Wild Camping on the Lycian Way
Wild camping is one of the great pleasures of the Lycian Way — a cliff-edge pitch above the Mediterranean, a fire of dry pine twigs (in season), the Milky Way over Mt Tahtalı. It's also legally grey, environmentally fragile, and easier to do badly than well. This page collects everything we tell hikers before they set off with a tent.
Is wild camping legal in Turkey?
Strictly speaking, wild camping in Turkey is neither explicitly legal nor explicitly illegal — there's no Scandinavian-style "right to roam" law, but no general prohibition either. In practice, on the Lycian Way:
- Tolerated on hillsides, beaches and pine forest away from villages and ancient sites
- Tolerated at the established hiker camps that have existed for two decades
- Discouraged within sight of villages, especially at the village water spring or threshing floor
- Forbidden inside fenced archaeological sites (Olympos, Patara, Xanthos, Letoon, Phaselis)
- Forbidden on military land — usually fenced and signed in red
- Forbidden in National Parks without a permit (Olympos-Beydağları, Patara) — although hikers passing through with a small tent for one night are typically left alone
In nearly every conversation we've had with the local jandarma over the last decade, the response to "we're walking the Lycian Way and camping" has been a friendly nod. Hikers are part of the rural economy now. What they object to is rubbish, cut trees, fire damage, and people climbing fences into archaeological sites.
Established hiker camps along the trail
These pitches have been used by Lycian Way hikers since the trail opened in 1999. Each is shown on the offline app and the interactive trail map. They share a pattern: flat ground for at least 3 tents, water source within 10 minutes, far enough from a village to be private but close enough to walk in for breakfast.
Faralya cliffs (above Butterfly Valley)
Pitch on the meadow east of Faralya village, 200 m back from the cliff edge. Unbeatable sunset over Butterfly Valley. The village pensions are happy to sell you breakfast and let you use a shower for ₺100.
Patara beach (back of the dunes)
The 18 km Patara beach is a turtle-nesting site, so camping on the sand itself is forbidden between March and October. But the forested dune-back behind the beach is fair game — pine cover, flat ground, the rumble of the surf. Walk in from the archaeological site gate and follow waymarks.
Aperlae (sunken city)
Camp on the meadow above the bay, with the half-submerged Lycian walls visible underwater 30 m offshore. In summer, a boat skipper sells cold drinks from a tied-up gulet. Magical, remote, no light pollution.
Karaöz beach (south end)
A long stony beach with pine cover at the back. The southern end is quieter and has the best swimming. The trail is pinned on the inland side; you have to cross a small stream to reach the pitches.
Adrasan saddle (below Tahtalı)
A pine-shaded col with views down to Adrasan bay. Cool nights even in midsummer. The spring on the western flank is reliable March–November. Used by hikers acclimatising before the Tahtalı summit alternative.
Yanartaş (above the Chimaera flames)
Outside the fenced archaeological zone, on the forested ridge above the eternal flames. Walk up at dusk for the fire spectacle, sleep on the ridge, walk down for breakfast in Çıralı.
Geyikbayırı (climbers' camp)
Not strictly wild — there's a small fee — but worth knowing about for the eastern end. Geyikbayırı is the rock-climbing capital of Turkey and the campsites are simple, friendly, and walkable to the trail finish at Antalya.
Where you should not pitch
- Inside any fenced ancient site. You'll be asked to leave by the bekçi (caretaker). Olympos especially — the gate guards do night patrols.
- On the Patara beach itself, March 1 to October 31. Loggerhead turtle nesting; €1,500 fines have been issued.
- In dry stream beds. Flash floods after autumn rain are not a myth on this coast.
- Under standing dead trees. Especially in burned areas (Adrasan–Olympos) — drop hazard for years after a fire.
- Inside village threshing yards or animal pens. Even if empty, they belong to a family who will not be amused.
- Within 100 m of a goat track or shepherd's hut. Dogs.
Fires and stoves
Use a stove. The standard option is a screw-on canister stove (MSR Pocket Rocket, Soto Windmaster). EN417 gas canisters are available at:
- Fethiye Decathlon and outdoor shops on Çarşı Caddesi
- Kaş — two camping shops near the marina
- Olympos / Çıralı pension reception (limited stock)
- Antalya — Decathlon at MarkAntalya mall
Liquid-fuel and alcohol stoves work but are harder to refuel. Wood stoves are technically allowed off-season — just be sensible.
