The Lycian Way hiking hut to hut - without tents and large backpacks is a great opportunity for beginners to hike lightly through the mountains of Turkey with access to the sea. The route follows the scenic west side of the Lycian Trail.
We'll stay overnight and eat at the huts, so there's no need to carry extra weight: tents, sleeping bags, mats, and food (we'll only take it for snacks). It's all about enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery and being able to walk this part of the world-famous trek without any extra weight. On the way we are waiting for the rocky mountains, clouds under our feet, cozy coves and beaches. We will also touch the history by visiting some ancient Greek settlements. The hike is perfect for beginners and those who like to relax in comfort. And the breathtaking landscapes o
f the Mediterranean will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated tourist!
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
Experienced Kuluar teamleaders will accompany the group on all route, will make the trip as safe and unforgettable as possible! They have been to Turkey many times and know the country in details.
A manager will help you prepare for the trip and answer all your questions
The program trek was modified several times, we tried to make it as rich and comfortable as possible. Uncomplicated route, lightweight backpacks and comfortable overnight stays make the program optimal for beginners. Trekking around the beautiful tourist town of Fethiye with a huge yacht port and much more
More than 12,000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97,8% were satisfied.
We will stay in pre-booked guest houses. Clean bed, showers and internet will be important for those who go camping for the first time. At the same time, the hotels are located in the mountains or on the coast, and often there are gorgeous views of the mountains and the sea.
In this hike along the Western part of the Lycian Trail we'll walk along the Mediterranean coast, climbing up to high cliffs and descending to cozy coves with beautiful beaches. We'll swim to our heart's content, enjoy unforgettable sunsets over the sea, visit several ancient cities-museums, and taste the national cuisine.
It is very desirable to arrive at Dalaman airport in the morning. There you can take a direct bus to Fethiye. You will be met in Fethiye by a teamleader. Upon arrival, we check into a hotel with an awesome view of the bay. We take a walk through the streets of Fethiye and also the seafront, one of the most beautiful places of the town.
Look at the many yachts, - they are really a huge number! We also visit the remains of the ancient settlement of Telmessos. If you want, you can visit the fish market, another highlight of Fethiye, and taste the local delicacies.
The start of Lycian Way hiking hut to hut. After breakfast, we take a car that will bring us to the village of Kayaköy. There we will trek through the ancient streets and look at the picturesque ruins of a large Greek settlement, which occupied an entire side of the mountain valley.
After exploring the ancient city, we follow the trail to Oludeniz Bay. From the trail we will see picturesque bays with turquoise colored water. We can take your time going down to Oludeniz. Right there you can fly paragliders - the launch is on the top of BabaDag Mountain, and it's a popular entertainment for tourists.
Who does not like flying on paragliders, can relax in plenty on an excellent sandy beach. After having had a good rest, we drive up by bus a couple of stops to Hisaronu, where we will have a rest for the night in one of the guest houses.
Distance: 7 km; climb: 258 m; drop: 407 m.
Today we start to official start of the Lycian Way. By lunch, we will approach the village of Kozagadji, above which the steep rock walls of the BabaDag peak rise for kilometers. It is a very atmospheric place! In addition, here we will taste the signature Turkish flatbread Gözleme with honey from the local apiary.
After refreshing and resting we will go up to the pass. After the pass we are waiting for the descent to the breathtaking place - the Valley of Butterflies. Hidden in the ring of steep cliffs is a real paradise! You can reach it only from the sea, as the descent downhill is very steep and dangerous. Let's look at this natural wonder from above and from different angles. There will be enough time for this, because we are spending the night in the village of Faralia, right above the valley.
Distance: 12,0 km; climb: 700 m; drop: 700 m.
In the morning we go off for a photo session at another breathtaking spot above the Butterfly Valley . After we will start our drop to the sea, because we all miss the swimming and the noise of the surf!
The trail will wiggle along the shore above the water and will lead us to... to Kabak :) Kabak is the next village with a great beach in the bay, where we will relax until evening. Those who wish can go on a boat excursion directly to the Butterfly Valley, which today we photographed from the heights of steep cliffs.
Distance: 10.0 km; climb: 530 m; drop: 820 m.
Today we will again go to the main Lycian trail, which will take us up into the mountains. The mileage is not too long, but you'll have to work hard because it's an ascent to a mountain plateau. On the way, the trail passes a picturesque canyon where we will definitely rest and drink cool, tasty water. On the way up we will be surrounded by shady trees, so it will be easy and unnoticeable.) As a reward, we will stay at one of the hostels in Alinja village with unforgettable views of the surrounding mountains. And if the weather is right, a beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean Sea will impress you with its colors.
