How Long Is the Lycian Way? Distance, Route & Sections

How Long Is the Lycian Way?

The Lycian Way is approximately 600 kilometres long, stretching across the Mediterranean landscapes of southwestern Turkey from the Fethiye area towards Antalya. But the answer to how long is the Lycian Way is slightly more complicated than a single number. Different GPS tracks, route variations, alternative paths and extensions can produce different totals, which is why you may find shorter distances in some guidebooks, websites and older route descriptions. For current journey planning, we use approximately 600 km as a practical reference for the complete Lycian Way.

Where Does the Lycian Way Start and Finish?

The Lycian Way begins in the Fethiye and Ölüdeniz area and travels east through the ancient region of Lycia towards Antalya. Along the way, the trail moves between Mediterranean coastline, mountain slopes, forests, villages and archaeological landscapes. It passes through or close to places such as Faralya, Kabak, Patara, Kalkan, Kaş, Kekova, Demre, Finike, Karaöz, Adrasan, Olympos and Çıralı before continuing through the mountains towards the Antalya side. This geographical range is one of the reasons we prefer to think of the Lycian Way as a collection of connected landscapes rather than simply a 600-kilometre line on a map.

Is the Lycian Way Exactly 600 km Long?

No. The Lycian Way does not have a single distance that every walker will reproduce exactly on a GPS device. You may find different total distances in guidebooks, walking apps, GPX files and online sources. Some describe shorter versions of the route, while others include alternative paths, extensions and different access points. The route itself has also developed over time. Walkers may choose different approaches to accommodation, archaeological sites, villages or alternative stages, and mapping platforms do not always calculate the same track in exactly the same way. For these reasons, we use approximately 600 km rather than presenting the length of the Lycian Way as an exact figure down to the final kilometre.

How Is the Lycian Way Divided?

For journey planning, we generally divide the Lycian Way into three broad regions: West, Central and East Lycia. This makes such a long trail much easier to understand and plan. Each region has its own landscape, archaeological character and walking experience, and you do not need to walk all 600 kilometres to experience the Lycian Way.

Western Lycian Way – Fethiye to Kaş

The western section begins around Fethiye and Ölüdeniz and continues through some of the best-known landscapes of the Lycian Way. Faralya, Kabak, Sidyma, Xanthos, Patara and the countryside around Kalkan and Kaş create a combination of coastal walking, village paths and archaeological landscapes. This section works particularly well as a journey in its own right, especially for travellers who want to combine walking with ancient sites, villages and the Mediterranean coast. Explore our Western Lycian Way – Fethiye to Kaş programme.

Central Lycian Way – Kaş, Kekova & Demre

Central Lycia brings the trail particularly close to the relationship between archaeology and the sea. Walking around Kaş, Aperlai, Üçağız, Kekova, Kaleköy and Demre allows you to move through ancient settlement landscapes while remaining closely connected to the Mediterranean. Some journeys also combine walking with a boat excursion around Kekova, creating a natural break between hiking stages and another way to experience the coastal landscape. Explore our Central Lycian Way – Kaş to Demre programme.

Eastern Lycian Way – Karaöz Towards Antalya

Further east, the character of the Lycian Way changes again. Around Karaöz, Gelidonya, Adrasan, Olympos, Çıralı, Beycik and Mount Tahtalı, the route moves between the Mediterranean coast and increasingly mountainous terrain. For walkers who associate the Lycian Way mainly with turquoise bays and coastal paths, the eastern sections reveal another side of the trail: forests, higher elevations and the mountain landscapes of the Taurus range. Explore our Eastern Lycian Way programme.

Do You Have to Walk All 600 km?

No. Walking the complete trail is only one way to experience the Lycian Way. Many walkers choose a particular section according to the time they have available, the landscapes they want to see and their preferred walking level. A five-day journey around Kekova, for example, creates a very different experience from a longer walk between Fethiye and Kaş. Both can still provide a meaningful Lycian Way journey. Instead of asking only how many kilometres you can complete, it is often more useful to ask which part of the Lycian Way you most want to experience.

How Long Does It Take to Walk the Lycian Way?

Distance and duration are two different questions. The complete Lycian Way is approximately 600 km long, but the number of days you need depends on daily distance, elevation, terrain, rest days, archaeological visits and the sections you choose to walk. If you are planning your itinerary, read our detailed guide to how many days you need for the Lycian Way.

Does Walking Direction Change the Distance?

Walking west to east or east to west does not substantially change the overall distance, although the stages and access routes you choose can affect the number of kilometres you actually walk. Many walkers begin around Fethiye and continue east towards Antalya, but you can also walk individual sections or a longer journey in the opposite direction. Our guide to choosing your Lycian Way hiking direction explains the practical differences between the two approaches.

How Far Will You Actually Walk?

Your personal walking distance will probably differ from the headline length of the Lycian Way. You may walk additional kilometres to reach accommodation, visit an archaeological site, explore a village or follow an alternative trail. On other days, a transfer or boat connection may replace part of a walking stage. This is particularly important when using GPX tracks. The distance and elevation shown for an individual stage are more useful for daily planning than simply dividing the total length of the Lycian Way by the number of days you have available.

How Many Kilometres Should You Walk Each Day?

There is no ideal daily distance that works for every section of the Lycian Way. A relatively short mountain stage with substantial ascent, descent or rough terrain may require more time than a longer walk on easier ground. Temperature, season, trail surface, luggage weight and time spent at archaeological sites also affect your walking day. For this reason, we prefer to plan Lycian Way journeys around distance, elevation, terrain and the character of each stage rather than setting the same kilometre target every day.

600 km Does Not Tell the Whole Story

The length of the Lycian Way is impressive, but distance alone does not explain why the route is so varied. Over the course of the trail, the landscape changes repeatedly. Coastal paths lead into pine forests, ancient settlements appear beside walking routes, village tracks climb towards higher ground, and the eastern sections bring the trail closer to the mountains of the Taurus range. This is why walking 100 kilometres in one part of Lycia can feel very different from walking the same distance somewhere else on the route. The more useful question is therefore not simply “How long is the Lycian Way?” but also “Which part of those 600 kilometres do I want to walk?”

Plan Your Lycian Way Journey

If you want to experience a substantial part of the route, explore our Lycian Way Walking Tour. We can organise the journey as a guided or self-guided walk and combine different sections according to your available time and interests. You can also browse our Lycian Way tours, routes and walking services to compare West, Central and East Lycia. You do not need to decide how many of the approximately 600 kilometres you want to complete before contacting us. Tell us how much time you have, your walking experience and what you want to see, and we can help you choose the section that makes the most sense for your journey.