The Best Villages to Stop on the Lycian Way
One of the things that sets the Lycian Way apart from most long-distance trails is this: the route does not just pass through wilderness. It passes through people's lives.
Small villages dot the trail from Fethiye to Antalya - some with a handful of houses and a single tea garden, others with pensions, fresh food, and a proper bed.
Faralya
Perched on a cliff above Butterfly Valley, Faralya is one of the most dramatic stops on the entire trail. The views down into the gorge are stunning, and the village itself is small enough to feel like you have stepped out of time.
Stay here if you can. The pensions are basic but welcoming, and the sunsets over the valley are the kind you remember for years.
Kabak
Below Faralya, down a steep descent, is Kabak - a wild bay with a pebble beach, a handful of small camps and eco-pensions, and almost no development.
It is the kind of place where hikers arrive intending to stay one night and end up staying three. Come prepared for basic facilities and go for the simplicity.
Kalkan
Kalkan is a proper town - whitewashed houses, a working harbour, good restaurants, and a functioning ATM. After a few days of rough terrain, walking into Kalkan feels like a small luxury. Use it as a resupply point.
Kas
The most substantial town on the western half of the Lycian Way. Kas has everything: accommodation for every budget, excellent food, pharmacies, and views across to the Greek island of Meis.
It is worth giving yourself an extra day here. Rooftop restaurants, Lycian rock tombs visible from the streets, and a laid-back atmosphere that is hard to leave.
Ucagiz
A small fishing village on the edge of the Kekova lagoon. The waterfront is lined with wooden boats and simple restaurants. The sunken city of Dolchiste is visible just offshore.
Cirali
Near ancient Olympos and the eternal flames of Chimaera, Cirali is one of the most beloved spots on the entire route. A long beach lined with orange groves and small pensions hidden among the trees - no loud bars, no concrete hotels.
Loggerhead turtles nest on the beach here in summer. The Chimaera flames burn on the hillside above.
A Word on Timing
Many of these villages are seasonal. Outside spring and autumn, some pensions close entirely. Check ahead rather than arriving to find a locked door.