Distance: 7 km; climb: 800 m; drop: 112 m.
We'll get up early and have a good breakfast, because today is the longest trekking day on the route. But we've warmed up perfectly, acclimatized to the Mediterranean climate and are full of energy :) The trail goes along the mountain plateau, on the left hand side there are high and fancy rocks and on the right hand side there is sea. On the way we will see some ancient settlements destroyed by time, some of them are carved right in the rock! Walking vigorously among the mountain pastures we will pass the village of Gei, and stay overnight in the Bel village .
Distance: 14 km; climb: 730 m; drop: 800 m.
It is not a difficult day - in the afternoon we will be able to swim in the sea again. On the mountain path we will go down from the Bel village to the Gavuraly village and stop for lunch. After a delicious lunch and swimming we take an hired vehicle to the village Gelemish, where there are well preserved buildings of the ancient polis of Patara. Once it was one of the largest cities in Lycia.
After settling in the hostel we go to study ancient artifacts.
Distance: 8.0 km; climb: 200 m; drop: 900 m.
In the morning we take a cab to the bus station in Kınık and from there we take a bus back to Fethiye. Tanned, with a luggage full of pleasant emotions and good impressions, we return home from hospitable and warm Turkey.
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes to the route.
Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa to Turkey. From documents you need only a valid passport.
To participate in the tour you must have no illnesses, incompatible with active tourism: the list is here.
After the West Lycian Way hiking hut to hut we recommend the following routes:
We will stay in pre-booked guest houses. Clean bed, shower and internet will be important for those who go camping for the first time. At the same time, the hotels are located in the mountains or on the coast, and often there are great views of the mountains and the sea. Below are pictures of some of the hotels where we stay overnight on the route.
Oludeniz
Faralia
Kabak
Fethiye
As always, we recommend that you buy your tickets in advance, but only after we confirm your participation in the trip. The cheapest way to fly to Turkey is the low-cost airline Pegasus. They fly from Kharkov, Kiev and Lvov from Ukraine. They do not fly direct, but with a connection in Istanbul. But there is nothing wrong with that. Tickets start at 150 euros each way and you'd better buy them in advance. Allowed luggage: 20 kg + 10 kg of hand luggage.
Another good low-cost airline is Onur Air; it also flies from Odessa and connects with Istanbul. Allowed luggage: 30 kg + 10 kg of hand luggage.
From Kiev and other cities in Ukraine you can also fly with wings of Turkish Airlines. It will be a little more expensive.
The best place to arrive on this route is Dalaman. From the airport to the meeting point of the Fethiye group is an hour by shuttle. But if you prefer to fly to Antalya, book 5-6 hours more to get from Antalya airport to Fethiye.
Our recommendations for flight selection services can be found in this article
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this item. For some participants, it saved thousands of dollars. You can find our recommendations for taking out insurance here: "Insurance for Kuluar hikers"
According to the plan the group will meet with the teamleader in Antalya. More accurate and detailed information about the meeting place and the contacts of the teamleader will be sent to you 7-10 days before the start of the hiking, be sure to check your email!
Breakfast and dinner are included in the price, so we'll eat there or in a cafe nearby (if there's no such possibility). For lunch is a snack, and we'll take it with us.
If you don't eat some of the products, please let the manager know, so that the team leader can adjust the menu a bit. We also recommend that you take some pockets of nuts or candy with you. The appetite in a camping trip is much better than at home.
The official currency of Turkey - Turkish lira, but almost everywhere you can pay in dollars at the rate similar to the official. However you should have some amount of lira with you (it will be useful in the stores on the route in small villages), and it is better to change it in the exchange office at the bus station. By no means change it directly at the airport - the rate there is simply robbery! Take small currency with you, cab drivers will be happy to accept it. One dollar is about seven Turkish Liras.
Turkey is a country with a mild subtropical climate. In summer it is very hot, so we try to put our hikes mainly in April-May and September-October, which are the best months for trekking in Turkey. The daytime temperature will be +25 +30 Celsius, and at night about +10.
The total amount of obligatory extra costs for the Optimal package is 0 €. But many of you will probably want to bring home a lot of oriental delicacies and souvenirs, so keep that in mind :)
To reserve a place in the group you'll have to pay a deposit of 250 €. In case of cancellation of a hike the money is not refundable, but can be transferred to another participant or remain in your "account" to pay for future hikes. The rest of the hike can be paid by transfer to the card (at least a week before the start) or give to the team leader on the first day of the hike. In case of withdrawal from the route you will not get your money back.
*Please note: It is not the manager's task to select a separate flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations according to his experience and shares flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want a manager to buy you an air ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the conditions on the page: additional services.
