The path begins among twisted olive trees and fragments of ancient marble that protrude from the ground like broken teeth. The Lycian Way — in Turkish Likya Yolu — is a walking route of about 540 kilometers that crosses the southwestern coast of Turkey, from the Fethiye peninsula to Antalya, following the track of ancient roads and mule paths used for millennia by the peoples of Lycia, a civilization that thrived in this region between the 6th and 4th centuries BC before being absorbed by the Roman Empire.
The modern trail has been mapped and made accessible to the general public thanks to the work of Kate Clow, a British hiker who in the late 1990s walked and cataloged the existing paths, publishing the first official guide in 1999 with the collaboration of the Culture Routes Society. Today, the Lycian Way is recognized as one of the great hiking routes of the Mediterranean, comparable in beauty and variety to the Camino de Santiago or the Path of the Gods in Campania, but with a density of archaeological sites that few other routes in the world can match.
What you encounter along the way
Those who walk the Lycian Way will not find a uniform landscape. The trail alternates between coastal stretches where the turquoise sea is visible from cliffs rising up to 200 meters, and inland sections that pass through pine forests and stone villages that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Along the way, you will encounter Lycian rock tombs carved directly into the rock — some with facades shaped like Greek temples — submerged necropolises visible from the water in the calmer bays, and Roman amphitheaters still in excellent condition like the one in Patara, the city that was the capital of the Lycian League and, according to tradition, the birthplace of Saint Nicholas of Myra.
In Patara, there is also one of the longest beaches in Turkey, with about 18 kilometers of fine sand protected as a nesting area for the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta. The trail runs along this expanse before rising inland, where the ruins of the ancient city emerge from the sand and Mediterranean vegetation in an almost surreal landscape.
The most spectacular stretches
The section between Ölüdeniz and Kabak is considered one of the most scenic along the entire route: you walk along ridges that overlook the famous Ölüdeniz lagoon, with its intensely blue water turning emerald green near the shore, then you descend towards Kabak Bay, which is almost exclusively accessible on foot. This isolation has preserved the area from massive tourist development, and there are only small campsites and guesthouses run by local families.
Another memorable stretch is the one that crosses Myra, near present-day Demre, where Lycian rock tombs overlap with a Roman theater from the 2nd century AD that still has almost intact seating. Not far away is the Church of St. Nicholas, dating back to the 4th century, which retains some original mosaics. The contrast between the monumentality of the Roman constructions and the lightness of the tombs carved into the rock above is one of those visual details that remain etched in memory.
How to organize the walk
The Lycian Way can be walked in its entirety in about 30-40 days, but most visitors choose sections of 3-7 days. The route is divided into daily stages of varying lengths, generally between 15 and 25 kilometers, with elevation changes that can be challenging. The best months for walking are April, May, October, and November: in summer, temperatures on the coast regularly exceed 35-40 degrees Celsius, and many exposed sections become dangerous due to drought and heat.
The trail is marked with white and red paint on rocks and trees, but the signage is not always consistent: it is advisable to download offline maps through applications like Maps.me or Gaia GPS before setting off. Along the route, there are small pansiyon — family-run guesthouses — that offer accommodation and meals at affordable prices, generally between 20 and 50 euros per night with breakfast included. Bringing at least 2 liters of water for each stage is essential, as fountains in rural areas are not always reliable.
The most convenient starting point
Most hikers reach the trail by landing at Dalaman airport, well connected with direct flights from Europe, and then take a bus or shared taxi to Fethiye or Ölüdeniz. Those who prefer to start from the eastern end can instead use Antalya international airport, one of the busiest airports in Turkey with direct connections from all over Europe. From both starting cities, it is possible to rent trekking equipment or purchase the updated guide by Kate Clow, available in local bookstores and in some guesthouses along the route.
