A fantastic walking and hiking tour in Turkey that combines a cruise along this beautiful and undeveloped coast with walks along the Carian Trail, one of Turkey’s most spectacular footpaths. With its herb-lined paths, atmospheric ruins and hills swathed in pine and olive, this epic hiking route, some 500 miles long, will give you a real sense of remote, undiscovered Turkey. You’ll follow some of its very best stretches, averaging about 5-6 miles walking a day with a traditional gulet ever present offshore, providing elegant transport, dining and accommodation.
Aboard our traditional and stylish Turkish gulet, our ever changing horizon is a wild, remote and mountainous landscape cut into long peninsulas, deep inlets, and secluded coves, perfect places for swimming, snorkelling or kayaking.
On foot we will be able to discover many remote archaeological sites and wonders, like the ghost village of Karamaka, abandoned by its Greek inhabitants during the exchange of populations in 1923; and Loryma, one of the most romantic and picturesque areas on the Turkish coast. From shepherds’ trails to forest tracks, goat paths to ancient roads, we’ll be walking back through time with beautiful views at every turn.
You’ll come across seemingly lost Byzantine churches in dramatic settings, Ottoman cisterns in forgotten valleys, and a myriad of ancient tombs. This stretch of coast has been a vital and strategic thoroughfare throughout history and the wealth of archaeological sites is testament to its importance. You’ll explore beautifully preserved Knidos, a monumental marbled city arranged around a double harbour, one of the greatest archaeological gems on Turkey’s southwest coast. You’ll also encounter a great many sites like Lydae and Phoenix that have yet to be properly studied, yet to receive any excavation or detailed survey. More often than not we’ll be the only people exploring the historic ruins on our journey.
This tour weaves together a cornucopia of simple pleasures: magnificent sites, quiet coves, wondrous hikes and glorious swims. As with all our gulet cruises in Turkey, delicious Turkish food is a key component. We’ll enjoy beautiful lunches and dinners freshly prepared on-board by the gulet’s cook, delicious picnics amongst ancient ruins and sumptuous meals at traditional local restaurants.
From rocky coastal paths and wooded paths cushioned with pine needles to stepped roads cut into the bedrock by ancient hands, this is a trip packed full of fascinating antiquities, superb swim stops and breath-taking panoramas.
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Day 1: Your gulet awaits you in the harbour of historic Bodrum, about 40 minutes from Bodrum airport. Home to an impressive Crusader castle and the site of the ancient Mausoleum of Halicarnassus it is a truly appropriate place to begin.
Day 2: Our first voyage takes us to a beautiful bay to the south of Bodrum, where we head ashore and hike through splendid landscapes, ancient ruins and magnificent seascapes aplenty, to the spectacular Greek and Roman city of Knidos. Set at the tip of a long and sinewy peninsula, with a double harbour offering shelter to ships plying north and south, Knidos made its mark on Greek history and grew rich from its stunning natural position, and we’ll see the results in the grand and ordered city rising in tier upon opulent tier. Decades of excavation have freed a beautifully planned city from the soil, allowing us to wander through its streets and along terraces festooned with temples. We re-join our gulet, anchored in the Knidos’s eastern harbour, like many a classical predecessor, with the ancient city all around us.
Day 3: We head east through the necropolis of Knidos, one of the most extensive of antiquity, stretching some 7km beyond the city gates. Hiking along the hills, with gorgeous views out towards several of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, we reach the famed Lion tomb of Knidos, perched atop a small headland jutting out to sea. Excavated by Sir Charles Newton in 1858, the colossal marble lion that once graced the apex of the tomb is now one of the highlights of the British Museum. In the afternoon we cruise east for splendid swimming opportunities.
Day 4: We go ashore in a remote bay and walk up to the seemingly lost village of Karamaka, occupied by Greeks until the extraordinary population swap of Christians and Moslems between Greece and Turkey following the First World War. On a hill gazing out to sea and the island of Symi, stand the ruins of windmill, churches and houses. We then hike through wild and beautiful terrain to the ancient harbour of Loryma, a very strategic bay in ancient times, ringed with ruins, where we overnight.
