Walk the Lycian Way holiday
Late availability on these dates: 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 03 Oct, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 07 Nov
Description of Walk the Lycian Way holiday
This gloriously scenic Lycian Way walking tour takes in highlights of an iconic long-distance route as it passes between Antalya and Fethiye on the coast of southwest Turkey.
The stunning clifftop city of Antalya is the meeting point for your group (up to 16 people) and a local tour leader, before you set off on day two for a short hike to the ancient ruins of Phaselis. In the afternoon of this day you’ll also visit Cirali, where turtles nest on the beach in summer, and the ‘eternal flames’ on Chimaera Mountain, fuelled by natural gases, were used by sailors in centuries past to navigate around the coast.
There is much to be said for arriving at historic sites such as Phaselis, and nearby Olympos, on foot. You get a deeper appreciation of their scale, and serenity, with many of these ruins now hidden away by overgrown trees and greenery.
Excellent, well-informed tour leaders add additional context to these sites, for a deeper understanding of their significance. And while doing that, also ensure you stick to the marked route, which was created only in 1999 and is maintained by a network of volunteers. It’s essential to walk responsibly on the Lycian Way so that it maintains its quality. And of course walking responsibly also involves staying in locally owned guesthouses, and eating at local restaurants – your guide will of course by happy to recommend places to eat every day.
Expect walks of up to 15km / seven hours per day, on sometimes uneven terrain. A set of walking poles is recommended. But there is no clock-watching going on here. The emphasis is just as much on immersing in the history and culture of the Lycian region, and soaking up as much of that Mediterranean sunshine as possible. To that end, do ensure you pack swimwear, because there will be plenty of chances to stretch out on golden sands or take a dip in the sea.
Attracting superb reviews, this Lycian Way walking tour helps to ensure the trail is maintained, with conscientious guides steering responsible hikers. It also spreads income to local communities along the trail while making financial donations to a Turkish organisation that helps refugees displaced by conflict to rebuild their lives.
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1 Reviews of Walk the Lycian Way holiday
Reviewed on 24 Nov 2024 by Bryan Land
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Visiting ancient Myra
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The trip only covers short sections of the Lycian Way for those thinking theywould
hike large portions of it.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
To the extent that most stays were at family run places, probably so.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent set of experiences - walks, sites, food and hospitality.
Responsible Travel
Planet
Exploring this part of the world on foot means we can greatly reduce our carbon footprint by limiting the use of vehicular transport. We have just two short journeys of under 40 minutes during tour – not bad for 8 days. We stay in Patara, where large scale developers have been kept away due to the protected environment which houses turtle species. This smaller-scale tourism and support for the more traditional hotels in the areas visited helps conserve the wildlife and preserve the lower impact hotels and businesses. Our tour leader ensures we leave only footprints, by limiting our waste and ensuring it is disposed of appropriately. There is rich flora and fauna along the Lycian Way, as well as important historical and cultural sites.People
We use locally owned accommodation throughout this trip, including traditional village houses. Using locally owned accommodation means we can support the economies of the local communities in this less visited part of Turkey. We operate this trip directly through our own local team in Istanbul, therefore all operational staff, including the tour leader, are local to the area. Tipping is an essential part of hospitality in Turkey, and our tour leader will suggest an appropriate tipping kitty at the beginning of the tour to ensure all service providers are treated respectfully while interacting with our travellers. We encourage our travellers to eat at locally owned restaurants and shops wherever possible and this idea is central to what we do. We support Small Projects Istanbul, an organisation who help refugee communities displaced by conflict to rebuild their lives through social integration and economic empowerment.Popular similar holidays
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