This is a dream trip for walkers and sailors alike, with fabulous swims and stunning archaeology thrown in for good measure.
The Lycian Way, rated by The Sunday Times (UK) as one of the ten best walks in the world, follows over 300 miles of ancient roadways, mule tracks and shepherds’ paths along one of Turkey’s most remote and untouched coastlines.
On this week-long cruise, we follow a selection of its finest sections, each remarkable for its beauty and interest. On average, we hike about 5-6 miles (8-10km) per day. Our floating home is an elegant hand-built gulet, moving us along the shore and treating us to perfect relaxation and delightful meals each day.
Like the explorers of old, you will have unique access to the ancient sites within their natural settings. The walking and cruising tour includes samples of Lycia’s most celebrated cultural and archaeological ‘must-sees’, such as Kayaköy/Levissa, an incredibly atmospheric ghost town abandoned by its Greek inhabitants after the First World War, Simena, an age-old citadel surrounded by a jumble of Lycian sarcophagi and vastly monumental Patara, capital of Roman Lycia.
Hiking on ancient and historic roads and footpaths, following the course of a 2,000-year-old aqueduct and hearing the tales of those who strolled here before us, from Greeks and Romans to modern shepherds, witnessing the breathtaking wealth of scenery from azure shores via fertile and cultivated valleys to craggy mountains, makes for an immensely memorable experience. The combination of exhilarating hikes, expert-guided site visits, wonderful swims and mellow moments of sheer relaxation, plus of course the gulet’s superb cooking, will make this trip refreshing and relaxing, a tour like no other.
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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: We set out eastwards to explore the atmospheric ghost town of Kaya/Levissi, abandoned by its Greek inhabitants in 1923. Later we hike back downhill to meet the gulet near Gemiler Island, an area perfect for swimming.
Day 3: We drive inland to the impressive ancient ruins of Sidyma, a 2,500 year old Lycian city that surrounds a modern farming village. We hike down from the ancient site, enjoy a delicious picnic, then back to our gulet for a swim.
Day 4: We cruise by Kekova Island, then walk through the pretty village of Üçağız, ancient Teimioussa, with its ancient Lycian burial grounds. From here, we walk to Kale, ancient Simena, where another row of sarcophagi crowns the ridge leading up to an Ottoman castle built upon Byzantine and Hellenistic predecessors. One of the most romantic stops of the holiday.
Day 5: We trek along old migration routes and ancient ways with wonderful unforgettable views both inland and out to sea, discovering a variety of ancient Lycian ruins and enjoy a marvellous lunch with a local family.
Day 6: We head up to Delikkemer, the ingenious inverted-syphon Roman aqueduct beautifully situated with views out to sea and then hike to the city it served, ancient Patara. where archaeologists are revealing the remains of a vast and monumental Roman city, one-time capital of the Lycian Confederation.
Day 7: A glorious trek from Ovacık, the official start of the Lycian Way, across the shoulder of Babadaĝ (Father Mountain) to Faralya. Breath-taking vistas all day long culminating with a view from on high down into Butterfly Valley, before cruising to the harbour of Fethiye
Day 8: Transfer from our gulet to Dalaman airport, about 60 minutes away
I would like to book, what else do I need to know?
For information not covered below please refer to our FAQ’s or contact us directly on [email protected]
Arrival and Departure Information
Arrival Airport – Dalaman
Departure Airport – Dalaman
Arrival Location – Gocek Marina (approx. 30 mins from airport)
Departure Location – Fethiye Marina (approx. 1 hr 20 mins from airport)
Embarkation and departure is planned for approx.16:45. You are more than welcome to arrive earlier to drop off your bags, but please be aware that the crew will be busy cleaning and tidying making everything ready for your group so you will not be able to settle into your cabin.
If your travel plans or flights do not allow you to arrive before 16:45 we recommend arriving the day before the tour starts. This would also allow time to relax, recover from any jet lag and arrive at the boat on time for embarkation and departure.
If you arrive at the gulet after 16:45, we will do our best to enable you to join the tour at a later time and place.
Please Note: Departure time is subject to change depending on weather, harbour, or other conditions.
Disembarkation is around 09:00. We will arrange local transfers on the first and last day of the tour.
