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Lycian Way, Fethiye

A rocky stretch of the Lycian Way above Ölüdeniz, looking down on Belcekız beach, the lagoon and pine-covered headlands
Photo: Exelentz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free — no ticket or permit
Hours
Open at all times; walk in daylight only
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
3 h
With kids
Better without small kids
Official trailhead
Ovacık (Hisarönü), by the Montana Resort Hotel sign south of the roundabout
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Ovacık–Faralya
12.8–14 km, 765–950 m of ascent depending on the guide, about 5½ hours
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Kayaköy–Ölüdeniz
≈ 5 km, 2–3 hours; starts inside the Kayaköy ruins (paid entry)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Water
None on Kayaköy–Ölüdeniz. From Ovacık ≈ 8 km dry until the Kozağaç fountain
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Getting there
Ölüdeniz-bound dolmuş from central Fethiye, get off at the Ovacık roundabout
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Season
Spring and autumn; summer afternoons are too hot
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
36.56677, 29.13942YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

540 / 760 kmlength: the classic Fethiye–Antalya line, and today’s network with its variants
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia and Wikivoyage — 540 kmCulture Routes Society and Turkish Wikipedia — about 760 km
Ovacıkthe official start — Hisarönü (Ovacık), above Ölüdeniz
2 sourcesEnglish and Turkish WikipediaWikivoyage
Spring & autumnbest seasons: February–May and September–November; summer is too hot for long walks
2 sourcesCulture Routes SocietyTurkish and Russian Wikipedia
1999opened; researched and waymarked by Kate Clow
2 sourcesCulture Routes SocietyEnglish Wikipedia
Red and whitewaymarks on rocks and trees, GR style — white stripe above red
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Red crossat a junction means “not this way”; yellow signs point the direction
SourceEnglish and Turkish Wikipedia
1,811 mthe trail’s highest point, İncegeriş Hill
SourceEnglish and Turkish Wikipedia
Geyikbayırıthe eastern end, in Konyaaltı near Antalya
SourceEnglish and Turkish Wikipedia
1923Kayaköy emptied after the population exchange — the old path to Ölüdeniz starts there
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaWikivoyage

Is the Lycian Way worth it from Fethiye?

Yes — even if you never planned a trek. A few hours on the trail gives you the classic view of the Ölüdeniz lagoon from above, pine forest, a ghost village and a swim at the end, for nothing more than a minibus fare. No other free half day around Fethiye packs in that much.

It is not worth it at midday in July or August: the first climb is exposed and dry. And if steep, stony ground is a problem for your knees, take the cable car up Babadağ for the same panorama instead.

Best day hikes on the Lycian Way near Fethiye

  • Kayaköy to Ölüdeniz, ≈ 5 km. The easiest and most popular: a short climb above the ruins of Kayaköy, then a long descent through the pines with the lagoon below. Guides give 2¼ to 3 hours with stops; finish with a swim.
  • Ovacık up to the Ölüdeniz viewpoints and back. The first hour or so of official stage one — steep, but with Belcekız beach and the Blue Lagoon spread out beneath you. Turn round whenever you like.
  • Ovacık to Faralya, 12.8–14 km, about 5½ hours. The whole first stage, 765–950 m of ascent depending on the guide, via Kozağaç and Kirme to the cliff-top village above Butterfly Valley. A full day, not a half.
  • Fethiye to Kayaköy, 8–9 km. The old route straight out of town — a steep, shadeless first kilometre, then easier. Handy if you want to walk from your hotel door.

How to get to the Lycian Way trailhead from Fethiye

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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destinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. In central Fethiye, find a dolmuş (minibus) stop for Ölüdeniz. The town's Muttaş minibuses run frequently — until around 23:00, according to Wikivoyage — and the routes are on the Moovit app.
  2. Pay the driver in cash and say where you want to get off: Ovacık or Kayaköy.
  3. For the official start, get off at the Ovacık–Hisarönü roundabout, where the road leaves Ovacık for Ölüdeniz. Look for the large Montana Resort Hotel sign — the trail sign is just past it.
  4. For the Kayaköy route, take the Kayaköy dolmuş — Wikivoyage says it leaves from stops on Fethiye's main street every 30 minutes — and follow the Ölüdeniz signs from the upper church in the ruins.
  5. Back from Ölüdeniz, any Fethiye dolmuş. Faralya is on the Kabak–Ölüdeniz–Fethiye dolmuş line, with a stop at the north end of the village — ask your guesthouse for times or take a taxi.

