The Lycian Way: Antalya's Finest Walking Stages

The Lycian Way is a long-distance walking route of roughly 540 kilometres running from Fethiye to Antalya. Türkiye's first waymarked trail, it follows the coastline of ancient Lycia and appears regularly on lists of the world's finest walks.

Walking the whole route takes about 25–30 days, but most visitors tackle it in stages of a few days. The trail is marked with red-and-white paint flashes (GR standard); some sections have faded markers, so a GPS app or printed map is recommended.

The finest stage — Kaş to Kalkan: A moderate stage where the sea view is almost never interrupted. Along the way you pass Lycian rock tombs, small coves and olive groves. It takes around 6–7 hours and both ends have plenty of accommodation.

The most popular stage — Olympos to Çıralı and Yanartaş: Short, easy and richly rewarded. Start among the tree-shrouded ruins of ancient Olympos, cross the long beach at Çıralı and climb to Yanartaş (the Chimaera). Go in the late afternoon so you see the flames, burning for millennia, in the dark.

The hardest and most scenic — the summit of Mount Tahtalı (Olympos): Walking up to the 2,365-metre summit demands real fitness and takes a full day. Alternatively, take the cable car up and walk down; this direction is far less tiring and safer.

When to walk: The best periods are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). In summer the coastal stages are very hot with little shade; avoid long stages in July and August. Winter is walkable but rain and short daylight complicate planning.

Practical tips: Water sources between stages are sparse; carry at least 2–3 litres. Ankle-height boots make a real difference on rocky ground. Guesthouses in Çıralı, Adrasan, Kaş and Kalkan are the natural stops. If walking alone, tell someone your route; some sections have no phone signal.