Walk & sail, Lycian way & the gulf of Fethiye

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival Antalya

  Meet at the Antalya airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the hotel located in the old city centre, known as Kaleici. It is uncertain when the site of the current city was first inhabited. Attalos II, king of Pergamon, was believed to have founded the city around 150 BC, but excavations have uncovered remains dating to the 3^rd century BC, suggesting that the city was founded earlier than previously supposed. The city grew and prospered during the ancient roman period and today includes sites with traces of Lycian, Pamphylian, Hellenistic -but mainly Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman-architecture and cultures.                 

  Transfer time: 20 min.; transfer distance: 15 km (Antalya airport - Antalya Kaleici)

  ON: in Antalya city centre at the hotel

  Meals: - / - / D

• DAY 2

  Antalya to Adrasan via ancient Phaselis and Ulupinar to Cirali via flames of the Chimaira

  In the morning after breakfast we leave Antalya and drive to Adrasan, on route we visit the ancient site Phaselis, with its three harbours, the 'northern harbour', the 'battle harbour' and the 'protected (sun) harbour', of which the last is the most important today. A 24m wide ancient street runs through the middle of the city with ruins of shops and stores on the sides and near these are with ruins of public places such as Roman baths, the agora and theatres. Also there are water canals between the town centre and the 70m plateau with numerous sarcophagi. Today’s walk takes us through a beautiful pine forest with nice streams, rivers and viewpoints. We start our trek in Ulupinar, where we pick up the Lycian way and continue to follow the trail south. After following the stream for a while, we climb up to a small hill and follow the walking path to the flames of Chimaira. Called in Turkish Yanartas (flaming rock), the spot consists of some two dozen vents in the ground, grouped in two patches on the hillside. The vents emit methane thought to be of metamorphic origin. In ancient times sailors could navigate by the flames. Afterwards we make a gradual descent to the coast, finally arriving at the beach of Cirali where our vehicle is waiting for us to drive us to Adrasan, where we spend the night at the hotel.

  Walking time: 3 - 4 h; walking distance: 9 km; ascent: 190m; descent: 330m;

  Transfer time: 1 - 2 h; transfer distance: 80 km (Antalya - Cirali)

  Transfer time: 20 - 25 min.; transfer distance: 30 km (Ulupinar - Adrasan)

  ON: in Adrasan at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 3

  Adrasan to Karaöz via Gelidonya lighthouse

  A simply superb day of coastal walking awaits us, as we begin today’s hike from our accommodation climbing steadily to a pass at 470 metres. Then dropping down closer to the sea’s edge, the route twists and turns amongst limestone crags, sometimes under pine trees and sometimes on the cliff edge. There are views down to hidden coves and across to desert islands. This is a beautiful walk contouring the range of hills which forms the backbone of Gelidonya. We climb again to arrive on a rocky ridge crest overlooking the peninsula of cape Gelidonya with its two lighthouses. Descending a stony path to the upper of these we then follow a wide trail down through pine forest to our waiting vehicle and drive back to Adrasan where we spend the night.

  Walking time: 5 - 6 h; walking distance: 18 km; ascent: 400m; descent: 400m

  Transfer time: 20 min.; transfer distance: 14 km (Gelidonya – Adrasan)                                                                      

  ON: in Adrasan at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Adrasan to Kas via ancient Myra and hike via Kapakli village to Simena castle

