Lycian Way

The Lycian Way (Turkish: Likya Yolu) is a 540-km, waymarked hiking trail in southwestern Turkey, connecting Fethiye in the west with the vicinity of Antalya in the east (more precisely the village and climbing centre of Geyikbayırı up on the mountains) along the Lycian coast.

The Lycian Way is a great way to get a sense of the true Turkish Mediterranean, away from crowded beaches, expensive resorts, and non-native palm trees.

The route was researched by Kate Clow, a British expat living in Turkey, with the help of a few volunteers. It was waymarked with the support of Garanti Bank and the permission of the Turkish Ministry of Culture in 1999. The Lycian Way connects a number of villages, mountain hamlets, Lycian and Roman sites on its route and ranges in elevation from sea level to the 1,800 m pass near Mt Tahtalı (one of the several mountains known as Olympos around the ancient Eastern Mediterranean). It's not a single footpath that has been intact since times immemorial, rather it's a series of ancient paths, mule and caravan trails, forest and backcountry roads. For many sites, it's the most convenient way to reach them, and for many others, they can be better appreciated by arriving over the original old road.

Although some hikers do the whole trail in one go, most people prefer to do it in sections. Some segments are inevitably more popular than others, and those near the main towns can be considered suitable for day walks.

The trail is mostly without litter, except for areas used by the Lycia Marathon which were not subsequently cleared. Once rubbish-strewn, it is very hard to clean the trail up, as it mostly lies in remote and rugged territory. Therefore, following leave-no-trace guidelines is important. Also, think ahead carefully about what you will need and what you won't, as anything that is regarded as "trash" will need to be carried to the nearest garbage bin – a convenience even some of the mountain hamlets completely lack, let alone the trail itself.

The Turkish Culture Routes Society maintains and supports the route and sells the official guidebook from its website.

The standard waymark of the Lycian Way is a half white, half red rectangle . The recommended standard distance between marks is 80 m, but when the trail starts to twist and turn, they are more frequent and when the trail extends on a straight line, as an easy-to-follow path, they are farther apart. They are mostly painted on rocks along the route, though you can also spot some on utility poles, garden walls, or on the actual path itself.

Side paths straying from the main trail – and usually arriving in very off-the-beaten-path sites (in a literal sense!) – have marks similar to the standard rectangles, just yellow replaces white .

Other waymarks include an angled mark which precedes a turn; the angle points in the direction of the turn. A "red cross" is marked on "wrong" trails and roads, usually accompanied by the standard rectangle painted on the "correct" way.

Once every five or so years, a number of volunteers renew the waymarks. However, in the meantime some local villagers repaint the marks on some sections and this may cause the new marks shifting a few (hundred) metres on either side of the actual trail. In some cases, villagers have diverted the trail to pass their accommodation or cafe. However, the "new" marks join the "old" marks somewhere in some way, so you will not get lost even by following these "accidentally" painted marks.

Signs, easily-recognizable, distinctive yellow arrows with the header Fethiye'den Antalya'ya Likya Yolu, "the Lycian Way from Fethiye to Antalya", are nowhere as frequent as the waymarks, but still can be seen, and indeed are useful, on most junctions (where for example trail branches off from a main road) and at village exits. They name the next destination on it with the distance in kilometres. The distances on signs are approximate, so don't worry if you see the distance going up or down by 1 km on the next sign.

There are no fees or permits required for hiking or camping along the Lycian Way. Most of the trail has a satisfactory GSM signal – the exceptions are around the lighthouse and in the bottom of canyons. The best service is from Turkcell.

The route is well waymarked, and many hikers follow it primarily with offline maps based on OpenStreetMap, together with GPS on their phones. These are often the most practical maps for everyday navigation, as they show the route, nearby settlements, water sources, accommodation, roads, side paths and many points of interest. Paper maps can still be useful as a backup, especially for getting a wider overview of the route or for planning alternatives, but they are not usually necessary for simply staying on the main trail. Ancient-site maps can also be useful if you want to understand how Lycian ruins relate to modern towns and villages along the route.

Although accommodation is available in many villages, usually in the form of family-run guesthouses and pensions, camping gear gives much more flexibility. Settlements with accommodation are often about a day’s walk apart, but some remote sections require wild camping, sometimes for more than one consecutive night. Even outside those sections, a lightweight tent or bivouac setup can make the walk easier to manage if you are tired, delayed, or decide to stop somewhere scenic rather than continue to the next village. The trade-off is weight: the lighter your pack, the more enjoyable the walking will be.

