Tag: Lycian Way

If you want to discover Turkey then this epic trail is the perfect place to start. The Lycian Way is a long-distance hiking trail which follows the Teke peninsula in the Mediterranean part of South Turkey. You will explore local nature, culture and history. There are numerous fascinating historical sites for you to visit along this route. Whilst at the same time you can explore lessor known areas of Turkey’s natural beauty. From breath taking coastline to fruit-filled rural hamlets this trail will lead you on a truly enriching cultural adventure. With 509 km of walkway to cover, hiking the whole trail is a big commitment. It takes around a month to complete so unless you are a seasoned hiker choosing a section to hike for a day or two is perhaps more realistic. You will still find it a very rewarding way to spend some of your holiday.

Following the Trail

The route, which was ‘launched’ in 1999 after a significant research project. It is not, however, comprised of one single road. There are a combination old Roman roads, forest trails and dirt tracks. Impressively a total of 25 antiquated sites are connected by the trail, which tell the story of the great Lycian League. The intention for this project was to both preserve and share the ancient marvels which populate this epic trail and to bring tourism to more rural areas of Turkey.

Helpful Guides

A British/Turkish amateur historian named Kate Clow embarked on the mammoth task of researching, designing and waymarking this epic trail. She rallied political and financial support and assembled a team of volunteers to help plan the best route. Furthermore, she has created fantastic resources to allow travellers like you to make the most out of the route. These include a guidebook for the trail and in collaboration with the Turkish Culture Routes Society a Lycian Way app. The app is available to you on iphone and android. They give you extensive information on points of interest, contoured maps and accommodation options.

Lycian Way Waymarks

The standard waymarks for the route reflect the colours of the Turkish flag (although other colours are also used). You will see red and white rectangles painted on rocks and garden walls. These are more frequent in areas where the trail curves and coils and less frequent on straighter parts of the route. You should look out for signposts along the route topped with the header Likya Yolu. Yellow arrows are position below pointing you in the direction of the nearest calling points in each direction of the walkway.

Which Lycian Way Route Should You Take?

Embarking on the full 29 day journey required to complete the trail is almost certainly too great a challenge for most. You can easily spend a few days of your holiday exploring parts of the trail, as the walkway is separated into many different sections. There are lots of great ‘short routes’ you could complete in a day or two. And yes they are within relatively easy reach of our beloved town of Kalkan.

Ovacik Route

The easiest of these is the 6 km section at the start of the trail leading from Ovacik, through Oludeniz with its’ breath taking Blue Lagoon and onto the Ghost town of Kayakoy.

Faralya and the Butterfly Valley

Another moderate section of the walkway runs between Faralya and Kabak. You will follow rural roads through unspoiled forests and meadows for approximately 8 km. The small village of Faralya is located in an elevated position above the Butterfly Valley. Here you will find a few highly recommended pansiyons for spending the night. If you prefer camping accommodation for tents is also available in this tranquil spot. You will love the incredible views over the valley and out to sea.

To add a real challenge to this section of the walkway you can descend down the butterfly valley to the beach but beware it is incredibly steep. In order to get to the bottom you will use ropes fixed to the rocky facade. We advise you not to take heavy rucksacks as the descent it tricky. You should allow a few hours for this detour. If you decide to take it to allow time for steady climbing as well as enjoying the views from the beach and a dip in the waters.

Local Village Routes

For a taste of traditional village life you could try the route which goes between the villages of Uzumlu, Islamlar, Bezirgan and Saribelen. These villages are all local to Kalkan. They have kept their traditional charm and are scarcely populated with families of farmers and shepherds. You will see old stone houses and wooden “ambarlar” where food is stored on stilts. You will come across multitudes of orchards with organic fruit trees, friendly-faced locals and of course the odd Mosque.

Spring is a particularly good time for you to walk this section. During this time the villages of Bezirgan and Saribelen are full of blossoming almond trees.  This section of the route is 23 km long with a steep incline between Bezirgan and Saribelen. So by the time you get to the end you may want to stay in one of the pansiyons at Saribelen for the night and regain some strength.

You can access the start and end points for the above short routes by public transport. This is in the form of the local Dolmus services. These are small minibuses that charge you a minimal fee. They travel to other towns and main bus stations for connecting journeys.

Nature & Wildlife

As well as the incredible historical and social exploration the Lycian Way has to offer, the terrain of the trail itself holds many natural wonders. As you trek your way up soaring mountains, through extended valleys and along hidden coastal paths with secluded beaches you will observe profoundly beautiful scenery and become acquainted with a variety of native creatures.

You will commonly spot deer and wild goats along the route. Also expect to see smaller creatures such as porcupines, rabbits, red squirrels, lynx, tortoises and a variety of lizards including chameleons.

If you are a bird spotter there are many species of birds which you can see throughout the year. Due the mild climate there are two rare breeds which you may come across: the Smyrna kingfisher and the wall climber.

