Trekking in Lycian Way

The Lycian Way runs along Turkey's southwest coast, over headlands and through ruins that nobody stands guard over, and it is one of the finest coastal walks anywhere. The full route is around 540 kilometres; ten days gets you the best of it — Roman and Lycian tombs cut into the cliffs, villages where lunch stretches to two hours, and a shoreline of pine forest above turquoise water.

What sets it apart is how casually the history sits alongside the walking. You pass amphitheatres and rock-cut tombs with no fences and no ticket booths, sleep in family-run pensions, and swim off empty beaches between stages. It is demanding in stretches but never technical.

Walk it in spring or autumn — the summer heat on the exposed sections is genuinely punishing, not merely uncomfortable. Book the small pensions ahead in the peak weeks, carry plenty of water for the dry headlands, and let the pace of the coastal villages set your own.

Walk it in spring or autumn and book the small pensions ahead in peak weeks; the summer heat on the exposed sections is punishing.