  In the morning we leave Adrasan and drive to Kapakli village, on our way we take time to visit ancient site of Myra, according to Strabo one of the largest towns of the Lycian alliance; the ancient city consist an impressive necropolis including tombs of rulers and family members and a large Roman amphitheatre. We start our hike in Kapakli village with a beautiful view over the bay and the sea. We walk gently down over a gravel road until we reach the small primary school of the village. From here we continue our hike and enjoy the beautiful view to the bay down below. Over a green pasture we reach the sign that shows us the direction of Ucagiz. We follow a sandy path with rocks and walk between olive trees until we cross another green plain. Afterwards we enter a rocky path and continue our hike through green grass plains and between olive trees until we reach the remains of a historic olive factory from the Ottoman times and the bay of Gokkaya. Here we will take time to have lunch and to swim, if the weather conditions allow. After lunch we gently go up on a rocky path with a nice view over the bay and continue walking next to the turquoise sea and the small islands in the bay, which seem very close now. After reaching a green plain we can see the castle of Simena at the horizon. After reaching the coastal village we take time to visit the castle itself, built by the Byzantines in the middle ages to fight the pirates who nested in Kekova. Simena contains a small theatre and numerous rock tombs. The castle offers beautiful views to the village of Kalekoy (castle village) down below, some of the old houses were completely submerged due to earthquakes during the Byzantine period and you can see remains down to 2m deep, in the bluish light on the seabed. In the late afternoon we drive to Kas where we spend the night at the hotel.

  Walking time: 4 h; walking distance: 8 km; ascent: 10m; descent: 50m

  Transfer time: 1 - 2 h; transfer distance: 90 km (Adrasan – Kapakli village)

  Transfer time: 40 min.; transfer distance: 35 km (Ucagiz - Kas)

  ON: in Kas at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Delikkemer to ancient Patara - drive to Fethiye

  A short transfer takes us to the starting point of our todays walk above Firnaz bay; we first walk on a rocky path until we reach an aqueduct from Roman times. With beautiful views to the bay in front of us, we follow a path parallel with the aqueduct and a very gently ascend.

  Later via gravel paths and stabilized roads, through olive trees and pine forests we reach Patara, a flourishing maritime and commercial city on the south-west coast of Lycia on the Mediterranean coast. Possessing a natural harbour, Patara was said to have been founded by Patarus, a son of Apollo. Ancient writers mentioned Patara as one of the principal cities of Lycia; it was Lycia's primary seaport and a leading city of the Lycian league. Over a cobbled road we also walk to the sandy beach of Patara. With its gorgeous landscape, unspoilt Patara is one of Turkey’s longest beaches. As part of a national park, it is a key biodiversity area, rich in birdlife and the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta). In the late afternoon we drive to Fethiye where we spend the night.

  Walking time: 3 - 4 h; walking distance: 9 km; ascent: 45m; descent: 150m

  Transfer time: 30 min.; transfer distance: 35 km (Kas – Firnaz bay)

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 75 km (Patara - Fethiye)

  ON: in Fethiye at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 6

  Ovacik to Faralya village via Kozagac & Kirme

  After breakfast a short transfer permits us to the trailhead point nearby Ovacik village. From the south foot of Babadag Mountain (1.969m) we start our walk along the coastal side and follow a small path with a beautiful panoramic view over the deep blue bay of Oludeniz. Our walk takes us along sheep camps to some small and authentic villages of the Mediterranean area. Over stabilized gravel roads we pass small Kozagac village and continue our walk to Kirme, where we pick up a small walking path again leading us to beautiful Faralya village where our vehicle is awaiting us to drive us back to Fethiye where we spend the night.

  Walking time: 4 h; walking distance: 12 km; ascent/descent: 520m

  ON: in Fethiye at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 7

  Faralya to Kabak via Uzunyurt village & Butterfly valley panorama

  After breakfast we start our walk  near Faralya village where we enter into a small walking path which takes us, after a small climb, to a magnificent panoramic view over Butterfly valley, a large canyon considered to be one of the most picturesque and amazing places along the Lycian coast. On small paths we continue or walk whilst enjoying the beautiful views to the coast and bays around. In the afternoon we reach Yuva beach where we take time for lunch and to spend time at the beach. Afterwards we continue to Kabak village where our vehicle is awaiting us to drive us back to Fethiye where we spend the night.

