Turkey – Lycian Way in Turkey for a dream trek

Trekking via Licia in Turkey

If you want to spend an exciting trekking adventure, then it is advisable to go to Turkey, where there is one of the most beautiful trails in the world. Arm yourself with a backpack, provisions, and boots, and let’s start this itinerary with an oriental charm. We are talking about the Lycian Way, a very long route that runs for about 540 km in correspondence with a part of the southwestern coast of Turkey. It is clear that to cross all these kilometers on foot would certainly take at least a month, which is why it would be more appropriate to practice shorter stretches and take a little rest on the nearby beaches. The Via Licia, which takes its name from the ancient civilization that once inhabited the area, crosses the Teke peninsula and its stretch is marked by red and white stripes, which are drawn on tree trunks or rocks, in correspondence with crossings or bifurcations, following the Grande Randonnee convention, in such a way as to facilitate the orientation of the visitor. You will find yourself completely immersed, among rocks, forests, villages, and the remains of ancient cities such as Xanthos (once the capital of Lycia and Unesco heritage since 1988), which will make you live unique moments. We start from Fethiye, a seaside town characterized by the presence of rock tombs, and then after 20 km arrive at the Oludeniz lagoon which, together with the Belcegiz bay, has recently been included in a park in such a way as to guarantee its preservation. . After passing the village of Kinik and the Esen stream, you continue inside a very suggestive landscape, which according to ancient legends even corresponded to Eden and is said to have been frequented once also by Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen. We continue with a stop at Kale, once the Roman capital of Asia Minor and also the bishopric, famous because St. Nicholas lived here, whose remains were then transported to Bari in 1087. Here too there are tombs carved into the rock, which are part of an ancient necropolis overlooking a cliff overlooking the sea. Next, we have Olympos, a city dedicated to the god Hephaestus, god of fire and blacksmiths, because an eternal flame called Chimera burned nearby, on a height two hundred meters above the sea, which was visible throughout the surrounding region. Today there are still dozens of small fires on the site that burn constantly due to gas emissions, especially methane, which come out of the vents in the rocks of the mountain and which are admired especially at night because they are more spectacular. The route ends with the archaeological site of the Greek city of Phaselis, characterized by a coastal environment. A trek not to be missed! Click the link now to see our trekking trips in Turkey to discover the Lycian Way!