# Turkey's Historical and Natural Walking Routes (Trekking: Lycian Way, Carian Way, Phrygian Way and St. Paul) Guide
!Turkey's Historical and Natural Walking Routes Trekking Guide
No vehicle on earth can make one feel the memory of the soil and the whisper of the wind as much as the steps taken on one's own two feet. Anatolia; It is not only a geography where empires rose and fell, but also the home of thousands of kilometers of stone-paved paths worn by the steps of merchants, pilgrims, nomads, goat herders and ancient warriors for thousands of years.
The modern trekking revolution started in 1999 with the Lycian Way, which Kate Clow and pioneering nature lovers marked with red-white paints and presented to the world; Today, from the Carian Way that embraces the wild Aegean coast of 850 kilometers, to the Phrygian Way that embraces the volcanic monuments of Central Anatolia, to the St. It has turned into a registered network of cultural routes of more than 4,000 kilometers, stretching from the St. Paul Road to the glacial lakes of the Kaçkars.
My Homeland, with the "Turkey Historical and Natural Hiking Routes Guide", prepared in cooperation with nature athletes, mountain guides and local village cooperatives, will help both nature lovers who will wear a backpack for the first time and hundreds of thousands of people. It offers a complete guide for experienced hikers who tread kilometer-long routes.
1. Anatolian Cultural Routes Comparison Matrix
Long distance hiking trails in Türkiye present different geographical challenges, seasonal windows and logistical needs:
The Lycian Way
Mediterranean coast from Fethiye to Antalya. The most ideal time: March-May and September-November. Karst climbs, turquoise bays, dense hostel network.
Carian Road
Bozburun, Datça, Gökova and Latmos. The most ideal time: October-April. Wilderness, sparse settlement, rich ancient cities and prehistoric rock paintings.
Phrygian Way
Afyon, Ankara, Eskişehir, Kütahya. The most ideal time: April-June and September-October. Volcanic tuff valleys, rock monuments, flat stages suitable for cycling.
St. Paul Road
Toros Mountains climbing from Perge/Aspendos to Yalvaç. The most ideal time: May-June and September-October. 2,200m altitude passes, steep canyons, wilderness.
2. Lycian Way (540 km): Time Travel in the Land of Light
The Lycian Way, chosen as one of the 10 most beautiful long-distance walking routes in the world by The Sunday Times, is a blend of goat paths, Roman military roads and Ottoman mule paths connecting the cities of the ancient Lycian League.
Highlights and Landmarks:
- Fethiye Ölüdeniz - Babadağ - Butterfly Valley: Route Ölüdeniz rises from Ovacık via a steep Babadağ path. Following the Ölüdeniz lagoon from a bird's eye view from an altitude of 800 meters, the route descends to the steep Butterfly Valley summit and Kabak Bay via Faralya.
- Yediburunlar & Patara Coastal Stage: After Kabak, descending steep cliffs to the sea via the villages of Alinca and Gey. Yediburunlar lighthouses are passed. Then, the Ancient City of Patara, which hosted the first democratic parliament building of the ancient world, and the 18-kilometer long sand dunes are followed.
- Kaş - Limanağzı - Aperlai & Sunken City Kekova: The stage starts from Kaş harbor, passes through the ancient sarcophagi, Çoban Beach and Ufakdere bays. It reaches the ancient city of Aperlai. From here, you can walk to Simena (Kaleköy) castle via the sunken city of Kekova by sea canoe.
- Çıralı - Olympos Yanartaş & Gelidonya Lighthouse: From the foothills of Tahtalı Mountain (Olympos), through the flames of Yanartaş, which has not been extinguished for 2,500 years. Passing through, one reaches Taşlıkburnu, the wildest cape of the Turkish coast. Gelidonya Lighthouse, at an altitude of 227 meters overlooking the Five Islands, offers walkers an unforgettable visual feast at sunset.
3. Carian Trail (850 km): The Virgin Shores of the Aegean and the Legend of Mount Latmos
Türkiye's longest marked walking route, the Carian Way, traces the traces of the Carians, the seafaring and warrior people of southwestern Anatolia. Compared to the Lycian Way, it is much more untouched, less crowded and surrounded by wild nature.
4. Phrygian Way (506 km): Rock Cities in the Kingdom of Midas
Phrygian Way; Between the provinces of Afyonkarahisar, Ankara, Eskişehir and Kütahya, BC. It connects the volcanic tuff valleys where King Midas and the Phrygians ruled in the 7th century. Lines starting from three different branches converge at the huge Midas Monument (Yazılıkaya) in Eskişehir Han district.
- Afyonkarahisar Seydiler & Ayazini Stage: It is an extremely mystical stage passing through multi-storey churches carved into tuff rocks, Roman burial chambers and fairy chimneys.
