For one unforgettable day, walk Ölüdeniz to Faralya — the high clifftop path above Butterfly Valley, finishing at a Faralya pension for lunch. If you've got two days, carry on Faralya to Kabak. Base yourself in Ölüdeniz or Fethiye for the western stages, or in Kaş for the gentler Kekova-area walking. Walk in spring or autumn, start early, carry plenty of water, and sort your transfer back before you leave. That's the whole trail's greatest hits without a single night in a tent.
What to be realistic about: this is rocky, exposed, often steep terrain, not a flat promenade — the views are earned. Don't attempt the big coastal days at midday in July, don't set off without water and a turn-back plan, and don't assume there's always a dolmuş waiting at the far end. Pick the stage that matches your fitness honestly, and the Lycian Way is one of the best things you'll do in Turkey.
How to walk it as a visitor, not a thru-hiker
The Lycian Way was waymarked in the early 2000s and runs from near Fethiye in the west to near Antalya in the east — well over 500 km, split into roughly 20 stages. Thru-hiking it takes a month and means camping and basic pensions. That's a wonderful trip, but it's not what most visitors want, and you don't have to choose it. The trail's signature red-and-white waymarks make it easy to walk a single stage point-to-point and return to a comfortable base by the sea.
The model is simple: stay in Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Kaş or Çıralı/Olympos; pick a scenic stretch; walk it one-way; and get back by dolmuş, taxi or a pre-booked transfer — or stay the night in the village at the far end and walk on. The western coastal section near Fethiye is the most spectacular and the most accessible, which is where we'll focus. For the full how-to, see our Lycian Way guide and day-walks page.
1. Ölüdeniz → Faralya — the cliff path
Ölüdeniz (Ovacık) to Faralya / Kabak rim
The classic opening section of the Lycian Way, climbing from above Ölüdeniz onto a high path that traverses the cliffs hundreds of metres above the sea. The reward is the bird's-eye view straight down into Butterfly Valley and along the coast to Kabak. Tough — real climbs, rough ground, little shade — but the most scenic single day on the whole trail. Finish at a Faralya pension.
This is the one to do if you do only one. The path leaves the Ovacık/Ölüdeniz area and climbs hard onto the clifftops, then traverses high above the Mediterranean with the sea glittering far below. The highlight is the look-down over Butterfly Valley from the canyon rim near Faralya — one of the great views in Turkey. It's a proper hill day on rocky, exposed ground, so carry water, start early, and don't underestimate it. Most people finish at a Faralya guesthouse for lunch and a transfer back.
2. Faralya → Kabak — the wild stretch
Faralya to Kabak
The continuation south from Faralya to the off-grid cove of Kabak, through pine woods, past springs and tiny hamlets, with the coast unfolding ahead. Shorter and a touch gentler than the Ölüdeniz climb, ending at Kabak's beach and its famous treehouse camps. The natural second day if you've based yourself in the area, and a lovely place to stay over.
If Ölüdeniz–Faralya whets your appetite, this is the encore. The path winds south through woodland and past small settlements to Kabak, the bohemian valley-and-cove that closes the western coastal run. It's shorter and slightly less punishing, and the end point — a quiet beach below hillside camps — is a brilliant place to swim and stay the night. Walk both days back-to-back, sleeping in Faralya between, and you've done the best of the western Lycian Way.
3. Kaş → Kekova — walking by the sea
The Kaş–Kekova coast
The eastern-central stretch around Kaş and the Kekova basin trades big mountain drama for an intimate, sea-level coastal path: olive terraces, quiet coves, ancient remains and the famous Sunken City just offshore. Easier underfoot than the Fethiye cliffs and ideal if you want to combine a walk with a swim and a boat trip. Base yourself in laid-back Kaş.
For walkers who want the coast without the big climbs, the Kaş–Kekova area is the pick. The trail here hugs the shore through olive groves and past Lycian tombs, with the turquoise Kekova basin and its half-submerged ruins close at hand. It pairs beautifully with a sea-kayak or boat trip over the Sunken City, and Kaş itself is the most charming base on the coast — see our things to do in Kaş guide. Gentler than the west, and wonderful for combining walking with the water.
4. Olympos → Chimaera — the flame walk
Çıralı / Olympos up to the Chimaera
On the eastern Lycian coast, a short, well-trodden uphill path from near Çıralı and the Olympos ruins to the Yanartaş — the "burning rock", where natural gas flames seep eternally from the mountainside. Best done in the evening so the flames glow in the dark. An easy out-and-back you can do without committing to a one-way logistics puzzle.
