy, site of the deserted Greek village

Arrive in Kayakoy; a peaceful farming community close to Fethiye and around 1 hours’ drive from Dalaman Airport. Tonight’s hotel is set a quiet rural area.

For those arriving on time our leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the initial tour briefing. After this we have dinner included at our hotel where you can sample hearty Turkish food such as slow cooked lamb, a barbecued meat selection or pide – it’s similar to a pizza.

There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Dalaman at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Dalaman Airport (DLM). Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. The main trip briefing will take place on the morning of day two.

Please note that a full dinner is served up until 10pm; if you are arriving later than this a simpler supper of soup and meze is served up until midnight. After midnight it isn’t possible for dinner to be provided.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to relax beside our hotel’s outdoor swimming pool, have a drink in the terrace bar or to take a stroll in the garden. There will be the opportunity of taking a walk around the deserted Greek village of Kayakoy right by our hotel. Dominating the mountainside that overlooks the village, Kayakoy has fallen into ruin since the exodus of the Greeks in 1923, forced out by the Treaty of Lausanne. Today its ghostly buildings cast a strange profile against the sky, giving the impression of a town cursed by its turbulent past

DAY 2 – Enjoy views to Oludeniz Beach as walk to Faralya village

There is a second opportunity to have a short walk around Kayakoy before breakfast. After breakfast we hike from Ovacik village, nestling on the hillside overlooking Oludeniz, and head south up onto the outflung shoulders of Baba Dagi (1989 m). Along the way we are rewarded with fine views back over Turkey’s most photographed beach, Oludeniz. Passing through pine forests and remote villages we descend to the village of Faralya which lies on a small plateau above the fjord-like Butterfly Valley, where steep limestone cliffs drop to the sea. Butterfly Valley is a lepidopterist’s delight, deriving its name from the abundance of creatures that flutter about its lush canyon walls.

Tonight we stay in a small hotel with swimming pool set within a pleasant garden. Rooms are en suite and are either is a stone building or are wooden chalets spread out amongst the grounds. It is the perfect spot for sundowner as it looks out over the stunning Butterfly Valley and the coastline.

Today’s 13 kilometre walk is expected to take around five hours with 600 metres of ascent, the morning is mostly uphill but gradient is never severe.

DAY 3 – Hike through forest and farmland to village of Gey

Starting gently uphill through pine forest, we reach farmland with open fields that soon give way to spectacular terraces with views to the villages far below, as well as across the sea to distant islands. We descend for a while, towards the distant beach and village of Kabak. Skirting the higher slopes of the village we follow an ancient path into a blind valley before climbing up through pine forest again to the tiny village of Alinca. Perched high over the sea we may take a well earned tea break with the villagers before continuing. In the afternoon we pass high above beautiful bays of this spectacular coastline as we continue towards the village of Gey,our destination for the night.

Tonight we will stay in a cliff-edge boutique hotel with unforgettable views back to the rugged coastline of the Seven Capes. Dinner is served just after sunset.

Today’s 18 kilometre walk is expected to take around seven with 850 metres of ascent, relatively steep for about an hour and a half before lunch.

DAY 4 – Discover dramatic coastal views as hike to ancient city of Sidyma.

From Gey, the Lycian Way continues through stunning coastal scenery staying high as far as Bel, then climbs more via some large plains and pine forests, before descending steadily to Sidyma Ancient City ( Dodurga Village) The site has some very well preserved and unusual tombs from the Roman and Byzantine period – the village is amongst, and indeed part of the site. A tea stop can be made at the house opposite the mosque. From the site we make a transfer (approx 30 minutes) to the village of Patara where we spend two nights.

Today’s 12 kilometre walk is expected to take around five hours with 260 metres of ascent and 640 metres of descent.

DAY 5 – Follow the route of the aqueduct to Patara Beach

Following the route of the of aqueduct from Delikkemer to Patara we hike across fertile rolling fields and through pine forest, enjoying beautiful coastal views before descending to the southern end of Patara Beach. Here we have an opportunity to swim and explore the extensive ruins of ancient Patara, the birthplace of Saint Nicholas.

Today’s eight kilometre walk is expected to take around three-and-a-half hours with 400 metres, with additional time for exploration of the ruins and on the beach.

DAY 6 – Ascend to Mount Felen; drive to the harbour town of Kas

Taking a route across streams and through villages, almost untouched by modern life, our path climbs to a ridge, Mount Felen, with views of the higher mountains inland and the coast below that are almost unsurpassed. We descend by vehicle to Kas, one of the most beautiful ports on the Turkish Riviera, with a dramatic backdrop of limestone cliffs. Kas is a great place to relax, with cafes and restaurants spilling out onto cobbled streets and a network of tiny back-alleys to explore.

Today’s 16 kilometre walk is expected to take around six hours with 400 metres of ascent.

DAY 7 – Walk to ancient port of Aperlae; Kekova Bay boat trip

This morning we hike to the hamlet and ancient port of Aperlae and from there by boat to the castle-topped village of Simena, possibly one of the most beautiful settings on the Mediterranean. A tiny village accessible only on foot or by boat (it has no roads), its harbour is dotted with ancient sarcophagi (tombs), Roman baths and houses that cling to a hillside beneath a medieval castle. Hiking up to the castle we find within its walls a tiny ancient theatre (the smallest in Lycia, with a seating capacity for about 300 people). Carved from the solid rock it is a wonderful place to sit and soak up the beautiful surroundings and layers of history. En-route to Simena we visit the sunken city of Kekova by boat where you can enjoy a BBQ lunch on board. The results of various earthquakes, the partly submerged streets and buildings are visible in the crystal clear waters and there are visible mosaic pavements, terracotta amphorae, walls and staircases that once formed part of this remote island community. Then we return to Kas for our final evening.

Today’s 10 kilometre walk is expected to take around three hours with 100 metres of ascent.

DAY 8 – Transfer to Dalaman airport where our trip ends

The trip ends at Dalaman Airport.

There will be two transfers provided to Dalman Airport (DLM) today, which is around a two-and-a-half hour drive from the hotel. The morning transfer will be at 7am to arrive at the airport by 9.45am and another later in the day departing at 4.30pm to arrive at the Airport for around 7pm. The earliest your flight can depart is 11:15am.