The Lycian Way is 540 km long, but almost nobody hikes the whole thing in one go on their first trip. Most people pick a route — a curated stretch of the trail with a clear start, end, and a reason it hangs together. The routes below are the ones we recommend most often: thru-hikes, regional sections, and short walks built around the trail's most loved scenery.

Each route lists distance, elevation, difficulty, and a day-by-day stage breakdown. Tap any route to see the map, the stages it covers, and the historical sites it passes. If you want to design your own combination instead, the all 27 stages page is the better starting point.

The full thru-hike (540 km, 25–30 days)

Walking the entire trail end-to-end is the classic option — Fethiye to Antalya (or the reverse), camp and pension nights mixed, with 2–4 rest days at scenic stops. It's a 25–30 day commitment for most hikers, with daily stages of 8–22 km and a total ascent of around 25,000 m. You'll want decent fitness, a working knowledge of camp craft for the few isolated stages, and the flexibility to adjust around weather. Best done March–May or September–November; high summer is dangerous on exposed coastal sections.

If you've never done a long-distance trail before, the full thru-hike isn't the right place to start. Walk a section first — a week on the central coast tells you very quickly whether the scale and pace of the Lycian Way suits you.

Sectional routes (5–10 days)

Most first-time hikers do a section. The trail divides naturally into four:

Western coast — Fethiye to Patara (7–8 days, ~120 km). Cliffs, Butterfly Valley views, the Patara dunes. Mostly moderate with a couple of harder mountain crossings around Alınca. Reliable pension network and easy resupply. Good first trip.

Central coast — Patara to Demre (6–7 days, ~95 km). The most accessible stretch — gentler grades, the famous clifftop walk between Kalkan and Kaş, and the Kekova sunken-city panoramas. Good infrastructure, swimmable beaches at most stage ends. The recommended option for hikers who want scenery without strenuous climbs.

Demre and Olympos — Demre to Çıralı (5–6 days, ~90 km). Lycian rock-cut tombs, long beach walks at Karaöz, and the chimera flames burning from the rocks above Olympos. Mixed terrain, more solitude. Slightly tougher water logistics in late season.

Eastern mountains — Olympos to Antalya (8 days, ~130 km). The hardest stretch. Long climbs, exposed ridgelines, the Mount Tahtalı alternative at 2,366 m. Best done by experienced hikers in shoulder season; carry more water and layers than you think you need.

Day hikes and weekend walks (1–3 days)

You don't need a backpack to walk part of the Lycian Way. Several stages work as day hikes from a base in Fethiye, Kaş, or Çıralı — drive or take a dolmuş to the trailhead, walk the stage, and return the same evening. The most popular single-day options:

Ovacık to Faralya — 4–5 hours, the iconic Butterfly Valley clifftop. Kalkan to Kaş — 6 hours, clean cliff path, swim stop midway. Olympos to Çıralı via the Chimaera — 3 hours plus the night-time fire walk. Aperlae to Üçağız — 4 hours past the sunken city.

A two- or three-day weekend lets you string two stages together with a guesthouse night in between. The trip planner can build a custom itinerary based on your dates and starting town.

Guided vs. self-guided

Most of the trail is navigable solo with the offline GPS app, the red-and-white waymarks, and a phrasebook. The pension owners along the route are used to hikers and will sort out luggage transfers, packed lunches, and onward bookings if you ask. Self-guided is genuinely the cheapest, most flexible option.

Guided trips through a licensed local agency are worth it if you want logistics handled end-to-end, group company, or a guide who can read the historical sites for you. Prices start around €600 for a 7-day section trip including pension nights, breakfasts, and luggage transfer.

Frequently asked questions about routes

Which direction should I walk — east or west?

Most hikers walk west to east (Fethiye to Antalya), partly out of tradition and partly because the trail eases you in — flatter coastal stages first, mountains at the end when your legs are conditioned. East to west works fine too, and has the advantage of easier flights into Antalya. Direction doesn't change the difficulty meaningfully. Pick whichever fits your flight prices.

What's the best route for a first-time long-distance hiker?

The Patara to Demre section. Six or seven walking days, gentle gradients, the most reliable accommodation network on the trail, and the best swimming. You'll learn the rhythm of long-distance walking without the punishing climbs of the eastern mountains. From there, you'll know whether you want to come back for the rest.

Can I do the Lycian Way as a series of day hikes?

Yes — and many returning hikers do exactly this. Base in one town for several nights, take a dolmuş to a trailhead each morning, walk a stage, ride back. Kaş and Çıralı are the best bases for this style: each gives access to four or five day-walkable stages within a 30-minute drive. You won't need a tent, you'll eat well every night, and you can pick stages by weather.

How much does a self-guided route cost?

Pension nights typically run £20–£45 per person including breakfast and dinner, depending on town and season — Kaş and Çıralı are at the top end, smaller villages at the bottom. Lunch from a village shop or pension packed lunch is £4–£8. Dolmuş transfers are £2–£4 per leg. Budget £35–£65 per day for a comfortable self-guided trip. Wild camping (where permitted) drops that meaningfully, but you'll trade hot showers and home cooking for it. The accommodation directory lists current rates by stage.

How much does a guided trip cost?

Guided packages on the LycianWay marketplace start at £395 per person for a Weekend Escape (3 days, all logistics included), £1,450 for the Highlights Trek (the most popular sectional itinerary, around a week of walking with pension nights, breakfasts, luggage transfer, and an English-speaking guide), and £2,850 for the Classic Full Trail (the full thru-hike across roughly 25 walking days). Deposits are 15% with the balance due before departure. See the current tour catalogue for live availability and dates.

Are the routes safe to hike alone?

For most hikers, yes. The trail is well-travelled in season, villagers are welcoming, and serious crime against hikers is essentially unheard of. The real risks are environmental: heat, dehydration, and falls on loose rock. Hike in shoulder season, share your daily plan with a friend, and use the in-app safety check-in.

Can I combine routes from this page into a custom trip?

Yes. The routes here are starting points, not fixed packages. Use the trip planner to combine sections, swap in alternates (the inland route via Beycik instead of the coastal Tekirova stage, for example), or stretch a section by adding a rest day at Kaş or Çıralı. Every stage page lists transport links so you can see how to chain them together.