Lycian Way

About Lycian Way

The Lycian Way (Likya Yolu) is a waymarked long-distance footpath around the coast of ancient Lycia in southern Turkey. The Culture Routes Society, which looks after the route, describes it as a 760 km, 35-day walk from Fethiye to Antalya, starting at Ölüdeniz and now ending at Geyikbayırı in Konyaaltı, from where there are daily buses into Antalya. It was researched, designed and waymarked by Kate Clow in 1999 and was the first long-distance walking route in Turkey, made partly to identify and protect old roads. The trail follows Roman roads, old footpaths and mule trails, often hard and stony underfoot and with steep gradients between the coast and the mountains, so it is not suitable for mountain bikes. It is marked in the Grande Randonnée style with red and white stripes. Branches and extensions include the St Nicholas Ways above Demre, a network of paths linking ruined Byzantine monasteries, and local trail networks such as the Kemer and Konyaaltı trails, which are marked in yellow and red. The society recommends walking in spring or autumn, February to May or September to November, as summer is too hot for long walks. Except for three high-level sections, walkers can find accommodation each night in village houses, pensions or small hotels, and there is public transport along much of the route. The full route is mapped on OpenStreetMap, and a guidebook is published by the creator of the route.