Overview
In the south-west of Turkey, along the Aegean coast, the Carian Trail leads through a fascinating coastal landscape, divided into countless smaller and larger peninsulas, bays and islands. Walk in dense, green forests and admire the glowing white rocks rising above the sea. On the Carian Trail, you will experience a constant interplay of land and sea, thousand-metre-high cliffs and secluded bays inviting you for a swim.
The trail is named after the Carian civilisation and the region is rich in ancient ruins and history.
- Historical paths of the Carian people
- The beautiful bays of the Bozburun Peninsula
- Unspoilt nature and traditional villages
- Ruins and remains of the Carian civilisation
- A mix of Greek and Turkish lifestyle
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bozburun
Arrive at Dalaman Airport and enjoy our complimentary transfer to your hotel in Bozburun (2.5 hours). Meet our representative, who will brief you on the walks and give you the maps and the documentation needed for your trip.
Alternative arrival airport: Antalya; private transfer can be booked at an extra cost.
- Walking for the day: none / walk around Bozburun
- Accommodation: Aphrodite Hotel Bozburun or similar
Day 2: Taslica to Bozburun | 12.1km
Today’s coastal walk begins with breathtaking views over Sögüt and Bozburun. The route continues on through small fishing villages, before heading past Bozburun Shipyard and on to Bozburun.
- Walking for the day: 12.1km, 4-5h, ↑400m ↓550m
- Accommodation: Aphrodite Hotel Bozburun or similar
Day 3: Selimiye to Bozburun | 12.5km
The walk begins in Selimiye with a view of the sea. The route passes through farmland until reaching a plateau, which offers a panoramic view of the surrounding bays, the sea and the mountains. The route then continues on a forest path until Bozburun. Like Bozburun and the surrounding villages, Selimiye was cut off from civilisation for a long time. Very little changed in this area from ancient times up until the 1970s.
- Walking for the day: 12.5km, 4-5h, ↑300m ↓300m
- Accommodation: Aphrodite Hotel Bozburun or similar
Day 4: Via Phönix to Taşlıca | 9.8km
The walk today features a peninsula near the village of Taşlıca. The route starts close to the ancient city of Phönix, before heading across pastures and farmed terraces, then leading on to cliffs that offer views of the islands of Symi and Rhodes. The walk ends in the rustic village of Taşlıca.
- Walking for the day: 9.8km, 5-6h, ↑450m ↓400m
- Accommodation:Aphrodite Hotel Bozburun or similar
Day 5: Bahceli and Selimiye | 11km
Transfer to the farmhouse Bahceli. Through a high terraced valley, the path goes up to a saddle from which there is a spectacular view of the sea. A panoramic path leads you high above the coast. After reaching the coastal town of Selimiye, transfer to Akyaka.
- Walking for the day: 11.3km, 3.5-4h, ↑355m ↓540m
- Accommodation: Akyaka Gümüş Konak boutique hotel or similar
Day 6: Akyaka to Turnalı | 13.7km
From Akyaka, the trail leads mainly through the extensive old forests along the coastal slopes, offering spectacular views of the bay of Gökova. From a restaurant by the sea, where you can have a refreshment, transfer back to Akyaka.
- Walking for the day: 13.7km, 4h, ↑530m ↓530m
- Accommodation: Akyaka Gümüş Konak boutique hotel or similar
Day 7: Yenice – Mount Sakar – Akyaka | 16.6km
Today’s walk is very varied. The route begins on forest roads from the village of Yenice towards the pine forest, continuing on further into the dense forest. The route leads through the small village of Kuyucak, where the terrain of the trail changes briefly to asphalt, before then heading back into the forest. Once the trail reaches the pass just before the descent, the reward is great; the Gulf of Gökova is at your feet. A long descent through the forest follows, leading down to Akyaka, where the walk ends.
- Walking for the day: 16.6km, 6h, ↑450m ↓1100m
- Accommodation: Akyaka Gümüş Konak boutique hotel or similar
Day 8: Departure
Return home (complimentary airport transfer to Dalaman Airport included, 1h) or individual stay extension. Optional transfer to Antalya Airport is also available at an extra cost (4 hours).
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in two hand-picked and regularly monitored small, charming hotels owned and operated by families. They both have a wonderful location – the first is on the shore, the second one is 500m from the beach of Akyaka. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will give you exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is always included. Dinner is included in Bozburun (days 1-4). In Akyaka (Days 5-7), there is a good choice of restaurants and taverns serving fresh seafood and locally sourced produce at the beach and in the centre of Akyaka.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is suitable for walkers of average fitness with some hiking experience. The total walking distance is approx. 76km, while total elevation gain is approx. 450m per walking day (read more about difficulty grades). The terrain is varying from steep rocky footpaths to cobbled paths and mule trails. Routes are well signposted in most parts. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
We can organise this walking tour between March and June and September till October. July and August are too hot for making this trip. The weather is best in the autumn. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your holiday on any date in the season. Winter temperatures are quite mild, with average highs around 15C, while in summer the maximum temperatures are hot, ranging between 30 and 35C. Rainfall is concentrated from mid-October to mid-April, when it can be abundant and sometimes torrential, particularly on the slopes facing west and southwest.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Recommended arrival and departure airports: Dalaman or Antalya. Airport transfers from/to Dalaman are included, and those from/to Antalya can be booked at an extra cost. Please note that only one airport transfer per party is included, though we can arrange additional transfers. Therefore, it is advisable that all party members arrive on the same flight or at least at a similar time.
Inclusions
Included
- Detailed pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked (all departures in 2024 will receive digital versions of these tour materials only)
- Accommodation for 7 nights in hand-picked boutique hotels as listed in itinerary
- 7 breakfasts
- 4 dinners
- Luggage transport to next hotel and private transfers on all walking days
- Transfers to/from Dalaman airport
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights
- Airport transfers from/to airports other than Dalaman
- Lunches on all days, dinners on Days 5-7
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Private transfer from/to Antalya Airport
- On request, we can provide a private guide (choose when booking).
- Extra nights in Bozburun or Akyaka
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