A torch or headlamp is essential. The trail is unlit except where it passes through villages, and waymarks become difficult or impossible to follow after dark. A small backup light is also useful if you expect long walking days or are camping.

A Turkish phrasebook can be helpful, as the route passes through remote mountain hamlets where little English is spoken. Some of these villages are only a short distance from major resort areas, but culturally and practically they can feel much farther away. Basic Turkish greetings, food words, directions and accommodation phrases are useful.

Water planning is one of the most important parts of hiking the Lycian Way. The climate is hot and dry for much of the hiking season, and in summer some sections involve several hours of walking in strong sun without reliable water. Carry more water than you think you need, especially on exposed coastal and mountain stages. Village fountains and taps are often the most reliable sources, while wells and cisterns vary by season and may need treatment. In hot weather, rehydration salts or electrolyte tablets can be useful, particularly on long exposed climbs.

Carry cash, including small notes and coins. Larger towns usually have ATMs and card payment is increasingly common, but small village shops, guesthouses and cafés may only accept cash. Some unmanned honesty-box kiosks along the route sell bottled drinks or snacks, so having change is useful.

Food is easy to find in towns and larger villages along much of the Lycian Way, especially in places such as Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Faralya, Kabak, Kalkan, Kaş, Demre, Finike, Adrasan, Çıralı, Tekirova and Geyikbayırı. These settlements have restaurants, cafés, bakeries, small markets and pensions serving simple Turkish meals.

In villages, family-run guesthouses and pensions often provide dinner and breakfast, usually with dishes such as soup, salad, rice, pasta, eggs, olives, cheese, bread, gözleme, grilled meat or fish, and tea. In smaller hamlets, meals may need to be arranged in advance, especially outside the main hiking seasons.

Carry snacks and at least one emergency meal, as shops are irregular or absent on remote mountain and coastal sections. The stretches between Kabak, Alınca, Bel, Gavurağılı, Demre and Finike, and around Cape Gelidonya can require more self-sufficiency. Bread, nuts, dried fruit, biscuits, cheese, canned food and instant meals are useful supplies.

Fresh bread is widely available in towns and many villages, but opening hours can be unpredictable. During Ramadan, in winter, or outside the spring and autumn hiking seasons, restaurants and shops in smaller places may be closed. Carrying some cash is advisable, as small village shops and guesthouses may not accept cards.

The numerous wells along the trail are not reliable in availability and cleaniness. You better rely on the water taps every few kilometres along the way, which mostly have drinking water quality since all the water here comes from the mountains. Check your offline map, which most probably will use Openstreetmap, for where they are. Otherwise you will need to buy water from the many shops available as well.

There is a variety of lodging (mostly family-run guesthouses and some campgrounds) in some of the villages along the route, usually 10 km in between. However at some remoter sections, wild camping is your only option. Plan ahead to see whether you will be needing camping gear or not. There is a list of accommodation on the official website.

April–June and September–November are the best and most popular months to hike the trail, as you escape both the infernal summer heat, and chilly, rainy and in general dreary winter weather.

Fethiye and Antalya are well-connected to most cities in the country by inter-city buses. The nearest international airports are at Dalaman for the western trailhead and at Antalya for the eastern.

It's fairly easy to get to the western trailhead by minibuses (dolmuş): take those heading for Ölüdeniz, and get off just south of the Ovacık/Hisarönü roundabout, at the large sign of 'Montana Resort Hotel'; the trailhead sign is just past that hotel.

The eastern trailhead at Geyikbayırı is 20 km west of Antalya and can be reached by local buses or taxi. It is not signposted.

If you are not on a through-hike, you can always go back to larger towns such as Fethiye or Kaş by taking a minibus along the main road.

36°30′18″N 29°50′10″E

Map of Lycian Way (Edit GPX)

While the official start of Lycian Way is in Ovacık, the northern suburb of Ölüdeniz, you can hike it all the way from Fethiye (about 15 km away from Ovacık, and the hub of the region), thanks to the officially separate but connecting side trails. In 2014, the trail has been extended northwards from its former eastern terminus, adding an extra two days of hiking, and finishes at Geyikbayırı, where you could chill out and do some rock-climbing.

Fethiye - Ovacık

 18 km 6.5 hr 126 m

A waymarked, cobbled and wide medieval trail through a pine forest links 36.6217529.116321 Fethiye to 36.5785129.087912 Kayaköy, the "ghost town" on the hills. The Fethiye to Kayaköy part is about 8–9 km and is a quite easy hike between these locales, with the only hardish section, particularly if it's summer and you are carrying a large backpack, being the first or so km out of Fethiye, ascending with no shade. Some sections of this path are surfaced with tarmac, so your peaceful walk will be interrupted a few times by the road, but these sections are fortunately short.

