Overview
This self-guided Turkish adventure, walking East Lycian Way over eight days, is an epic journey, climbing higher than the western section and further inland but also includes Mount Olympos and its nearby ruins. It gets off to a spectacular high from the start, with a trek through Göynük Gorge on day one. Stay at coastal gems such as Çıralı and Adrasan, or trek up to the heights such as Musa Dağı Pass (650m), with views that will definitely make you want to hit the western section next. Stay in a mix of traditional hotels and guesthouses, with luggage transfers and most meals included.
- Walk the eastern section of Turkey’s Lycian Way
- Eternal Flames of Chimaera
- Olympos ruins and Mount Olympos
- Cape Gelidonia lighthouse
- Çıralı
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Antalya. Transfer to Göynük
You are met at Antalya Airport and transferred to your guesthouse in Göynük. Or if you have booked extra nights in Antalya before the holiday, we can collect you from your hotel.
- Accommodation: guesthouse in Göynük (Natural Pension or similar)
- Walking for the day: none
- Meals included: dinner
Day 2: Göynük – Göynük Yayla | 17km
A challenging day awaits, with an all day ascent starting at the entrance to Göynük Gorge, following some switchback ridges beneath pine trees. Cross a 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) for a transfer you to your hotel in Ovacık.
- Accommodation: Gül Mountain Resort
- Walking for the day: 17km, 6h, ↑1,200m ↓500m
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 3: 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 4: Yayla Kuzdere – Beycik (Optional climb of Mount 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 four 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 5: 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 6: 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 7: 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 Adrasan.
- Accommodation: Deniz Hotel in Adrasan or similar
- Walking for the day: 18km, 7h, ↑700m ↓700m
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Antalya Airport or extend to have more days in Antalya.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. Six of the overnights are in private en-suite rooms, and one is in a village house with shared facilities.
Click to view default hotels
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.
Meals
Breakfast and dinners are always included, as well as five picnic lunches, with fantastic regional Turkish food. 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. You will walk 6-7h per day on average. First two sections (days two and three) are more difficult with longer walks and more ascending and descending. Some days include optional longer walks (read more about difficulty grades). The terrain is varying from steep rocky footpaths to cobbled paths. The optional ascent of Mount Olympos is over scree and involves some light scrambling. 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 the middle of June and September till the end of October. July and August are too hot for making this trip. The sea temperature is best in the autumn, but spring flowers are at their best in late April-early May. 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 Antalya (complimentary airport transfers from/to it are included).
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
- Six nights in nice 2 and 3-star quality hotels and guesthouses (private en-suite rooms) and one night in a village house in Yayla Kuzdere (private room but shared bathroom in the hallway)
- 7 breakfasts
- 7 dinners
- 5 picnic lunches
- Luggage transport to the next hotel
- Transfers to/from Antalya airport
- 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
- Cable car journey, €25 approx, for descent from Mount Olympus)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- 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)
- On request, we can shorten or lengthen the tour for you
- Extra nights Antalya (Atelya Art Hotel or similar)
- On request, we can provide a private guide.
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