Best of The Lycian Way Trekking Tour – Turkey

Welcome to Turkey, where hospitality is a way of life. Arrive today to Antalya airport and be greeted by your private driver for group transport to your hotel located in the city centre. It is uncertain when the site of the current city was first inhabited. Attalos II, king of Pergamum, was believed to have founded the city around 150 BC, but excavations have uncovered remains dating to the 3^rd century BC, suggesting that the city was founded earlier than previously supposed. The city grew and prospered during the ancient roman period and today includes sites with traces of Lycian, Pamphylian, Hellenistic -but mainly Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman-architecture and cultures. Enjoy a flavorful welcome dinner in an atmospheric spot this evening. Transfer time: 20 min.; transfer distance: 9.5 miles (Antalya airport to the old city centre Kaleici) Overnight in Antalya at the Prime boutique hotel or similar. Meals: D

Hike via Kayakoy (Karmilassos) to Oludeniz lagoon After breakfast take private ground transport to Fethiye, located on the site of the ancient city of Telmessos, a flourishing city west of Lycia. Be introduced to your local expert guide who speaks English and who will be with you for your entire hiking tour. The beginning of the today is in Kayakoy, originally named “Karmilassos”, described by UNESCO World Hertitage as a world friendship and peace village. Here you’ll start your first hike and climb up to the ruins of the old Greek village given up at the end of the World War I. Today this timeless place, set in a lush valley surrounded by forests and with some vineyards nearby, is known as a kind of ghost town. Walk through its empty streets, along its ruined stone houses and take time to visit one of its admirable churches, whilst enjoying the village’s air of mystery and surreal atmosphere. Afterwards, a forest path with splendid panoramic views to the limpid turquoise water splits, leads directly down to Oludeniz lagoon, one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. The amazing lagoon with its secluded sandy bay is a national nature reserve and building is strictly prohibited. Famous for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine, Oludeniz is an official blue flag beach and frequently rated among the top five beaches in the world by travellers and tourism journals alike. In the late afternoon, after spending some time at leisure at the beach, return to the overnight accommodation in Fethiye. Hiking time: 3 h; hiking distance: 3.7 mi. elevation gain: 650 ft.; elevation loss: 984 ft. Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 130 mi. (Antalya to Fethiye & Kayakoy) Overnight in Fethiye at the Alesta Yacht hotel or similar. Meals: B / L / D  

After breakfast take a short transfer to the trailhead point nearby Ovacik village. From the south foot of Babadag Mountain (6,500 ft.) you’ll start the hike along the coastal side and follow a small path with a beautiful panoramic view over the deep blue bay of Oludeniz. Our hike takes us along sheep camps to some small and authentic villages of the Mediterranean area. Over stabilized gravel roads we pass small Kozagac village and continue our walk to Kirme, where we pick up a small walking path again leading us to beautiful Faralya village where we conclude our trek for the day and drive back to Fethiye. The rest of the day in Fethiye can be spent at leisure, where it is possible to explore the marina area with its charming cafés and beautiful shops with a variety of unique Turkish goods and souvenirs.. Hiking time: 4 h; hiking distance: 7.5 mi.; elevation gain/loss: 1,700 ft. Transfer time: 20 min.; transfer distance: 9 mi.; (Fethiye to Ovacik village) Overnight in Fethiye at the Alesta Yacht hotel or similar. Meals: B / L / D

And Butterfly valley panorama After breakfast we start our hike near Faralya village where we enter into a small walking path which takes us, after a small climb, to a magnificent panoramic view over butterfly valley, a large canyon considered to be one of the most picturesque and amazing places along the Lycian coast. On small paths we continue or walk whilst enjoying the beautiful views to the coast and bays around. In the afternoon we reach Yuva beach where we take time for lunch and to spend time at the beach. Afterwards we continue to Kabak village where our vehicle is awaiting us to drive us back to Fethiye where we spend the night. Hiking time: 4 h; hiking distance: 5 mi.; elevation gain: 1,300 ft.; elevation loss: 1,440 ft. Transfer time: 20 - 25 min.; transfer distance: 12.5 mi.; (Fethiye to Faralya village) Overnight in Fethiye at the Alesta Yacht hotel or similar. Meals: B / L / D

In the morning a short transfer takes us to Kabak village where another fabulous day of hiking awaits us. A steep route takes us over old shepherd trails, along the slopes of Kabak and with spectacular views over the seven capes, to Alinca village. The beautiful village of Alinca sits perched on the slopes above sheer cliffs with amazing views to the turquoise and blue Mediterranean Sea down below. Our vehicle is already waiting for us and we drive to Kas, a small fishing, yachting and tourist town. A quiet pleasant place with its blue sea and narrow streets scented with jasmine flowers and with plenty of little quiet cafes to relax. Hiking time: 4 h; hiking distance: 4.5 mi.; elevation gain: 2,477 ft.; elevation loss: 900 ft. Transfer time: 30 - 35 min.; transfer distance: 1.5 mi.; (Fethiye to Kabak village) Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 43 mi.; (Alinca village to Kas) Overnight in Kas at the Sonne hotel or similar. Meals:B / L / D