Further information about the Walking Unlike our standard gulet cruises, there is a significant amount of walking on our Walking and Cruising Western Lycia tour in Turkey. We believe that’s a key part of its appeal. The walks we do are for the most part sections of The Lycian Way, Turkey’s first national footpath, and widely regarded as one of the best hiking trails in the world for its combination of stunning vistas, scenery, and the archaeological sites that litter the way.
Please be aware that the terrain is often uneven, rocky, and rugged, and a number of the paths are carpeted with loose stones underfoot. You do need to be fit with a good sense of balance. There are some long stretches of uphill and downhill walking. It’s certainly not a walk in the park, but ropes and crampons aren’t required! You do need to be used to hiking off the beaten track.
The trip is designed to ease you in gently, with a few shorter hikes and site visits, with some longer walks later in the tour. Across the week, the average distance is about 5-6 miles a day (an average of about 2/3 hours in addition to any site visits), but it’s not really the distance that you need to bear in mind, but the terrain. We take all the walks at a leisurely pace, with some wonderful sites and great swims thrown in for good measure. The trip includes a full day’s hiking along the slopes of Father Mountain, involving a significant amount of uphill walking, a hike of about 6 hours with a super picnic, plenty of snack and drink stops and stupendous views along the way. Of course the beauty of being on the gulet, means that it’s perfectly possible for guests to skip a day’s walk if they so wish, and simply relax on the boat. If you fancy putting your feet up and resting for a day, that is perfectly possible. So if you wish to lie back and read a book or have an extra swim, you can.
Booking Flights: If you are staying in or connecting via Istanbul then the easiest way to get to and from the gulet is to fly. There are a number of airlines that offer domestic flights in Turkey. The cheapest way to book flights is directly with the airline online.
Please note: Flights are subject to change. Please contact the airline for exact details.
If you prefer to book with a travel agent, we are happy to recommend specialists in a number of countries around the world, please contact our office for more details.
Travel Insurance: We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. You should ensure that you take out a suitable policy, to make sure that your trip is properly covered. Please be advised some insurers may require you to take out a policy within 15-20 days of booking your holiday to receive all of their insurance benefits.
Visas: You must check to see if you require a visa to enter Turkey. Visas are easily obtained online at eVisaand must be purchased before you travel.
Istanbul: If you are planning to stay in Istanbul before or after your gulet tour we would be happy to help with suggestions and information and things to see and do. Please get in touch.
Custom Tours: If you are thinking of extending your trip to Turkey to include visits to Cappadocia, Istanbul or further afield, please contact our office for further information.
Tour Includes:
May 2026 – Cruising aboard the 8-cabin gulet Sunworld IX
September 2026 – Cruising aboard the 8-cabin gulet Prenses Lila
Full board accommodation with water, tea and coffee and wine with dinner
Airport transfers on the first and last day of the tour
Travel by private minibus
Harbour fees and crew services
All entrance fees and tips on land
The services of your expert tour leaders throughout the entire trip
WiFi (coverage permitting)
Not included:
Flights and airport taxes
Visas
Travel insurance
Gratuities on the gulet. It is customary to tip the crew at the end of a tour (we recommend a minimum of 20Euro per day per guest)
Tips for guides
Jesper Blid
Jesper studied Classical Archaeology and Art History at Uppsala University in Sweden, before earning his doctorate at Stockholm University. He has worked as a researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lund University and Université of Bordeaux and as a Lecturer at Stockholm University and Uppsala University. His research primarily focuses on Greek and Roman monumental architecture. He has worked as an archaeologist in Greece, Italy, Turkey and Egypt and has published several books on the sanctuary of Zeus at Labraunda in Turkey.
Jesper's passion for the ancient world is distinctly visible in his work as an archaeological illustrator. Through his illustrations for European and American research projects, he strives to make ancient ruins come alive. Jesper led his first archaeological tour in 2004 and over the past 20+ years has led trips in Armenia, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. We are so pleased that our guests can enjoy and benefit from Jespers extensive knowledge and experience.
