Lycian Way Self-Guided Trek

You will be met at the Antalya airport and transferred to your hotel in Kaleiçi, the historical city centre of Antalya (30 mins) where you are surrounded by old mansions, hamams and mosques. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant.

After a transfer from Antalya (1hr 15mins) your walk starts through the Hisarçandır traverse with a beautiful forest of pine and cedar trees. Antalya and the Tauros mountains are visible in the distance. The walk leads down to the bottom of the Göynük canyon from where you’ll have a short transfer to your pension. Dinner and overnight in a pension in Göynük.

You walk from your pension to the entrance of the Göynük canyon where the all-day uphill hike starts. You follow beautiful paths over switchback ridges beneath pine trees, with excellent views to the canyon, pastures and orchards. It is possible to swim where the river forms a nice pool near your lunch spot. After some final climbing, you meet your transfer vehicle near a bridge (alt. 850m) from where you are taken to your hotel (10mins). Dinner and overnight in hotel in Ovacık.

Transfer back to where you left the walk the previous day. On the trek to Gedelme you will explore a Roman castle and continue your walk up to the village of Yayla Kuzdere (900m) for your overnight.

Dinner and overnight in village house in Yayla Kuzdere.

From Yayla Kuzdere you start with a steady climb up a stream bed to the pastures of Çukur Yayla, just below Mount Olympos (Tahtalı Dağı). You’ll climb the pass from here (1950m) through the forest of pines and impressive cedar trees. You’ll descend via a winding mule path to the village of Beycik (900m) where you’ll meet the transfer vehicle that takes you to the pension in Çıralı.

NOTE: Day 5 can be changed into an optional ascent of Mount Olympos summit (2366m). In that case, you don't descend to Beycik but climb from Yayla Kuzdere to the pass and from there to the top (total 6-7 hours and appr. 1400m uphill). From the summit, you’ll take the cable car to the lower station and transfer to Çıralı (cable car ticket not included).

After breakfast, take an optional exploration of the ruins of ancient Olympos (total appr. 6 km along the beach). This ancient city, which gets its name from its view of Mount Olympos, was built on the banks of a wide river flowing into the sea near Çıralı adjoining a long, sandy beach. It once was a hideout for pirates and amongst its ruins are tombs, temples, churches and palaces all hidden between lush vegetation. After lunch, there is free time until dinner. You can swim and lie on the beach or do other activities as desired (eg. sea kayak). After dinner you’ll enjoy a short night walk to admire the eternal burning flames of Chimaera.

You’ll start directly from your pension in Çıralı and walk through the ancient city of Olympos and up Musa Dağı (Moses Mountain, alt. 650m). The climb is through a dense forest with many strawberry trees and passes some minor ancient ruins. After having a picnic lunch near an old hut you’ll descend through the forest, past deserted farmhouses to reach our accommodation in the beautiful bay of Adrasan.

The walk starts directly out of your hotel and leads south via Kızıl Sırt (450m) along a remote and isolated coastline. You’ll follow a path parallel to the coast at a high altitude along cliffs and green slopes, overlooking the sea and enjoying great views towards some little islands. After arriving at the lighthouse at the tip of Cape Gelidonya (200m) you’ll walk down to a dirt road to meet your transfer vehicle for the transfer to Beymelek. Dinner and overnight in guesthouse in Beymelek.

You’ll drive to Kapaklı where you’ll rejoin the Lycian Way. Along sheltered coves and rocky inlets, you’ll reach Simena (also known as Kale). You’ll enter the village near the crusader castle, built on the remains of a necropolis with sarcophagi and rock-cut tombs and with outstanding views across to Kekova. Yur pension is situated right on the shore with lovely views across the bay.

You transfer by boat and car to the village of Kılıçlı and climb the acropolis of the ancient Lycian city of Apollonia. The descent is along old mule paths to the seaside ruins of ancient Aperlai, a Lycian harbour town, from where purple dye extracted from seashells was exported to the centres of the Roman world. After a short coastal walk, you are collected by boat and can enjoy a cruise over the Sunken City before returning to Simena. A swim in the crystal clear waters will be accompanied by a barbecue lunch as you sail past the ruins of houses and harbour works.

You’ll transfer to the village of Boğazcık from where you’ll walk past Ottoman cisterns and Roman watchtowers to the beach. After a swimming break, continue along the rocky coast to the hamlet of Okçuöldüğü from where have a transfer to Kaş (30 mins).

Transfer back to Okçuöldüğü from where you enjoy a short walk on coastal paths with many opportunities for a swim. You’ll have lunch at a restaurant in Limanağzı where the walk ends. After some free time, take a ferry boat to cross over to the harbour town of Kaş.

Free day in Kaş with ample opportunities for swimming, diving, canoeing, paragliding or just some souvenir shopping and relaxing.

Farewell dinner in local restaurant and overnight in hotel in Kaş.

Today your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Transfer from Kaş to Antalya airport (35 hrs).