Sailing into Butterfly Valley
One lady who travelled on our Sailing the Lycian Shore gulet cruise in Turkey was so enchanted with her short strolls along the Lycian Way, Turkey’s first long distance footpath, that she demanded a trip with more walking. So we created this tour which charts the same coast, but visits different sites with the emphasis on more trekking. It has proved a tremendous success every year we have run it since it was devised in 2006.
Rated by The Sunday Times as one of the ten best walks in the world, the Lycian Way in Turkey follows 500km of ancient trails and mule roads that linked the region before the coming of the car. We follow some of its very best stretches, averaging about 6-7 miles walking a day, with a traditional gulet ever present offshore, providing luxurious transport, dining and accommodation.
View towards the theatre at Pinara
This is a dream trip for walkers and sailors alike, with fabulous swims and stunning archaeology thrown in for good measure. We’ll stroll along Roman roads, retrace the routes of 2,000 year old aqueducts, and follow in the footsteps of characters from Alexander the Great to modern day shepherds.
On foot we will be able to discover many of the truly remote archaeological sites, like Phellos ‘stony place’, a small town perched precariously on a pinnacle, or Apollonia, a wild ancient place, with a grand necropolis. More often than not we’ll be the only people exploring such ruins.
From footpaths by the coast, to goat tracks high up in the hills, this is sure to be an archaeological tour and gulet cruise packed full of breathtaking panoramas.
Day 1: Our gulet is about 30 minutes from Dalaman airport at Göcek, a pretty harbour beneath mountains at the head of the Bay of Fethiye, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Welcome dinner aboard.
Day 2: A chance to unwind in the Bay of Fethiye.
Day 3: We set sail east to explore the ghost town of Kaya, abandoned by the Greeks in 1923. Walk back to the gulet near Gemiler Island, an area perfect for swimming.
Day 4: We drive inland to the impressive ancient ruins of Sidyma, a 2,500 year old Lycian city that surrounds a modern farming village. Then walk down to a tiny beach to meet the Almira.
Day 5: Up the Xanthus valley to Pinara, where a mighty cliff riddled with tombs stands guard over one of the most striking and spectacularly situated archaeological sites.
Day 6: East to investigate Apollonia, where a Byzantine fortress and church surround an ancient Greek theatre. Then a walk through a wild moonscape back to the sea.
Day 7: We explore the Byzantine remains on Kekova Island then stroll through ancient burial grounds to the Ottoman castle at Kale. One of the most romantic stops of the holiday.
Day 8: We visit Sura, site of a famous fish oracle dedicated to Apollo, then trek along a beautiful stretch of coast to ancient Istlada and our waiting boat.
On top of the world, at Kale
Day 9: Inland to one of the most remarkable Lycian towns, mountain-top Kyaenai. We overnight in Kas, a beautiful whitewashed village, surrounding an ancient harbour.
Day 10: The longest hike of the tour, but well worth the effort. Up to the lost city of Phellos and along a high ridge. Stunning views abound.
Day 11: A wondrous walk retracing the route of the Roman aqueduct to Patara. A sunset dip offers a refreshing finale. Overnight in the pretty harbour at Kalkan.
Day 12: We hike from Kabak up to Farayla for breathtaking views down into butterfly valley.
Day 13: A glorious final trek across the shoulder of Father Mountain to Ovacık. Breathtaking views all day long.
Day 14: A day of total leisure aboard out luxurious gulet, sailing and swimming. We moor in Fethiye for a final chance to shop.
Day 15: Transfer back to Dalaman airport, on Turkey’s south coast.
