Trek the Ancient Lycian Way

The Lycian Way was Turkey's first long-distance hiking trail: about 760 kilometers of marked path between Fethiye and Antalya including its alternative sections (the original main route was about 540 km), following routes the Lycian civilization used more than 2,000 years ago. Red and white blazes mark the way, and the Fethiye end includes some of the most accessible and scenic sections, so you can walk a single day stage or string stages together into a multi-day trek with camping under the stars. The terrain shifts between pine forest, Mediterranean scrubland, and cliff-top paths high above the sea. What sets the trail apart is what you pass: Lycian tombs carved into rock faces, Roman ruins, villages where goat herding is still the main work, and beaches that can only be reached on foot. Carry plenty of water, since springs are scarce on some stretches, and be honest about your fitness before committing to the harder sections.

About the trail

• Turkey’s first long-distance trail: about 760 km in total including alternative sections (the original main route was about 540 km), from the Fethiye area (Ovacık/Ölüdeniz) towards Antalya.
• What you pass: Lycian rock tombs, ancient cities such as Patara and Olympos, mountain villages, pine forests and hidden bays.
• Popular sections: Ovacık to Faralya above Butterfly Valley, Kabak, the coast around Kaş and Kekova, and Olympos.
• Do a day walk or a multi-day trek: many stages start or end in villages with guesthouses.

Tips

• Carry plenty of water and sun protection; some stages have no water sources.
• Use a guidebook or GPS app; some sections are rough and waymarks can be faded.
• Join a guided hike if you are new to trekking, or book luggage transfers between guesthouses.

What’s nearby

The trail starts near Ölüdeniz and passes above Butterfly Valley. Further east, it reaches Kalkan and Kaş.

What visitors say

Walkers who have done sections of the Lycian Way recently often share the same lessons:

• Start early. Set off soon after sunrise and you walk the hardest climbs in the cool of the morning, with time for a long lunch stop.
• Download the route before you go. Phone signal is patchy in the hills, so an offline map or GPS track is a big help.
• Watch for the red and white marks. The waymarks are painted on rocks and trees along the route.
• Good boots and walking poles make the steep, stony descents much easier on the knees.
• Carry some cash. Village guesthouses and small cafés along the way do not always take cards.
• Tell someone your plan. Let your guesthouse know which stage you are walking and when you expect to arrive, especially on quieter sections.

Sources we checked (November 2026): Wikivoyage: Lycian Way · Ottsworld: Hiking the Lycian Way FAQs

Photos: Alexkom000, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons