Walking the Lycian Way
In Turkey, you’re never far away from history, it’s literally at every corner. Having said that, some regions are more famous than others, such as Istanbul. That is one historic city!
If you’re visiting the coast, probably heading towards a tourist resort, it could very will be that you’re on the lookout for a little culture, a little history, something other than beach time, food, and neon-lit partying. In that case, you’re in luck!
Have you heard of the Lycian Way?
What is the Lycian Way?
Lycia is the old name for the Tekke Peninsula, which runs along the coast of the Mediterranean. The scenery here is beautiful, with huge cliffs, rocks, and views right over the sea, with a plentiful forests too. You’ll find fragrant fruit trees, flora and fauna, as well as wildlife in this region, and of course, during the summer months you’re guaranteed fantastic weather.
The Lycians were people who lived in this region many years ago, and they welcomed trade from the sea as their main money making scheme. This occasionally included piracy. This all dates back to the times of Alexander the Great, so you can imagine the amount of history we’re talking about here. After this came the Greeks, and then came the Romans. There are plentiful nods to the Roman Empire around this region, including old buildings and Byzantine monasteries too.
Throughout this region lies the Lycian Way. This is a 540km walkway, which runs from Fethiye to Antalya, passing through 25 historic sites, which are otherwise inaccessible. To walk this route comfortably it would take around a month, but you will pass by old roman roads, donkey trails, old churches, monasteries, graveyards, and of course, stunning natural site and views.
This road is steep, it is rocky, but it is paved, and it has become Turkey’s first major long distance route for walking. It was identified primarily to look after the historic sites through which it passes. There are many activities to enjoy along the way, consider this route runs through some of the most famous resorts and areas along the well-visited south coast. There are many public transport links, and you can swim, paraglide, or do a spot of canoeing too!
When is The Best Time to Walk The Lycian Way?
The summer temperatures in this part of the country can soar during the peak summer months, so walking during June to the end of August is not advisable. If you do venture to the trail at this time, make it a short walk and make sure that you take plenty of water and a hat. The best time to walk the Lycian Way, either in its entirety or in part, is February to May or September to November. During these months, the temperatures are warm but not hot, and rain is not likely to be a huge issue, although February and November might bring more rain than the other months mentions.
You will easily find accommodation on most of the route, although when the route gets to its highest parts, you might struggle on a nightly basis, so do plan your trekking and walking accordingly. If you’re an outdoors enthusiast, you won’t struggle to find camping spots, so this is always an option.
Something a Little Different
When visiting the south coast, many people wrongly thing that it’s all about partying and beach time. Of course, that is on offer, and there is nothing wrong with doing that if you want to. If you want to see more however, and if you want to really experience the wonder of history and culture, as well as plentiful stunning nature, the Lycian Way is a great place to visit. You don’t have to walk all of it, although it would be a great claim to fame if you did; you can walk sections of it, and enjoy it as much as you have the time for. We don’t all have the holiday time at work to take a month off, and the plentiful public transport which runs close to the route means that you can easily head back home when it’s time to go.
