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Stony Lycian Way path along a scrub-covered clifftop above the sea near Kirme

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Teke Peninsula (Lycia), Türkiye · Türkiye

Lycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara) trek: grade, cost & permits

On length: you will see both 540 km and 760 km, sometimes on the same official page. 540 km (29 days) is the original Fethiye-to-Antalya line Kate Clow waymarked in 1999. 760 km (35 days) is today's network after the 2022 guidebook added the St Nicholas Ways above Demre, the Lyra Way around Mt Olympos, other alternative stages, and moved the end to Geyikbayırı. Quote 760 km as the current full length. The west end is the best first taste: about 6 days from Ölüdeniz over the cliffs above Butterfly Valley and Kabak, up to Alınca at about 700 m, through Gey and Bel, and down to the 18 km beach and Roman city at Patara. Pensions with dinner and breakfast are in almost every village; the trail passes about 25 ancient sites in all. Instead of the packed resort beaches, you walk past them. Our cost is per person for 6 days at about €30 a day (a 2026 estimate for cheap pensions and camping) plus local buses; staying in pensions every night will cost more.

Photo: Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

GradeHard
Duration6 days (Ölüdeniz to Patara); full trail about 35 days
Highest point730 m
SeasonFebruary to May and September to November, per the trail's founders (they especially recommend February). Summer is too hot for long walks. In 2026 Muğla province (the western end) banned entry to 50 forest areas from 1 June to 31 October for wildfire risk.
Cost from base₹18,000per person
BaseÖlüdeniz / Ovacık, near Fethiye, about 2 hours from Dalaman airport

On length: you will see both 540 km and 760 km, sometimes on the same official page. 540 km (29 days) is the original Fethiye-to-Antalya line Kate Clow waymarked in 1999. 760 km (35 days) is today's network after the 2022 guidebook added the St Nicholas Ways above Demre, the Lyra Way around Mt Olympos, other alternative stages, and moved the end to Geyikbayırı. Quote 760 km as the current full length. The west end is the best first taste: about 6 days from Ölüdeniz over the cliffs above Butterfly Valley and Kabak, up to Alınca at about 700 m, through Gey and Bel, and down to the 18 km beach and Roman city at Patara. Pensions with dinner and breakfast are in almost every village; the trail passes about 25 ancient sites in all. Instead of the packed resort beaches, you walk past them. Our cost is per person for 6 days at about €30 a day (a 2026 estimate for cheap pensions and camping) plus local buses; staying in pensions every night will cost more.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groups
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Step 2 of 7Next: Route

The route

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On the map

Lycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara) · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

341 m174 m18 m729 m630 m659 m7 m Start · 341 mEnd · 7 m 729 m

How to reach the start

Fly into Dalaman. Havaş airport buses run to Fethiye several times a day, or take a taxi to Dalaman bus station and a bus to Fethiye. From outside Fethiye bus station, frequent minibuses (dolmuş) go to Ölüdeniz and pass the start of the trail, and on to Faralya and Kabak. At the Patara end, frequent buses run from the Xanthos bridge and Esen back to Fethiye. The whole coast has local buses roughly every half-hour in daylight, so you can join or leave the trail almost anywhere.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 7Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: No permit or trail fee. The route was created and is maintained by the Culture Routes Society (Kültür Rotaları Derneği) in Antalya, which publishes the guidebook, maps and an accommodation list. You pay entry only at the ancient sites you choose to visit, such as Patara, Letoon and Xanthos (Ministry of Culture and Tourism sites); check the current fee before you go. Wild camping is allowed, but not inside forest areas closed for fire season.
GuideNot needed
Seasonal closureNo seasonal closure of the trail itself, but in fire season Turkish governors close forest areas to all entry: in 2026 Muğla closed 50 forest areas from 1 June to 31 October, including Kayaköy-Ölüdeniz and areas in Fethiye and Seydikemer districts, which the western section crosses. Check the Muğla and Antalya governorates' current lists before walking from June to October.
Travel adviceNo FCDO warning covers this coast; FCDO advises against travel only within 10 km of the Syria border, far to the east. FCDO flags high wildfire risk April-October and regional Middle East tensions that could disrupt flights.

Official permit or booking page ↗

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 7Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 7Next: Cost

What it costs

Your group, from the base₹36,000
Couple · from Ölüdeniz / Ovacık, near Fethiye, about 2 hours from Dalaman airport
Per person₹18,000

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Ölüdeniz / Ovacık is extra.

Step 6 of 7Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Lycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara) trek?

Hard grade. It takes 6 days (Ölüdeniz to Patara); full trail about 35 days and climbs to about 730 m. On length: you will see both 540 km and 760 km, sometimes on the same official page. 540 km (29 days) is the original Fethiye-to-Antalya line Kate Clow waymarked in 1999. 760 km (35 days) is today's network after the 2022 guidebook added the St Nicholas Ways above Demre, the Lyra Way around Mt Olympos, other alternative stages, and moved the end to Geyikbayırı. Quote 760 km as the current full length. The west end is the best first taste: about 6 days from Ölüdeniz over the cliffs above Butterfly Valley and Kabak, up to Alınca at about 700 m, through Gey and Bel, and down to the 18 km beach and Roman city at Patara. Pensions with dinner and breakfast are in almost every village; the trail passes about 25 ancient sites in all. Instead of the packed resort beaches, you walk past them. Our cost is per person for 6 days at about €30 a day (a 2026 estimate for cheap pensions and camping) plus local buses; staying in pensions every night will cost more.

