The Lycian Way

According to the Sunday Times the Lycian Way in Turkey is one of the ten most beautiful long distance hikes of the world. The Lycian Way route is graded medium to hard; it is not level walking on the Lycian Way, but has many ascents and descents as it approaches and veers away from the sea. The Lycian Way is easier at the start near Fethiye and Faralya and gets more difficult as it progresses. We recommend walking the Lycian Way route in spring or autumn; February-May or September-November; although you could walk short, shady sections. The Lycian Way route is mainly over footpaths and mule trails; it is mostly over limestone and often hard and stony underfoot. On the first part of the Lycian Way, and in Faralya, Patara, Kalkan, Kas, Myra, Finike, Adrasan, Olympos, Cirali and Tekirova, you can stay in pensions or small hotels on the Lycian Way. On other nights, you may stay in a village house, or camp out. There are plenty of camping places on the Lycian Way route with nearby water mentioned in the book; you do not have to ask permission to camp out. With thanks to www.lycianway.com

The wider area called Lycia is located on the Teke peninsula between Fethiye and the Gulf of Antalya. This route, starting from Fethiye and extending to Antalya, is about 540 km long. The Lycian Way was researched during the 1990s by Kate Clow and waymarked in 1999 sponsered by a Turkish bank. Her guidebook was published in 2000. The Lycian Way has become one of the best hiking trails in the world since then. Detailed information is available in the form of books and maps.

Faralya is located at the beginning of the entire trekking route reaching Antalya. It is basically at the middle point of the first and second tracks: first track is Hisarönü-Kirme-Faralya and the second track is Faralya-Kabak-Alınca.

The first track, known as the beginning of the Lycian Way, is also one of the pleasant routes. It is a rather easy start to the whole Lycian Way.  Starting in the morning from Hisaronu (a settlement between Fethiye and  Ölüdeniz, you would arrive to Faralya towards the end of the day, and possibly enjoy an amazing sunset over the sea. Overall, from Hisarönü to Faralya is a 13km long track, which is ideal for the first day to warm up.

The second track starts from Faralya and ends in Alınca. There is Kabak Bay between Faralya and Alınca. If you wish to take this route, you can take a break in Kabak Bay and relax for a day. Or you can walk directly between Faralya and Alınca without going down to the Kabak Bay. The signs on the route will guide you.

There is also an alternative route to Kabak from Faralya along the seaside, a section of Fethiye Alternative Walking Trails network When you arrive Faralya from Kirme, in Hisar area at the top of the Butterfly Valley follow the path which leads to the sea along the southern cliffs of the Butterfly Valley. This route has several beautiful spots including a high cliff view of the Butterfly Valley, Aktas Beach, Sömbeki Cove and Çukuryurt before reaching Kabak Bay, where you may chose to rest or follow the route to climb up to Alinca.

Source: Faralya Visitor’s Guide