Self-Launched: Hike Turkey's Lycian Way

Fly into Dalaman Airport (DLM), the closest international airport to Fethiye. From Dalaman, take a Havas airport bus or shared taxi (dolmuş) to Fethiye town centre — roughly 45 minutes and £3–5. Check into your guesthouse near the harbour and spend the afternoon exploring at leisure: wander the waterfront marina, visit the Lycian rock-cut tombs carved into the cliffs above town (free to view from outside), and browse the covered bazaar. The old town has plenty of affordable lokantas (local restaurants) serving grilled fish, pide and mezze — budget around £6–8 for a sit-down dinner. Pick up a copy of Kate Clow's 'The Lycian Way' guidebook if you haven't already, or download the Wikiloc or Komoot GPX tracks for each stage free of charge.

🚌Havas airport bus from Dalaman to Fethiye ~£3–5; or shared dolmuş ~£4

🛏Ideal Pension or Ferah Pension, Fethiye (budget guesthouses with harbour views, ~£18–22pp/night)

• →Arrive at Dalaman Airport and take Havas bus or shared dolmuş to Fethiye (~£3–5)
• →Check in to budget guesthouse/pansiyon near the harbour
• →Explore Fethiye waterfront and Lycian rock tombs (free)
• →Browse the covered bazaar
• →Download Lycian Way GPX tracks from Wikiloc or Komoot (free)
• →Dinner at a local lokanta (~£6–8)

Take a morning dolmuş from Fethiye otogar (bus station) to Kayaköy village (~20 mins, £1). Walk the abandoned Greek Orthodox ghost town independently — entrance fee is around £3. The roofless stone houses and churches are hauntingly beautiful; pick up a free site map at the ticket booth. From Kayaköy, pick up the red-and-white Lycian Way waymarks heading up the western slopes of Babadağ through pine forest. The trail (Stage 1 on most GPX files) climbs steeply to give panoramic views over the turquoise Ölüdeniz lagoon and Blue Lagoon beach far below — one of the trail's signature sights. Continue through small upland settlements, crossing the mountainside before descending to the clifftop village of Faralya, perched above Butterfly Valley. Total distance ~14 km. Check in to a simple motel or pension in Faralya and enjoy a home-cooked dinner at the guesthouse restaurant.

🚌Dolmuş Fethiye → Kayaköy ~£1; hiking on foot from Kayaköy

🛏George House or Melisa Pension, Faralya (~£18–22pp/night, dinner available on-site)

• →Dolmuş from Fethiye to Kayaköy (~£1)
• →Self-guided walk around Kayaköy ghost town (entrance ~£3)
• →Hike Stage 1 of Lycian Way: Kayaköy → Faralya, ~14 km (4–5 hrs)
• →Panoramic views over Ölüdeniz lagoon and Blue Lagoon
• →Arrive at Faralya village above Butterfly Valley
• →Dinner at guesthouse restaurant (~£6–8)

The longest and most challenging day of the trip. Leaving Faralya on foot, follow the waymarked Lycian Way as it climbs through pine woodland with the Mediterranean glittering below. The trail descends steeply into Kabak — a secluded coastal settlement at the base of a gorge, with a small beach and a couple of simple camps. Take a short break here (cold drinks available at the camp). The trail then turns inland and climbs steadily through terraced fields and scrubland towards Alınca, where tea gardens and small farms line the route. From Alınca, continue through the hills to the small agricultural village of Gey. Total distance ~18 km; allow 6–7 hours. Overnight in a traditional village house or small family-run pansiyon in or around Gey. Many family homestays in this area include a home-cooked dinner of fresh vegetables, salads, soup and meat — usually included in the room rate or for a small supplement (~£5–7 extra). This is the most authentic overnight of the whole route.

🚌Entirely on foot (hiking)

🛏Family homestay/village house in or near Gey (~£18–22pp including breakfast, dinner £5–7 extra or included)

• →Hike Stage 2: Faralya → Kabak → Alınca → Gey, ~18 km (6–7 hrs)
• →Rest stop at Kabak Beach camp (cold drinks ~£1–2)
• →Tea stop at Alınca viewpoint
• →Arrive at Gey village
• →Home-cooked traditional Turkish dinner at family homestay (~£6–8)

Today the terrain becomes gentler — cultivated fields, ancient olive groves and quiet agricultural villages replace the steep coastal hills. Follow the Lycian Way waymarks through Dodurga and towards Gavurağılı, with occasional glimpses of the Mediterranean and the wide coastal plain around Patara. The walking is a welcome recovery day after yesterday's big stage (~18 km, but more gradual). At the end of the stage, rather than hiking the full road section into Kaş, hitch a dolmuş or take a shared taxi from the nearest village road — locals are generally very helpful. Alternatively, pre-arrange a pick-up with your Kaş accommodation (many guesthouses offer this for £10–15). Kaş is a charming, relaxed resort town with a good selection of budget pansiyons, rooftop bars and restaurants. Spend the evening exploring the town's Lycian sarcophagus on the main street and watching the sunset from the harbour.