What previous guests have to say about Jesper:
"the highlight of the tour was visiting the archaeological sites with Jesper our wonderful archaeologist. He was perfect in every respect. Jesper is incredibly knowledgeable and shared his knowledge with us while on tour and if we had questions on the gulet. He was was also very helpful and kind. He went the extra mile every day. Pleasant and with a great sense of humor, he was a delightful traveling companion and guide!" Susan Noerdlinger
"a brilliant guide, Jesper was knowledgeable, personable and paced the learning perfectly with enthusiasm. Exceeded expectations." Susan Wrigley
"The guided tours of archaeological sites were exceptional due to having Jesper as our guide who can never be surpassed for knowledge and personality. A superb holiday!" Harold Phillips
"Jesper Bild was a fantastic guide. His enthusiasm, personal warmth, depth of knowledge and natural teaching skills made the sites come alive. He could rebuild them and repopulate in his mind and, consequently, in ours. And he a delight to have as a comrade on the boat. Jesper is a wonderful guide in every way. He's also fun to be around! We had deeply knowledgable and personable guides, an interesting group of fellow travelers and a lovely ship with a highly professional crew, as well as plenty of leisure time, good food and well executed educational trips to so many interesting archeological sites. I cannot say enough good things about my experience. Thank you." Ellen Polito
"Jesper were very knowledgeable and helpful - keeping everything interesting and accessible for us. We really loved having an expert archaeologist who could share his first-hand experience with the sites we were visiting. Each location was interesting and special. This was our first Peter Sommer trip - and we will be looking into our next one! Thank you!" Susan Tedesco
After a degree in archaeology Richard lived in Turkey working at the British Institute in Ankara as a resident archaeologist. He has travelled widely around the country over many years, surveying and excavating many celebrated sites, from a church with its mosaics falling into the sea at Sinop, to the hidden rock-cut villages of Cappadocia and the Byzantine palaces, fortifications and aqueducts of Constantinople.
His PhD. focused on the rise of Christianity in the Roman cities of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). After lecturing at Newcastle University, Richard has gone on to work in building design and heritage conservation. An experienced tour leader, he has led a wide range of groups on our tours in Turkey. Noted for his knowledge and enthusiasm we are thrilled to have him as one of our specialist guides.
What previous guests have to say about Richard:
"Richard was fascinating & entertaining. He shared his knowledge of Greek, Roman and Byzantine era's as well as modern Turkey in an interesting and informative way." Graham Blunn
"Over and above the professional excellence, Richard was entertaining, engaging and relaxed - great fun to be with. This was a flawless trip for us - a rare travelling experience. Wonderful scenery, a well judged itinerary and excellent guiding, food and accommodation." Matthew Taylor
"Richard’s brilliant guiding. Richard made this trip so interesting. We are not widely cultured in antiquity and there were much more cultured people in the group but Richard knew how to address us all and keep everyone’s interest up." Beatrice Philpott
"We felt incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from someone so accomplished in his field. Being complete novices, we had no idea that Archaic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman ruins could be so fascinating! This was all down to Richard's interesting and entertaining approach. We had a lot of fun debating historical conundrums with Richard, which only added to our pleasure during the site visits; the debates often continued when we were back onboard the gulet!" John Williams
"an experienced historian and archaeologist who guided us throughout with expertise and charm. I can say that this was one of the most interesting and enjoyable holidays I have experienced. I recommend unreservedly!" David Willoughby de Broke
Our Walking West Lycia journey is designed for guests who enjoy hiking on trails that are off the beaten track. Daily walks typically range between 5–6 miles (8–10km), and are for the most part sections of The Lycian Way, Turkey’s first national footpath, widely regarded as one of the best hiking trails in the world for its combination of stunning vistas, scenery, and the archaeological sites that litter the way. Surfaces are typically rocky, broken and uneven in places, so you do need to be fit with a good sense of balance, but the pace is unhurried, with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, archaeology, and expert commentary.
The tour is rated 5 out of 5 on our intensity scale, meaning it is classed as intensive, our highest, most challenging rating. You can find out more by visiting the fitness levels page on our website.
Will there be opportunities to swim?
Absolutely, yes — and they are one of the great pleasures of this journey. Depending on the day’s schedule, the gulet will anchor in a quiet bay or cove in the morning or afternoon, giving you time for a refreshing swim in crystal‑clear turquoise waters before or after a hike. On some days, according to where we overnight, you can also choose to swim first thing in the morning before breakfast. As well as cabin towels, swimming towels are also provided, together with floats, kayaks and paddle boards ladders.
What is life like aboard the gulet?