You may encounter endangered and dangerous animals along the way too. Snakes and scorpions live in certain mountainous areas along the trail so you should stay vigilant.

The endangered loggerhead turtles lay their eggs at both Patara beach and Cirali beach near to the site of Olympos and you can often see them in the turquoise waters along the coast. So if you decide to take a much needed dip in the sea to cool off along the way be sure to look out for their heads bobbing above the waves.

Where to sleep?

You will find that most accommodation along the Lycian Way route are family-run guesthouses. These are locally known as Pansiyons. Although these modest abodes may lack luxury they certainly make up for in traditional charm and warm hospitality. If the early parts of the routes appeal to you there are several quaint B&B’s to choose from. The Kayakoy Pansiyon is a reasonably priced 3 bedroomed wooden framed guest house in the heart of Kayakoy village near to many eateries.

At Faralya the Montenegro Motel and George House are well known hosts for partakers of the Lycian Way. They will offer you help with the routes and information on wildlife, flora and fauna to look out for. Montenegro has a number of traditional stone and timber chalets set in a beautifully maintained garden full of brightly coloured flowers. George House also allows campers to pitch their tents on their sea view terrace provided they make use of the restaurant for refreshments.

If the village route appeals to you the  Hidden Garden is a great half-way stop off point between Islamlar and Akbel villages where you could spend the night before continuing on to Bezirgan village. Similar to the Kayakoy Pansiyon, Hidden Garden offers a number of wooden cabins for accommodation all nestled in thick greenery in a quiet location.  Alternatively you could spend an evening at the much-loved Moonstone House  in Saribelen, a welcoming haven after the elevating trek from Bezirgan village. If you are an animal lover you will be in your element here as the hosts take care of a large number of cats and dogs on their grounds.

What will you need?

The Lycian Way route leads you through populated areas between its’ rural and historical calling points. So you don’t ned to worry too much about taking lots of food supplies or cooking equipment. Trust us there are plenty of great options along the way. You can stock up at local convenience shops for snacks. Alternatively you can take a break to have lunch and the pansiyons provide wonderful Turkish breakfasts and evening meals. Make sure you have bottles which you can refill with water at one of the many public water fountains along the route. You will also find villagers full or hospitality and are happy to share their water or provide refreshing Turkish cay or fresh fruit juice in their gardens.

Good hiking boots are a must as the trail cuts through rocky terrain and of course be sure to carry Turkish Lira as rural areas don’t tend to support card payments. Many of the archaeological sites have an entrance fee which you should keep in mind when planning your budget for any sections you plan to walk.

How can Kalkan Holiday Property Help?

If you are searching for a quality holiday property to stay in before or after walking any sections of the Lycian Way please get in touch. Our professional team will be happy to assist. We can also advise you on more interesting sites to visit and help you plan your itinerary. 

Skirting the captivating turquoise waters of the Mediterranean coast is the Lycian Way. This is Turkey’s first long-distance hiking trail. The trail spans some 509 km through highlands, rural villages, coastal cliffs and secluded beaches. It connects popular holiday resorts from Fethiye to Antalya. If you were to trek the walkway in full from start to finish it would take you around 29 days. You follow the contours of the Teke peninsula through divided sections. This means you can try a 3 or 4-day hike or even a one-day excursion.

The walkway repeatedly appears in top 10 lists for the world’s greatest walking trails. It will lead you through a mix of beautiful coastline, intriguing ancient Lycian sites, rural farming villages and wild Mediterranean terrain. If you are looking for a Turkish cultural experience- this is it!

Sites of Historical Significance on the Lycian Way

While the Lycian Way connects a vast number of fascinating ancient ruins there are some major sites which are certainly worth exploring. Many of the sites of ancient Lycia are featured in the Unesco tentative list. This is because they are unique to the Teke peninsula of Turkey. They also bring to light a wealth of information about the Lycian civilisation, it’s traditions and Indo-European language.

Xantos

Another major significance of the Lycian union is that it is the first known democratic federation in history which is said to have inspired the democratic systems we are familiar with today. In this system, principle cities had 3 votes while the others had 2 votes or 1 depending on their size. Here is a brief introduction to some of the interesting places which had major roles to play in Lycian society: Xantos

Discovered by the British archaeologist Charles Fellows in 1839 the city of Xantos was the capital city of the Lycian Federation and dates back to the 8^th Century BC. Xantos is linked with the close-by site of Letoon. The Xantos-Letoon sites are the only sites on the Lycian Way route on the Unesco World Heritage site list. This is because the two neighbouring settlements exhibit the most comprehensive examples of Lycian architecture. They also housed the most important unveiled inscriptions of the Lycian language.

Sadly you can no longer see some of the most elaborate artifacts belonging to Xantos. They were shipped to England by Charles Fellows and you can now view them in the British Museum. The most famous of these is the Neried Monument. This large tomb is believed to have been built for Arbinas, a Xanthian ruler.