- Eskişehir Mountainous Phrygia & Kümbet Valley: It offers straight and flowing paths accompanied by giant rock reliefs such as Aslantaş, Yılantaş and Maltaş. This line is also Türkiye's most convenient route for gravel cycling and bikepacking.
- Kütahya Aizanoi & Göynük Valley: The forest valleys around the Temple of Zeus (Aizanoi), where the world's first stock exchange building is located, blend history and nature.
5. St. Paul Road & Trans-Kaçkar Peak Passages
Two major alternatives stand out for hikers looking for higher altitude, harsh terrain and wild mountain conditions:
- St. Paul Road (Taurus Pass - 500 km): St. Paul, one of the first propagators of Christianity, in A.D. It is the historical missionary route that set out from Perge and Aspendos in 46 BC and reached Pisidia Antiocheia (Isparta Yalvaç) over the Taurus Mountains. It climbs to altitudes of 2,200 meters accompanied by the steep limestone clefts of Köprülü Canyon, the cool waters of Yazılı Canyon and the turquoise view of Lake Eğirdir. It is the pinnacle of alpinism and mountain trekking. The route ascends from Fırtına Valley and crosses the Samistal, Pokut and Kavrun plateaus; It camps around the glacial lakes (Sea Lake) at 3,000 meters and descends from the foot of Kaçkar Mountain Peak (3,937 m) to the valley of Artvin Yusufeli Barhal Georgian Churches. This route can only be walked in July and August.
6. Long Distance Hiking Logistics: Backpacking, Navigation and Water Management
Before setting foot on a trail spanning hundreds of kilometers, the right equipment and preparation are vital:
- Grande Randonnée (GR) Red-White Marking System: The route is followed by red and white horizontal stripes applied to stones and tree trunks. The diagonal red cross sign means "wrong way". On the forking roads, there are double lanes showing direction.
- Offline GPS and GPX Traces: At points where the signs are lost due to bushes or road construction, you can use offline map applications on your phone and My Hometown Discovery There must be previously downloaded GPX tracks from the application.
- Ultralight (Light Backpack) Rule: Bag weight (excluding water and food) should never exceed 15-20% of your total body weight. 55-65 liter lightweight bags, carbon poles and breathable vibram-soled trekking boots prevent knee injuries.
- Water Supply Security: Especially in the Mediterranean and Aegean stages, cisterns may dry out in summer and autumn. Every hiker should carry at least 3-4 liters of water a day and must use a 0.1 micron fiber water filter (Sawyer, etc.) or purification tablets when drinking water from wild sources.
7. 'Leave No Trace' and Village Solidarity Principles
Cultural routes are not just pieces of nature, they are the homelands of the villagers who have lived there for centuries:
- Zero Litter and No Fire in Nature: All kinds of waste, from energy gel packaging to wet wipes, must be put back in the bag. Against the risk of forest fire, open fires should never be lit, camping stoves should be preferred.
- Village Pension and Local Product Shopping: Shopping in the villages on the route, drinking fresh pancakes and tea in village cafes, purchasing dried figs, almonds and thyme produced by local women's cooperatives is a vital part of rural development.
- Gate and Fence Respect: When passing through the fence gates built by the villagers to protect the goat and sheep herds, the gates must be closed behind you.
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How many days does it take to walk the entire Lycian Way?
The entire Lycian Way (540 km) can be completed by a hiker with average fitness in 25 to 35 days. Most nature lovers prefer to walk the route on different holidays by dividing it into 5-7 day stages (e.g. Fethiye-Kalkan or Kaş-Çıralı).
2. Is tent camping allowed on the hiking routes?
Except for special protection areas and archaeological excavation sites with fire risk within the borders of the national park, it is free to set up bivouacs and tents on the sides of the paths without harming nature. In the villages, the safest way is to set up a tent in their gardens by getting permission from the villagers.
3. Is it safe to walk the Lycian or Carian Way alone?
Türkiye's cultural routes are generally safe. However, in mountainous areas, it is essential to report the route to a relative with emergency contact, have a power bank and use an offline GPS map in case of sprains, falls or dehydration.
4. What is the best season for trekking routes?
Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-December) are ideal for the Mediterranean and Aegean routes (Lycia, Caria); Summer months are dangerous due to extreme heat. For the Black Sea and Kaçkar routes, the months of July and August, when the snow melts, should be preferred.
9. Result: Keep Anatolia Alive with Your Steps
Walking a route; It means feeling the breath of ancient bards by stepping on the stones of history, drinking ice-cold ayran from nomadic grandmothers and receiving their blessings, and surrendering to the timeless balance of nature. Turkey's walking paths are the noblest invitation to get away from the stress of the modern world and return to our own essence and land.
Prepare your backpack, adjust your poles and step on the thousand-year-old paths of Anatolia with My Hometown Nature and Route Guide and Village Take the Cooperatives map with you. Leave nothing but your footprints in nature, take nothing but memories!
