The Lycian Way East (Extended)

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Day 1: Antalya

Arrive at Antalya Airport and enjoy our complimentary transfer (45min) to your hotel in Kaleiçi, the historical centre of Antalya.

• Accommodation: Atelya Art Hotel or similar

Day 2: Hisarcandir – Göynük | 16km

A car transfer will bring you from Antalya to the walk’s beginning point (1h 15min). You will walk through the Hisarcandır traverse with beautiful pine and cedar forests and several viewpoints towards Antalya. The trail leads downhill and down to the bottom of the canyon at Göynük.

• Accommodation: guesthouse in Göynük (Natural Pension or similar)
• Walking for the day: 16km, 6h, ↑260m ↓1,525m

Day 3: Göynük – Göynük Yayla | 17km

A challenging day awaits you – you walk uphill all day, starting at the Göynük gorge entrance and going over switchback ridges beneath pine trees, with excellent views to pastures and orchards. You will cross a remote and boulder strewn riverbed in the canyon where it may be necessary to take off your shoes and wade through in early spring and late autumn. It is possible to swim where the river forms a beautiful pool in the canyon. You meet your vehicle near a bridge (850m) from where you transfer to your hotel in Ovacık. Your destination is the mountain village of Ovacık, where you will have dinner and enjoy a magnificent view of the sea and the high mountains of Taurus from your hotel.

• Accommodation: Gül Mountain Resort
• Walking for the day: 17km, 6h, ↑1,200m ↓500m

Day 4: Göynük Yayla – Yayla Kuzdere | 16km

Today you continue with another long, but rewarding walk. You transfer back to where you left the walk the previous day. Then you trek along high mountain paths and tracks to the village of Gedelme, where you can explore a Roman castle. From there, you walk up to the mountain village of Yayla Kuzdere (alt. 900m), enjoying views of Mount Tahtalı. Dinner and overnight in Sevim’s village house in Yayla Kuzdere.

• Accommodation: Pension in Yayla Kuzdere
• Walking for the day: 16km, 5h, ↑460m ↓530m

Day 5: Yayla Kuzdere – Beycik (Optional climb of Mt Olympos) | 15km

From Yayla Kuzdere you start with a steady steep climb up a stream bed to the pastures of Çukur Yayla, just below Mount Olympos (Tahtalı Dağı). You climb the pass from Çukur Yayla (alt. 1,950m) through a forest of pines and impressive cedar trees and descend via a winding steep path through the lovely forest to the village of Beycik (alt. 900m). Your transfer vehicle takes you to Çıralı (30min). Dinner and overnight at Kiyı Pension in Çıralı.

Optional ascent of Mount Olympos.
Note: Day 5 can be changed to include an optional ascent of Mount Olympos (2365 m). In that case, you don’t descend to Beycik but climb from Yayla Kuzdere to the saddle and from there to the top. From the summit, you take the cable car to the lower station and transfer to Çıralı (cable car ticket c. 22 euro one-way pp not included, payable on-site).

• Accommodation: guesthouse in Çıralı (Kiyı Pension or similar)
• Walking for the day (standard route): 15km, 6h, ↑1,000m ↓1,130m
• Walking for the day (optional climb of Mt Olympos): 11km, 6h, ↑1,450m ↓180m

Day 6: Rest Day / The Eternal Flames of Chimaera

Today you can make an optional exploration of the ruins of the ancient Olympos (total appr. 6km along the beach). You can also walk to the “Burning stones” with their natural fire, the eternal flames of the Chimaera coming from the bowels of the earth. Mount Chimaera was the name of this place in ancient Lycia, where methane and other gases emerge from the rock and burn constantly. Some ancient sources considered it to be the origin of the myth of the monster called the Chimera. Lunch not included. Dinner and overnight at the same pension in Çıralı.

• Accommodation: guesthouse in Çıralı (Kiyı Pension or similar)

Day 7: Çıralı – Adrasan | 20km

You start directly from 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 descend through a forest, past deserted farmhouses before you reach sea level and your accommodation in the beautiful bay of Adrasan.

