Overview
Take in some of the best western sections of the Lycian Way in Turkey. The region south of Fethiye is known as The Seven Capes (Yedi Burun), a stunning coastline where steep hillsides drop dramatically into the sea. You will be based in three centres and have a choice of daily walks of easy and moderate grade.
Patara, where your holiday starts, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey. The 12km long sandy beach is a protected area for sea turtles and rare birds; it is uninhabited and natural. Your hike will then take you to high-alpine paths that offer fantastic views of the coast and the peaks of the Taurus Mountains, up to 3,000m high. The steep coastline at Alınca is dramatic, while typical cultural landscapes are found in the hinterland. Pine trees, olive groves and Mediterranean macchia line the paths.
You will walk by ancient aqueducts and come to the famous cities of the Lycians, Patara and Xanthos. Patara was a flourishing maritime and commercial city on the south-west coast of Lycia. It is the birthplace of St. Nicholas, who lived most of his life in the nearby town of Myra (Demre). Xanthos was a centre of culture and commerce for the Lycians and later for the Persians, Greeks and Romans.
- Walk some of the best western section of Turkey’s Lycian Way Trail
- See Patara, the city of St. Nicholas
- Visit Xanthos, the ancient Lycian capital
- Enjoy the wild beach of the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Gelemiş
Arrive at Dalaman Airport. Complimentary transfer to Gelemiş, about 2km from the beach of Patara (120km / 2h). 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.
- Accommodation: St. Nicholas Guesthouse, Gelemiş or similar
Day 2: Delikkemer and Patara | 16.5km
Transfer to Kalkan. Along the coast, the Lycian Way leads to Firnaz Bay. Then you will reach the aqueduct of Delikkemer, a masterpiece of Roman engineering. Through pine forests and fields, you walk along an aqueduct that supplied the ancient city of Patara with water. Again and again, you will enjoy lovely seascapes. After visiting the ruins of Patara, go down to the beach and relax, it is not far from your guesthouse.
- Accommodation: St. Nicholas Guesthouse, Gelemiş or similar
- Walking for the day: 16.5km, 5h, ↑50m ↓250m
Day 3: Üzümlü to Cavdır and Xanthos | 10km
Transfer to Üzümlü. The walk takes you through traditional villages, olive groves and shady pine forests. A part of the route runs along and on the aqueduct, which supplied the ancient Lycian capital Xanthos with water. After sightseeing the ruins of Xanthos, transfer back to Gelemiş.
- Accommodation: St. Nicholas Guesthouse, Gelemiş or similar
- Walking for the day: 10km, 3.5-4h, ↑300m ↓450m
Day 4: Pydnai and Karadere | 15.2km
Transfer to Bel. First through pine forests, then through a rocky landscape with magnificent views of the sea, you hike down to the small village of Gavurağılı. The next climb will take you to a ridge, where you will have a spectacular view of Patara Beach. Explore the ancient ruins of Pydnai, a Lycian military base, which served as a guard post against enemy attacks. From Karadere beach transfer back to Gelemiş.
- Accommodation: St. Nicholas Guesthouse, Gelemiş or similar
- Walking for the day: 15.2km, 4-5h, ↑250m ↓870m
Day 5: From Bel to Alınca | 15km
Transfer to Bel. First, you hike on a trail offering magnificent coastal views, then further through fields to the village Gey. Ancient trading paths lead you through the plain of Boğazıçi. The last section leads along the nearly 800m high karst cliff with views of the Bay of Sancaklı and the coast of Yedi Burun (the Seven Capes). Your destination is the village of Alınca, which is situated on a picturesque slope above the cliffs. From there, transfer to Faralya, where you will stay two nights.
- Accommodation: Farala Gül Pansiyon, Uzunyurt or similar
- Walking for the day: 15km, 4.5-5h, ↑550m ↓500m
Day 6: Butterfly Valley, Faralya | 11.8km
Transfer back to Alınca. On an old path over a mountain crest, head towards Kabak. There you have two possibilities: you can hike around the beautiful bay of Kabak on a mountain ridge or descend as an alternative to the beach where a pause for bathing is worthwhile. Along the mountain slopes, the Lycian Trail leads you to Faralya.
- Accommodation: Farala Gül Pansiyon, Uzunyurt or similar
- Walking for the day: 11.8km, 5-6h, ↑450m ↓730m
Day 7: Ölüdeniz | 12.3km
From your hotel, you walk through the Butterfly Valley, a nature reserve surrounded by steep mountains. The trail then runs along the slope of the mighty mountain peak Baba Dağı. Enjoy the view over the bay of Ölüdeniz with the famous lagoon. Between stony pastures and field terraces, you pass through small traditional villages. From Ovacık, you get a transfer to Ölüdeniz/Fethiye.
- Accommodation: 4-star Ata Park Hotel, Fethiye or similar
- Walking for the day: 12.3km, 4h, ↑520m ↓530m – or to Ölüdeniz on foot: 15.2km, 4.5h, ↑520m ↓530m
Day 8: Departure
Return home or individual stay extension. Complimentary transfer to Dalaman Airport or an optional transfer to Antalya Airport.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in hand-picked and regularly monitored hotels and guesthouses offering good levels of comfort. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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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 on Days 2-6. In most towns, there are multiple restaurants and taverns where you can sample the incredible local cuisine.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is suitable for walkers of average fitness. The total walking distance of the tour is 81km, with an average of 13km per walking day, total elevation gain is up to 2,100m / approx 350m per walking day (read more about difficulty grades). The terrain is varying from steep rocky footpaths to cobbled paths. 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 November. 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 can sometimes be torrential, particularly on the slopes facing west and southwest.
Getting there
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Inclusions
Included
- Detailed 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 as listed in itinerary
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 dinners
- Luggage transport to next hotel
- Transfers from/to Dalaman airport
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights
- Airport transfers from/to airports other then Dalaman
- All lunches and dinners on the first and last day
- 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 Antalya before and/or after the holiday (recommended only if arriving/departing from Antalya Airport)
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