Lycian Way

Information

Distance

509.0 km

Duration

25–30 days

Max elevation

1,812 m

Country

Türkiye (TR)

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous — terrain shifts between rocky coastline, pine forest, and a mountain pass up to 1,800 m

Best Season

March–May, September–October

Permits & Fees

No special permit is required to walk the trail; entry tickets are required for archaeological sites such as Patara, Olympos, and Tlos

Description

The Lycian Way (Likya Yolu in Turkish) is a ~509 km long-distance hiking trail tracing the coastline and mountains of ancient Lycia in southwestern Turkey, running from Ölüdeniz near Fethiye in the west to Geyikbayırı near Antalya in the east. Conceived by Kate Clow and opened in 1999 as Turkey's first waymarked long-distance route, it is marked with the red-and-white stripes of the GR footpath convention. The trail alternates between rocky beaches, ancient Lycian ruins, olive groves, cedar and pine forests, and quiet fishing harbours, offering a rare blend of Mediterranean scenery and archaeological heritage. Hikers can tackle the full route in 25–30 days, or choose popular segments such as the Ölüdeniz–Butterfly Valley stretch or the dramatic Kaş–Olympos section.

Trail Highlights

The ruins of ancient Lycian cities (Patara, Olympos, Xanthos, Tlos, Pinara), hidden turquoise Mediterranean bays, the ghost town of Kayaköy, Cape Gelidonya with its historic lighthouse, endemic cedar and pine forests, and 2,000-year-old footpaths