Hiking the Lycian Way from Fethiye: Ovacık to Faralya, Kabak and Sidyma

Marked with French-style red-and-white horizontal paint blazes on rocks and pine trunks, the 540-kilometre Lycian Way (Likya Yolu) stretches all the way from Fethiye to Antalya and is regularly named one of the ten finest long-distance coastal trails in the world. Because the official starting arch of the trail sits just ten minutes above Ölüdeniz at Ovacık, and because every village along the first 35 kilometres is served by regular road dolmuş minibuses back to Fethiye, you can hike the most sweeping cliff-edge sections as half-day or full-day walks carrying only a light daypack and water.

Three Classic Day Hikes Around Fethiye (No Camping Gear Required)

1. Stage 1: The Official Start Arch at Ovacık to Kirme and Faralya (14 km, ~4 to 4.5 hours, Moderate): take the morning dolmuş from Fethiye or Ölüdeniz to the yellow Lycian Way Starting Arch on the main road just below the Montana Pine resort in Ovacık (350m elevation). An ancient rock-paved mule track climbs steadily along the western flank of Mount Babadağ to 720 metres, delivering continuous bird's-eye views straight down onto the white sandspit of the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon 600 metres below your boots. Pass through the terraced mountain hamlets of Kozağacı and Kirme (where village women serve freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and gözleme under walnut trees) and descend to the cliff viewpoints above Butterfly Valley in Faralya, catching the afternoon minibus back to Ölüdeniz and Fethiye.
2. The Kayaköy to Ölüdeniz Lagoon Spur (6 km, ~1.5 to 2 hours, Easy, Moderate): start inside Kayaköy Ghost Village, climb 200 metres over the pine saddle and drop straight down to the Kumburnu Blue Lagoon for a post-hike swim.
3. Kabak Beach to Cennet Koyu (Paradise Bay) and Kalabantia (5 km round-trip, ~2.5 hours): starting from the eastern end of Kabak Beach, follow the coastal cliff path through red-barked strawberry trees (sandal ağacı) and pines to Cennet Koyu (Paradise Bay), an uninhabited cove of white sand and turquoise water accessible only on foot or by boat, continuing if you wish to the sunken Lycian harbour tombs of Kalabantia (Korsan Koyu).

Essential Hiking Rule: between June and September, start on the trail by early in the morning and carry at least 2 to 3 litres of water per person, as limestone karst ridges have no natural streams between villages.