  Walking time: 4 h; walking distance: 8 km; ascent: 400m; descent: 440m

  Transfer time: 30 min.; transfer distance: 20 km; (Fethiye – Faralya village)

  ON: in Fethiye at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 8

  Kayakoy (Karmilassos) and Oludeniz beach - Fethiye harbour

  After breakfast we drive to Kayakoy, originally named “Karmilassos”; described by the UNESCO as a world friendship and peace village. Here we start our hike and climb up to the ruins of the old Greek village given up at the end of the World War I. Today this timeless place, set in a lush valley surrounded by forests and with some vineyards nearby, is known as a kind of ghost town. We will walk through its empty streets, along its ruined stone houses and take time to visit one of its admirable churches, whilst enjoying the village’s air of mystery and surreal atmosphere. Afterwards a forest path, with splendid panoramic views to the limpid turquoise water splits, leads us directly down to Oludeniz lagoon, one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. The amazing lagoon with its secluded sandy bay is a national nature reserve and building is strictly prohibited. Famous for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine, Oludeniz is an official blue flag beach and frequently rated among the top five beaches in the world by travellers and tourism journals alike. In the late afternoon, after spending some time at leisure at the beach, we return to Fethiye where we spend the night on the boat near the harbour.                                                                               

  Walking time: 2 - 3 h; walking distance: 6 km; ascent: 200m; descent: 300m

  ON: on the boat (Gulet) in private 2-person cabins

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 9

  Fethiye to Kizilada (Red Island), Tavsanli & Katrancik Islands and Gocek bay

  In the morning we leave the harbour of Fethiye and continue to Kızilada (red island), a well-known and popular destination for sailing boats, where it is possible to swim and to relax next to the island and its turquoise waters. Afterwards we sail towards north/west direction where we pass the small Tavsanli and Katrancik Islands, superb places for swimming and relaxing, before we in the early afternoon arrive at Katrancik bay where we start our trek.

  Hike from Gunluklu bay to Inlice beach

  Via Gunluklu bay we follow stabilized roads and climb up to the high plateaus of Inlice. From the small highlands we will have fascinating panoramic views to the gulf of Fethiye and its beautiful islands down below. We continue our walk on gravel roads; walk through pine forests with an unmistakable scent of thyme in the air, until we reach the beach of Inlice. At the beach it is the possible to swim and to relax before we go back on board of our boat again. We spend the night either along the Gocek Island or one of the nearby piers close to Gocek bay where we end the day with a nice dinner on board. The port of Gocek and its old town exude a pleasantly peaceful atmosphere. Gocek is one of the most beautifully situated ports of Turkey, nestled in a wild-romantic landscape with a crystal-clear sea, beautiful anchorages, many small islands and secluded bays. It enjoys views over the pine-covered hills, olive groves and citrus gardens, cotton fields and flowers. In the background, rising to 2.000 m high, are the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, with its ancient pine and spruce forests and wild gorges.

  Walking time: 2 - 3 h; walking distance: 8 km; ascent/descent: 275m

  ON: on the boat (Gulet) in private 2-person cabins

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 10

  Gocek to Yassica Island, olive Island & Tersane bay

  Hike from Doruklu bay to the beach of Osmanaga & the bay of Akbuku

  After having breakfast on board, we start near Gocek at the bay of Doruklu our todays walk. We follow stabilized gravel roads through pine forests and along small coves until we reach the bay of Osmanaga. After a short break at the bay we continue our walk and climb up to a small hill with beautiful views down to the gulf of Fethiye, Yassica and Gocek islands down below. we than walk around the highland, where it sometimes is possible to meet to meet shepherds with their flocks, and afterwards descent down to bay, where our gullet is already waiting for us. We will have lunch on our boat, take time for relaxing and swimming, before we continue to Yassica islands; known for its turquoise bays, crystal clear water and small sandy beaches. Here we take the time to swim and relax before continuing along the small Zeytinadasi (Olive Island) to the bay of Tersane. Tersane Island is covered with olive groves and it is quite possible to find ancient ruins of Lycian and romans. We spend the night in the bay of Tersane.                 

