Self-Guided Lycian Way (8 days)

After checking in to our hotel there should be time to visit the ‘ghost village’ of Kaya, abandoned since 1924, now it is a museum.

The start point of the Lycian Way is at nearby Ovacik. This morning your host will drive you up to the start point, your luggage will be delivered to your lodge in Faralya. About 5 hours walking, good views of Ölüdeniz and the stark cliffs of Babadağ along the way.

An easy day’s walking through forest and past meadows and olive groves. About 3 hours walking, with good sea views, to the village of Kabak. An optional, recommended, walk for the afternoon descends to Kabak beach which adds about 45 minutes walk each way.

Only about 4 hours hiking though it does include about 600 spectacular meters of altitude gain. Beautiful forested valleys, almost untouched, run down to the sea as well as up to the spectacularly positioned hamlet of Alinca. Here you can admire the view whilst drinking tea at a local house before you make the short (40mins) transfer by vehicle from Alinca to Patara.

The day allows plenty of time to mix history, culture, nature and relaxation.

The Lycian harbour-city of Patara became one of the most important cities in the region. Its very romantic ruins lie half buried by the golden sands of Patara beach. At night between May and September it is a nesting beach for loggerhead turtles. During the day it is a great place to swim or walk. The original harbour of ancient Patara has created a wetland area much visited by migrating and nesting birds.

Today’s hike follows the ancient route from Patara to the ruined city of Phellos, hidden in the hills above Kaş. You will be driven up to a small village in the hills from where we shall cross small streams and climb forested hillsides, coming across isolated homesteads before reaching a ridge at around 900m above sea level. Here lie the 4th C BCE ruins of Phellos. From the ruins a short walk brings you to a forest department watch tower from where you will be picked up for the 15-minute drive down to Kaş

Today’s optional walk follows shepherd trails over ancient terraces to the beach at Limanagzi. There one can swim and take a leisurely lunch before returning to Kaş along the trail or by boat. There is also the chance to take a boat trip to Kekova Island next to which you will find the ‘sunken city’. Another boat trip will take you to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, just 40 minutes from Kaş harbour.