From downtown Fethiye, start by following brown "Kayaköy" road signs. The route passes rock tombs, a Lycian sarcophagus, a cold-water fountain, cobbled path sections, forest, and the village of Keçiler before reaching Kayaköy proper. The waymarks of this trail are sometimes yellow and red, suggesting that this is a side trail, while some other marks are white and red, meaning that this is the main trail. No matter what, they are frequent and visible enough as not to let you get lost. The signs bear the title Likya Yolları, "the Lycian Ways", rather than the usual Fethiye'den Antalya'ya Likya Yolu, and Kayaköy is referred to as Kaya (Levissi) on them.

The ancient town of Kayaköy has a number of guesthouses, restaurants, a grocery store, and an old fountain. From Kayaköy, you have two different trails to choose from to get to the 36.5595929.138371 official trailhead of the Lycian Way in 36.5709329.141253 Ovacık: either the route via 36.5487229.124154 Ölüdeniz and the Blue Lagoon, or the one that takes you right to Ovacık over the hills. The route via the beach is 4–5 km and is reported to be one of the easiest hikes in the region, always descending after the brief initial ascent passing over the ridge behind Kayaköy. The direct route to Ovacık is about 7 km and begins in front of the Upper Church, as does the trail to the Blue Lagoon.

Ovacık - Faralya

 14 km 5.5 hr 953 m

Ovacık and nearby 36.57305629.1369445 Hisarönü are on the main road between Fethiye and Ölüdeniz. They are both fairly developed resorts typical in the area, with all kinds of tourism infrastructure: lots of hotels and guesthouses, restaurants and bars, grocery stores which accept credit cards and which offer a large selection of foods and drinks.

The official start of the Lycian Way is east of the road southwards from Ovacık to the sea. From Hisarönü roundabout, walk towards the direction of Ölüdeniz, and in about 1 km later, you'll see the first yellow sign of the Lycian Way on the left. The sign says Kirme 10 km. The first part from Ovacık to 36.5263329.151116 Kozağaç is about 8 km, rising from about 250 m to 750 m. Take along at least 5 litres of water per person, as this is a hard walk almost always ascenting with no descends or level grounds, there is almost no shade, and there is no water source for 8 km straight other than rainwater cisterns.

The trail begins in a pine forest, but the trees eventually disappear in favour of Mediterranean scrub, the maquis, and the forest track turns into a narrow footpath. With some fantastic views of the Blue Lagoon to your right, you'll start ascending along the trail, which turns and twists on the side of the mountain. Be extra careful in this section as there is sometimes literally nothing between you and high cliffs. The trail eventually reaches Kozağaç, a mountain hamlet with only a few houses sandwiched between the towering granite body of Mt Babadağ above and the high cliffs of the Kıdrak Valley below. There is no accommodation or shop here, but there is a fountain with very cold and good-tasting water to the left of the road.

From Kozağaç to 36.5079429.154617 Kirme is about 4 km, descending from around 750 m to 650 m. The trail starts to descend slowly as it leaves Kozağaç, where you will pass by another fountain with cold water. After passing the abandoned school building, you'll arrive in a section covered with fine grey sand where part of the mountain slid in an earthquake in 1957. After a short and gentle ascent, the dirt road winds left and eventually reaches a junction; as the waymarks confirm, turn left into Kirme. Kirme is, like Kozağaç, a mountain hamlet with no accommodation or shops, but is slightly bigger than Kozağaç. From Kirme to 36.4952129.13678 Faralya is about 4 km, descending from about 650 m to 350 m. The trail twists through the village, then descends towards Faralya through fields, orchards, rocky terrain, and finally a stream with a little waterfall next to Die Wassermühle, the old watermill of the village.

Faralya - Alınca

 13 km 5 hr 867 m

Faralya is the village on the cliffs above 36.4974729.127172 Butterfly Valley. This is the first village on the Lycian Way since Ovacık which has a number of guesthouses, a restroom, a grocery store, and garbage bins. There is a fountain in front of the mosque, but the water doesn't taste very good.

