Old ruin on top of hill with body of water in the background

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Lycian Way

Likya Yolu

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About the Lycian Way

country

Turkiye

length

520 km(323 mi)

Type of trail

Long-distance

difficulty

Moderate

accommodation

Wild camping, Camping, Lodging

Elevation gain

24447 m(80207 ft)

terrain

Coastal, Forest, Mountains

remoteness

Most of the time

The Lycian Way is a historic hiking route of 520 kilometers that treks along Turkey’s southwestern coastline, all the way from Oludeniz, near Fethiye to Geyikbayiri, to close by Antalya. With views of the turquoise coast peeking through, the route crosses through pine forests, olive groves, farmland, and rocky cliffs. It takes approximately 28 days to complete in its entirety, so this is a challenging trek that requires a good level of fitness.

The Lycian Way combines technical terrain, difficult elevation, and the omnipresence of sunshine with strong UV and high temperatures, which means that the rocky route can be difficult to navigate and endurance is something worth training before you arrive. The Lycian Way is one of the most upcoming thru-hiking trails in the world and it’s not hard to see why. Tracing old paths between the Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains, it’s an unique thru-hike. This trail is shaped by landscape and history of old Lycia, where ancient ruins appear between olive trees and village life continues at its own pace. What makes the Lycian Way so amazing is the contrast. Steep mountain slopes give way to calm coastal sections, dense pine forests open up to wide sea views, and long, quiet hiking days are broken by small settlements and simple guesthouses. The ultimate long-distance trail for experienced hikers.

Women standing in mountains with hiking poles

Author

Jess Fellows

Having always been ‘sporty’ but never one to excel in any particular pursuit, Jess loves the simplicity of long distance: you don’t need to be particularly talented or fast at walking, you need only put one foot in front of the other.

And it’s going the distance that truly tests one’s character. Slowing right down to see the natural world and its magnificence, and truly seeing it. To continuously be navigating new waters, and learning along the way. It’s the sense of freedom and resilience that Jess is consistently hungry for, to witness herself in all manner of experiences and extremes. To trust each tiny step, and to remember the bigger picture will take care of itself.

After a few long distance cycle tours, Jess was supposed to cycle around the world. Having planned and saved for many years, only a global pandemic could be the reason she didn’t go. So in the summer of 2020, craving some transformation and adventure, she decided to shave her head and start walking from her house in Bristol. She would go for 3-4 days at a time and enjoyed a few trips exploring the landscapes around the city and beyond. It was on these hikes that she and her partner started dreaming of bigger hikes for even more nature immersion. The thru hiking obsession had begun so by the summer of 2021 they were ready to take on the UK’s longest footpath along the South West Coast Path. The following summer they decided to return to Turkey to trek the Lycian Way, followed by hiking the GR5 route across the French Alps. After some shorter thru hikes in the UK, Europe and walking in the Himalayas, they are currently preparing for the PCT in 2024.

Jess has type one diabetes, eats a plant based diet and wears barefoot shoes. For work she is a wedding celebrant and yoga teacher on retreats. Check out her website to read more about her offerings and insights on her blog, and follow her PCT journey @uprootlife.

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Always read the disclaimer

The Trail

The Lycian Way has truly beautiful views the whole length of the trail. The mountains rise steeply in places, peaking at 2300m from sea level, and rising straight from the sea itself. The route follows the ancient trade route, connecting Lycian ruins with rural farms and touristic beach towns via mule trails, nomadic paths, and Roman roads. The historic sites of graves and ruins are found throughout this area of the Tekke peninsula (formerly known as Lycia) and the Lycian Way passes through around 25 historical sites along the way. This cultural heritage dates back as far as 3000 BC and includes UNESCO World Heritage Sites and ancient cities. Quite often you will feel like you’re stepping back in time. The trail follows the coast, and while sometimes it climbs high into the mountains, and other times remains at sea level, the trail never moves away more than 15 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean.

©Mert Kahveci

two tents pitched on rocky surface in the shadow of some trees

©Nina Slashchilina

The Lycian Way has adopted the same red and white waymark signals that are found on the GR routes across Europe. There are also bigger signposts found at road and path junctions that are yellow which shows direction and distance between places. There are also helpful cairns (rock towers) showing the way when markers aren’t apparent that have been put up by fellow hikers. Locals are extremely friendly, kind, and generous; expect frequent offers of free chai and tomatoes.

Kate Clow was the visionary behind the Lycian Way as we know it today. As a British expat living in Turkey, she was fascinated by the country’s history and after much research, pioneered the route in the 1990s. Kate has authored the most comprehensive Lycian Way guidebook. Since the route is subject to change and development, you should also bring a device with the downloaded, offline GPX. Maps.me and OSM (OpenStreetMap) are great for this trail.

For international hikers, the Dalaman and Antalya airports are the closest access points. There are further public transport links all along the trail. Hitchhiking is safe in Turkey, but always take reasonable caution and use your head.