Nevertheless you will still find a wealth of intriguing structures and carvings at Xantos. Stone tombs, a Byzantine street and mosaics are some of the intriguing artefacts you can explore.

Location:

Found on the western part of the Lycian Way 46 km outside of Fethiye.  This part of the Lycian Way leading to Xantos is largely asphalt and not very challenging. So many trekkers choose to use the local dolmus bus services to access the site. You can alight at the bus stop in the village of Kinik by the main bridge and go on foot (about 1.3 km) to the ruins. If you are determined to get your step count up then this part of the route is an easy section to tackle.

Letoon

You will feel a mystical quality at this site which is entwined with sacred legend. It has origins in the worship of the Anatolian mother-goddess Eni Mahanahi and Greek mythological tales of nymphs and Gods.

Purportedly named after one of the national deities of Lycia Leto, the ancient site of Letoon was an important religious sanctuary for the Lycian people. At the spiritual centre three temples were erected. One to the Goddess Leto, and a further two: one to each of her twin children Apollo and Artemis.

You will see various architectural structures at this site. These include an amphitheatre, a Basilica, and a nymphaeum connected to a sacred spring and porticoes which rise out of amphibian filled water. The ties to water were of great importance. Nymph worship was predominant in the area until the 1^st century and the Letoon springs were believed to influence fertility.

Location:

Found on the western part of the Lycian Way route, 65 km outside of Fethiye. Similar to the Xantos site the route to Letoon is largely on asphalt so there is not much to see. You can also use the local dolmus bus services to access this site. The bus stops at the Letoon junction. From here you will trek about 1 km on foot to the ruins.

Myra

The site of Myra was one of the six principle cities in Lycia and eventually overtook Xantos as the capital in the 5^th century AD. The towering rock-cut tombs in the hills of this ancient site are an impressive sight. The largest amphitheatre of Lycia is also located at Myra.

Further to these spectacular ruins you can visit the Museum of Lycian Civilisations. The museum is located near the site of what is modern day Demre. The building itself is a converted ancient granary and holds many artefacts of the Lycian Union.

A trip to this area would not be complete without a visit to the St. Nicholas Church. Yes that’s right! If you didn’t already know Father Christmas was actually born in Turkey. Reportedly in the ancient city of Patara between 260 and 280 AD. He served as a beloved Bishop in Myra and became known throughout the land. He was famed for generosity to the needy, his love for children and his concern for sailors and ships. It is this charitable nature that allowed his legend to develop into the character we know and celebrate today.

Location:

This route is in the Lycian Way’s central section in what is now known as the town of Demre. Myra comes at the end of at least a 2-day long hike. You should only try this section if you are more experienced. We do not advise this section for novices as there are limited places for refilling water and the terrain is tricky. Also the section of the route leading to the site has no accommodation. Camping is the only option you have when embarking on this section of the Lycian Way (Finike-Myra distance 19km)

Central Lycian Way- Olympos

The ancient site of Olympos tells the story of yet another one of the six major cities in Lycia. This was determined by its’ depiction on the Lycian Union coinage. The city’s geographical situation alongside the Akcay river and close to the sea means it served as a centre for trade and was a pirate refuge for many centuries. The ruins of the city are today encompassed in the Beydaglari Coastal National Park. This park has over 74,000 acres (30,000 hectares) of coastal cliffs, beaches, and mountains. For us the site of Olympos and connecting sections of the Lycian Way are particularly enthralling. The historical remains are in a truly spectacular natural setting.

A necropolis on the south side of the river contains striking chamber tombs cut into the rock. Beyond the necropolis lie remains of a small overgrown Roman theatre with an elaborate entrance and a Roman church. There is also a Hellenistic quay and ruins of a granary. You can see two well-preserved tombs further along the river. One has a poetic inscription in memory of an ancient ship captain together with detailed carving of his beached boat.

Chimaera Flames

Approximately 13km west of the site of Olympos high in the mountains is another unmissable spectacle. Known locally as “Yanartas” which literally translates as “burning stone” it’s quite a sight to behold. The Chimaera Burning Stone is a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by natural gas. The gas emits from cracks in the limestone and serpentine mountainside, creating flames that dance above the rocks. Unsurprisingly these flames are subject to myth and have apparently been burning for thousands of years. In Greek Mythology the Chimaera was a fierce fire breathing creature made up of a lion, a goat and a dragon. This creature was said to have terrorised Lycia until slain by the hero Bellerophon and then fell and got trapped in the earth.

How can Kalkan Holiday Property Help?

If you are searching for a quality holiday property to stay in after walking any sections of the Lycian Way contact us. Our professional team will be happy to assist. You can also visit our properties page to browse our fantastic collection. We can also advise you on more interesting sites to visit and help you plan your itinerary.