Do I need a permit for Lycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara)?

No permit or trail fee. The route was created and is maintained by the Culture Routes Society (Kültür Rotaları Derneği) in Antalya, which publishes the guidebook, maps and an accommodation list. You pay entry only at the ancient sites you choose to visit, such as Patara, Letoon and Xanthos (Ministry of Culture and Tourism sites); check the current fee before you go. Wild camping is allowed, but not inside forest areas closed for fire season.

How do I reach the Lycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara) trek?

Fly into Dalaman. Havaş airport buses run to Fethiye several times a day, or take a taxi to Dalaman bus station and a bus to Fethiye. From outside Fethiye bus station, frequent minibuses (dolmuş) go to Ölüdeniz and pass the start of the trail, and on to Faralya and Kabak. At the Patara end, frequent buses run from the Xanthos bridge and Esen back to Fethiye. The whole coast has local buses roughly every half-hour in daylight, so you can join or leave the trail almost anywhere. Base: Ölüdeniz / Ovacık, near Fethiye, about 2 hours from Dalaman airport.

What is the best season for Lycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara)?

February to May and September to November, per the trail's founders (they especially recommend February). Summer is too hot for long walks. In 2026 Muğla province (the western end) banned entry to 50 forest areas from 1 June to 31 October for wildfire risk..

How much does the Lycian Way (Ölüdeniz to Patara) trek cost?

From about ₹18,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Sturdy boots (the founders describe the path as Roman roads and mule trails, often stony and steep), 3-4 litres of water capacity for long dry stretches between fountains, sun protection, a tent if you plan to camp, and the official guidebook or the OsmAnd app: the society keeps the route current on OpenStreetMap and warns that AllTrails, Wikiloc and others show outdated versions. Watch for fake waymarks near Kaş and Beycik that lure walkers to private cafes.

Step 7 of 7Next: Sources

Sources and last check

Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.

  • cultureroutesinturkey.com Official760 km/35 days in body text vs 540 km/29 days in meta description; created by Kate Clow 1999; now includes St Nicholas Ways; start Ölüdeniz 2 h from Dalaman, end at Geyikbayırı with daily buses to Antalya; seasons Feb-May and Sep-Nov, February recommended, summer too hot; Roman roads/mule trails, stony, steep; pensions every night except 3 high sections; wild camping with water; ~25 historical sites; good public transport
  • cultureroutesinturkey.com OfficialHavaş Dalaman-Fethiye; buses Dalaman-Fethiye; dolmuş from Fethiye bus station to Ölüdeniz, Faralya, Kabak; Patara/Xanthos/Esen-Fethiye buses; coastal buses every half-hour in daylight
  • cultureroutesinturkey.com OfficialRoute changes, alternative end stage via Üçsöğüt-Gedeller-Sarısu, end at Geyikbayırı, fake waymarks near Kaş/Boğazcık and Beycik
  • cultureroutesinturkey.com OfficialNew English guidebook released Dec 2022; route kept current on OpenStreetMap; OsmAnd recommended; AllTrails, Outdooractive, Mapy.cz, Wikiloc out of date
  • cultureroutesinturkey.com OfficialAccommodation list (Feb 2026) by stage: Faralya, Kabak, Alınca, Gey, Bel, Sidyma, Pydnai-Letoon, Gelemiş/Patara
  • gov.uk OfficialFCDO advises against travel only within 10 km of Syria border; wildfire risk April-October; regional tensions (updated 21 Sep 2026)
  • en.wikipedia.orgApprox. 760 km; infobox 520 km; 2022 guidebook extensions (St Nicholas Ways, Lyra Way, Sidyma-Xanthos and Kabak-Yediburunlar alternatives); İncegeriş Hill 1,811 m and Tahtalı pass at 1,800 m on the full route
  • novo-monde.comFethiye-Patara stages (Kirme-Faralya 14 km, Kabak-Alınca 10.4 km, Alınca-Bel 16.6 km, Bel-Patara 10.7 km); 'In 2026, plan for more like €30 per person per day'
  • brokenbootstravel.comWater fountains drinkable, carry 3-4 litres; red-white waymarks; best April-May and Sep-Oct; summer over 40°C; ATMs roughly every 70 km (2023 trip)
  • ekonomist.com.trMuğla governorate banned entry to 50 forest areas 1 June-31 October 2026 (IHA, 23 May 2026); list includes Kayaköy-Ölüdeniz and areas in Fethiye and Seydikemer districts
  • api.opentopodata.orgApproximate altitudes (EU-DEM 25 m at OpenStreetMap coordinates): Ovacık 341, Faralya 174, Kabak 18, Alınca 729, Gey 630, Bel 659, Patara 7 m

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Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 11 October 2026 · Photo: Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Maurice07 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: İsabellew14 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Michael Apel · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

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