Stages

Below you can find an example of a 19-day itinerary. There are, however, a few alternatives where the trail splits:

Coastal and inland options between Kabak and Yediburunlar
A direct route from Sidyma to Xanthos
The St Nicholas Ways – a selection of 6 routes in the Alacadağ foothills above Demre, which link the Byzantine churches of the area to the Lycian Way
Coastal route – Tekirova, Phaselis, Asagikuzdere, Goynuk Yaylasi, Hısarçandır, Çitdibi, Geyikbayırı
Inland route – Ulupınar, Beycik, Yukari Beycik, pass over Tahtalı Dağı at 1800m, Çukuryayla, Yayla Kuzdere, Gedelme, Goynuk Yaylasi, where it joins the coastal trail
The Lyra Way – a difficult variation on the inland route – leaves the route above at Beycik, circles Tahtalı on the north side, and rejoins the route at Çukuryayla

Lycian Way 19-day itinerary

Stage 1:

Hisarönü (Ovacık) – Faralya

Stage 2:

Faralya – Kabak

Stage 3:

Kabak – Alınca

Stage 4:

Alınca – Yediburunlar

Stage 5:

Yediburunlar – Gavurağılı

Stage 6:

Gavurağılı-Patara

Stage 7:

Patara – Kalkan

Stage 8:

Kalkan – Sarıbelen-Gökçeören

Stage 9:

Gökçeören – Kaş

Stage 10:

Kaş – Kekova

Stage 11:

Kekova – Demre

Stage 12:

Demre – Finike

Stage 13:

Karaöz- Adrasan

Stage 14:

Adrasan – Çıralı

Stage 15:

Çıralı – Beycik or Çıralı – Tekirova

Stage 16:

Tekirova-Phaselis-Gedelme or Beycik-Tahtalı Dağı-Gedelme

Stage 17:

Gedelme – Göynük

Stage 18:

Göynük – Hisarçandır

Stage 19:

Hisarçandır – Geyikbayırı

Photo gallery

Stone stairs leading up to old ruin near cliff with big city in the background

Old ruins in lush green landscape with mountains in the background

Sunset photo of coastal cliffs with rocks in the foreground

Stone house on a cliff near the sea during sunset

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Accommodations

Wild camping in Turkey is permitted anywhere on land that isn’t private, terrain permitting. You don’t need to stay at a designated campsite, though there are a few dotted along the way if you’d like to take advantage of them (and their facilities!). In the larger tourist towns, you will find campsites, hotels, Airbnbs, and hostels. Smaller villages on the trail sometimes have pensions, i.e. guesthouses where dinner and breakfast can be provided. Not every section of the Lycian Way passes through a town or has accommodation for lodging, so a tent is required. If you do not plan to camp, consult a hiking tour guide in advance for them to locate places for you to stay and organize your logistics. On maps.me, other hikers have updated the digital map with suitable camping places.

Best time of the year

The best time to hike the Lycian Way is from March through May. Avoid the summer months, they are notoriously too hot for hiking; often over 40 degrees celsius. Autumn (Sept – Nov) is possible if it hasn’t been a particularly hot year, or else many of the water sources will be dry. Winter also poses its challenge, it can be uncomfortably cold and much of the higher passes will be covered in snow.

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Safety & Gear

This is a long trail, so it can be difficult to know many specifics. However, if you can, share your hiking plans with your family or friends, with details like your (rough) start and end times, chosen trail route (and alternates!), and emergency contact information.

Hiking along the coast means the weather can change rapidly, so avoid heading out when you see extreme weather on the forecast, including heat waves. You can check with locals in the villages along the way if you’re unsure where to find this information.

Also, make sure to top off your water and fuel each day before starting. We recommend at least two liters of water and taking electrolyte tablets with you.

Familiarize yourself with the trail map and carry navigation tools such as a compass or GPX device to stay oriented.

Respect the principles of Leave No Trace by minimizing your impact on the environment. Stick to designated trails, pack out all trash, and show respect for wildlife and natural habitats. Especially when you’re wild camping, you’ll see remnants of others. Be sure to leave your sites better than you found them!

Difficulty

How difficult is the Lycian Way?

The Lycian Way is physically demanding, with frequent climbs and descents on rocky terrain. May sections are exposed, especially in warmer months, and long stretches between villages mean you need to carry enough water and supplies. For this reason, it is strongly recommended not to hike the Lycian Way in summer.

One specific aspect to be aware of is the presence of shepherd dogs. These dogs protect flocks in the mountains and can be intimidating when encountered on the trail. In most cases they keep their distance if you stay calm, avoid sudden movements, and give the animals space.

Good to know

The start point, at Ölüdeniz, is 2 hours from Dalaman airport by bus and the endpoint is now at Geyikbayırı, from which there are daily buses to Antalya.

Snakes, spiders, and scorpions can be found on the Lycian Way, so always be mindful when stepping over or moving rocks. It’s wise to shake out your shoes each morning. Be aware that Turkey has a lot of stray dogs, most of whom are friendly and curious but occasionally they can be territorial. If you’re feeling threatened, the act of bending down to pick up a rock/stone is enough for them to run away, rarely would you need to throw one. Many locals keep Kangal dogs as guard dogs for their livestock, but they are usually chained up so you don’t need to worry about walking past them.

Water points are frequent on the route. There are community taps in most towns and villages and sometimes you’ll pass taps or wells on the more remote sections. It is safe to drink from these water sources, though it is recommended to carry a water filter or purification tablets/drops. Due to high temperatures in this part of Turkey, it’s important to check the map resources to locate and know the next water source ahead. Make sure to plan food and water carries as there are remote sections without access to either.

The weather can be excruciatingly hot, depending on when you go and there are many unshaded sections where you’ll be very exposed to high UV levels. Be prepared with sun protection; umbrellas, hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

The Lycian Way can also be very remote. The trail crosses some sleepy villages and farms where you might occasionally see someone, but often you will be hiking for hours without seeing anyone. Hiking isn’t very popular within Turkish culture, rarely do you meet day hikers.

Route

Point to point

Highest point

2300m (7546 ft)

Useful links

Official trail website Culture Routes in Turkey

Weather website Forecast

Guidebooks

Lycian Way

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