The Eastern Lycian Way

The eastern half of the Lycian Way (Kaş → Antalya, around 300 km, 14–16 days) is the wilder, mountainous half. Mt Tahtalı (2,365 m), Musa Dağı (2,200 m), long waterless ridges, fewer pensions and almost no other walkers. Most hikers take it on after they've done the western half — and many call it the more rewarding of the two.

Why the eastern half is different

• Higher and harder. Three significant summit days versus zero on the western half.
• Less infrastructure. Pensions only at Demre, Olympos, Çıralı and Kemer. Camping needed for several stages.
• Quieter trails. 80% of Lycian Way walkers stop at Kaş — past it you'll often have a stage to yourself.
• Bigger payoffs. Sunken city of Kekova, eternal flames of Yanartaş, the cable car summit of Tahtalı, the ancient Roman city of Phaselis.
• Closer to Antalya. Easier exit logistics — finish at Geyikbayırı or take the bus from Kemer.

Eastern route stages

The big-three eastern highlights

Yanartaş — the eternal flames of Chimera

Twenty natural-gas vents have burned out of the rock above Çıralı for over 2,500 years — the chimera Homer wrote about. Walk up at dusk, watch the flames glow red as it gets dark, head down with a head torch. Allow 2–3 hours from Çıralı village.

Mt Tahtalı (2,365 m) — Lycian Way's highest summit

The trail crosses the shoulder of Tahtalı. Strong walkers detour to the summit in 4 hours up; everyone else takes the cable car (Olympos Teleferik) from sea level in 10 minutes for the panorama. Snow is possible into May.

Sunken city of Kekova

At Üçağız (stage 3), local boats and kayaks run trips out over the underwater ruins of Dolichiste — a Lycian town that slid into the sea in a 2nd-century AD earthquake. Foundations and stairways still visible through clear water. Plan a half-day stop here.

Itinerary options

Camping vs pensions

Roughly half the eastern stages have a pension at the end; the other half need a tent. Plan it like this:

• Pension nights: Boğazcık, Üçağız, Demre, Finike, Adrasan, Olympos, Çıralı, Beycik, Gedelme, Hisarçandır, Geyikbayırı
• Camping nights: Limanağzı, Karaöz, Göynük Yaylası

Carry a 2-person tent (~1.5 kg), sleeping bag rated to +5 °C, and a small stove. Wild camping is tolerated everywhere outside national parks on this section.

Water on the eastern route

Reliable water points: Boğazcık village fountain, Demre, Finike town, Adrasan, Olympos restaurants, Çıralı pensions, Beycik café, Gedelme fountain, Hisarçandır.

When to walk it

The eastern route is best April–early June and October–early November. Mid-summer is too hot on the exposed ridges (35 °C+); mid-winter brings snow on Tahtalı and Musa. Avoid July–August completely.

Getting there and back

Start (Kaş): bus from Antalya airport, 3.5 hours, £10–£14. See Getting there for full options.

Finish (Geyikbayırı): taxi to Antalya centre, 50 minutes, ~£35. Or finish a day earlier in Kemer for cheaper bus links.

Frequently asked questions

Should I walk east-to-west or west-to-east?

Most guidebooks number stages east to west starting from Fethiye, so walking that direction is easier to navigate from prints. But the eastern half is harder — finishing strong on the easier western half is more rewarding for many walkers. No wrong answer.

Can I do it solo?

Yes, but the eastern route is the one section where pairing up makes real safety sense — the camping-only stages and water-scarce ridges benefit from a buddy. The trail itself is well waymarked and feels safe.

How does the eastern route compare to the western?

Western: easier, more pensions, prettier coast, busier. Eastern: harder, more camping, bigger mountains, much quieter. Most walkers who do both prefer the eastern half for atmosphere — but only after doing the western first to get used to the trail. See the Western Route page for the contrast.