Your trip begins the moment you step foot into the arrivals hall at Dalaman Airport, where your private transfer will be waiting to whisk you off to Fethiye (pronounced Feh-tee-yeh). This lovely natural harbour is a hub for traditional gulets- a traditional Turkish yacht. The town is full of charm thanks to local regulations preventing the development of high-rise buildings. Your home for the evening will be in the heart of the old town, the perfect base from which to explore. We recommend taking a stroll to the harbour to see the traditional gulets and watching the world go by over a coffee in one of the harbour-side cafes. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may even wish to join one of the small boat trips for the afternoon.

Feeling refreshed, your first walk of the week begins with the opportunity to explore two of Fethiye's famed ancient sites; the theatre of Telmessos and the great Tomb of Amyntas. The wonderful 6000 seat Roman amphitheatre dates back to the 2nd century and has a wonderful location next to the harbour. From here, you continue to ascend to the second ancient site: the Amyntas Tombs. The tombs, built by the Lycians to honour their dead, are not only special in terms of craftsmanship but a place where you can enjoy breath-taking views of the coast and mountains beyond. You will note that the Great Tomb of Amyntas is larger and set higher than the others to signify his importance. Once you have finished exploring the tombs, you join the Lycian Way as it climbs picturesquely to the plain of Livissi, home of the abandoned Greek town of Karmylassos, more commonly known as Kayakoy. Dating back to the 14th century, Kayakoy was once a thriving town, home to Muslims and Greek Orthodox Christians. However, at the end of the Greco-Turkish war, the Greek population returned to Greece and the village fell into a ghostlike state. You will have time to explore the village and discover its history before continuing to your final goal of the day, your hotel for the evening. There is also an option to extend your walk to the stunning lagoon of Oludeniz for those wishing to see a little more (approx. 6km further).

Today begins with a short transfer to the iconic Lycian Way arch near the popular hillside town of Ovacik. After the obligatory photos, your hike will take you along the shoulder of Babadag Mountain, accompanied by fantastic views over Oludeniz and the rugged coast of Western Lycia. Your route will take you up to the village of Kabaagac, a little mountain hamlet sited beneath the towering limestone cliffs of Babadag. The hamlet makes for a welcome resting point before you descend to the honey-producing village of Kirme (you may have enjoyed the villages wonderful produce with your breakfast!). Having explored Kirme, you continue your descent accompanied by continued dramatic scenery to reach Faralya. Your home for the evening is on the edge of the beautifully named Butterfly Valley, named after the colourful Jersey tiger-moths which inhabit the area.

After breakfast, you say farewell to Faralya and ascend to the abandoned terraces, adorned with sea views to motivate you. Your route brings you above the wonderful village of Kabak. Once the region's best kept secret, Kabak is a firm favourite with hiking, camping and yoga enthusiasts in search of a slice of tranquillity. Following a seemingly impossible route over the valley to the watershed of Alinca, your route becomes more rugged under foot and the scenery before you opens up to reveal the Seven Capes seascape and further spectacular views of this rugged coastline and its many isolated villages. When you have finished soaking in the beauty of the coast, you begin your descent to the Ottoman Cistern at Sancakli via an option of road or, for the more confident, a fantastic but tricky path. Your day ends with a transfer to the enchanting town of Gelemis, set just behind Patara, one of Turkey's most beautifully unspoilt beaches. On the way, you will also have an option to stop at the UNESCO site of Xanthos to explore.

Your route today begins with an exploration of Patara's archaeological site. Patara's place in history is certainly well documented and as you wander the column-lined streets and recovered theatre you will soon understand the city's importance as the former Metropolis of Lycia. The city was celebrated for its temple and oracle of Apollo, and it is believed it was the birthplace of St Nicholas, the 4th century Byzantine bishop of Myra who later become the legend of Santa Claus. When you have finished your discovery of the colonnades, bathhouses, lighthouse and the magnificently restored Parliament building (thought to be the world's first federal assembly), you continue to reach Patara's 18km long golden beach. This idyllic spot has been fortunately protected from development thanks to the loggerhead turtles who nest here; having the area developed would result in light pollution which would confuse the turtles from making their way towards the sea, putting them in danger. The beach makes a lovely spot to enjoy a picnic and there is plenty of time to enjoy a swim too. Feeling refreshed, your route continues through the cool shade of the pine forests, following the line of the Roman aqueduct to the engineering marvel of Delikkemer, a reverse siphon system which supplied the valley with water, simply using gravity to power it. From here a transfer will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the coastal town of Kas, a popular destination with scuba divers and full of historic charm.

Today brings many opportunities for swimming so don't forget to pack your swimming costume. You will have time to enjoy a morning coffee in Kas and soak in its charm before picking up the Lycian Way once more as it follows along the rugged coastline, all the time rewarded with fantastic views across to the nearby Greek island of Castelorizzo. Along your way you will discover several quiet coves to sit and enjoy the tranquillity of the mountains, the turquoise waters, and the sound of crashing waves. At the end of your walk a transfer will meet you to take you to the charming village of Kaleucagiz in the centre of a deep fjord-like inlet, scatted with the remains of ancient settlements. Here you can enjoy your dinner in one of the waterside restaurants as the sun sets.

From in front of your hotel, you will board a boat to sail you to the picture postcard village of Simena, allowing you the opportunity to see the Lycian coast from a new perspective as you cruise towards the pretty village with its Genoese castle perched high above. Your final walk along the Lycian Way continues to traverse the beautifully rugged coast, taking you to the mysterious ancient site of Istlada with a selection of Lycian tombs. A little further you will reach the village of Kapakli where you will meet your driver to take you to a choice of three nearby attractions before continuing on to your accommodation in Demre. The first option is to visit the Lycian Civilisation Museum which is home to over 1000 artefacts unearthed in the Lycian cities. The museum itself is built on the granary of the harbour settlement of Andraikes, while Andraike itself is an open air museum which showcases the harbour structures, baths and church to mention a few key sites. The second option is to visit the area known as Myra which houses a collection of rock tombs and a huge theatre. The town has a long history which is reflected in its construction; first as an ancient Greek settlement, then Roman-Greek, followed by Byzantine and Ottoman before becoming Turkish and renamed as Demre. Your final option is visit the church of St Nicolas where the 4th century theologian (who later became the legend of Santa Claus) was bishop. It is believed his body was buried in the church here before being moved to Bari in the 12th century. Now a UNESCO site, the church hosts some fantastic frescos.

Depending on the time of your departure, you may have time to enjoy a relaxed breakfast and a final stroll before your private transfer arrives to collect you to take you to Dalaman Airport or Antalya Airport. If you are combining this trip with our East Lycian Way self-guided holiday, you will be picked up from Demre today for a transfer along the coast to Karaoz, where you will commence the second half of your two week odyssey. Along the way, you have the opportunity to visit the ruins of the ancient city of Limyra, located near Finike; one of the oldest and most prosperous settlements in Lycia.