The Lycian Way

The Lycian way offers truly beautiful views and varied walking. The mountains rise steeply in places, peaking at 2300m from sea level. The route follows traces of the ancient trade route, connecting Lycian ruins with rural farming settlements and touristic beach towns via mule trails, nomadic paths, and Roman roads. The historical sites of graves and ruins are found in abundance 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 it feels like stepping back in time; imagine an enchanting landscape where ancient ruins crumble amongst lush greenery, with the Mediterranean Sea as a backdrop all the while quaint villages sit atop rocky cliffs. 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 km inland from the Mediterranean. The trail offers a terrific mix of nature, culture, history, and tourism.

The Lycian way has adopted the same red and white waymark signals that are found on the GR routes across Europe. The marks are painted on rocks at regular points. Red X marks warn of a wrong turn. When the trail is curving on a bend it is indicated by a mark of > in the relative direction. Not to be confused with an arrow, the shape reflects the upcoming trail. 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, it would be advantageous to have a GPS digital map. Maps.me and OSM (OpenStreetMap) come recommended.

For international hikers, the Dalaman and Antalya airports serve as access points. There are further public transport links all along the trail. Hitch-hiking is safe in Turkey but always take reasonable caution. There are several opportunities to swim, canoe, or even paraglide.

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. 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.

Before you start hiking, check how you’ll do with the trail’s difficulty, length, elevation gain, and terrain. You can learn more not only using this website, but also from guidebooks, hikers who have hiked this trail already, and local hiking tourism organizations.

This is a long trail, so it can be difficult to know any 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 GPS device to stay oriented.

Invest in the right hiking gear, including comfortable, supportive footwear, proper hiking clothing, such as warm base layers and a hardshell rain jacket, hiking poles, a well-fitted backpack, and essential equipment like maps, GPS devices (when needed), and a first-aid kit. Check out our comprehensive gear list for long-distance trails like this.

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.