  Walking time: 2 - 3 h; walking distance: 6 - 7 km; ascent/descent: 250m

  ON: on the boat (Gulet) in private 2-person cabins

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 11

  Tersane & Boynuzbuku to Sarsala & Hamam (Cleopatra) bay

  Hike from the Boynuzbuku cove and via Kille to the rock tombs of Bedrirami

  After breakfast we leave Tersane bay and sail to Boynuzbuku where we enter the mainland for our todays walk. From the bay we walk on stabilized gravel roads and shepherd paths, through and conifer forests until we reach Kille, where at the bay it is possible to have a break, to take time for swimming and relaxing. Via Kille we continue on stabilized gravel roads towards the rock tombs in the bay of Bedrirami. Our Gulet is waiting for us at Bedrirami, after having lunch we continue to Sarsala, a bay with a beautiful sandy beach which is ideal for swimming and relaxing.

  Hike from the Sarsala bay to the bay of Hamam (Cleopatra)

  From Sarsala we follow narrow footpaths along Kapidagi cape to Hamam, better known as Cleopatra bay. The bay is known for its variety of flowers and for its extensive inland olive groves. In its form, the Hamam bay reminds a giant swimming pool. Right next to the bay the crumbling ruins of an ancient roman bath can be seen. Our Gulet awaits us already in the bay where we spend the night.                     

  Walking time: 3 h; walking distance: 6 km; ascent/descent: 120 m (Boynuzbuku - Bedrirami)

  Walking time: 1 - 2 h; walking distance: 4 km; ascent/descent: 50 m (Sarsala - Hamam)

  ON: on the boat (Gulet) in private 2-person cabins

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 12

  Via Bay of Gobun to Island & bay of Gemiler

  Hike from Hamam (Cleopatra) bay to the forgotten Lycian remains of Lydae

  In the morning we leave our gullet and walk through a very small canyon to the highlands of so called Lydae peninsula. Via trails and small walking paths we reach an area where few Lycian remains can be seen, known as Lydae. Main attraction of Lydae is an exceptional grave chamber (vault/arch) with a custom built marble sarcophagus. It is not certain who was buried in this magnificent grave but the engraved name belongs to the family of Sarpedon, king of Lycia and hero of the Trojan War. Via Lydae we continue our hike and follow narrow footpaths and former shepherd trails until we reach the bay of Yavansu. On the way we enjoy the unique views of the surrounding bays and islands. Our walk ends at the bay of Gobun, where our Gulet is already waiting for us. Afterwards we sail along Domuzadasi (Pig Island) and drive through open waters to the opposite coast of the Fethiye gulf where we spend the night at the small bay of Gemiler. The bay is located just opposite the island Gemiler, also known by its ancient name Aziz (holy) Nicholas where you still can find ruins and church remains from the time of the Byzantines.

  Walking time: 4 h; walking distance: 8 km; ascent/descent: 200m              

  ON: on the boat (Gulet) in private 2-person cabins

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 13

  Island & bay of Karacaoren, bays of Tarzan & Boncuklu, Sovalye Adasi & Fethiye harbour

  Today we take the time to relax and rest, after breakfast; we sail along the coastline back to Fethiye. On the way we take time to visit the island and bay of Karacaoren. The bay itself offers different water depths and plenty of space for anchoring and is surrounded by forested mountains. Afterwards we will take time to visit Tarzan and Boncuklu bays. In the early evening we reach Fethiye Island, known as Sovalye Adasi (island of the knights). The legend says that this impressive island has been used by the knights of St. John as a naval base in antiquity. On the island we will enjoy our dinner in one of the numerous restaurants.

  From Sovalye Adasi we sail back to the harbour of Fethiye, where it is possible to visit one of the idyllic cafes along the marina to taste cup of Turkish coffee. We spend the night in the marina of Fethiye.

  ON: on the boat (Gulet) in private 2-person cabins

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 14

  Trip concludes at Dalaman airport

  After breakfast, transfer to Dalaman airport where the trip concludes.                                                                                    

  Transfer time: 1 h; Transfer distance: 50 km (Fethiye - Dalaman airport)

  Meals:   B / - / -