Lycian Way

One of the red and white striped waymarks along the Lycian Way

The Lycian Way is a long-distance footpath in Turkey around part of the coast of ancient Lycia. It is approximately 540 km long and stretches from Ölüdeniz, near Fethiye, to Geyikbayırı, about 20 kilometers from Antalya. It is waymarked with red and white stripes, the Grande Randonnee convention. The Sunday Times has listed it as one of the world's top ten walks.

It takes its name from the ancient civilisation, which once ruled the area.

The Lycian Way passes above Butterfly Valley.

Partial list of places on the trail

Signs on the Lycian Way

Map of Lycian way

Places along the trail include:

Ölüdeniz, Faralya, Kabak, detour to Sidyma, Bel, Gavurağılı, Letoon, Kınık (Xanthos), Akbel, Gelemiş village and ruins of Patara), Kalkan, Sarıbelen, Gökçeören, Kaş (Antiphellos), Üçağız, Kale, Demre (Myra), Kumluca, Belören, Zeytin and Alakilise. Here the trail reaches a height of 1811 meters at İncegeriş T.. It continues to Belos, Finike, Kumluca, Mavikent, Karaöz, the southernmost point of Lycia at the lighthouse of Cape Gelidonya. Here it turns north to Adrasan, Olympos, and Çıralı.

Here the trail splits into:

1. Coastal route: Tekirova, Phaselis, Asagikuzdere, Goynuk Yaylasi, Hısarçandır, Çitdibi, Geyikbayırı.
2. Inland route: Ulupınar, Beycik, Yukari Beycik, pass over Tahtalı Dağı at 1800m, Yayla Kuzdere, Gedelme, Goynuk Yaylasi, where it joins the coastal trail.

Ultramarathon

Since 2010, an international multiday trail running ultramarathon, called Lycian Way Ultramarathon, is held on the historical way. The event runs eastwards on a route of around 220–240 km (140–150 mi) from Ölüdeniz to Antalya in six days.

See also

• Turkish Riviera
• List of long-distance footpaths
• Saint Paul Trail
• Evliya Çelebi Way

External links

• Reference database and GPS apps for The Lycian Way.
• Trekking guide books and Trekking in Turkey information point
• The site of the Culture Routes Society, which manages the path
• Lycian Way Paths, pics ve GPS records: English/Turkish site
• Lycian Turkey
• Lycian Way travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Lycian Way Ultramarathon