Pirate Coast Trek
This challenging guided trek follows the highest and most rugged section of Turkey’s first ever long-distance footpath - the Lycian Way. The route winds up and down along the Mediterranean’s most dramatic coastline of Lycia, to the limestone peaks of Mount Olympos, soaring high above the glittering sea. It descends through shady wooded valleys along a 4-km beach past the ruins of the Lycian city of Olympos to finish at the spectacular isolated lighthouse on the ridge of Cape Gelidonya.
Book Now
For tours without fixed departure dates you can email us at: info@middleearthtravel.com or you can contact us using the "Contact Us" page. We will provide you with a tailormade itinerary and quotation.
Prices
€1025 per person, price based on double/twin room occupancy. Minimum group size 8 pax. Contact us for groups under 8. €215 single room supplement.
Dates
2024: 28 April - 5 May 22 September - 29 September
Included
all transfers (also from/to Antalya airport) and luggage transfers with private vehicle including driver and fuel
all accommodation
all meals: breakfast / lunch (picnic) / dinner
qualified English speaking guide
Excluded
flights
soft and alcoholic drinks during meals
entrance fees to historical sites and museums
tips and gratuities
Equipment
Customers should have good quality hard soled trekking boots, rain gear, swimwear, sunhat and sunblock, and a 30-40 litre daysack. Walking sticks are recommended.
Transfer
You pack, we take care of the rest! We transfer your luggage between the accommodations while you enjoy your walk. Our aim is to make your holiday more enjoyable. During the walks, you carry your daysack only.
Accommodation
We stay in places where we can taste the local flavours and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. On the first day, we move from Antalya airport to our pension in Göynük, at the mouth of the impressive Göynük Canyon. After a beautiful uphill walk, we arrive at our highland hotel decorated in a rustic style from where we enjoy majestic views over the mountains and canyons. It is a privilege to taste the rich variety of dishes on offer, made with produce mostly obtained from the surrounding villages. The last stop of our ascent towards Mount Olympos is Yayla Kuzdere Village. We are staying in a village house where the stories and jokes shared by our host make our stay joyful and memorable. After having scaled Tahtalı Mountain (Olympos), we descend to the sea. In Çıralı we stay in a seafront pension, surrounded by citrus orchards, thus having ample opportunities to swim off the 4km long beach. Our last overnight is in yet another coastal jewel: the bay of Adrasan, where we stay in a friendly, family-run hotel on the beach front, enjoying the views and a rich breakfast before heading back to Antalya airport.
Meals
During the tour, you will enjoy natural, regional and rich Turkish food. Evening meals consist of a soup or salads, a main course and fruit or sweet for dessert. Lunches will be picnics or meals in local restuarants. Our packed lunches are wonderful and we include plentiful trail snacks such as dried fruits and nuts.
Health & Age Notes
Anyone in good health can do this trek.
Day 1: Arrival
On arrival at Antalya airport you will be met by your driver and tour guide for the transfer (45 mins) to Göynük. Welcome drink, dinner and overnight in pension in Göynük.
Day 2: Göynük - Göynük Yayla (17km / 6hrs / +1200m / -510m)
We take a short transfer from our pension to the entrance of the Göynük canyon and walk up the gorge over switchback ridges beneath pine trees, with excellent views to pastures and orchards. It is possible to swim where the river forms a nice pool near our lunch spot. We meet our vehicle near a bridge (alt. 850m) from where we transfer to Ovacık. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Ovacık.
Day 3: Göynük Yayla - Yayla Kuzdere (16km / 5hrs/ +460m / -525m)
We transfer back to where we left the walk the previous day. On the trek to Gedelme we will explore a Roman castle and continue our walk up to the village of Yayla Kuzdere (alt. 900m) for our overnight. Dinner and overnight in village house in Yayla Kuzdere.
Day 4: Yayla Kuzdere - Beycik (15km / 6hrs / +990m / -1130m)
From Yayla Kuzdere we start with a steady climb up a stream bed to the pastures of Çukur Yayla, just below Mount Olympos (Tahtalı Dağı). We climb the pass from here (alt. 1950m) through forest of pines and impressive cedar trees. We descend via a winding mule path to the village of Beycik (alt. 900m) where we meet our transfer vehicle that takes us to our pension in Çıralı. Dinner and overnight in pension in Çıralı. NOTE: Day 4 can be changed into an optional ascent of Mount Olympos summit (alt. 2366m). In that case we don't descend to Beycik but climb from Yayla Kuzdere to the pass and from there to the top (total 6-7 hours and appr. 1400m uphill). From the summit we take the cable car to the lower station and transfer to Çıralı (cable car ticket excluded from tour price).
Day 5: Ancient Olympos & Chimaera (Yanartaş)
After breakfast we make an optional exploration of the ruins of ancient Olympos (total appr. 6km along the beach). This ancient city, which gets its name from its view of Mount Olympos, was built on the banks of a wide river flowing into the sea near Çıralı adjoining a long, sandy beach. It once was a hide out for pirates and amongst its ruins are tombs, temples, churches and palaces all hidden between lush vegetation. After lunch there is free time until dinner. You can swim and lie on the beach or do other activities as desired (eg. sea kayak). After dinner we make a short night walk to admire the eternal burning flames of Chimaera (natural gas coming from the bowels of the earth in the location called Yanartaş) in the dark. Dinner and overnight in pension in Çıralı.
Day 6: Çıralı - Adrasan (16km / 6hrs / +750m / -750m)
We start directly from our pension in Çıralı and walk through the ancient city of Olympos and up Musa Dağı (Moses Mountain, alt. 650m). The climb is through dense forest with many strawberry trees and passes some minor ancient ruins. After having a picnic lunch near an old hut we descend through forest, past deserted farmhouses to reach our accommodation in the beautiful bay of Adrasan. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Adrasan.
Day 7: Adrasan - Gelidonya Lighthouse (18km / 7hrs / +700m / -700m)
Our last walk starts directly out of our hotel and leads south via Kızıl Sırt (alt. 450m) along a remote and isolated coast line. We follow a path parallel to the coast at a high altitude along cliffs and green slopes, overlooking the sea and enjoying great views towards some little islands. After arriving at the lighthouse at the tip of Cape Gelidonya (alt. 200m) you walk down to a dirt road to meet your transfer vehicle for the transfer back to Adrasan. Dinner and overnight in same hotel in Adrasan.
Day 8: Departure
Transfer from Adrasan to Antalya airport (2 hrs).