Day 5: This morning we head a short way inland to Phoenix, from an idyllic narrow cove whose waters once covered the shipwreck of a Byzantine vessel filled with glass, revealed in a ground-breaking American excavation. More vessels remain in the sea’s grip beneath. Phoenix itself is a wild and remote citadel city, with beautiful landscapes and grand vistas all around, almost untouched by archaeologists. We hike from Phoenix along roads cut into the bedrock over 2,000 years ago, discovering remarkable pyramidal stones and all manner of ancient ruins as well as abandoned modern houses that utilised ancient inscriptions, statue bases and doorways within their walls. In the afternoon, we cruise north to relax and swim in a delightful bay.
Day 6: We head east and take a flat-bottomed river boat up the reed-walled Dalyan River. Our route twists and turns through narrow waterways. We'll see some of the finest rock cut tombs in Asia Minor, stunning temple type facades carved into cliffs. We'll also hike through pine clad hills, off the beaten track, to discover some of the best-preserved fortifications from the 4th century BC, most likely built by Mausolus, who gives his name to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. We'll trek beside giant towers, curtain walls and gateways, built out of vast carved blocks of stone, with grand views over the ancient city of Kaunos (once protected by these grand defences) and out across the meandering river to the glittering Mediterranean.
Day 7: We hike up an ancient track, with part of the original road surfacing visible in places, to crest a ridge crowned with monumental tombs. These majestic mausolea, look out towards the Mediterranean Sea and also look over the isolated ancient settlement of Lydae, its ruins a diffusion of sculpture and inscriptions in the bowl of a valley silent but for the occasional tinkle of goat bells. Two thousand years ago, a city flourished here, now it lies beautifully desolate at the hand of earthquakes, leaving mounds of sculpted rubble, a scatter of ancient buildings and, strewn between, a profusion of ancient sculptures and inscriptions, columns and capitals, lying as if they’d never before been found. We hike past olive presses and a profusion of tombs, down a splendid track to a picturesque bay, popularly referred to as Cleopatra’s, which lies on one side of a narrow isthmus that was completely walled off probably some 1,500 years ago. Here we re-join our gulet and enjoy a final swim before heading to our final port of call, the lovely little town of Göcek.
Day 8: Transfer from your gulet to Dalaman airport, about 30 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 – Bodrum (Milas)
Departure Airport – Dalaman
Arrival Location – Bodrum Harbour (approx. 40 mins from airport)
Departure Location – Gocek Marina (approx. 30 mins from airport)
Embarkation and departure is planned for approx.17:00. 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 17:00 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 17:00, 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 hiking on our Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast tour. We believe that’s a key part of its appeal. The walks we do are for the most part sections of the Carian Trail, 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 and there are occasions when the landscape we are passing through can have some prickly vegetation. You do need to be fit with a good sense of balance. There are some long stretches of uphill and downhill hiking. 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. Across the week, the average distance is about 5-6 miles a day (approx 3 hours), but it’s not really the distance that you need to bear in mind, but the terrain. We take all the hikes at a leisurely pace, with some wonderful sites and great swims thrown in for good measure. 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:Â 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.
Suggested Books: If you’d like to read about Caria in advance of the trip, do take a look at our Carian Turkey: Book Suggestions
Tour Includes: October 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
Richard Bayliss
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
UÄźur studied for his guiding course at Aegean University in Ä°zmir before completing a degree in Tourism Management at the Mediterranean University in Antalya. Driven by his passion for nature, he pursued additional specialised courses on flora and fauna and received certification as an expert in 2005. He has also been awarded an expert-level certificate in Arts and Culture Guiding in Istanbul and additionally has a mountain guide license, a qualification held by less than 150 professionals in Turkey.
In 2015, UÄźur returned to academia to study Equine Studies at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Istanbul University, further broadening his understanding of animal science and rural environments. Since 2011 UÄźur has led a wide range of tours in Turkey for Peter Sommer Travels, accompanying many of our expert historians and archaeologists, continually learning from their extensive knowledge. When he is not guiding, UÄźur is a keen beekeeper and semi-amateur farmer, always striving to maintain a close connection to nature and sustainable living.
