The Lycian Way is a renowned long-distance hiking trail that winds its way through the stunning southwestern coast of Turkey. Even upon knowing that the Lycian Way is regarded as one of the world’s best long distance trekking routes, I have returned from my unforgettable week along the West of the Lycian Way with my expectations truly exceeded. I can wholeheartedly agree with its reputation and wanted to share my top 8 highlights of this fantastic week exploring the Turkish Coastline.

The terrain changed every day, showcasing a unique blend of Mediterranean landscapes both along the coast and in the mountains. This variety also meant that the views consistently exceeded my expectations and changed. Visiting different historical sites and staying in a new town each night made the adventure truly exciting and never boring!

The hospitality of the locals along the route was extremely welcoming. We loved chatting to the locals about local life and being asked about our lives back home. Sharing these experiences means you can fully immerse yourself in the holiday and enjoy learning about Turkey.

A stand out feature for my holiday was that it was self-guided. My partner and I were able choose our own travel dates, and the end of September worked the best for us. Travelling at the end of September meant we left behind the rainy UK for bright blue skies and the trails were generally quieter. Going self-guided also meant we got to decide to have lunch and dinner and how long the walks took us. It gave us full flexibility over the whole holiday.

Whilst there is not opportunity to swim in the sea every day, there are some days that you can enjoy a dip in the turquoise sea. It is a great way to either break up the walking or end the day with a refreshing dip on deserted, hidden gem beaches. Some of the accommodation also have pools which we took advantage of!

One of the main highlights was the fact that we stayed in a different town every night, you really feel like you are on a journey! The accommodations and towns were all so different; it was great to experience the quieter places like Kayakoy compared the bustling Kas. Although all very different, they all had their own Turkish charm.

The trails are clearly marked with the well-known red and white symbol of the Lycian Way. You'll see this marking throughout the six days of walking, making it difficult to take a wrong turn. As we were self-guided, this feature made a significant difference for us.

Our mind was at ease with the route notes and the GPX files you receive prior to the holiday. The route notes are detailed and help to explain any transfer timings, where you can get water and food from each day and then go on to explain each days walk. The GPX files can be loaded into a smartphone and used in an app like OutdoorActive. The route notes and the GPX files work hand in hand so that you can enjoy each day’s walk without worrying about getting lost. We also have a contact on the ground in Turkey should you need any help whilst in country.

Each day, your luggage is collected and transferred to the next hotel. This means that you only have to carry what you need for each day; water, snacks, sun tan lotions, lunch…. You can enjoy the walking without worrying about where you main bag is or even carrying more than you need too.