Your home for the week is a beautiful traditional Turkish gulet, offering comfort, character, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. All cabins are en‑suite and there are generous deck spaces for dining, reading, or simply watching the coastline drift by. Meals are freshly prepared on board, featuring superb traditional Turkish dishes and local produce. The gulet travels with us along the Lycian coast, meeting us at the end of each day’s walk — so you can enjoy the pleasure of walking in breathtaking scenery, discovering ancient ruins by day and then returning to the serenity of the sea and our beautiful boat each evening.
Who leads this tour?
Your expert guides are archaeologists and historians, together with certified local guides, with long experience of working in Turkey. Their knowledge of Lycia from the ancient Lycian civilisation through the classical world of Greece and Rome, through the Byzantine, medieval and Ottoman periods together with the region’s living traditions brings the sites and landscapes vividly to life. Please click on the tour experts’ names under the tour dates to read full bios and testimonials.
What kind of archaeological sites will we visit?
Lycia is one of Turkey’s most evocative historical landscapes, and this tour brings you to a rich variety of sites — some famous, others wonderfully remote and barely studied. Expect to explore mountain-top cities, provincial capitals and once prosperous ports together with a wide variety of fortifications, aqueducts, ancient roads, Roman baths, Lycian, Greek and Roman tombs, and much else besides. Many of the historic locations are accessible only on foot and little visited, offering a rare chance to encounter antiquity in its most authentic and unspoilt setting.
What should I bring for the walks?
We recommend lightweight walking boots or sturdy trail shoes, a small daypack, sun hat, sunscreen, and comfortable clothing suitable for warm Mediterranean weather. Hiking poles can be useful if you are used to them. You’ll only need to carry water and personal items during the walks (your guides will bring suitable local snacks and arrange lunches where necessary) — everything else stays safely aboard the gulet. A detailed packing list and infopack will be sent to you well before departure.
Hiking on one of the world's most renowned walking routes
Archaeological wonders: well known and off the beaten track
The turquoise coast of Turkey: beautiful and perfect for swimming
Testimonials
Thank you for a truly sensational trip this past week. A perfect balance of relaxation, ancient exploration, beauty, incredible food and very congenial company. We look forward to our next... thanks again from us both for an extraordinary trip!
Bernard Gustin & Belinda Shepard - Walking & Cruising Western Lycia
An excellent and well organised trip, that, strangely (and uniquely), catered for all tastes - walking, cruising, touring, architecture and history - in a happy and inclusive atmosphere. The catering and transport were excellent, as was the accommodation - which was also surprisingly spacious for a small boat. One felt as if one had been invited to cruise on their private yacht by old friends who had specially picked the other guests; and who were determined to cater for your every whim, while letting you enjoy the peace and serenity of the Lycian coast, about whose history and archaeology they were passionate.
Memo & Maria Spathis - Walking & Cruising Western Lycia
The combination of cruising, walking through fascinating archaeological sites, meeting friendly Turkish villagers, swimming in warm clear waters and being fed delicious healthy Turkish food in good company - is just a winner. It is the best holiday we have ever had. Many thanks for your meticulous attention to our comfort.
Our light tours include easy walks on mostly flat ground, often in towns or cities. Short stretches on tracks or paths may include some steps and uneven terrain. Each walk in a day is typically of short duration and distance, usually below 3km/2 miles or 2 hours, each specific site tour likewise tends to be under 2 hours.
Moderate:
On moderate itineraries, key site tours can be of up to 5 hours’ duration. Walks are rarely over 2 hours in duration and 5km/3 miles in distance. Walking is mostly limited to flat terrain or towns, but some stretches may be on relatively steep slopes and narrow paths.
Intermediate:
Our intermediate tours include stretches of walking on narrow tracks, across rough terrain or on steep slopes. Distances rarely exceed 5km/3 miles, but some walks may last over 2 hours. On city tours, entire mornings or afternoons are spent on foot (5 hours, including breaks). Site tours last up to 5 hours.
Energetic:
On energetic tours, we cover distances up to approx. 8km/5 miles per day, including walks on rocky and rugged ground, sometimes off the beaten track, including some challenging tracks, paths requiring a good sense of balance, and long uphill or downhill stretches. Average walking/hiking duration is generally below 4 hours per day.
Intensive:
Our most intensive walking and hiking tours or cruises include some strenuous walks on rough ground or across rugged terrain, ascents or descents on steep slopes (mostly on pathways), narrow tracks and other challenges. The longest walks have a duration of up to 6 hours, covering maximum distances of approx. 16km/10 miles.