After arriving to Faralya at the side of Die Wassermühle, the Lycian Way joins the tarmac road that is coming from Ölüdeniz. For a view of, or climbing down to, Butterfly Valley, walk right towards the direction of George's House opposite the mosque. The climb down to the valley is comparatively steep and there are ropes to use in several parts. It is not suggested to climb in rainy weather since the rocks become slippery. The Lycian Way quickly turns left into the forest after the exit of Faralya, abandoning the tarmac road towards Kabak.

The walk from Faralya to 36.4677829.124519 Kabak is about 8 km. Kabak consists of an upper village proper and a number of bungalows below on the 36.4618429.125210 coast at Kabak beach, and has a number of guesthouses and a small grocery store. From Kabak to 36.4489629.1431111 Alınca is about 7 km. There are two ways to go to Alınca: via the beach of Kabak, descending down to the beach and connecting to the hill road later, or via the hills around the valley with fabulous sea views from above. On the way one can find nice wild camping places. From Kabak on, until Kınık, there are no running water sources except the notable exceptions of the mosques at the hamlets of Bel and Dodurga, and most villagers rely on rainwater cisterns around this area.

Alınca - Gavurağılı

 12 km 6 hr 653 m

Alınca is an upper hill hamlet of just 13 households with no descent to a beach. There is no shop in the village. A villager named Bayram rents rooms, and another guesthouse, Alamut, is housed in a stone building in the village.

From Alınca, there are two ways: either the paved road used by vehicles or the actual Lycian Way route, which traverses a landslide-deformed hillside, as well as some very narrow paths with deep cliffs just the length of a foot away from your steps. Between Alınca and 36.4011929.1381712 Gey one can find a running water source if one continues hiking on the road, around 3 km away from Alınca after passing a few farm houses on the left. Close to Alınca, an alternative trail also leads away through the village of Boğaziçi.

Gey, officially Yediburunlar, is a comparatively bigger village than Alınca and has a mosque, two shops, a WC, and a water source brought there just a few years ago. This is again an upper village with no descent to a beach. The village mayor, muhtar Bayram, rents a room and open-air patio of his two-story wooden house to hikers for overnight stays. There are two ways to continue to 36.3833629.1706913 Bel: the direct route that continues from Lycian Market to the right, or the side trail through the ruins of Sidyma near the modern village of Dodurga, which is a little longer. Continuing through Sidyma, the road descends first by the castle wall and then through modern Hisar, where drinkable water sources are available, before reaching the ancient city ruins. The ruins that survived until these times are mainly the tombs, though a few other ancient house ruins are sometimes hidden in the bushes and trees. From Bel, the way to Gavurağılı descends down from the mountain.

Gavurağılı - Bel

 5 km 3 hr 792 m

Bel has a mosque with drinkable water available. The signposts along the trail in this section indicate a settlement named 36.3629829.1828514 Belceğiz between Bel, 4 km away, and Gavurağılı. Belceğiz is just a single stone-built dwelling that belongs to an old shepherd who lives there only sometimes. The place around the dwelling is very good for camping and has fireplaces, though during the night it might become humid and cold. The only water source there, a cistern, is drinkable if purified or boiled before usage. The way from Belceğiz to 36.336729.201915 Gavurağılı descends down from the mountain.

Bel - Xanthos

 15 km 5.5 hr 386 m

Gavurağılı is a hamlet with very few households, no shop, and seemingly no drinkable water sources. One can use the car road from Gavurağılı to arrive at 36.3336229.2318816 Pydnai in case the Lycian waymarks are lost. The car road running south of the Lycian Way along the coast is waymarked with red and white hashes. There are also two easily visible water sources off the south side of the road. Camping on the beach is illegal during certain times of year as it is a hatching ground for baby sea turtles.

Pydnai consists of the ancient town remains on a hill with an intact surrounding wall, which makes up most of what remains there to see in the town nowadays. Out of the walls, the town is surrounded by marshy ground, which was possibly a gulf serving as the harbour of the city back in ancient times. The Lycian Way enters the city wall from one gate and exits from another one after traversing the ancient town from one end to the other. Pydnai, also spelled Pydnee on non-Lycian Way road signs, is situated close to the modern village of Karadere, where one can find a shop and several drinkable water sources, but it is around 2.5 km extra walk one way to the shop from Pydnai.

