Eastern Lycia :: SRM Travel

Lord Mountains, forested slopes, hilly hikes, idyllic ancient cities.

4 days / 3 nights

Itinerary Details

Day 1: PHASELIS - CLEOPATRA BEACH - YANARTAŞ - ÇIRALI

Meet your guide and private support vehicle at Antalya Airport, then set out for the ancient city of Phaselis. En route, your guide will introduce the region and the history of the Lycians. Founded in the 7th century BC, Phaselis is both idyllic and picturesque — pine and laurel trees grow down to the water’s edge, and the reflection of the Taurus Mountains dances across the harbors. Swimming here is an extraordinary experience, with the peaks mirrored beneath you; it feels as if you are gliding high above them. Stroll along the colonnaded street, explore the Roman baths, and enjoy a swim in one of its sheltered bays.

Continue to Cleopatra Beach for a walk along the shoreline past Maden and Kral bays, where the sea meets forested slopes. In the afternoon, drive to Ulupınar to follow a forest trail into Yanartaş National Park, home to the natural eternal flames known since antiquity. The gentle flicker of the flames against the rocky slope is as captivating today as it was to ancient mariners. Transfer to Çıralı, your base for the next three nights.

Walking distance: 12–18 km (decide on the spot)
Altitude change: −490

Sleep in Çıralı.

Day 2: SANTA CLAUS - MYRA – CHURCH OF THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL

Drive to Demre to visit the Church of St. Nicholas — the 4th-century bishop known today as Santa Claus. Renowned for performing acts of charity discreetly, he was born and lived on this Mediterranean coast — with no sleigh pulled by reindeer, but in the warmth of the southern sun. The early Byzantine basilica stands over his original tomb and preserves frescoes and marble floors.

Continue to Myra, where the cliff face is honeycombed with Lycian rock-cut tombs, and the Roman theatre stands in impressive condition. From here, head inland to Belören and begin a walk-through high flatlands on the mountain range, the territory of timeless nomadic animal herders. It is not uncommon to meet them along the trail, moving their flocks across the plateau. The route leads to Ala Kilise — Church of the Archangel Gabriel, a partly ruined Byzantine church with fine masonry and fragments of colorful frescoes.

On the way back to Zeytin, the walk follows gentle gradients across an open plateau before descending steadily into the valley. The village — its name meaning “olive” in English — is gracefully beautiful, with dark, pine-clad mountains rising behind a lush valley of wheat fields, reminiscent of scenes from The Sound of Music.

Drive back to Çıralı.

Walking distance: 10 - 15 km (decide on the spot)
Altitude change: +150 m / −270 m

Sleep in Çıralı.

Day 3: YALNIZ & OLUKLU PLATEAUS - ANCIENT ARYKANDA 

Today’s hike traverses the Yalnız and Oluklu plateaus — broad, open landscapes dotted with seasonal wildflowers, grazing animals, and distant views of the mountain ridges. The air is clear and cool, and the sound of goat bells carries across the meadows. You are likely to come across beekeepers and nomad families who follow the tradition of their forefathers and use the very same tracks and camp sites for generations. Stop by a family to taste their ayran and experience their famous hospitality.

In the afternoon, explore Arykanda, one of the most beautifully situated ancient cities in Lycia, cascading down a steep mountainside. The site preserves a wide variety of tombs: distinctive Lycian saddle-topped sarcophagi, rock-cut chamber tombs, and elaborate Roman sarcophagi. Walk through the remains of the theatre, the agora, bath complexes, and the stadium, all set against sweeping views over the valley below. The combination of natural settings and finely built stonework makes Arykanda a highlight for both its archaeology and its atmosphere.

Return to Çıralı in the late afternoon.

Walking distance: 16 km
Altitude change: +714 m / −1,176 m

Sleep in Çıralı.

Day 4: ÇIRALI - GELİDONYA LIGHTHOUSE

From your hotel in Çıralı, set out for one of Lycian Way’s most celebrated walks. The trail leaves the village and soon rises into pine-scented hills, accompanied by wide views of the turquoise coastline. The route undulates along the slopes, with Susuz Island and the curve of the shoreline appearing through the trees.

After a few hours of meandering along the coast, past harbors that sheltered pirates once, you reach Cape Chelidonia, a shipping nightmare for millennia, tipped with small islands which either drive ships off course or present dangerous underwater reefs. The Gelidonya Lighthouse, which has long warned seafarers, now offers the most picturesque panoramas in Turkey. Just off the shore lies the site of the Gelidonya shipwreck, a Late Bronze Age vessel that sank over 3,000 years ago. Excavated in 1960, it was the first ancient wreck studied with modern underwater archaeology. Its cargo of metal ingots, tools, and Canaanite amphorae reveals the far-reaching metal trade of the time.

Standing on a headland, the lighthouse commands sweeping views of the cape and the chain of islands scattered in the sea. After taking time to rest and take in the view, continue walking for about an hour to meet your vehicle. The journey ends with a transfer to the airport or to the next stage of your Turkish adventure.

Walking distance: 18 km
Altitude change: +894 M / -835M → +894 m / −835 m