All 26 Stages of the Lycian Way
540 km from Fethiye to Antalya — explore every stage of Turkey's greatest long-distance trail.
The Lycian Way (Likya Yolu) is a 540 km long-distance hiking trail running along Turkey's southwest coast from Fethiye in the west to Antalya in the east. Walking the full route takes roughly 25–30 days; the trail is divided into 26 stages (including two alternate inland routes) so hikers can plan day-by-day, walk a section, or tackle the whole thing. For an overview of how the stages connect, see the interactive trail map; for fitness preparation, the 12-week training plan walks you through the build-up.
Each stage page below has its own distance, elevation profile, difficulty grade, terrain notes, water and shade availability, and a description of what you'll see along the way. Tap any stage to read the full guide. Walking weather varies sharply by month — see the best time to hike guide before you book flights.
How the trail is divided
Western coast (stages 1–7): Fethiye to Patara via Ölüdeniz, Faralya, Alınca, and the Patara dunes. Coastal cliffs, pine forest, the Mediterranean lagoon at Butterfly Valley, and the UNESCO twin cities of Xanthos and Letoon. Mostly moderate; sections of mountain.
Central coast and Kekova (stages 8–13): Kalkan, Kaş, the sunken city of Kekova, Aperlae, and Üçağız. The most photogenic section — clifftop paths, rock-cut Lycian tombs, ancient harbours. Generally accessible.
Demre and Olympos (stages 14–18): Demre's Lycian Necropolis, the long Karaöz beach, and into the chimera-flames region above Olympos. Mixed coastal and forest terrain.
Olympos to Antalya mountains (stages 19–27): The rugged eastern section over the Beydağları range, past Mount Tahtalı (2,366 m), and down to the eastern outskirts of Antalya. The hardest stages of the route — exposed ridgelines, long climbs, technical terrain.
1ModerateFethiye to Ovacık
Fethiye → Ovacık trailhead
2ModerateOvacık to Faralya
Ovacık trailhead → Faralya
3HardFaralya to Alınca
Faralya → Alınca
3aModerateFaralya to Karaağaç (Coastal Loop)
Faralya → Karaağaç
3bModerateKabak to Boğaziçi (Coastal Path)
Kabak → Boğaziçi
4HardAlınca to Bel
Alınca → Bel
4aHardBakacak to Bel via Hisar
Bakacak → Bel
4bModerateGey to Hisar (Connector)
Gey → Hisar
5HardBel to Gavurağılı
Bel → Gavurağılı
5aHardBel to Letoon (Çataltepe High Route)
Bel → Letoon
6EasyGavurağılı to Letoon/Xanthos
Gavurağılı → Xanthos
7EasyXanthos to Patara
Xanthos → Patara
8ModeratePatara to Kalkan
Patara → Kalkan
9HardKalkan to Kaş
Kalkan → Kaş
10ModerateKaş to Limanağzı
Kaş → Limanağzı beach
11ModerateLimanağzı to Aperlae
Limanağzı → Aperlae
12ModerateAperlae to Üçağız
Aperlae → Üçağız
13HardÜçağız to Andriake/Demre
Üçağız → Demre
13aModerateDavazlar to Alakent (Upper Route)
Davazlar → Alakent
13bModerateKapaklı to Karabucak (South Shore)
Kapaklı → Karabucak
14Very hardDemre to Finike
Demre → Finike
15ModerateFinike to Karaöz
Finike → Karaöz
16HardKaraöz to Adrasan
Karaöz → Adrasan
17HardAdrasan to Olympos
Adrasan → Olympos
18EasyOlympos to Çıralı
Olympos → Çıralı
19aHardÇıralı to Beycik (Inland Alternative)
Çıralı → Beycik
20HardÇıralı to Tekirova (Coastal Route)
Çıralı → Tekirova
21EasyTekirova to Phaselis
Tekirova → Phaselis
21aVery hardBeycik to Gedelme via Tahtalı (Mountain Alternative)
Beycik → Gedelme
21bModerateBeycik to Çukuryayla (Valley Route)
Beycik → Çukuryayla
21cModerateYaylakuzdere to Gedelme
Yaylakuzdere → Gedelme
22HardPhaselis to Gedelme
Phaselis → Gedelme
22aEasyPhaselis to Çamyuva (Teleferik Road)
Phaselis → Çamyuva
23HardGedelme to Göynük
Gedelme → Göynük
24HardGöynük to Hisarçandır
Göynük → Hisarçandır
25HardHisarçandır to Geyikbayırı
Hisarçandır → Geyikbayırı
25aModerateHisarçandır to Çandır (Eastern Path)
Hisarçandır → Çandır
26HardGeyikbayırı to Antalya
Geyikbayırı → Aşağı Karaman (Antalya)
26aHardGeyikbayırı to Antalya via Çakırlar
Kozağacı (Geyikbayırı) → Aşağı Karaman (Çakırlar)
Frequently asked questions about the stages
How many days does the full Lycian Way take?
Most thru-hikers complete the 540 km route in 25–30 walking days, plus 2–4 rest days at scenic stops like Kaş or Çıralı. Faster hikers do it in 22–25 days; relaxed walkers including extra rest days can take 35+. Daily distances range from 2.3 km to 54.1 km depending on the stage, with most between 14 km and 22 km. See the full distance breakdown by section and stage.
Which stages are the most beautiful?
The most photographed stretches are Ovacık to Faralya (Butterfly Valley views), Kalkan to Kaş (two-day inland traverse via Gökçeören), Aperlae to Üçağız (Kekova sunken city panoramas), and Olympos to Çıralı (chimera flames at night). The eastern mountain stages from Beycik via Tahtalı are spectacular but demanding.
Which stages are easiest for beginners?
The central coastal stages are typically the most accessible — Patara to Kalkan, Kaş to Limanağzı and Aperlae to Üçağız are moderate-difficulty, with reliable accommodation, water sources and clear way-marking. The Kalkan to Kaş stage between them is 54.1 km inland and graded hard — most walkers take the dolmuş. Easier still: pick a Highlights tour for first-timers or do a 2–3 day section walk before committing to a longer trip. Full stage-by-stage difficulty rating.
Where do you sleep on each stage?
Most stages end in a village or small town with at least one pension, guesthouse, or boutique hotel. Some isolated stages end at a single trekkers' lodge — book ahead in peak season. The accommodation directory lists every verified place along the trail by stage. Wild camping is tolerated on most of the trail but only practical on a few stages with reliable water sources.
Are stages well-marked?
Yes — the entire trail is way-marked with red-and-white painted blazes (the standard Grande Randonnée system). Markers appear roughly every 50 m on rocks, trees, or walls. The route is also fully covered by our offline GPS app, which is recommended as a backup, especially in fog or for the inland mountain stages where blazes can be faded.
Can I skip stages or shorten the trail?
Absolutely — most hikers do. Local dolmuş minibuses connect many trailheads to nearby towns, so you can walk a section, ride to the next, and resume. Popular shortened versions: Fethiye to Patara (7–8 days, all coast), Patara to Demre (6–7 days, Lycian sites), or Olympos to Antalya (8 days, mountains). Each stage page lists transport access.