🚌Hiking; dolmuş or shared taxi to Kaş ~£5–8

🛏Hideaway Hotel or Ani Pension, Kaş (~£20–25pp/night)

• →Hike rural section of Lycian Way: Gey → Dodurga → Gavurağılı, ~18 km
• →Views over Patara coastal plain
• →Dolmuş or shared taxi to Kaş (~£5–8)
• →Explore Kaş town and Lycian sarcophagus (free)
• →Sunset from Kaş harbour
• →Dinner at local restaurant (~£7–10)

Take a morning dolmuş from Kaş towards Patara/Gelemiş (~30–40 mins, £2–3). Ask to be dropped at the Delikkemer junction and pick up the Lycian Way section that follows one of the most impressive pieces of Roman engineering on the Turkish coast — the Delikkemer Aqueduct. The stone-channel water system, which includes a rare pressurised siphon section, carried fresh water towards Patara and is remarkable to walk alongside. The trail (approximately 12 km) leads directly to the ancient city of Patara. Buy your entrance ticket at the site (approximately £5) and explore independently: the restored Lycian Assembly building, the colonnaded main street, the Roman theatre, the lighthouse remains and the vast sand beach beyond (one of Turkey's longest, a protected loggerhead turtle nesting site). After exploring, take a dolmuş from Gelemiş village back to Kaş (~£2–3). Dinner in Kaş.

🚌Dolmuş Kaş → Delikkemer ~£2–3; dolmuş Gelemiş → Kaş ~£2–3

🛏Hideaway Hotel or Ani Pension, Kaş (second night, ~£20–25pp)

• →Dolmuş from Kaş to Delikkemer junction (~£2–3)
• →Self-guided hike along Roman Delikkemer Aqueduct, ~12 km
• →Explore ancient Patara ruins independently (entrance ~£5)
• →Visit Lycian Assembly building, Roman theatre and colonnaded street
• →Patara Beach (protected loggerhead nesting site — free)
• →Dolmuş from Gelemiş back to Kaş (~£2–3)

Take a morning dolmuş from Kaş towards Üçağız village (~45 mins, £3–4). From the road, follow the Lycian Way trail down to Aperlai, an ancient Lycian port on a narrow peninsula — sarcophagi, building foundations and harbour walls jut from the undergrowth and waterline. Reaching the shore, head to Üçağız harbour and book a local boat trip to Kekova (boats depart regularly throughout the morning, ~£15–20pp for a 2–3 hour cruise; book directly with boatmen at the dock). From the deck you can see the submerged walls, staircases and harbour remains of the sunken Lycian city beside Kekova Island — an extraordinary sight. The boat also passes the picturesque village of Kaleköy (Simena), with its hilltop Crusader castle. Note that swimming directly above the ruins is prohibited to protect the archaeological site. After the cruise, take a dolmuş or arrange onward transport to Çıralı (~2 hrs, may require a change at Finike/Kumluca, ~£6–9). Çıralı is a tranquil, car-free village on a long pebble beach — the perfect antidote to the day's exertions.

🚌Dolmuş Kaş → Üçağız ~£3–4; boat cruise ~£15–20; dolmuş/bus to Çıralı ~£6–9

🛏Arcadia Pension or Orange Motel, Çıralı (~£18–22pp/night)

• →Dolmuş from Kaş to Üçağız (~£3–4)
• →Hike Lycian Way trail to ancient Aperlai ruins (free to access)
• →Self-booked Kekova sunken city boat cruise from Üçağız harbour (~£15–20pp)
• →View submerged Lycian city walls and harbour remains
• →Pass Kaleköy (Simena) castle village
• →Dolmuş/local bus to Çıralı (~£6–9)

Walk from your Çıralı accommodation directly to the Chimaera flames trailhead — it's about 3–4 km from the village, following a signed path up a rocky gorge. Pay the site entrance fee (~£3) and hike up to the clusters of natural flames burning through the limestone rock. The phenomenon — methane gas seeping through fissures and igniting at the surface — has burned here for millennia, inspiring ancient myths of a fire-breathing monster. The ruins of a Byzantine chapel and earlier sanctuary to Hephaistos, god of fire, stand nearby. Continue uphill towards Ulupınar, reaching around 530m before descending. The total hike is around 8–10 km round trip. Back in Çıralı, take a dolmuş or local bus towards Antalya (~1.5–2 hrs, £4–6; change at Kemer if necessary). Check into a guesthouse in Kaleiçi, Antalya's atmospheric walled old town. Spend the evening exploring its cobblestone lanes, Roman-era Hadrian's Gate, Ottoman mansions, and the pretty old harbour. Treat yourself to a good dinner out — you've earned it.

🚌On foot to Chimaera and back; dolmuş/bus Çıralı → Antalya ~£4–6

🛏Mediterra Art Hotel or Sabah Pension, Kaleiçi, Antalya (~£22–28pp/night)

• →Walk from Çıralı to Chimaera trailhead (~3–4 km)
• →Hike to Chimaera eternal flames and Hephaistos sanctuary ruins (entrance ~£3)
• →Continue to Ulupınar (~530m altitude) and descend
• →Dolmuş/bus from Çıralı to Antalya (~£4–6)
• →Check in to Kaleiçi (old town) guesthouse
• →Explore Hadrian's Gate, old harbour and Ottoman lanes (free)
• →Celebration dinner in Kaleiçi (~£10–14)

Antalya has a good international airport (AYT) with direct flights to many European cities, or you can catch a long-distance bus onward to Istanbul, Cappadocia or elsewhere in Turkey. Before you leave, consider a morning stroll along the clifftop promenade (Atatürk Caddesi) overlooking the bay, or pop into the excellent Antalya Museum (~£5 entrance) to see its world-class collection of Lycian and Roman artefacts — a fitting final chapter to a week walking ancient Lycian lands. Havas airport buses run from the city centre to Antalya Airport every 30 minutes (~£2).

🚌Havas bus to Antalya Airport ~£2

🛏Check out

• →Morning walk along Antalya clifftop promenade (free)
• →Optional: Antalya Museum (~£5)
• →Havas bus to Antalya Airport (~£2)
• →Depart or continue onward independently