• Accommodation: Deniz Hotel in Adrasan or similar
• Walking for the day: 20km, 6-7h, ↑720m ↓720m

Day 8: Adrasan – Gelidonia Lighthouse | 18km

Again you start directly out of your hotel, and the route leads south via Kızıl Sırt (alt. 450m) along a remote and isolated coastline. You follow a rocky path parallel to the coast at a high altitude along cliffs and green slopes, overlooking the sea and enjoying magnificent views towards some little islands. After arriving at the lighthouse at the tip of Cape Gelidonia (alt. 200m), you walk down to a dirt road to meet your transfer vehicle for the transfer to Beymelek (1h 10min). Dinner and overnight in Taş Evler Guesthouse in Beymelek.

• Accommodation: Taş Evler Guesthouse or similar
• Walking for the day: 18km, 7h, ↑700m ↓700m

Day 9: Kapakli – Simena | 9km

Transfer from Beymelek to Kapaklı (30min) to start the walk via rocky pastures to ancient Istlada and onwards to a small inlet (suitable for a swimming break) before crossing open fields towards Simena. You climb past impressive ancient Lycian tombs to the medieval castle, which dominates this remarkable harbour town. The houses are built between the ruins, and it can only be reached on foot or by boat, thus retaining a lot of its charms. Your pension is situated right on the shore with lovely views across Kekova lagoon, also known as the Sunken City.

• Accommodation: Ankh Pension or similar
• Walking for the day: 9km, 3h, ↑150m ↓100m

Day 10: Kılıçlı – Üçağız/Simena | 17- 20km

You transfer to the village of Kılıçlı (35 mins. incl boat transfer) and ascend the acropolis of ancient Apollonia to explore the ruins. The route then descends over mule paths to the seaside ruins of Aperlai. After a swim and or lunch you continue with a fairly level walk across the Sıcak peninsula of Aperlai. From a boat house you head inland and enjoy the colourful fields with red earth‚ white rocks and green oak trees. The pathturns east along the rocky coast to reach the fishing village of Üçağız. Here you can opt for a taxi boat transfer (pay locally) or walk the last 3 km along the minor road to Simena.

You can also enjoy a free day at Simena. The pension provides free of charge plastic canoes to explore the nearby coastline with. They offer cruises in Kekova Bay with their private gullets (pay locally). Another option is to arrange a sea kayak excursion across the Sunken city with a local sea kayak company (pay locally).

• Accommodation: Ankh Pension or similar
• Walking for the day: 17- 20km, 5-6h, ↑150m ↓600m

Day 11: Boğazcık – Okçüoldüğü | 12km

Transfer to the village of Boğazcık (35 mins. incl boat transfer) from where you walk past Roman watchtowers to the beach. You enjoy a swimming break and a seaside walk to a beach called Üzüm Iskelesi. After another 2,5h of walking along the rocky coast, you reach the hamlet of Okçüoldüğü from where you have a transfer to Kaş (30min). Dinner not included.

• Accommodation: Kayahan Hotel
• Walking for the day: 12km, 4-5h, ↑200m ↓560m

Day 12: Okçüoldüğü – Limanağzı | 9km

You transfer back to Okçüoldüğü from where you enjoy a short walk on coastal paths with many opportunities for swimming breaks. You can have lunch at a restaurant in Limanağzı, where your walk ends and transfer by boat to Kaş (pay locally). Picnic and dinner not included. Overnight in the same hotel in Kaş.

• Accommodation: Kayahan Hotel
• Walking for the day: 9km, 3-4h, ↑220m ↓380m

Day 13: Free day in Kaş

There are many opportunities for activities such as diving, canoeing, paragliding or just some souvenir shopping, swimming and relaxing. Picnic and dinner not included. Overnight in the same hotel in Kaş.

• Accommodation: Kayahan Hotel

Day 14: Departure

Transfer to Antalya Airport (3.5h). Or transfer to Antalya city and optional extra nights there.

Click to view default hotels

• Atelya Art Hotel
• Kiyı Pension
• Taş Evler Guesthouse
• Kayahan Hotel

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 the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.

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