Boat tour to sunken city & hike via Aperlai to Ucagiz Today we drive to the village of Ucagiz, where we start for a short hike towards Kekova peninsula and Simena castle, rewarding us with a view all around and on numerous rock tombs. Along the shores of Kekova peninsula take a private boat and start for an amazing trip along Kekova and Ucagiz area, a great place for its coastal scenery as well as for its archaeological sites well preserved because they are not easily accessible. A pleasant excursion by boat is the best way to see the ruins on the northern coast of Kekova island, some of the old houses were completely submerged due to earthquakes during the Byzantine period. A true ancient sunken city! By boat we also go round the island, where you can see remains down to 2 meters deep, in the bluish light on the seabed. You will fully appreciate this day with a stroll on the Tersane Island. After reaching the ancient city of Aperlai, one of the partly submerged cities along Lycian coast, we continue our hike back towards Ucagiz village. Explore the ancient remains before continuing hiking a bit more on a rocky path between the woods until we reach Ramazan’s place. Ramazan is a fisherman that lives here by himself. Here we can have a cup of tea and enjoy a swim. After break we continue on partly rocky and sandy paths; pass very old olive trees, old stone houses and a stone water pond until we start descending very gently between towards Ucagiz with fantastic views over the bay and the coastal village. A last part of rocky path brings us down to the sea level and we walk parallel with the sea to the coastal village of Ucagiz, where we taste a traditional cup of Turkish tea, known as cay. Afterwards we drive towards Cirali, on the way we also visit Myra, according to Strabo one of the largest towns of the Lycian alliance; the ancient city consist an impressive necropolis including tombs of rulers and family members and a large Roman amphitheatre. Close to Myra we take a stop at St. Nicholas Church as well, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982 with over half a million pilgrims and visitors each year. Saint Nicholas, the inspiration for jolly St. Nick / Santa Claus, lived in Myra where he was a bishop and dedicated his life to humanity and service of others. In the late afternoon we arrive in Cirali, a peaceful village between ancient Olympos and Chimaira, along the turquoise coast. Transfer time: 2 - 3 h; transfer distance: 87 mi. (Kas to Cirali via Ucagiz & Myra) Hiking time: 1 h; hiking distance: 2.5 mi.; elevation gain: 330 ft.; elevation loss: 330 ft. Hiking time: 3 h; hiking distance: 5 mi. elevation gain: 245 ft.; elevation loss: 245 ft. (Aperlai to Ucagiz) Overnight in Cirali at the Arcadia hotel or similar. Meals:B / L / D

Visit Phaselis ancient site, Antalya & the old city centre Kaleici After breakfast we start our final hike of the tour in the village of Cirali and pick up the Lycian way. We climb up to a small hill and follow the walking path to the flames of Chimaira, called in Turkish “Yanartas” (flaming rock). The spot consists of some two dozen vents in the ground, grouped in two patches on the hillside. The vents emit methane thought to be of metamorphic origin. In ancient times sailors could navigate by the flames. We continue our hike through a beautiful pine forest with nice streams, rivers and viewpoints and arrive in Ulupinar village where our vehicle is already waiting for us. Via Ulupinar we drive back to Antalya, on route we visit the ancient site Phaselis, with its three harbours, the 'northern harbour', the 'battle harbour' and the 'protected (sun) harbour', of which the last is the most important today. A 78 ft. wide ancient street runs through the middle of the city with ruins of shops and stores on the sides and near these are with ruins of public places such as Roman baths, the agora and theatres. Also there are water canals between the town centre and the 229 ft. plateau with numerous sarcophagi. In the late afternoon we arrive in Antalya where it is possible to walk through the old city centre (Kaleici); with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Ottoman era houses; with streets and buildings still bear the marks of Antalya’s history. The old city centre has been restored to retain much of its historical character; most famous the Hadrian’s gate, the clock tower, Yivli Minare and Hidirlik tower. This evening’s farewell dinner will be at a lively spot as the rich and rewarding memories of our Lycian Way Hiking Tour start to simmer in. Hiking time: 3 h; hiking distance: 6 miles; elevation gain: 1,082 ft. elevation loss: 623 ft. Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 45 mi. (Ulupinar to Antalya) Overnight in Antalya at the Prime boutique hotel or similar. Meals: B / L / D

After breakfast; private transfer to Antalya airport where the trip concludes. Transfer time: 20 min.; Transfer distance: 9.5 mi. (Antalya Kaleici to Antalya airport) Meals: B