After traversing Pydnai, the trail descends towards the coast and crosses River Özlen, Özlen Çayı, close to the river's mouth on a narrow, flimsy-looking wooden bridge at the western edge of Patara beach. Most of this section lies on the level ground of a coastal plain, through an uninspiring "sea" of greenhouse plastics. The walk from Pydnai to 36.33194429.2897223 Letoon is about 8 km. Letoon is the main religious centre of Lycia, ruins of which now lie on the top of a slightly higher hill surrounded by greenhouses covering the coastal plain. From Letoon to Kınık is about 4 km, crossing Eşen Çayı, known in ancient times as Xanthos River, on a modern road bridge immediately at the entrance of Kınık. Kınık is a comparatively big town with lots of tomato greenhouses, ATMs, plenty of shops, cafeterias, a bus station, and places to stay overnight. From Kınık, it is about 1 km to 36.3560729.3196217 Xanthos.

Xanthos - Patara

 12 km 4.5 hr 763 m

At the beginning of this section from Xanthos, you will cross D400, the main highway between Fethiye and Kalkan. The trail continues through 36.3640329.3527818 Çavdır and onward toward Üzümlü. The trail runs on the top of an ancient aqueduct for quite a while in this section.

Üzümlü is a large-ish village with a restaurant offering trout on the menu and a guesthouse run by the village council, the muhtarlık misafirhanesi. From Üzümlü, the route continues through İslamlar and onward toward 36.2821329.4065419 Akbel. At İslamlar, there is a branching side trail of 16 km with a loop at the eastern edge of Patara beach and the ruins of the ancient city of Patara.

Patara - Kalkan

 14 km 5.5 hr 657 m

From the Patara area, the route continues toward Akbeland after 10 km, Bezirgan. At this section of the route, a side trail leads to the modern town of Kalkan, 3 km away. The trail follows the main highway of the region for part of this section, passing by the town of Kalkan. On the open plateau before arriving at 36.2751529.4604120 Bezirgan, you will pass along a number of wooden granaries with corrugated metal roofs. These structures are said to be centuries old, and the very same design is purported to have been used by Romans or even Lycians.

Kalkan - Kaş

 20 km 7.5 hr 1678 m

Bezirgan is a large uphill town, a yayla, with guesthouses available. From Bezirgan, the route continues 7 km to 36.2662529.4900521 Sarıbelen, a small village where a local villager named Neşet rents his patio for campers, as does Tim, an Australian settled some distance from the village.

From Sarıbelen to Gökçeören is 13 km. Gökçeören is another small village, with a guesthouse run by a villager named Hüseyin. From Gökçeören, the route continues 8 km to Hacıoğlan Deresi. Unlike other location names found on the Lycian Way signposts, this is not a settlement but just a creek; dere translates as "stream" in Turkish. From Hacıoğlan Deresi, it is 14 km to 36.2423329.66222 Phellos, a mountaintop Lycian city where well-preserved typical Lycian sarcophagii can be seen. The route then continues 3 km to 36.2347529.669523 Çukurbağ, another large-ish uphill town, or yayla, and onward 8 km to Antiphellos.

36.229.6383334 Antiphellos is the ruins of an ancient city just east of the major town of 36.2000429.6441524 Kaş, about 0.5 km away. Kaş is a comparatively big touristic town with ATMs, shops, cafeterias, hostels, hotels, bars, and a bus station. It has a little beach, Küçük Çakıl Plajı, inside the beach clubs close to the city centre and a bigger beach, Büyük Çakıl Plajı, around 20 minutes' walk away from the centre.

Kaş - Limanağzı

 14 km 7.5 hr 89 m

The Lycian Way continues from Büyük Çakıl Plajı in 36.2000429.6441525 Kaş to 36.1725329.650326 Limanağzı, about 3 km away. Be careful at one point where the way branches into two: one route continues over the hill forward and the other descends to Limanağzı. Limanağzı has a beach club, including restaurants and drinkable water sources.

Limanağzı - Aperlae

 8 km 3.5 hr 398 m

From Limanağzı you can continue the Lycian Way and reach the point where the two paths connect again, but one should be careful not to take the path back to Kaş since the Lycian Way marks disappear for a while on the correct path and appear only later on. The path goes through a fenced garden area and later arrives at an uninhabited beach. The Lycian Way from here continues on the road and then next to the seaside again, passing several nice wild camping sites and the beach near Üzümlü.

Later on the way is well marked until ancient ruins without particular name known. From this point the Lycian Way marks might be faded and difficult to notice. If the waymarks are hopelessly lost, one can try to reach the road which is on the left if the ruins passed before are behind you. On this road further you will also arrive at the Lycian yellow arrow with the direction to Kılınç (Apollonia). The first inhabited place reached is Boğazcık, a little hamlet without any shops or drinkable water sources apart from Ali Kızmaz's pension, where one can also stay overnight or have lunch. From here one can continue to the ruins of 36.1864729.7640527 Apollonia or pass by the modern village Kılınç, with a mosque and a little shop. Apollonia is the ruins of an ancient town, located close to Kılınç; in fact both names appear together on the yellow arrow signs.

