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| Lycian Way | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lycian Way |
| Location | Antalya Province; Muğla Province; Burdur Province; Turkey |
| Length km | 540 |
| Established | 1999 |
| Trailheads | Fethiye; Antalya |
| Use | Long-distance hiking |
| Difficulty | Moderate to difficult |
| Season | Spring; Autumn |
Lycian Way The Lycian Way is a long-distance footpath in southwestern Turkey linking coastal and inland Antalya Province, Muğla Province, and Burdur Province sites. The trail connects ancient ruins, modern towns, and protected landscapes between Fethiye and Antalya and serves as a corridor for walkers visiting Kaş, Kalkan, Ölüdeniz and Kalkan's surroundings. It is notable for intersecting numerous archaeological locations such as Myra, Patara, Xanthos, and cultural centers like Fethiye Museum.
The route was developed by British expatriate and author Kate Clow in 1999 with support from local municipalities including Fethiye Municipality and tourism bodies such as the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The trail traverses the ancient region of Lycia and links heritage sites like Tlos, Termessos, and Simena (Kaleköy), offering access to natural attractions such as Göcek Islands, Butterfly Valley (Fethiye), and the Mediterranean Sea. The path is waymarked in sections and documented in guidebooks and maps produced by publishers including Cicerone Press and local trekking groups.
The official linear route runs approximately 540 km between Fethiye and Antalya, passing through towns and archaeological sites such as Kalkan, Kaş, Patara, Kalkan, Kekova, Demre, Myra, Olympos, and Phaselis. Typical itineraries range from short sections around Ölüdeniz and the Belcekız Beach to multiweek thru-hikes integrating overnight stays in villages like Gömbe, Kalkan, and Adrasan. Walkers often combine the route with excursions to Saklıkent Gorge, Mount Tahtalı (Olympos), and boat trips to Kekova and Göcek. Transport hubs for access and exit include Dalaman Airport, Antalya Airport, and regional bus terminals such as those in Fethiye Otogar and Antalya Otogar.
The trail follows ancient roads, mule tracks, and Lycian tomb routes associated with sites such as Xanthos, the Lycian League seat referenced in inscriptions, and the funerary rock-cut tombs of Myra. Lycian civilization connections link to classical sources including Herodotus and archaeological work by explorers like Charles Fellows. Ottoman and Republican period waystations are found alongside Byzantine churches and Roman sarcophagi near Tlos and Patara. The route has been used in cultural tourism promotion by entities such as the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and international guide publishers; it has influenced local economic activity in markets like Kaş Bazaar and spurred conservation projects by NGOs and universities including Akdeniz University.
The trail traverses coastal landscapes of the Mediterranean Sea and montane terrain of the Taurus Mountains, crossing ridgelines, pine forests, maquis shrubland, and high plateaus like the Gömbe Plateau. Notable ecological sites include Patara Beach dune systems, marine habitats near Kekova Island, and endemic flora recorded in studies by institutions such as Ege University. Fauna observations include migratory birds along the Mediterranean Flyway, marine turtles at Patara and Iztuzu Beach, and mammals in the Taurus Mountains reported in surveys by conservation groups. The geology exposes limestone karst, coastal cliffs, and alluvial plains shaped by the region's tectonic history and Quaternary processes.
Accommodation along the route includes pensions, boutique hotels, and guesthouses in towns such as Fethiye, Kaş, Kalkan, and Antalya as well as mountain shelters and family-run pensions in villages like Gavurağılı and Faralya. Services include local transport providers, dolmuş lines linking Çalış Beach and inland points, and outfitting shops in Fethiye Market and Kaş Marina. Trail infrastructure comprises waymarks, cairns, and occasional signage placed by local trekking associations and municipal bodies; detailed waypoints and services are listed in guidebooks by Cicerone Press and local tourism offices.
Access points include Dalaman Airport and Antalya Airport with onward buses to trailheads such as Fethiye Otogar and Antalya Otogar. Hikers should plan for seasonal weather variations—hot summers influenced by the Mediterranean climate and colder conditions on high passes in winter—with contingencies for medical care at hospitals in Fethiye State Hospital and Antalya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi. Rescue and emergency support may involve local gendarmerie units like the Jandarma Genel Komutanlığı and garden-variety volunteer search teams organized by municipal services. Travel advisories and visa requirements are issued by foreign ministries such as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the U.S. Department of State.
Management is a patchwork involving municipal governments like Fethiye Municipality, provincial directorates such as the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, NGOs, and academic partners including Akdeniz University and Ege University. Conservation priorities address erosion on steep sections, protection of archaeological sites like Xanthos (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and safeguarding marine habitats around Kekova Island. Projects have been supported by international cooperation programs and local conservation groups, and monitoring involves coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and park directorates responsible for protected areas such as Olympos Beydağları Coastal National Park.
Category:Hiking trails in Turkey Category:Tourist attractions in Antalya Province Category:Lycia