Sunken Cities and Picturesque Bays on the Lycian Path

Begin your journey in the bustling city of Antalya. After your individual flight, take a cab or airport bus to your hotel in the old town. Spend the day at leisure, exploring the city center, or relax in one of the quaint courtyards with small cafes. Discover the city's main attractions including Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli Minare Mosque, Kesik Minare, the Hidirlik Kulesi Tower, and the tranquil old harbor. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After a morning briefing with your tour guide, embark on a scenic drive through the mountains towards Fetiye. Your first hike begins at Hisaronu/Belcegiz, leading you to the abandoned ruins of the former Greek village of Kayakoy. Continue your hike to the famous turquoise-blue lagoon of Ölüdeniz, one of the most photographed beaches along the Mediterranean coast. Spend the late afternoon relaxing on the beach before heading to your hotel in nearby Ovacik for an overnight stay.

After a short transfer, you'll reach the outskirts of Ovacik, a village nestled on the southern slope of the Babadag mountain. Follow the narrow hiking trail, taking in the breathtaking panoramic views of the coast below. Traverse narrow shepherd's paths to reach the villages of Kozagac and Kirme, untouched gems far away from mass tourism. Return to your hotel in Ovacik for another overnight stay.

A short drive takes you to Faralya, where you'll continue your tour and enjoy the view of the Butterfly Valley. Experience the plateau with its 300 m deep cliffs. Continue into fragrant pine forests and along the coast with fantastic views over the Mediterranean. An easy path along some terraced gardens takes you to the village of Kabak, where a beautiful bay invites you to swim. Return to your hotel in Ovacik for another overnight stay.

Enjoy a day at leisure in Kas. The center of the former small fishing village with its typical Greek houses is a listed building. With its narrow alleyways, numerous small cafés, and colorful stores, the picturesque village on the coast is the perfect place to relax. Alternatively, visit Kaputas beach, a small paradisiacal bay below steep cliffs along the famous coastal road. Overnight stay in Kas.

Today, drive to the small village of Bayindir and set off on your hiking stage. Follow a wide gravel road and after a while, you can already see the bay of Ufakdere on the horizon. The route continues gently downhill along the sea until you pass the small former Greek village. The route now continues parallel to the coast until you reach a small farm in Gebzelli. After a short section over stony terrain and along a small bay, you pass a pine forest and then reach a viewpoint over the bay of Iskele. From here, follow the hiking trail that leads along the remains of a watchtower to the bay of Gemiler. After a long lunch break and the opportunity to swim in the sea, you climb up from the bay to the pastures of Gedikbasi and walk along a wide gravel path until you reach our vehicle. In the village of Bogazcik, take time to enjoy a Turkish tea before visiting the ruins of Apollonia. The city is not mentioned by any ancient authors, but columns, tombs and the necropolis in the north testify to the Lycian origins of the settlement. After visiting Apollonia, continue to Ucagiz and spend the night here in a small family-run guesthouse.

The starting point of today's hike is the small village of Kilicli. You reach the ruins of Aperlai, formerly part of the Lycian League, via well-trodden hiking and shepherd's paths. Some sarcophagi and tombs, parts of the city wall and the harbour complex have been preserved, some of which have already sunk, but foundations and walls can still be seen in the water. Over some rocky terrain and through a small section of forest you reach 'Ramazan's Place'. Ramazan is a local fisherman who has converted his hut into a kind of teahouse. We also recommend you take a long break here. You then hike along sandy and rocky paths, past olive trees and old stone houses and follow the coast until you reach the small coastal village of Ucagiz. You will spend the night here again.

On a typical Turkish gulet, a wooden motor sailer, you will enjoy an excursion (approx. 4 hours) along the beautiful Mediterranean coast. First you will sail to the lagoon-like bay of Aquarium. This wonderful place invites you to swim and sunbathe. Your next stop takes you to the ancient shipyard of Tersane with its underwater ruins of a Byzantine church. Over crystal-clear water and with picturesque views of nature, you reach the island of Kekova and the former town of Simena. The ruins of the sunken city can be seen in the crystal-clear water. On the peninsula, you will visit Simena Castle and round off the day with a lovely lunch on board. Return to Ucagiz in the late afternoon. Overnight stay as on the previous day.

Your hike along the coast begins near Ucagiz. From Gokkaya, you follow small hiking trails to the remains of a historic olive factory from Ottoman times. You hike along sandy paths and through green pastures up to the village of Kapakli. You then continue to ancient Myra, known as a place of pilgrimage because of Nicholas of Myra, who came from there. The ancient city was already important in classical times and was one of the six largest cities of the Lycian League from the Hellenistic period onwards. In the late afternoon you reach Adrasan, a sparsely populated village with an approx. 2 km long fine sandy beach - your base for the next three nights. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Today's section of the Lycian Way is one of the most beautiful of all. The breathtaking cliffs, fragrant pines and pine trees, herbs and mountain flowers line the path. Almost always within sight of the sea, the route leads along a fascinatingly wild coastline to Cape Gelidonya. From the lighthouse, you have a wonderful view of the offshore islands and the bay. You then reach the small village of Karaöz via a stable gravel path. Overnight stay as on the previous day.

Your hiking route first takes you to Olympos, once an important city of the Lycian League. Remains of a temple, the necropolis with numerous graves with inscriptions, remains of settlements and sarcophagi have survived from that time. You leave the last ruins behind you and enter a huge wooded area. The path winds its way higher and higher. From time to time you can see rock towers and the sea through the dense bushes. Then the summit plateau thins out and you reach a small pass and finally the mountain pasture of the Mosesberg. A lovely place to linger. Here you have a wonderful panoramic view. Passing mighty pine trees, laurel trees, citrus trees and bizarre rock formations, you finally reach the first houses of Adrasan. For all those who want to enjoy a special view over the bay, a detour to the ruins of the Kalesi of Adrasan (fortress) is recommended. You walk along the beach of Adrasan to the hotel.

Drive to the nearby village of Cirali. Once a pirate stronghold, it is now known for its ecotourism. Nestled in orange and lemon groves, the picturesque village is famous for its sea turtles and silvery pebble beach. Today you start at the foot of the 'burning mountain'. Here you will marvel at the Temple of Hephaestus and the fires of Chimaira. This is burning natural gas that emerges from fissures in several places. Later you will reach the flowing waters of Ulupinar. Wonderful coastal drive back to Antalya to the beautiful hotel in the middle of the old town. Overnight stay at the hotel.