The ancient Lycian Way route is one of the most popular trekking routes in the world. The Sunday Times, one of England’s prestigious weekly publications, chose the Lycian Way as one of the most beautiful walking paths in the world. It is a route where you can see every shade of green and blue, and you must walk a part of your life, even if it is for a few hours.
The places to see on the Lycian Way, which is approximately 535 km long, are mostly preferred by local and foreign tourists in spring and summer. The Lycian Way offers its visitors a unique hiking experience with its large red pine forests, beautiful ancient cities and the Gelidonya Lighthouse, which was selected as the most beautiful view of Turkey in 2007.
Ancient Lycian Way
Ancient Lycian Way , Turkey’s first long walking route. The Lycian Way, which is ranked among the best walking routes in the world with its natural beauties and historical and cultural riches, starts from Hisarönü (Ovacık) in Muğla’s Fethiye district and ends in Antalya’s Geyikbayırı Village. The road, which was 509 km in length until 2015, reached 535 km with the newly added route.
The Lycian Civilization, one of the oldest civilizations in Anatolia, was established in the region that stretches between Fethiye and Antalya Bay and is now known as the Teke Peninsula. The Lycian Way, on the other hand, is defined in historical sources as a transportation system formed by the paths connecting the city-states within the borders of Ancient Lycia.
Established to provide the transition between the city-states in the region, the Lycian Way connects 19 ancient cities. Although not much remains of these 19 ancient cities today, the meters-long columns, rock and sarcophagus tombs and ancient theaters do not disappoint travelers.
Accompanied by the rich fauna and flora of the Taurus Mountains, the ancient settlements, villages and magnificent scenery that you come across along the route where the red pine forests run parallel to the sea are very impressive.
The track, which stretches from the most untouched bays of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Taurus Mountains and passes through important ancient cities, is shown as one of the top 10 long-distance hiking routes in the world.
This ancient road, which contains 19 ancient cities, some of which were built on the tops of the mountains and yet little known today, promises a pleasant walking route. Work on the Lycian Way route , which is Turkey’s longest planned walking track with 535 kilometers, stretching between Fethiye and Antalya , started in 1992 and was completed in 1999 and the road was put into service.
Lycian Way Route
The Lycian Way route takes its name from the Lycian civilization. The route includes more than 19 large and small ancient cities and one of the most important tourism centers of the Mediterranean coastline, Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Butterfly Valley, Kabak Bay , Yediburunlar, Patara Beach, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova, Demre, Finike, Korsan Bay, Gelidonya (Taşlık Cape). ) Lighthouse, Adrasan Bay, Musa (Olympos) Mountain, Çıralı Beach, Tahtalı Mountain, Tekirova, Cutting Bosphorus, Göynük Canyon, and extends to Antalya’s Konyaaltı coast, passing by Göynük.
The route does not just follow the coastline; From time to time, it climbs steep slopes and cliffs, stopping by beaches and ancient port cities. Reaching an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level on Tahtalı Mountain, the Lycian Route proceeds from the coast parallel to the Mediterranean at many points.
The Lycian Way walking route is marked with the French Grande Randonnee system, yellow signposts are placed at the junction points of the road, and certain parts include medium and high difficulty stages. On the Lycian Way, where many people who enjoy trekking can easily walk, there are points marked every 50 meters on the paths and every 200 meters on the dirt roads.
The red-white lines indicate that you have come to a fork in the road, and the cross made with red paint indicates that you have deviated from the path. Although the signs are renewed by volunteers at regular intervals, there may be situations such as loss and deletion of the signs from time to time due to natural conditions and human influence.
It is possible to start the walking route from Fethiye or Antalya from both directions. Turkish, English and German guidebooks sold in bookstores contain detailed information about the route, environmental features and GPS points. If you want to complete the path, the book can be of great help.
The stages of the Lycian Way are generally expressed in the west-east axis from Fethiye to Antalya. In the first part of the Lycian Way, there are Faralya, Dodurga Village, Sdyma, Pınara , Letoon , Xanthos cities and Patara , an old port area with its fine sands .
The second part includes Antiphellos, Apollonia, Simena , Myra, Limyra, Rhodiapolis, Gagai, Melanippe, Gelidonia, Edrassa, Olympos , Chimaera and Phaselis.
The stages of the Lycian Way can be divided into periods of 3-5-7-10 days, depending on the time of the hiker, or they can be planned as a shorter-term activity that includes a part of the path. If you have a goal of walking the whole road and you are confident in your fitness, it is possible to walk the whole way in a minimum of 25 days and a maximum of 40 days.