Do you need a permit or ticket?

No. The Lycian Way is a public footpath: no fee, no permit, no gate. You pay for the dolmuş and, on the Kayaköy route, entry to the ruins — the path to Ölüdeniz starts inside them. The paid lagoon beach is optional and not part of the trail.

A guide isn't necessary on Kayaköy–Ölüdeniz: waymarks are frequent and walkers pass all day. A guided hike makes sense if you're new to mountain paths, walking alone, or want a longer section with transport to the start and back.

Kayaköy to Ölüdeniz: the classic walk

This is the stretch most visitors mean by “walking the Lycian Way from Fethiye”. Ride the dolmuş to Kayaköy, wander the roofless Greek houses for half an hour, then pick up the red-and-white waymarks by the large upper church and leave the ruins heading south. After a short climb it drops steadily through pine woods, and in the last hour the lagoon is right below your feet. Entry to the ruins is paid.

There is no water on the way, so fill up in Kayaköy. The path is rocky with loose gravel and the final descent is steep — wear trainers or hiking shoes with real grip, not flip-flops. You come out by the lagoon and Belcekız beach, ready for a swim, and the Fethiye dolmuş leaves from the main road; out of season, ask the driver when the last one goes.

When is the best time to hike?

Spring and autumn: February to May and September to November. Spring brings wildflowers; autumn brings warm sea and cooler climbs. In summer a short section is fine only at sunrise.

Mid-December to late January can bring storms, heavy rain and slick rock, and waymarks are harder to spot after winter. Whatever the season, finish in daylight: there is no lighting outside the villages.

What you see along the way

  • The Ölüdeniz lagoon and Belcekız beach from above — the best free view of it.
  • Hundreds of ruined houses in the ghost village of Kayaköy.
  • Paragliders circling overhead after launching from Babadağ and landing on the beach.
  • Pine slopes and old stone rainwater cisterns beside the path.
  • Faralya on its cliff edge and the drop into Butterfly Valley, if you do the whole first stage.

Before you set off: checklist

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Lycian Way vs Butterfly Valley vs Babadağ

Lycian Wayyou are hereFootpath above the seaDolmuş to the trailheadModerate to hard2–6 hoursFreeSpring, autumn, mornings
Butterfly ValleyCove below sheer cliffsBoat from ÖlüdenizEasyHalf a dayPaid boatWarm season
BabadağMountain above ÖlüdenizCable carEasy1½–2 hoursPaid cable carA clear day

The trail is for earning the view on foot and paying nothing. If walking is hard or it's too hot, the Babadağ cable car gives you the same panorama.

Fethiye viewpoints compared

Every viewpoint around Fethiye rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Lycian Wayyou are here423 hFree—
Tomb of Amyntas3930 min€3 for foreign visitors, under-8s free6.1 km
Kayaköy361 h 30 min€3 for foreign visitors4.8 km
Babadağ222 h950 TL return, under-7s free5.5 km
Tlos221 h 30 min€3 for foreign visitors25.2 km
Saklıkent Gorge202 h 30 minEntry 85–120 TL, verifying26.0 km
Butterfly Valley193 hBoat fare; entry fee unconfirmed7.8 km

Walk down to the lagoon in half a day

Kayaköy’s ruins in the morning, the pine path down to the sea, a swim in the lagoon and a boat to Butterfly Valley. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Kayaköy1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors
  2. 84 min walk from the previous stopLycian Wayyou are here3 h · Free
  3. 55 min walk from the previous stopÖlüdeniz Blue Lagoon3 h · Park 150 TL on foot; Belcekız free
  4. 104 min walk from the previous stopButterfly Valley3 h · Boat fare; entry fee unconfirmed

4 places · about 14 h 33 min with walks · 243 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Walk downhill — Kayaköy to the sea: short climb, long descent, beach finish.
  • Download an offline map: after storms or building work, waymarks on quieter stretches can vanish.
  • A red cross painted on a rock means wrong way — go back to the last red-and-white mark.
  • In an emergency call 112 and give the coordinates from your phone.
  • Want the view without the climb? Ride the cable car up Babadağ.
  • Swim at the end, not halfway: wet shoes slip on the rock.

Questions

Where does the Lycian Way start in Fethiye?

