Things you need to know when hiking the Lycian Way

Last Updated on March 9, 2023

Hiking the Lycian Way in southwestern Turkey is on the bucket list of many long-distance hikers, and that’s for good reason. The coastal hike involves spectacular views, historical sites from the Greek culture and Roman Empires saying back to 8BC and traditional villages that seem untouched by tourism. Because of these unique features, the Lycian Way is often listed as one of the best hiking trails in the entire world.

Things you need to know when hiking the Lycian Way

The trail follows the coast, leads through pine forests, and always has a spectacular mountain backdrop. It is mostly made up of old mule trails and hundreds of year old footpaths. The path is one of the oldest trails in Turkey, totaling a length of 509 kilometers (315 miles).

You’ll sleep in guest houses, village homes and basic B&Bs along the way. Since you have to camp in some parts of the way, this is definitely a trek for more advanced hikers who like to rough it, and don’t mind very basic sleeping conditions, lack of bathrooms along the way and purifying their water.

Location: Where is the Lycian Way?

The Lycian Way is located on Turkey’s Tekke Peninsula, which is historically known as Lycia, hence the name. It connects the small coastal town of Ölüdeniz (near Fethiye) with Hisarcandir (west of Antalya) and follows the coast – it never moves away more than 15 kilometers from the Mediterranean. Sometimes it climbs high into the mountains, other times it is at sea level, it leads through pine forests and along steep cliffs.

How to get to the Lycian Way

Depending on which side you’re planning to start on, you could fly either into Dalaman, which is the closest airport to Ölüdeniz (the western starting point) or into Antalya (the eastern starting point).

Depending on where you’re coming from you could also fly into Istanbul and take a connecting flight to either city from there, but direct flights to the Tekke Peninsula are available from all major European airports – at very low prices! Flights to Dalaman start at only £50 from most European flight hubs.

Hiking the Lycian Way: The best time to go

Obviously, temperatures get extremely hot in the summer months, but can also get pretty chilly in the winter. The best time to go would be either in the spring (March – May) or in the fall (Sept- Nov). In theory, you can hike the trail year-round but expect to be sweating a lot in July and August and be prepared for cold nights in January and February (you’d have to pack extra clothes / warmer sleeping bags). November and December are the wettest months, expect lots of rain during those months.

Planning your route

If you are planning to walk the entire route, it will take you around 4 weeks. It is possible to walk only parts of the way. Depending on your hiking experience you might choose the eastern part for the tougher hike and the western part if you are not as experienced, since this is the easier section of the way. Some parts of the hike, especially close to Fethiye, are pretty strenuous. If you don’t want to camp, make sure to choose a part of the trail where you can sleep in guesthouses in village homes every night. It is possible to only hike sections of the trek, which is what most people do.

The most beautiful part of the trail is the hike between Fethiye and Patara.

How much does it cost to hike the Lycian Way?

Traveling in Turkey is inexpensive; you’ll be able to find a room for two in most guesthouses for about $20, sometimes even less. A full meal including a drink in a restaurant in the less touristy places will cost you less than $10, and between $10 and $12 in the more popular tourist towns. You can buy a day’s ration of snacks and foods in a supermarket for about $10.

What to pack for the Lycian Way

As you’ll be carrying all of your stuff with you at all times while hiking the Lycian Way, it is essential to keep the weight as light as possible. In addition to your clothes and gear you’ll have to estimate another 3kg (6.6 lbs) for your daily food and water ration.

Key items include:

• Hiking boots with ankle support since parts of the way are rocky and steep
• Band aids and other basic medical items, plus water-purifying tablets and reusable water bottles
• Camping gear (because you will have to camp on some parts of the way) This means at least a sleeping bag (ideally lightweight!), plus a tent of you want to be covered (recommended because of occasional rains)
• A guidebook so that you can located the closest water sources, camp sites, etc. Two good guidebooks are The Lycian Way (Likia Yolu) Topographic Map Atlas, and The Lycian Way: Turkey’s First Long Distance Walking Route – the original Lycian Way guidebook by Kate Clow.
• A cell phone with a local SIM card in case of an emergency
• A torch, or even better a headlamp
• Sunscreen and a sun hat (sometimes you’ll walk through areas without any shades for hours)
• A Turkish phrase book will come in handy since people in some of the remoter villages do not speak English
• Mosquito repellent (they come out at dawn!)

Tip: Check out my packing list for the Camino De Santiago, another popular long-distance trek. The essential items for this hike are similar, but remember to add camping gear to your list.

Further reading about hiking the Lycian Way

A British woman named Kate Clow was majorly involved in setting up the path in the early 2000s, making less known parts of it accessible for the public and establishing signage and other amenities along the path. She also wrote the most comprehensive book on the topic, including a detailed map of the trail. It is highly recommended to read the book (The Lycian Way: Turkey’s First Long Distance Walking Route) before hiking the trail and to also carry the guide with you while walking it.