Self-Launched Lycian Way Trekking: Fethiye to Kaş
8 days · Lycian Way, Turkey
G Adventures charges £1,050
No-markup version: ~£545 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 8-day trek along Turkey's Lycian Way, covering the same route as G Adventures' guided hike from Fethiye to Kaş — through pine forests, olive groves, abandoned Greek villages, ancient Lycian ruins and cliff-top coastal paths. You'll stay in simple pensions and beach huts, swim at Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon, and walk into Patara's Roman ruins and beach, using local dolmuş (shared minibuses) between trailheads. Fully independent, waymarked trail, and a fraction of the guided price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Fethiye
Fethiye
Arrive into Dalaman Airport and take the Havaş shuttle bus or a dolmuş into Fethiye town (roughly £4-6). Check into a budget pension or hostel in the old town near the harbour. Spend the late afternoon wandering the fish market and Paspatur bazaar, and pick up a Lycian Way guidebook or download the route GPX offline. Sort out a Turkish SIM/data eSIM (approx £8) so you can navigate the waymarked trail.
🚌Havaş shuttle bus from Dalaman Airport (~£5)
🛏Budget pension/hostel in Fethiye old town
- →Dalaman Airport to Fethiye shuttle
- →Explore Paspatur old bazaar
- →Fethiye fish market dinner
Fethiye to Faralya and Kabak
Faralya / Kabak
Take a dolmuş from Fethiye's main otogar to Faralya (approx £3, 45 mins). Walk the classic Lycian Way stage south from Faralya down to Kabak — a dramatic descent through pine forest with sweeping views over the coast. It's about 4-5 hours of walking. Settle into a simple cliff-top bungalow/cabin in Kabak (the trail's iconic 'Faralya/Kabak' huts) for the next three nights. Sunset over the bay is magnificent.
🚌Local dolmuş from Fethiye to Faralya (~£3)
🛏Simple cliff-top cabin/bungalow in Kabak (shared bathroom)
- →Dolmuş to Faralya trailhead
- →Trek Faralya to Kabak (~5 hrs)
- →Cliff-top cabin stay and sunset
Kabak to Ovacık and back under Mt Babadağ
Kabak / Ovacık
Short public transport hop to Ovacık (dolmuş ~£1.50), then walk on well-signed Lycian Way paths in the shadow of Mt Babadağ, high above the turquoise coast. The route links Ovacık down toward the Faralya area via forest tracks and open ridges. Return to Kabak for the night. Carry plenty of water — refills are scarce on this section.
🚌Local dolmuş to Ovacık (~£1.50)
🛏Simple cliff-top cabin/bungalow in Kabak
- →Dolmuş to Ovacık
- →Trek under Mt Babadağ on marked paths
- →Coastal ridge viewpoints
Abandoned Greek village and Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon
Kayaköy / Ölüdeniz
Walk to the abandoned Greek village of Kayaköy (Levissi) — hundreds of roofless stone houses frozen since the 1923 population exchange. Entrance is a few lira. Continue down to the famous Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon for a refreshing swim (beach/lagoon entry ~£2-3). This mirrors the guided tour's included Kayaköy and Blue Lagoon stops, but you pay only the small local entry fees. Head back to Kabak by dolmuş.
🚌Local dolmuş between Kayaköy, Ölüdeniz and Kabak (~£3)
🛏Simple cliff-top cabin/bungalow in Kabak
- →Explore Kayaköy abandoned Greek village (entry ~£1)
- →Swim at Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon (~£2-3)
- →Dolmuş return to Kabak
Kabak to Kalkan via Patara ruins and beach
Kalkan / Patara
Transfer early by dolmuş toward the Patara area (via Fethiye/Gelemiş connections, ~£5-6). Trek past ancient aqueducts and small farming villages, then explore the historic Lycian/Roman city of Patara — its theatre, colonnaded street and harbour ruins (combined site/beach entry ~£3). Walk down onto Patara's 18km sandy beach for a well-earned rest and swim. Continue by dolmuş to Kalkan and overnight in a small guesthouse in the old town.
🚌Dolmuş connections via Fethiye/Gelemiş to Kalkan (~£6)
🛏Guesthouse in Kalkan old town
- →Dolmuş transfer toward Patara
- →Trek past ancient aqueducts and villages
- →Patara Lycian ruins entry (~£3)
- →Patara beach swim
Kalkan to Kaş along the Lycian Way
Kalkan / Kaş
Walk the atmospheric Lycian Way stage through fields and villages, winding along the coast back toward Kalkan before continuing to Kaş. Alternatively, connect sections by dolmuş if you want a shorter day. Finish in Kaş, a laid-back fishing/tour town, and check into a budget hotel or hostel near the harbour. This is the end of the trekking portion — reward yourself with a harbourside dinner.
🚌Dolmuş connections between trail sections (~£5)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel near Kaş harbour
- →Trek fields-and-villages stage toward Kaş
- →Coastal village stops
- →Explore Kaş harbour town
Free day in Kaş
Kaş
Your free day, exactly as the guided tour intends but with self-booked options. Take a day boat out to the sunken city of Kekova (half-day boat ~£20-25, bookable via GetYourGuide or direct at the harbour). Or hire a sea kayak and paddle over submerged ruins (~£25). Prefer dry land? Walk up to the Hellenistic theatre and Lycian rock tombs above town, or relax with a cool drink on a Kaş beach club. Optional paragliding from Mt Babadağ can also be arranged in Ölüdeniz if you backtrack.
🚌On foot locally; harbour departures for boat trips
🛏Budget hotel/hostel near Kaş harbour
- →Kekova sunken-city boat trip (self-booked ~£22)
- →Sea kayaking over sunken ruins (~£25)
- →Lycian rock tombs and theatre climb
- →Beach club relaxation
Depart Kaş
Kaş
Check out at any time. If flying out, take the dolmuş or shared shuttle to Dalaman (approx £6-8) or onward buses to Antalya/Fethiye. If you have time, a final morning swim at Küçük Çakıl beach before you leave. Trip ends.
🚌Dolmuş/shared shuttle Kaş to Dalaman (~£7)
🛏—
- →Onward transport to Dalaman or Antalya
- →Optional morning beach stop
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£545 | £1,050 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £505 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£545
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Lycian Way Trekking: Fethiye to Kaş cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £545 per person for 8 days in Lycian Way, Turkey. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,050 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £545 — a saving of roughly £505 (48%) per person.
How long is the Lycian Way, Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Lycian Way, Turkey.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Lycian Way, Turkey, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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