Aperlae - Üçağız

 16 km 6.5 hr 563 m

From Aperlae, the Lycian Way continues east through the quiet Kekova coastal region towards 36.1974129.8476228 Üçağız. This is a scenic and relatively isolated stage, combining rocky shoreline paths, scrub-covered hillsides, old tracks, small bays and views across the sheltered waters of Kekova.

The route is not especially high, but the walking can be slow. Much of the ground is stony and uneven, and the path repeatedly rises and falls above the coast rather than following a flat seaside promenade. In hot weather, the limestone terrain and limited shade can make the stage feel harder than the distance suggests. Carry enough water for the full walk, as reliable supplies should not be assumed between Aperlae and Üçağız.

Aperlae itself is one of the atmospheric ruined settlements of the Kekova area, with Lycian and Roman remains scattered close to the shore. Continuing east, the route passes through a largely undeveloped landscape of maquis, olive trees, coves and low coastal ridges. There are occasional traces of ancient occupation, and the sea views are among the main rewards of the day.

Üçağız, also known by its ancient name Talmussa, is a small harbour village and one of the main bases for visiting the Kekova area. It has pensions, restaurants, boat trips and access to nearby Kaleköy/Simena and the submerged ruins of Kekova. After the quiet walk from Aperlae, it is a practical place to rest, resupply lightly and arrange onward travel or excursions around the bay.

Üçağız - Demre

 16 km 7.5 hr 793 m

Major localities and sights in this section are 36.23001129.8957545 Kapaklı , 36.26929429.9059626 Trysa , 36.24402829.9448067 Sura , 8 km to Myra, and 36.2587529.985278 Myra, an ancient Lycian town just north of Demre. 36.2430930.0079729 Demre is a modern town and the last place with accommodation options until Finike, 30 km away, a distance which is hiked in three days by most hikers. A tent or sleeping bag is essential for two nights in this section.

Demre - Finike

 41 km 17 hr 1963 m

From Demre and 36.2587529.985279 Myra, the trail climbs through Belören, Zeytin, Alakilise, and Goncatepe. Alakilise is the ruins of a basilica which dates back to the sixth century. At Goncatepe, the trail reaches its maximum elevation of about 1,800 m above sea level.

From Goncatepe, the trail continues toward 36.30169430.145530MISSING WIKILINK Finike, passing Belos and Belen. Finike is a modern major town and the Lycian Way merges with the major highway D400, or rather ceases to exist, until near Mavikent, which is about 20 km away in the east. Taking public transport, or even hitchhiking, is the obvious sensible choice to cross this uninteresting coastal plain, covered by nothing else but greenhouse plastics.

Finike - Karaöz

 32 km 8.5 hr 59 m

Finike is a modern major town and the Lycian Way merges with the major highway D400, or rather ceases to exist, until near Mavikent, which is about 20 km away in the east. Taking public transport, or even hitchhiking, is the obvious sensible choice to cross this uninteresting coastal plain, covered by nothing else but greenhouse plastics.

From Mavikent, the route towards Gelidonia is 8 km and passes Gagei, Karaöz, and 36.63611130.55722210 Cape Gelidonia (Gelidonya Burnu), the cape with the lighthouse. There is a well next to the lighthouse with reportedly drinkable water. It's possible to camp on the level ground beside the lighthouse, even on a platform by the yard, however be extra careful about scorpions in this place, as many hikers report them.

Karaöz - Adrasan

 24 km 8.5 hr 978 m

From Karaöz, the trail continues toward 36.63611130.55722211 Cape Gelidonia and 36.3303330.43250831 Adrasan . The Gelidonia to Adrasan part is 16 km and takes at least 5 hours to hike. This is one of the remotest parts of the trail, and inexperienced hikers are generally advised not to attempt this section alone, even by Kate Clow herself. Some maps show a single source of water in this section, about a quarter of the way short of Adrasan, but most hikers report not noticing it, so have extra water supplies when attempting this section.

Adrasan - Olympos

 15 km 7 hr 713 m

From Adrasan, the trail continues toward Çıralı. On the way are 36.39655830.47354212MISSING WIKILINK Upper Olympos, also called Bakacak, the ancient city up on the hills, and 36.39655830.47354213 Lower Olympos, the ancient city on the beach next to a heavily travelled backpacker destination, before reaching 36.40730630.47855632 Çıralı .

