Lycian Way Trek In Turkey

We start our tour in Kayakoy, a peaceful farming community close to Fethiye. This evening there will be the option of taking a walk around the deserted Greek village of Kaya Koyu, ‘the Rock’. Dominating the mountainside that overlooks the village, Kaya Koyu 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.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Leaving this morning we hike from Ovacik village, nestling on the hillside overlooking Olu Deniz and head south, up onto the outflung shoulders of Baba Dagi (1989m). Along the way we are rewarded with fine views back over Turkey’s most photographed beach, Oludeniz. Passing through pine forests and remote villages nestling under the heights of Baba Dagi 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.Walking: 13kms, approx 5 hours; morning is mostly uphill but gradient is never severe. +600m.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

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. Walking: 16kms, approx 7 hours hiking, relatively steep for about an hour and a half before lunch. +850m.

Overnight Simple Village House Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From Gey, the Lycian Way continues through stunning coastal scenery, staying high as far as Bel, then descending grandly to Pydnai at the northern end of Patara Beach. The rarely visited fortress here has beautiful stone walls in amazing condition from the 4th century BCE. The 18 kilometre-long beach is a protected nesting area (one of the few remaining in the Mediterranean) of the endangered species, Caretta caretta, the giant loggerhead turtle. From the beach we make a short transfer to the picturesque coastal village of Patara where we spend two nights Walking: 16kms, approx 5-6 hours. +200 m.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We hike around the coastal headland of Yali walking through tiny, rarely visited hamlets, fertile rolling fields and enjoying beautiful coastal views, before descending to the southern end of Patara Beach. Here we can swim and explore the extensive ruins of Patara. The importance of this area stretches through time and interests all who visit: it is home to the revered temple and oracle of Apollo, it is the birthplace of St Nicholas, (aka Father Christmas) and, as an ancient Roman stronghold it boasts well preserved, often sand-covered ruins that are fun to explore. We will spend some time here before, later this afternoon, we return to Patara village for our second evening. Walking: 12kms, approx 4 hours, plus exploration of ruins and beachtime. +400 m.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

hinterland. 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. Walking: 18kms, approx 6 hours. +400m.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

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 all. 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. Walking: 10kms approx, 3 hours. +100m.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included meals: Breakfast