Lonely coves, clear blue waters, pristine beaches, yachts and gulets, the occasional harbour town and of course a string of fascinating archaeological sites. That's our usual experience of the Turkish coasts, as we follow them on our gulet cruises and escorted tours. An experience we love to share...
But there is another, also beautiful but totally different, world to be found along those very same shores of Turkey. Just a number of steps further inland and a little higher up the slopes, there is a landscape of soaring cliffs and mountainsides, of far-reaching views across land and sea, of untouched nature and of long walks on ancient roads and traditional tracks.
The Lycian Way, first established in 1999, is rightly famous. It was the first long-distance walking track in Turkey, but has since spawned many further projects, including the Carian Trail. The Lycian Way takes walkers through a vast variety of landscapes along the shore of that historical region in southern Turkey. It includes a multitude of archaeological sites from all periods along the track, but the true focus is on the experience of walking, nature and landscape.
Walking is of course the best way to engage with an area, to gain a deeper sense of understanding, and experience a sense of intimacy with terrain and topography.
Exploring its western parts, we admire the incredible views of Ölüdeniz Lagoon, one of the most famous Turkish seaside resorts, from high up the shoulder of Mt. Babadağ. We encounter half-abandoned hamlets, cross forbidding rocky slopes and enjoyed the serenity of paradise-like lush valleys. We walk through a whole series of ever-changing vistas, sometimes in bright sunshine, often shaded by trees, and once chilled by the very clouds. We observ birds, squirrels, donkeys and horses, and a lot of plant life, ranging from little flowers to gnarled ancient trees. We also consume the landscape, drinking clear cool water from mountain springs and picking wild mulberries off the trees. At times local bee-keepers share their honey or various fruits with us...
On our Lycian hiking tours, these rich impressions of a wilder and more rural Turkey are enriched by the variety of intriguing historical and archaeological sites we visit along the way. Imagine walking along the line of the 2,000 year old Roman aqueduct that brought water to the great harbour city of Patara, and then seeing the city itself. Figure yourself strolling on a rocky shore between the mysterious graves and sarcophagi of the long-forgotten Lycians, or discovering a whole Roman necropolis surrounding a remote mountain village. Can you see yourself setting out from a 2500-year-old hilltop fort, your eyes already trained on the next destination, a (merely 1000-year old) medieval castle?
You can share this depth of experience and engagement with us on our 1-week or 2-week Walking and Cruising tours in Lycia.
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