Olympos - Çıralı

 6 km 3 hr 54 m

From Lower Olympos the trail continues to 36.40730630.47855633 Çıralı . At Çıralı, the Lycian Way branches into two: one of the routes closely follows the coastline, if sometimes actually a little away from the beach, and the other goes via the mountains inland. The routes merge again in Gedelme up in the mountains and keep running towards north.

Çıralı - Beycik (Inland Alternative)

 18 km 7.5 hr 1049 m

The inland mountain route from Çıralı to Beycik passes Chimaera, or Yanartaş, the "burning stones", natural bonfires on the side of the mountain caused by a natural gas seep. This is the inland alternative that later continues toward Gedelme.

Çıralı - Tekirova (Coastal Route)

 25 km 8.5 hr 257 m

The coastal alternative from 36.40730630.47855634 Çıralı heads north from the beach settlement and follows the lower route towards 36.50305630.52305635 Tekirova , avoiding the higher inland climb via Yanartaş and Beycik. Although this is the coastal branch, it is not simply a flat beach walk: the route crosses low wooded hills, rough tracks, rocky paths and quiet forest roads, with repeated smaller climbs and descents along the shore.

This section is often walked via Maden Bay, an isolated coastal area associated with old mine workings, before continuing towards Tekirova. The walking is generally less mountainous than the inland alternative, but it can still feel long because there are few settlements and limited escape points between Çıralı and Tekirova. The scenery is the main reward, with pine forest, small coves, occasional sea views and glimpses back towards the Tahtalı massif.

Water and services should not be assumed along the way. Some route descriptions mention possible sources near roads or at Maden Bay, while others warn that water can be unreliable or absent, so carry enough for the full stage, especially in warm weather. Shade is better than on some exposed coastal sections, but the day can still be hot and tiring.

Near the northern end, the route approaches 36.52361130.55222214 Phaselis , the ancient harbour city south of Kemer, before reaching the more developed resort area around Tekirova. Tekirova has accommodation, restaurants, shops and transport connections, making it a practical end point after the quieter coastal walk.

Beycik - Gedelme via Tahtalı (Mountain Alternative)

 16 km 7 hr 44 m

From Beycik, the mountain route continues through Yukarı Beycik and Yayla Kuzdere to 36.6124330.4462936 Gedelme. Between Yukarı Beycik and Yayla Kuzdere, you'll pass just east of the 2,300 m-high summit of Mt Tahtalı, one of the mountains known as "Olympos" to ancients.

Tekirova - Phaselis

 20 km 8.5 hr 44 m

The coastal route continues from 36.50305630.52305637 Tekirova towards 36.52361130.55222215 Phaselis , the ruins of an ancient harbour city south of Kemer. This is one of the gentler coastal parts of the eastern Lycian Way, following a mixture of woodland paths, quiet tracks, short road sections and beaches before reaching the archaeological site.

From Tekirova, the route leaves the resort area and heads north through low pine woodland and coastal terrain. The walking is generally straightforward compared with the mountain alternatives inland, though wayfinding can still require attention around tracks, fences, streams and resort developments. In places the trail crosses small bridges or follows sandy and stony beach sections before approaching Phaselis from the south.

Phaselis is the main highlight of the stage. The ancient city occupies a wooded peninsula with several harbours, beaches, aqueduct remains, streets, baths and other ruins scattered among the trees. It is a good place to pause before continuing north or turning inland. As Phaselis is an archaeological site and protected area, there may be an entrance fee and access may follow the site’s opening arrangements.

Although this section is close to the coast and less isolated than many Lycian Way stages, carry water and sun protection, especially in warm weather. Tekirova has shops, restaurants and accommodation, while services around Phaselis are more limited and seasonal.

Phaselis - Gedelme

 18 km 6.5 hr 259 m

From Phaselis, the coastal branch continues toward Aşağıkuzdere and 36.6124330.4462938 Gedelme. Between Aşağıkuzdere and Gedelme, there are some mountain gorges, as well as a Roman bridge over a creek to pass.

Gedelme - Göynük

 19 km 6.5 hr 403 m

From Gedelme, the Lycian Way continues north towards 36.6679730.455539 Göynük Yaylası through a mountainous inland section of forest tracks, rocky paths and upland village terrain. This part of the route is shorter than many Lycian Way stages, but it is not especially easy, with repeated climbs and descents, uneven ground and some exposed stretches.