The official trailhead is at Ovacık (Hisarönü) above Ölüdeniz, by the Montana Resort Hotel sign where the road leaves for Ölüdeniz. Any Ölüdeniz-bound dolmuş from Fethiye passes it.

Can you walk from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz?

Yes. The easiest way is to take the dolmuş to Kayaköy and walk about 5 km of old path down to the beach. From Fethiye itself it is 13–14 km and 5–6 hours.

How long is the walk from Kayaköy to Ölüdeniz?

About 5 km — a climb out of the ruins, then a long descent through pines with a steep final stretch. Guides give 2¼ to 3 hours with stops.

How long is the Lycian Way?

The classic Fethiye–Antalya line is about 540 km. With newer variants the Culture Routes Society puts it at around 760 km and 35 days on foot.

Do you have to pay to walk the Lycian Way?

No — it's free and needs no permit. You pay for transport and food, and on the Kayaköy route for entry to the ruins where the path to Ölüdeniz begins.

When is the best time to walk the Lycian Way?

February–May and September–November. In summer walk only at dawn and only a short section; mid-winter brings storms and slippery rock.

How much water should I carry?

There is no water on Kayaköy–Ölüdeniz, so fill 2–3 litres each in Kayaköy. On the climb from Ovacık there is no source for about 8 km; Wikivoyage advises at least 5 litres.

Is it safe to hike the Lycian Way alone?

Generally yes on the short, well-marked sections near Fethiye. Tell your hotel where you're going, keep your phone charged and don't set out in fog or heavy rain.

Is the Lycian Way suitable for kids?

Only the Kayaköy–Ölüdeniz descent, and only for school-age children used to walking. The Ovacık climb is steep and shadeless — not for little ones.

Can you hike from Ovacık to Faralya in a day?

Yes, it is the whole first stage: 12.8–14 km and about 5½ hours of walking, depending on the guide. Start early, carry plenty of water and return on the Kabak–Fethiye dolmuş or by taxi.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Culture Routes Society (Culture Routes in Turkey): The Lycian Way and Independent trekkers — length, start, seasons, water, safety, 30.10.2026
  • English, Russian and Turkish Wikipedia: Lycian Way / Ликийская тропа / Likya Yolu; Wikidata Q1731039
  • Wikivoyage: Lycian Way, Fethiye and Kayaköy — stages, water, minibuses to the trailhead
  • Trekopedia: Kayaköy – Ölüdeniz and Ovacık – Faralya sections, Ovacık page — distance, ascent, water, ruins entry, 30.10.2026
  • Turkeys for Life: the Kayaköy to Ölüdeniz walk — time, water, start at the upper church
  • Turkish emergency number guides — single number 112
  • English Wikipedia: Kayaköy
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedSources give two lengths: about 540 km for the classic line and about 760 km for the network with variants, per the Culture Routes Society — we show both. Encyclopedias put the start at Ovacık (Hisarönü), the Society at Ölüdeniz; they are neighbouring villages. For Ovacık–Faralya Wikivoyage gives 14 km and 950 m of ascent, Trekopedia 12.8 km and 765 m, so we give both. Kayaköy–Ölüdeniz is about 5 km in Wikivoyage and Trekopedia; the time comes from Trekopedia and Turkeys for Life. On seasons the Society says February–May and September–November, Wikivoyage April–June and September–November; we show the first. There is no official minibus timetable — frequencies come from guidebooks, so all transport details are marked “verifying”. We don't quote the Kayaköy ruins fee here; it is on the Kayaköy page.

Top YesGo picks: Fethiye

Tomb of Amyntas

Fethiye, Turkey

30 min · €3 for foreign visitors, under-8s free

Kayaköy

Fethiye, Turkey

1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors

Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon

Fethiye, Turkey

3 h · Park 150 TL on foot; Belcekız free

Patara

Fethiye, Turkey

3 h · ≈ €15 (foreign visitors), ruins + beach

Xanthos

Fethiye, Turkey

1 h 15 min · €3 foreign visitors, under 8 free

Babadağ

Fethiye, Turkey

2 h · 950 TL return, under-7s free

Tlos

Fethiye, Turkey

1 h 30 min · €3 for foreign visitors

Saklıkent Gorge

Fethiye, Turkey

2 h 30 min · Entry 85–120 TL, verifying

All places: Fethiye →