Overview
The route of the Lycian Way West starts at Kayaköy, winding its way along the dramatic coastline and through scented pine forests overlooking the blue Mediterranean, dipping down to secluded beaches and coves. Your hike will 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. You spend the nights in tiny villages where grape vines wreathe the stone cottages. The tour ends at the impressive ruins of Patara, located near one of the finest and whitest beaches of Turkey.
- Walk the western section of Turkey’s Lycian Way Trail
- Experience an authentic, less-travelled side of Turkey
- Enjoy the wild beaches of Patara and the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
- Stay in charming, authentic accommodations and taste the local Turkish cuisine
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival. Transfer to Kayaköy
Arrive at Dalaman Airport. Complimentary transfer to Kayaköy (1.5h) for your check-in at the accommodation. If time allows, you can walk to Gemiler bay and visit st Nicholas island with remains of several early Christian churches by boat excursion (pay locally for return taxi and boat trip). Lunch is not included.
- Accommodation: Misafir Evi Guesthouse
- Walking for the day (optional): 7km, 3h, ↑250m ↓390m
Day 2: Kayaköy – Ölüdeniz | 9 km & optional return Ovacık – Kayaköy | 8km
The walk takes you right through the ruined Greek village of Kayaköy. Once a thriving Greek village, Kayaköy had over one thousand houses, two churches, fourteen chapels, and two schools. It was completely deserted in 1923 when the Christian inhabitants had to move to Greece following the Turkish War of Independence. You then cross a green headland to arrive at the famous white beaches of Ölüdeniz lagoon, where you may swim and relax. From the beach, you can take the minibus back to the hotel (pay locally) or opt for a return walk along a forested path from Ovacık to Kayaköy. Dinner and overnight in Kayaköy.
- Accommodation: Misafir Evi Guesthouse
- Walking for the day: 9km, 3h, ↑200m ↓350m (optional return 8km, 2,5h, ↑215m ↓360m)
Day 3: Ovacık – Faralya | 14km
A short car transfer to the beginning of the Lycian Way where you start your hike with spectacular views of the sea and Ölüdeniz lagoon. You ascend the lower slopes of Baba Dağı (Father Mountain) following a paved mule path. After passing the villages of Kozağaç and Kirme on a stretch of road, you descend an ancient path to the small village of Faralya on the green slopes above the Butterfly Valley. Dinner and overnight in Faralya.
- Accommodation: Monte Negro Guesthouse
- Walking for the day: 14km, 5-6h, ↑580m ↓615m
Day 4: Faralya – Alınca | 13km
You walk from Faralya to Alınca along a forested path passing high above the secluded cove of Kabak. You will climb up a beautiful old mule trail to Alınca, with impressive views over Yedi Burun (Seven Capes). Dinner and overnight in Alınca.
- Accommodation: Bayram Ali’s village house
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5-6h, ↑750m ↓450m
Day 5: Alınca – Sidyma (and transfer to Gey) | 11km
From Alınca village, you walk along a spectacular coastline towards a pasture with an old Ottoman cistern. There you have the choice to descend along a cobblestone trail to the secluded beach of Kalabantia, explore the ruins of the ancient harbor and swim in the crystal clear waters. After returning to the main trail, you follow an old mule trail inland and uphill to reach ancient Sidyma where you explore the ruins of this once huge city scattered around an inland valley and two hills. The village houses are constructed using ancient building blocks; inscriptions, tombs and city walls are visible. You can have lunch in a lovely village house. Transfer from Sidyma to Gey (30 mins). Dinner and overnight in Gey.
- Accommodation: Muhtar’s Pension
- Walking for the day (standard): 11km, 4h, ↑490m ↓660m
- Walking for the day (extended option): 16km, 6h, ↑1,000m ↓950m
Day 6: Gey – Gavurağili/Patara | 14km
You trek along a tiny goat path around a spectacular, secluded bay of Gemili to the village of Bel. After a short section of dirt road, you arrive at Belceğiz and start your descent along with the last of the Seven Capes following a steep rocky Roman road down to Gavurağili. You meet our vehicle here for a short transfer to Patara. Patara is famous for its long beach where the giant sea turtles, caretta caretta, are known to come for laying eggs. It was also the birthplace of St Nicholas, who became known as the bishop of nearby (Myra) Demre. Dinner and overnight in Patara.
- Accommodation: Flower Pension
- Walking for the day: 14km, 6-7h, ↑500m ↓1,000m
Day 7: Delikkemer – Patara | 11km
After a short transfer, you visit the remains of a Roman aqueduct spanning a ravine at Delikkemer. It was part of a system that supplied water from high up in the mountains to ancient Patara on the coast. You walk back from the aqueduct to the ancient site of Patara partly following the course of the ancient water pipes. You may explore the ruins of this important coastal city, where you can admire a theatre, bath complexes, temples and other remains of this once leading city of the Lycian League or simply relax on the beach.
- Accommodation: Flower Pension
- Walking for the day: 11 km, 3h, ↑200m ↓350m
Day 8: Departure
Complimentary transfer to Dalaman Airport (118km / 2h) or extra night Patara.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in hand-picked and regularly monitored hotels and guesthouses offering various levels of comfort. During this tour, you’ll stay in places that make you feel good and safe in lovely villages surrounded by trees and mountains. 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 the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Seven breakfasts, six picnic lunches and seven dinners are included. During the tour, you will enjoy natural, regional and rich Turkish food. Evening meals consist of soup or salads, a main course and fruit or sweet for dessert. Lunches will be picnics. Our packed lunches are wonderful, and we include plentiful trail snacks such as dried fruits and nuts.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is suitable for walkers of good fitness (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 April and middle of June and September till the middle of 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.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Dalaman (complimentary airport transfers included)..
Inclusions
Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights as listed in the itinerary
- 7 breakfasts, 6 packed lunches on walking days and 7 dinners
- Transfers to trailheads as detailed in the itinerary
- 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
- Luggage transport to next hotel
- Transfers to/from Dalman airport on days 1 and 8
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights
- 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
- Transfer on day 1 for an optional walk (by taxi) and optional boat trip
- Transfer on day 2 between Ölüdeniz and Kayaköy (by bus/taxi)
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)
- Extra nights in Patara
- On request, we can provide a private guide.
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