This is the most accessible "best bit" for non-walkers. From Çıralı, a short, steady climb leads up to the Chimaera (Yanartaş), where flames have burned from the rock for thousands of years — the mythical fire of the monster Bellerophon slew. Go at dusk and the hillside flickers in the dark. Combine it with the romantic, jungly ruins of Olympos and the turtle beach below. It's an out-and-back, so there's no transfer to arrange — read our Çıralı, Olympos & Chimaera guide.
5. Patara — the gentle finale
Patara ruins & beach approach
The Lycian Way's western section also takes in Patara, and the walking here is the gentlest of the lot: a flat amble through the extensive Lycian and Roman ruins — theatre, parliament house, colonnaded street, lighthouse — out onto one of the longest beaches in the Mediterranean. No climbing, no exposure, ruins and an 18-km beach for your reward. Easy for any visitor.
If the cliff stages sound too strenuous, Patara is the antidote — a flat, easy walk through spectacular ruins to a vast wild beach. It's history and a swim with no hill, and it suits families and casual walkers completely. Pair it with the ice-cold Saklıkent Gorge nearby for a full, varied day. Our Patara guide covers the ruins, the turtles and getting there.
Difficulty, at a glance
| Stage | Difficulty | Rough time |
|---|---|---|
| Ölüdeniz → Faralya | Hard — big climbs, exposed | 5–7 hrs |
| Faralya → Kabak | Moderate | 3–4 hrs |
| Kaş → Kekova area | Moderate — coastal | ½–full day |
| Olympos → Chimaera | Easy–moderate | 1–1.5 hrs each way |
| Patara ruins & beach | Easy — flat | 1–2 hrs |
When to walk, and getting back
Walk in spring (April–early June) or autumn (mid-September–early November). Spring brings wildflowers and green hills; autumn brings a warm sea for a post-walk swim, and the October weather is superb. Mid-summer is too hot for the exposed coastal stages in daylight. For the full seasonal picture, see our best time to visit Lycia guide.
Because the trail is linear, plan your return before you set off: a dolmuş where one runs, a pre-booked taxi or private transfer to meet you, or a night in the village at the far end (Faralya and Kabak both have pensions). New to the trail? Start with our Lycian Way for beginners guide, and check the packing list before you go.
Plan your trip
Or read: Lycian Way · For beginners · Day walks · Ölüdeniz
Frequently asked
What is the best stage of the Lycian Way?
For most visitors, the western coastal stretch from Ölüdeniz up to Faralya — a clifftop path high above the sea, looking down on Butterfly Valley, with pensions at the far end. It's the most scenic single day that's also genuinely walkable without thru-hiking. Faralya–Kabak is a close second, and Kaş–Kekova is best for mixing walking with the sea.
Can you walk the Lycian Way as a day hike?
Yes, and most visitors should. The trail is 500 km-plus end to end but broken into stages, and the best sections make superb day or half-day walks from a beach base. No thru-hiking or camping needed — stay in Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Kaş or Çıralı, pick a scenic stretch, walk it point-to-point with a taxi or dolmuş back.
How hard is it for a casual walker?
It varies a lot by stage. The waymarking is good but the terrain is often rough — rocky, steep, exposed, with real ascents and little shade. The walk into Patara is easy; the Ölüdeniz–Faralya cliff path is a proper hill day. Nothing is technical, but you want good footwear, plenty of water, sun cover and a turn-back time.
When is the best time to walk it?
Spring (April–early June) and autumn (mid-September–early November) are ideal — warm but not brutal, spring for wildflowers, autumn for a warm post-walk sea. Mid-summer is too hot for serious daytime walking on the exposed coast; if you go then, start at dawn and keep it short. Winter is mild but some pensions and transport wind down.
Do I need a guide?
Not for the popular day stages — they're waymarked and well-trodden, and confident walkers do them solo with a map or GPS track. A guide adds most value for history, navigation, nerves about exposed paths, or handled logistics. For a single scenic stretch like Ölüdeniz–Faralya in good weather, you can comfortably go alone.
How do I get back after a one-way stage?
The trail is linear, so plan your return first. Options: a dolmuş (shared minibus) where one runs, a pre-arranged taxi or private transfer to meet you, or an overnight in the village you finish in (Faralya and Kabak have pensions) and walking on next day. Some stages, like Olympos to the Chimaera, are out-and-back, so you simply return to your start.