Overview
The West Lycian Way is a megadose of Vitamin Sea, starting in Kayaköy, clinging to a dramatic coastline bedecked with pine forests and brimming with turquoise beaches. With your luggage transferred for you, and accommodation in traditional coastal villages, the finale is at the ancient ruins of Patara where you can take a celebratory swim at the absurdly beautiful Patara beach, also a breeding ground for endangered loggerhead turtles, between May and October. If you’re all about coastal walking, West Lycian Way is one of Europe’s finest.
- Patara beach and ruins
- Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
- Ruins of Kayaköy
- Ancient town of Sidyma
- Turkish cuisine
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Itinerary
Day 1: Kayaköy
You are met at Dalaman Airport and transferred to Kayaköy (1.5h) for check-in at the accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, we recommend a stroll to Gemiler Bay and taking a visit to St. Nicholas’ island, where there are ruins of several early Christian churches.
- Accommodation: Misafir Evi Guesthouse
- Walking for the day (optional): 7km, 3h, ↑250m ↓390m
- Meals included: dinner
Day 2: Kayaköy – circular walk via Ölüdeniz | 9-17km
The walk takes you right through the ruined Greek village of Kayaköy. Once a thriving Greek village, Kayaköy had over a thousand houses, two churches, fourteen chapels, and two schools. It was completely deserted in 1923 when its 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 the Ölüdeniz Lagoon. From the beach, you can either take a bus back to the hotel (pay locally) or take a short transfer (pay locally) to Ovacık, before walking back along a forested path to Kayaköy.
- Accommodation: Misafir Evi Guesthouse
- Walking for the day: 9km, 3h, ↑200m ↓350m, optional return walk from Ovacık to Kayaköy: additional 8km, 3hrs ↑215m ↓360m (total: 17km, 6h)
- Meals included: breakfast. Picnic lunch and dinner not included, can be requested locally at your accommodation or bought in the village
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. Ascend the lower slopes of Baba Dağı (Father Mountain) following a mule path. After passing through the villages of Kozağaç and Kirme, head down an ancient path to the small village of Faralya, overlooking Butterfly Valley.
- Accommodation: Montenegro Motel
- Walking for the day: 14km, 5-6h, ↑580m ↓615m
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 4: Faralya – Alınca | 13km
Walk from Faralya to Alınca along a forested path passing high above the secluded cove of Kabak, then on up to Alınca, where you stay for the night, with impressive views over Yedi Burun (Seven Capes).
- Accommodation: Bayram Ali’s village house
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5-6h, ↑750m ↓450m
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 5: Alınca – Sidyma – Gey | 11-16km
From Alınca village, follow the coast to a pasture with an old Ottoman cistern. You can take a diversion from the trail here, and descend along a cobblestone trail to the secluded beach of Kalabantia, explore the ruins of the ancient harbour and swim in the crystal clear waters. Then return to the main trail to follow a mule trail inland up to ancient Sidyma, famous for its ruins of the old city that are scattered all around. We recommend lunch at a lovely village lunch here. Transfer from Sidyma to Gey where you spend the night. (30mins).
- Accommodation: Muhtar’s Pension, Gey
- Walking for the day (standard): 11km, 4h, ↑490m ↓660m
- Walking for the day (extended option): 16km, 6h, ↑1,000m ↓950m
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 6: Gey – Gavurağili – Patara | 14km
Follow a tiny goat path around the secluded bay of Gemili to the village of Bel and then on a dirt track to Belceğiz. This is where you start a descent along a steep rocky Roman road to Gavurağili, where you are met by our driver for a transfer to Patara where you spend the next two nights. Patara is famous for its long beach where giant sea turtles, caretta caretta, famously come to lay eggs.
- Accommodation: Flower Pension
- Walking for the day: 14km, 6-7h, ↑500m ↓1,000m
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 7: Delikkemer – Patara | 11km
After a short transfer, 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. Walk back from the aqueduct to the ancient site of Patara partly following the course of the ancient water pipes. We highly recommend taking time to explore the ruins of this important coastal city, which include a theatre, bathhouses and temples. Leave yourself some time to enjoy this gorgeous beach too though.
- Accommodation: Flower Pension
- Walking for the day: 11km, 3h, ↑200m ↓350m
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner
Day 8: Departure
Complimentary transfer to Dalaman Airport (118km / 2h) after breakfast or extra night in Patara.
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
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, five picnic lunches and six dinners are included. Dinner at Misafir Evi on day two is not included as there are many options in the area. During the tour, you will enjoy natural, regional Turkish food. Dinners consist of soup or salads, a main course and dessert. Lunches are in picnic form, with plenty of fruit and snacks included.
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 the middle of June and September to mid-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. See our blog on Everything you need to know about The Lycian Way, for more details.
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 seven nights as listed in the itinerary
- 7 breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches on walking days and 6 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 Dalaman airport on days one and eight
- 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 one for an optional walk (by taxi) and optional boat trip
- Transfer on day two between Ölüdeniz and Kayaköy (by bus/taxi)
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)
- Extra nights in Patara
- On request, we can provide a private guide
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