Getting to the Lycian Way

The Lycian Way runs along Turkey's south-west coast between Fethiye and Antalya. From the UK there are direct flights to both nearby airports — Antalya and Dalaman — from April to October. This page lists every realistic flight, transfer and bus option, with current prices and times.

Two main airports

Dalaman (DLM) — for the western route

To Fethiye: 50 km · to Kayaköy: 60 km · to Ovacık: 65 km

Best choice if you start in Fethiye, Ovacık or Kayaköy (the classic western start). Small airport, no long queues, direct shuttle to Fethiye in 1 hour.

Antalya (AYT) — for the eastern route

To Geyikbayırı: 50 km · to Olympos: 80 km · to Çıralı: 75 km

Best if you start on the eastern half (Geyikbayırı, Olympos, Çıralı) or want to combine the trail with Antalya/Kemer. Big airport, lots of flights, cheap transfers.

UK direct flights

From	To	Airlines	Time	Season
London (LGW, STN, LTN)	Antalya (AYT)	easyJet, TUI, Pegasus, Turkish	4 h 10 min	year-round
London	Dalaman (DLM)	easyJet, TUI, Jet2, Pegasus	4 h 15 min	April–October
Manchester	Antalya / Dalaman	Jet2, TUI, easyJet	4 h 15 min	April–October
Birmingham	Dalaman	Jet2, TUI	4 h 15 min	May–October
Edinburgh, Glasgow	Dalaman	Jet2, TUI	4 h 30 min	May–September
Bristol	Dalaman	easyJet, TUI	4 h 20 min	May–October

Tip: London → Antalya is usually cheaper than London → Dalaman in summer (more capacity). If you're flexible, flying into Antalya and taking the bus to Fethiye (5 hours, £10–£15) often beats paying the Dalaman premium.

Connecting via Istanbul (off-season)

October to March, and from smaller UK cities, expect to connect. Most routes run via Istanbul:

Turkish Airlines — full-service, both legs from any UK city to IST then south, around 7 hours total
Pegasus — budget, London → Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) → Dalaman, from £100 return in low season
Combined tickets via Skyscanner or Google Flights are often 30–40% cheaper than direct, especially with longer layovers

Watch out: if you connect in Istanbul, check whether your inbound and onward flights use the same airport (IST on the European side or SAW on the Asian side). Switching airports takes 2 hours by shuttle.

Transfers from Dalaman airport

To	How	Cost	Time
Fethiye centre	Havaş shuttle bus	~£14	1 h
Fethiye centre	Pre-booked private transfer	£30–£45	50 min
Ovacık / Ölüdeniz	Pre-booked private transfer	£40–£55	1 h 10 min
Kaş	Pre-booked private transfer	£90–£125	2 h 30 min
Kaş	Dolmuş via Fethiye	£8–£12	4 h

Transfers from Antalya airport

To	How	Cost	Time
Antalya centre	Tram / city bus	£2–£3	40 min
Olympos / Çıralı	Dolmuş via otogar	£7–£10	2 h
Olympos / Çıralı	Pre-booked private transfer	£55–£80	1 h 15 min
Geyikbayırı	Taxi	£30–£45	50 min
Kaş	Intercity bus (4 daily)	£10–£14	3 h 30 min
Fethiye	Intercity bus (every 2 h)	£12–£16	5 h

Getting around between trail points

Within the trail itself the main transport is the dolmuş — a 12–18 seater minibus. They run scheduled routes between every significant point: Fethiye, Kalkan, Kaş, Demre, Olympos, Antalya. Fares £3–£10 depending on distance. Pay the driver in cash (Turkish lira).

Useful dolmuş routes:

Fethiye → Ovacık → Kayaköy (every 20 min, £1)
Fethiye → Kalkan → Kaş (hourly, £6–£8)
Kaş → Demre (every 30 min, £4)
Demre → Olympos (4–5 daily, £5)
Olympos → Çamyuva → Kemer → Antalya (every 30 min, £7)

Intercity buses

Turkish coaches (Pamukkale, Metro, Kamil Koç) are large and comfortable, with toilets and Wi-Fi, from £20–£30:

Istanbul → Fethiye — 12 hours, overnight
Istanbul → Antalya — 11 hours
İzmir → Fethiye — 4 hours
Cappadocia → Antalya — 9 hours overnight

Visa and entry for UK passport holders

UK citizens get 90 days visa-free in Turkey. Passport must be valid for at least 60 days beyond your return date. Border officers may ask to see a return ticket and sometimes a first-night accommodation booking. A PDF on your phone is fine — no need to print.

Money, SIM cards, taxis

Cards and cash

UK Visa and Mastercard work in most ATMs (look for TEB, İşbank, Garanti, Yapı Kredi). Many small pensions and restaurants on the trail are cash-only — withdraw enough Turkish lira for a few days in advance. Avoid the airport bureaux de change; rates are poor.

SIM card

Turkish networks (Turkcell, Vodafone, Türk Telekom) all give good coverage along the coast. A tourist SIM with 30 GB of data for one month costs £20–£25. Buy in a network shop in town with your passport — never at the airport (twice the price). Note: foreign phones are blocked from Turkish networks after 120 days unless registered with customs (paid).

Taxis

Yellow metered taxis exist in Antalya, Fethiye, Kaş and Kalkan. On the trail, "transfer taxis" are arranged through your pension. In big cities, the BiTaksi app is the local equivalent of Uber.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I start — Fethiye or Antalya?

Most walkers go west to east (Fethiye → Antalya) because the classic Kate Clow waymarking is numbered that way and it lines up with most guidebooks. But there's no rule — east-to-west works fine.

How much does it cost to get there and back?

In shoulder season (April, October) a London → Antalya return costs £180–£280. Airport-to-trailhead transfers add another £30–£60 per person each way. Peak summer flights are 2–3× more.

Should I rent a car?

For trail-walking, no — leaving a car in one place and returning later is more hassle than using dolmuş. For sightseeing or a combined trip with non-walkers, rentals start at £25/day in shoulder season and Turkish driving is straightforward outside the big cities.

Where do I book flights and transfers?

Flights via Skyscanner or Google Flights, then book direct with the airline. Transfers via Kiwitaxi, Suntransfers, or directly with your pension. Local dolmuş and intercity buses you buy on the spot — no online booking.