East Lycian Way Hiking Tour – 5 Days

Today's hiking route begins at the Ancient City of Olympos, crosses over Musa Mountain, and ends in Adrasan. The first part of our 18 km walk passes through a forest made up of sandalwood and laurel trees. On the other side of the mountain, the path continues through a pine forest. During our hike, we ascend from sea level up to 700 meters and then descend back to sea level. At the highest point of our walk, those who wish can join us to explore Hadrianopolis, a hidden ancient city. After approximately six hours of hiking, we return to Çıralı.

After breakfast, we reach Kuzudere Plateau with about a half-hour drive. Our hike starts from here, following a trail that descends from the north of Tahtalı Mountain to Beycik. The route begins in pine forests at 1,000 meters, soon turns into cedar forests within an hour, continues to the mountain pass of Tahtalı at 1,800 meters, and ends in Beycik at 900 meters amid cedar and pine groves.

Optionally, we can summit Tahtalı Mountain (2,365 meters), but the descent will be via cable car. At the end of the hike, we return to our hotel and witness the last sunset in Çıralı.

On the last day of our tour, we will embark on our most photogenic route. We start our hike from an old camel farm. Accompanied by the smiles of Adrasan Bay and the ridges running parallel to the coastline, we begin a diagonal ascent through the pine forest. With the sea and islands as our companions, this trail is perhaps the most scenic route of the Lycian Way. In spring, beautiful cyclamens decorate the paths. When we arrive at the Gelidonya Lighthouse, built in 1936, the view will once again take our breath away. The lighthouse operates with a timed mechanism and gas cylinders. With the sight of the five islands behind it, Gelidonya Lighthouse has become the symbol of the Lycian Way.

The original name of Gelidonya was actually Kaledonya. In the Lycian language, Kaledonya means swallow. The region took this name because migratory swallows, traveling from Egypt, used to rest here, and thus the area's name became Gelidonya from Kaledonya. According to one story, swallows would drown at sea at night because they couldn't see during migration. A sailor named Captain Ali supposedly placed the lighthouse in Gelidonya and on the opposite Five Islands so swallows could see them. After a long photo break here, we take a swimming break at Melanipe, also known as Pirate Bay, and then return to our hotel in Adrasan.

Kahvaltının ardından son günümüze başlıyoruz. Yarım saatlik yolculukla Phaselis Antik Kenti'ne varıyoruz. MÖ 7. yüzyıla dayanan geçmişi ile bir yarımada üzerine kurulu bu liman kenti Likya Medeniyeti ile tanışmamızı sağlayacak. Ağaçlar arasındaki kent kalıntıları ve limanı ile güzel bir hoşgeldin olacak. Kent içindeki 1 saatlik anlatımın ardından 1 saat de antik limanda veya plajda yüzme molası veriyoruz. Sonrasından saat 14:30 uçuşları ile dönmek üzere 13:00’de Antalya Havalimanına varıyoruz. 

Bir başka BUKLA TUR gezisinde görüşmek üzere.