The long route of the Lycian Way stage is usually Hisarönü (Ovacık)-Faralya, Faralya-Kabak Bay, Kabak Bay-Alince, Alince-Yediburunlar, Yediburunlar-Gavurağılı, Gavurağılı-Patara, Patara-Kalkan, Kalkan-Sarıbelen-Gökçeören, Gökçeören-Kaş, Kaş, -Kekova, Kekova-Demre, Demre-Alakilise-Finike, Karaöz-Gelidonya Lighthouse-Adrasan, Adrasan-Olimpos-Çıralı, Çıralı-Beycik, Çıralı-Tekirova, Tekirova-Phaselis-Gedelme, Beycik-Tahtalı Mountain-Gedelme-Gedelme, Gedelme It is planned as Göynük-Hisarçandır and Hisarçandır-Geyikbayırı.
The long route splits into 2 alternative routes in Fethiye’s Boğaziçi Village, Patara, Delikkemer and Çıralı, and then rejoins. In my blog post, 12 Ancient Cities You Should See on the Lycian Way , I explained the ancient cities on the route in detail; look at.
When to walk the Lycian Way
The Lycian Way is located on the Mediterranean coastline, where the Mediterranean climate prevails. This region, where the winter months are mild, is quite hot in the summer period. The ideal time to walk the Lycian Way, which is a route that can be easily walked 11 months of the year, is the spring months when you can see snowy hills and colorful flowers symbolizing the awakening of nature.
The October-November period, when the humidity gradually decreases, is the most logical period in terms of ideal temperature. The period from May to mid-September is the hottest period in the region. From November to February, heavy rains are common.
Lycian Way suggestions
Before walking the Lycian Way, it is necessary to be prepared depending on the seasonal conditions. A waterproof walking shoe that grips your ankle during the walk, quick-drying trousers, socks, thermal t-shirt, hat, a cheesecloth that you can use as a towel if necessary, sunglasses, swimsuit, towel, backpack with belt, sunscreen, spare underwear, raincoat. It is useful to have items such as thin fleece with you.
Equipment such as compass, map, pocketknife, lighter, spare battery, first aid kit, compass, whistle should be with you in case of possible negative situations
The Lycian Way is a route where you can encounter magnificent views with every step you take. You can’t get enough of the view of the over-the-road coves of the Gelidonya Lighthouse route, which is followed by the dirt road between the red pine forest. Among the bays that stand out with their beauty, the Pirate Bay (Melanippe) is one of the most striking ones.
Gelidonya Cape , also known as Taşlık Point, which is Antalya’s most extreme point in the Mediterranean , is located in the Karaöz District of the Mavikent Town of Kumluca, at the southern end of the Teke Peninsula in Antalya.
The view of Gelidonya Lighthouse, located on the track, was chosen as the most beautiful view of Turkey in 2007. Trekking on the Lycian Way is like walking in a time tunnel created between the depths of history and the present.
You can go to Gelidonya Lighthouse, built by the French in 1934, from Karaöz. It is also possible to drive 7 km of the 9 km road, but walking is the best way. The last 2 km stretching between red pine trees can only be reached on foot.
The Lycian Way is an exciting destination for cyclists as well as walking lovers. Although most of it consists of paths, it is a great pleasure to ride a mountain bike on the Lycian Way. The Lycian Way Ultra Marathon , which takes place every year in September, covers 250 km of the Lycian Way in 6 days.
Lycian way accommodation
Since the Lycian Way is located on the Mediterranean coastline, where summer tourism is most developed in Turkey, it has plenty of alternatives in terms of accommodation. You can stay anywhere from a five-star hotel to a pension, from a bungalow to a camping area in Fethiye, Oludeniz, Faralya, Kabak Bay, Patara, Kalkan, Kas, Kekova, Demre, Finike, Adrasan, Olympos, Cirali, Tekirova, Camyuva, Kemer, Goynuk and Antalya. .
If you are thinking of staying in Antalya, the city has a wide variety of Antalya hotels , from decent four-star or five-star hotels near Konyaaltı Beach and Lara Beach or around Kundu Beach to treehouses in Olympos .
Fethiye hotels, on the other hand, range from hostels to boutique hotels, from holiday villages to camping areas. My suggestion is among Fethiye hotels. Yonca Lodge in Yanıklar Village , Oyster Residences in Ölüdeniz , Mandarin & Mango Boutique Hotel in Faralya.
Most of the campsites on the Lycian Way are located in Kabak Bay, Patara, Çayağzı Harbour, Olympos, Çıralı and Göynük. In the camping areas where you can stay with your tent, a price is usually given as breakfast and dinner included in the accommodation fee.
How to get to the Lycian Way
Access to the Lycian Way varies depending on which region you will start the route from. Although many people prefer to proceed from Fethiye to Antalya, you can also start from Antalya and come back. After going to Antalya or Dalaman by plane, you can easily reach both starting points of the road.
There are direct bus services to Antalya and Fethiye from many points of Turkey. There are regular minibus services to Hisarönü, the starting point of the Lycian Way in Fethiye.
The Lycian Way is one of the most important walking routes in the world, offering incredibly beautiful views to nature and hiking enthusiasts. Inviting adventurous and free spirits, the Lycian Way is one of the best options to explore the Mediterranean coast with its natural beauties and historical and cultural heritage.