If a fire is permitted (Nov–May, in fire pits only)
- Use an existing fire ring at an established hiker camp; never make a new one
- Burn only fallen, finger-thick dead pine — never cut anything
- Keep fires small (saucepan-sized), never feed them with green wood (smoke draws complaints)
- Drown completely with water, then mix the ashes, then drown again. Stir until cold to the touch.
Water
Wild camping multiplies the importance of water planning. From June to October, several seasonal springs marked on older maps have run dry. Cross-check the offline app, which flags reliable vs seasonal sources, and never rely on a single water plan.
Detailed source-by-source notes for every stage are on the Lycian Way water guide. The short version for campers:
- Carry capacity for 4 litres per person, fill at every reliable source
- Treat all natural water (filter, UV, or chlorine tablets) — sheep upstream are everywhere
- Village fountains (çeşme) and pension taps are safe to drink direct
- Below 600 m elevation, springs typically dry from late June onwards
Wildlife you should know about
- Sheepdogs — the kangal and akbaş guarding flocks are large, serious dogs. Never run. Stop, raise a stick, walk slowly past at 30 m. The shepherd will usually call them off.
- Wild boar — present in pine forest, almost exclusively nocturnal. Don't sleep with food in your tent.
- Snakes — Levant viper and Ottoman viper exist; bites are very rare. Wear ankle-high boots, don't reach into rocks.
- Scorpions — small, mostly harmless to healthy adults. Shake out boots and sleeping bag.
- Mosquitoes and sandflies — worst near brackish lagoons (Patara, Karaöz). DEET works; permethrin-treated clothing is overkill.
Leave No Trace, Lycian-Way edition
The Lycian Way trail association does an annual rubbish sweep every March. The volume picked up has tripled in 5 years. Some specific things to do or not do:
- Pack out everything, including orange peel, banana skin, fruit pits, tea bags, and toilet paper. The dry climate doesn't compost — peel sits there for two years.
- Dig a 15 cm cathole at least 60 m from any path or water source. Bury solids; pack out paper.
- Wash 60 m from any spring or stream. Use a basin; never lather directly into a water source.
- Don't cut anything alive — the pine forests are slow-growing and fire-stressed.
- Keep groups small — 4–6 people max at any wild pitch. Larger groups should use a pension or designated campsite.
Pension vs camping — which is right for you?
We're often asked whether to do a "tent" or "pension" trip. Honest answer: most experienced Lycian Way hikers mix them. A pure-tent trip means heavier packs, water anxiety, and missing the imam bayıldı at Sinem's place above Faralya. A pure-pension trip means missing the cliff-top dawn at Aperlae.
A common pattern: pensions for the western coast (where they're excellent and cheap), tents for the eastern wilderness stages where pensions are sparse anyway. The accommodation directory shows which villages have rooms and which don't.
Frequently asked questions
Is wild camping legal on the Lycian Way?
Not specifically legal, but widely tolerated provided you camp away from villages, archaeological sites and military zones, and leave no trace. Local jandarma generally treat camping hikers as unproblematic.
Where can I wild camp safely?
The safest pitches are the established hiker camps used for two decades — flat ground near a known water source. The list above covers the main ones; the offline app shows them all.
Are fires allowed?
Open fires are banned in forest areas from 1 June to 31 October, with steep fines. After the 2021 wildfires the rules are enforced. Use a stove year-round; fire only in existing rings off-season.
Do I need a permit?
No general permit. The two National Parks (Olympos-Beydağları and Patara) technically require one, but hikers passing through with a one-night pitch are not asked. Don't try to camp inside the fenced archaeological zones.
Is it safe for solo hikers?
Yes — violent crime against hikers on the Lycian Way is essentially unheard of. The risks are environmental (heat, dehydration, falls) rather than human. Use the in-app safety check-in, share your daily plan with a friend, and don't pitch within sight of the road.
What gear do I need?
3-season tent (good ventilation matters more than warmth), 5–10 °C sleeping bag, lightweight stove, 4 L water capacity, headtorch with backup batteries. Full kit list on the packing page.
Can I leave my tent and walk a stage with just a daypack?
Most pensions will store a small bag and bring it forward by scooter for ₺200–₺400 per day. The guided-tour operators formalise this with luggage transfer included — the most flexible option for mixing camping nights and pension nights.