The route leaves the Gedelme area, known for its castle, cave and old plane tree, and gradually enters quieter pine-forest country above the Göynük canyon system. It forms part of the inland mountain connection between the Tahtalı/Gedelme area and the final highland stages towards Hisarçandır and Geyikbayırı.

Göynük Yaylası is a small upland settlement rather than the coastal resort of Göynük. It is an important distinction, as the walk does not simply descend to the sea here; instead it remains in the mountains before the next demanding stage towards Hisarçandır. Services are limited, so carry enough food and water for the day and do not assume that shops or accommodation will be available.

Göynük - Hisarçandır

 18 km 8.5 hr 1513 m

From 36.6679730.455540 Göynük Yaylası, the Lycian Way climbs into one of its harder inland mountain sections before continuing to 36.77060230.46816141 Hisarçandır . The route crosses remote forested terrain, rocky paths and high ridges inland from Antalya, with long ascents and descents that make this a demanding full-day walk.

This section is often described as one of the tougher stages of the eastern Lycian Way. Depending on exactly where the day is started and ended, route descriptions vary between about 18 km and more than 20 km, but the walk consistently involves substantial elevation gain and loss. Expect slow progress on rough ground, especially on descents, and start early if attempting it in a single day.

The landscape is mostly mountain forest and upland terrain, with occasional open views towards the Beydağları mountains and the Antalya region. In spring there may be wildflowers in the high meadows, while in summer the exposed parts can be hot despite the higher elevation.

Services are limited between Göynük Yaylası and 36.77060230.46816142 Hisarçandır , so carry enough water and food for the whole stage. Waymarking should not be relied on alone in this remote section; an offline map or GPS track is strongly recommended.

Hisarçandır - Geyikbayırı

 18 km 7.5 hr 100 m

From Hisarçandır, the route continues first to 36.79118630.43530943 Çitdibi , an 8 km section opened in 2014 and, with the exception of the first part on the road, waymarked in May 2014. From Çitdibi, the route continues 18 km to 36.87555630.457544 Geyikbayırı . This section was also opened in 2014 and was waymarked in May 2014. The route now finishes at Geyikbayırı, where there is accommodation at several pensions which are used by rock-climbers on the bolted routes of the climbing walls around the valley.

Geyikbayırı - Antalya

 24 km 7.5 hr 910 m

The route finishes at 36.87555630.457545 Geyikbayırı . Waymarking and route status may be less straightforward than on the established Lycian Way proper, so use an offline map or GPS track and be prepared for road walking or public transport if the continuation becomes unclear. Geyikbayırı has bus connections to Antalya, so it is also perfectly reasonable to finish the Lycian Way there and travel into the city by public transport.

You'll be mostly fine and safe by following the marks and keeping on trail, but there are certain things that one should be wary of.

• Do not take shortcuts. Waymarks will lead you where you should be going. In fact, what may seem as a shortcut may take you to a very different direction than where you should be heading.
• Scorpions thrive in this hot region with rocky areas, and their habitats are under the rocks in particular. So never remove a rock unless you absolutely have to. Keep zips of your backpack and tent always locked. Check and shake your shoes before wearing them. Snakes are less of a concern, however be wary of them near streams.
• By sweating, you don't only lose water, but you also lose sodium, which is just quite as serious as dehydration – and you will sweat a lot on the Lycian Way. Pack along sports drinks (usually available in Turkish supermarkets) or fortified powdered drinks (generally not available in Turkey). Having a salty soup at the end of the day will also balance some of your sodium loss.
• If you camp at the foot of Mt. Babadağ (around Kozağaç and Kirme), be wary of the very strong katabatic wind that suddenly comes out of the blue around midnight and keeps blowing until the early morning. Make sure all your stuff is neatly placed away from the cliffs, and the tent is wind-proof and secured to the ground. Also don't camp on the course of the falling rocks near Kozağaç (the grey sands area).

Still keen to keep walking?

• The Saint Paul Trail is a wilder and remoter counterpart to the Lycian Way with a trailhead at Perge just east of Antalya. It loosely retraces the steps of Paul the Apostle during his first missionary journey across Asia Minor, heading inland over the Taurus Mountains to Yalvaç, ancient Antioch of Pisidia, in the Lakes District to the north.
• The Carian Trail is an extensive collection of hiking trails following the convoluted coastline north of Fethiye. It has sections extending over the Datça and Bozburun Peninsulas, along the Gulf of Gökova between Akyaka and Bodrum, and inland to Muğla, Milas, and Lake Bafa.