Walking East Lycian Way in 14 Days

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Day 1: Antalya

You are met at Antalya Airport and transferred to your guesthouse in Kaleiçi. Or if you have booked extra nights in Antalya before the holiday, we can collect you from your hotel.

• Accommodation: Atelya Art Hotel or similar
• Meals included: none

Day 2: Hisarcandir – Göynük | 16km

You are transferred to the walk’s trailhead (1h 15mins) and walk through the Hisarçandır region’s pine and cedar forests, with several viewpoints towards Antalya. The trail leads downhill to the bottom of Göynük Gorge.

• Accommodation: guesthouse in Göynük (Natural Pension or similar)
• Walking for the day: 16km, 6h, ↑260m ↓1,525m
• Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 3: Göynük – Göynük Yayla | 17km

A challenging day awaits, with an all day ascent starting at the entrance to Göynük Gorge entrance, following some switchback ridges beneath pine trees, with excellent views to the surrounding pastures and orchards. Cross a remote boulder-strewn riverbed in the canyon where it may be necessary to take off your shoes and wade through in early spring and autumn. It is possible to swim at certain points too. Meet your driver near a bridge (850m) who transfers you to your hotel in Ovacık, with great sea and mountain views.

• Accommodation: Gül Mountain Resort
• Walking for the day: 17km, 6h, ↑1,200m ↓500m
• Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 4: Göynük Yayla – Yayla Kuzdere | 16km

Today’s walk is another long but rewarding one, starting with a transfer back to where you left the walk yesterday. From here, trek along high mountain paths and tracks to the village of Gedelme, with ruins of a Roman castle. Continue on to the village of Yayla Kuzdere (900m), taking in views of Mount Tahtalı. Spend the night in Sevim’s village house in Yayla Kuzdere.

• Accommodation: Sevim’s village house in Yayla Kuzdere (shared bathroom facilities)
• Walking for the day: 16km, 5h, ↑460m ↓530m
• Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

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

From Yayla Kuzdere, start with a steady steep climb up along a riverbed to the pastures of Çukur Yayla, just below Mount Olympos (Tahtalı Dağı). Climb the pass from Çukur Yayla (1,950m) through a forest of pine and cedar trees, then descend via a steep winding path to the village of Beycik (900m). Your driver meets you takes you to Çıralı (30mins) where you spend the night.

Optional ascent of Mount Olympos (2,365m):
Day five can be changed to include an ascent of Mount Olympos. If you choose this route, you don’t descend to Beycik but ascent from Yayla Kuzdere to the saddle and, from there, to the top. From the summit, take the cable car (€25 approx, payable locally) to the lower station and transfer to Çıralı.

• Accommodation: guesthouse in Çıralı (Kiyı Pension or similar)
• Walking for the day: 15km, 6h, ↑1,000m ↓1,130m (standard route) or 11km, 6h, ↑1,450m ↓180m (optional climb of Mount Olympus)
• Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 6: Rest day / The Eternal Flames of Chimaera

Although this is a rest day, you an also add an extra trip to the ruins of ancient Olympos (6km along the beach) and then onto the ‘burning stones’ known as the Eternal Flames of Chimaera. Mount Chimaera was the name of this place in Ancient Lycia, where methane and other gases emerge from the rock and, causing them to burn constantly. Some ancient sources considered it to be the origin of the myth of the monster called the Chimera.

• Accommodation: guesthouse in Çıralı (Kiyı Pension or similar)
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner. Picnic lunch not included, can be requested locally at your accommodation or bought in the village

Day 7: Çıralı – Adrasan | 20km

Today’s walk starts in Çırali, taking you the ancient city of Olympos and up Musa Dağı (Moses Mountain, 650m). The climb is through a dense forest with many strawberry trees, taking you past some minor ancient ruins. After taking a break near an old hut, descend through a forest, past deserted farmhouses, finally coming to 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
• Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 8: Adrasan – Gelidonia Lighthouse | 18km

Another start directly from your hotel, the route leads south via Kızıl Sırt (450m) along a remote and isolated coastline. Follow a rocky a path parallel to the coast at a high altitude along cliffs and green slopes with great sea views. After arriving at the lighthouse at the tip of Cape Gelidonia, you are met by your driver for a transfer to Beymelek (1h 10mins), where you spend the night.

• Accommodation: Taş Evler Guesthouse or similar
• Walking for the day: 18km, 7h, ↑700m ↓700m
• Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Day 9: Kapaklı – Simena | 9km

You are transferred from Adrasan to Kapaklı (1h 20mins) 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. Climb past impressive ancient 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 guesthouse is located 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
• Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

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

You are transferred to the village of Kılıçlı (35mins. 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 kayaks to explore the nearby coastline with. A boat trip to see the Sunken City is also included in this tour. 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
• Meals included: breakfast and dinner. Picnic lunch not included, can be requested locally at your accommodation or bought in the village

Day 11: Boğazcık – Okçüoldüğü | 12km

Transfer to the village of Boğazcık (35mins including boat transfer) from where you walk past Roman watchtowers to the beach. Take 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 (30mins).

• Accommodation: Hotel Kayahan
• Walking for the day: 12km, 4-5h, ↑200m ↓560m
• Meals included: breakfast and picnic lunch. Dinner not included, large choice of restaurants in Kaş

Day 12: Okçüoldüğü – Limanağzı | 9km

You are transferred back to Okçüoldüğü from where you enjoy a short walk on coastal paths with many opportunities for swimming breaks. We recommend having lunch in a restaurant in Limanağzı, where your walk ends and you are transferred by boat to Kaş (payable locally).

• Accommodation: Kayahan Hotel
• Walking for the day: 9km, 3-4h, ↑220m ↓380m
• Meals included: breakfast. Picnic lunch and dinner not included, large choice of restaurants in Kaş

Day 13: Free day in Kaş

There are many places to make the most of outdoor activities in Kaş such as diving, sea kayaking or paragliding, or just swimming and chilling. Overnight in the same hotel in Kaş.

• Accommodation: Kayahan Hotel
• Meals included: breakfast. Picnic lunch and dinner not included.

Day 14: Departure

Transfer to Antalya Airport (3.5h). Or transfer to Antalya with an option to have additional nights there.

Click to view default hotels

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

Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation. 

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