"UÄźur was so charming, caring, considerate and patient. He looked after everyone and everything, and seemed to get on well with everyone -- captain, crew, guests." James Best
"UÄźur was a great guide. His organizational skills are excellent and he was very capable juggling the gulet, the crew, the weather, the guests etc and making everything quite seamless for us. He is also very kind and curious. We loved our trip with Peter Sommer Travels. The people involved, the sites, everything was great. It was so nice to able to visit all these sites with knowledgeable guides and return to our beautiful gulet for a relaxing and enjoyable evening." Donald Cretin
"The guides were superb - both extremely informative and always very helpful and patient. UÄźur has tons of knowledge, able to answer all questions about modern Turkey, logistics etc. Went out of his way to figure out things (e.g. random questions we had about calligraphy etc.). Very capable of problem solving as challenges came up. An incredible guide." Arush Sarwar
"Dr Athena Trakadas and tour guide Uğur Çinar were a powerful combination of high intelligence and competence in making this wee expedition rewarding. Mr Çinar was just fun to be around, always helpful and amusing. Both were very enthusiastic. The trip exceeded my expectations. Excellent." Edward Michael Shumate
"We benefitted enormously from having UÄźur, our second guide with us onboard and on visits. We learnt a lot about Turkey from him. He was amusing, interesting and interested, a perfect guest-facing individual. Overall, we all thought our trip was a great success and very good value for money and we would love to take advantage of another Peter Sommer Travels trip in the future." John Williams
"The two guides were my favorite part of the tour. Both Richard and Uğur were exceptionally kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. I’d like to adopt them both as sons. With his fluency in his native language, I believe Ugur was a vital member of the team. A really wonderful human being who gave me his hand on more occasions than I can count. With delightful fellow guests, two extraordinary guides, delicious food, and the most accommodating crew on an elegant gulet, I loved my two week Lycian Shore cruise. I will forever treasure the experience." Margaret Guiler
"The whole tour was a highlight! Having excellent guides gave an extra depth to whatever we saw. UÄźur was a perfect gentleman. His quiet helpfulness was loved and respected by all. Organisation was superb. Even when things were tricky he was unruffled and things got sorted. A lovely man. He was always there when needed." Morwenna Fletcher
Our Walking and Cruising the Carian 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 Carian Trail, 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 Carian 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 Caria from the ancient Carian 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?
Caria 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 hilltop forts, provincial towns and once prosperous ports together with a wide variety of other ruins from fortifications to aqueducts, ancient roads to Roman baths, magnificent tombs and Byzantine churches, 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 the Carian Trail, 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
This was a well organised and exciting trip delving into the history of the area. The gulet was very spacious and comfortable and the food nutritious, delicious and well cooked. The walking was quite challenging for me but manageable and at a steady pace. The views were stunning. A very interesting trip accessible for a complete amateur with no knowledge of archaeology due to the dynamic presentation. Our tour leader was very interesting, recounting the history of the sites visited in a very accessible manner. The tour manager was excellent and it was all very enjoyable. Very well organised from beginning to end. I really recommend this trip.
Val Bale - Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast
Wonderful holiday in a remote part of southern Turkey walking the Carian trail and staying on a Turkish gulet. We felt privileged to explore this trail with an excellent tour guide and local guide. I think we only met three other walkers. The food on the gulet was exceptionally nutritious and well presented and the crew were wonderfully adaptive and responsive to clients needs.
Bill Castleden - Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast
Excellent gulet trip in South West Turkey. The holiday provided a highly enjoyable means of exploring a relatively deserted coastline, based on a comfortable gulet with excellent food and swimming opportunities but with the added interest of hikes of 3-4 hours a day, including visits to archaeological and historical sites. Peter Sommer Travels has been a consistently excellent provider of cultural tours for small groups - I have now been on 5 holidays with them, either cruising or cruising/walking in South West Turkey or the Dodecanese, and have greatly enjoyed them all.
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.
