One of the World's Great Long-Distance Walks

The Lycian Way is a marked long-distance hiking trail in southwestern Turkey, approximately 760 kilometres in length, stretching from Hisarönü near Fethiye in the west to Geyikbayırı in the Konyaaltı district of Antalya in the east. The trail follows mainly Roman roads, old village footpaths, and mule tracks — routes that have been walked for centuries — across one of the most scenically varied coastlines on earth.

The Lycian Way was researched, designed, and waymarked by Kate Clow, a British-Turkish amateur historian, in 1999. It was Turkey's first long-distance walking route. Today it is consistently ranked among the world's finest long-distance trails. The view from Gelidonya Lighthouse along the route was voted the most beautiful view in Turkey in 2007.

What the Route Is

The Lycian Way is not simply a nature walk. The route passes through more than 20 ancient cities, including Patara, Phellos, Antiphellos, Aperlai, Simena, Myra, Olympos, Chimaera, and Phaselis. In a single day's walking you might pass Lycian rock tombs cut into cliff faces in the morning, stand on a headland above a turquoise bay at noon, and descend into a pine-forested valley by evening. The density of landscape, history, and coastal scenery packed into this route is genuinely unmatched.

Route Overview

The trail is waymarked after the French Grande Randonnée system: the correct route is marked with a white stripe above a red stripe on rocks and tree trunks at regular intervals; red-cross marks indicate a route that should not be entered.

The western section covers Ölüdeniz, the Butterfly Valley, Kabak Bay, Patara, Kalkan, and Kaş. The central section — historically the richest — passes through Kekova, Demre, and Myra. The eastern section runs through Finike, Adrasan, Olympos, Çıralı, Yanartaş, Tekirova, Phaselis, Kemer, and Göynük.

The full route takes between 25 and 50 days to complete depending on fitness level. There is no obligation to walk the whole thing at once — the route is divided into more than 20 individual stages, each of which can be planned independently as a day walk or multi-day section.

Accommodation Along the Route

Accommodation is available at all budgets in towns and villages along the route including Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Kabak Bay, Patara, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova, Demre, Finike, Adrasan, Olympos, Çıralı, Tekirova, Kemer, and Göynük. In some villages along the route, traditional village houses have been converted into bed-and-breakfast accommodation in recent years. Natural campsites are also available at several points.

Practical Notes

Mobile phone coverage is not guaranteed along the full route; carrying a GPS device is recommended. Trail conditions vary — some sections are well maintained while others can be overgrown or poorly marked. Signs are periodically renewed by volunteers. Since 2021, the Antalya Provincial authorities have recommended registering your planned route with local officials before setting out on remote sections; check for current guidance before departure.

Practical Information

Start point: Hisarönü (Ovacık), Fethiye. Nearest airport: Dalaman.
End point: Geyikbayırı, Konyaaltı, Antalya. Nearest airport: Antalya.
Total length: Approximately 760 km.
Full completion time: 25 to 50 days depending on fitness.
Best time: April–June and September–November.
Accommodation: Hotels, pansiyons, and campsites throughout the route.
Guided walks: The Culture Routes Society organises guided and self-guided walking holidays along the route.
Entry fee: The trail itself is free; individual national parks and heritage sites along the route may charge separate admission fees.