February 2, 2019 | Leave a comment With an overnight in Adrasan and a hitchhike back to Olympos from Karaöz beach, the three of us walked one of the highlight sections of the Lycian Way with just our day packs. The scenic trek was the perfect medley of warm pine forests and rocky coastline. Before we knew it we were back to all the socializing of the backpacker-flooded Olympos. Lycian Way “Amazing. Awesome. Magical. Sublimeeeee.” —Hamza, the happy Moroccan Lycian Way The full Likya Yolu, or Lycian way, is a world-class hiking trail that winds 509 kilometers along the hilly Mediterranean coastline of Southwest Turkey. But I would be surprised if you got this far into my post without already knowing that. Karaöz I knew I didn’t want to spend 30 days of my time in Turkey in the woods, and I had no camping gear. I chose this bit, which was known for its beauty, in pursuit of the aesthetic Gelidonya Lighthouse. I’ve never seen a trail more over-analyzed. Between the app, the not-so-ultralight book, the dozen or so “official sites,” and the essays in Wikitravel, researching a trail had never been so frustratingly impossible. Instead, I followed an Olympus-based plan created by the new climber friends I had met (teşekkürler Yannick and Hsien-ju!!). Gelidonya Lighthouse The mornings were uphill, the afternoons flat or descending. The night was spent in an affordable hotel with Wifi and breakfast. The two key things are having a downloaded GPS map and an abundance of water. The trail is well-marked and no different from any other straightforward hike in the world—afiyet olsun! Lycian Way. Accommodation Olympos The atmosphere and gorgeous common spaces of Bayrams Tree Houses put it in my Top Five hostels ever list. The bonfire is kept alive all night long, the beer is cold, the music genres change by the hour. Unbelievably fresh and tasty self-service breakfast AND dinner are included in the 60 TL/ night dorm price. Adrasan Ön Otel was clean and affordable. Shiny pool, free breakfast (they had no problem preparing us early plates). We shared a triple room for 180 TL total. Note: At the time I was unable to access Booking.com within Turkey. I recommend to use Hostel World or if it’s low season, to walk-in without reservations. A fraction of a Bayrams breakfast. Packing List Stuff 36L Osprey Sirrus pack (or regular day pack) Rain fly for pack 3L water iPhone with maps.me downloaded Sunglasses Sunscreen Insect repellent Raincoat Down jacket Rubber flip flops Change of clothes for sleeping Toothbrush Toothpaste Microfiber towel (did not need at Ön Otel) GoPro Headlamp Kindle Speaker Chargers Food Leblebi (Turkish double-roasted chickpeas) Fried corn Boiled eggs, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes (taken from Bayram’s breakfast) Cliff bars Bananas Dark chocolate Cookies We wore tanks, shorts, and sneakers or hiking boots during the day in late October. Trekking poles are optional; we found some broomstick handles on the way. All packed up and admiring a certain distant lighthouse. Itinerary Day 1: Olympos → Adrasan Kilometers: 15 Time: 7.5 hours, leisure pace Sleeping: Ön Otel Notes: While the map and other hikers told me of potable water in a well along the way, when we got there the local man told us it is no longer good water. This same man runs a micro-shop at the viewpoint (5km from Olympos) where you can order pomegranate juice or Turkish coffee. At the start of the trail we passed through a few archaeological ruins. I found that the signs said the distances were slightly longer than what my GPS was indicating. Despite cool nighttime temperatures, an abundance of mosquitoes feasted on my legs and feet in Adrasan. For an affordable seafood dinner, I cannot recommend enough Balikci Irfani Yeri for its baked fish and veggies, salad, and atmosphere. Look out for the ice cream van that parked out front when we were finishing up our meal—creamiest dondurma I found in all of Turkey! Lycian trekking. Day 2: Adrasan → Gelidonya Lighthouse → Korsan Koyu → Karaöz → Olympos Kilometers: 23 Time: 8.5 hours, leisure pace Sleeping: Bayrams Tree Houses Notes: We ascended for five hours before reaching the lighthouse. On the descent we were disturbed by dirt bikers who didn’t slow down for hikers, at all. It was the weekend so many visitors were coming from the cities. The next point of interest was Korsan Koyu, a beautiful bay 3.5 kilometers before Karaöz village. Here was the only trustworthy drinking water we found, from the numerous water faucets. Clusters of Turkish families were grilling kebab, swimming, and enjoying the tree swings—all lovely activities we didn’t have time nor energy for. While our back-up plan was to share a taxi, hitchhiking as a party of three worked out incredibly well. It didn’t take long to get picked up from Karaöz. We actually got dropped off in Mavikent, a town in the opposite direction of Olympos, because our driver explained that the spot was way better to find the next ride. Our second driver dropped us off at the highway turn-off to Olympos. From here we took the dolmusch (every 15-30 minutes) to Bayrams for 7 TL each, and bee-lined for the dinner buffet. The Turkish word for “hitchhiking” is “otostop.” Lycian viewpoint scrambles, shot by Hamza. Other Olympos Activities Olympos archaeological ruins Swimming and tanning at Çirali beach Hundreds of limestone climbing routes Chimaera eternal flames So many more hiking trails Day 1- Casually starting off in 4th c. BC ruins. Day 1- signs of life as we approach Adrasan. Balikici Irfani Yeri, Adrasan. Adrasan ice cream van. Day 2- woodpecker magic. Approaching lighthouse shot by Noelle. Approaching lighthouse shot by Noelle. GelidoniYAAAAS. Gelidonya Lighthouse- Hamza taking full advantage of picnic facilities. The only problem is, we have to walk. Korsan Koyu- rare Moroccan sighting. Karaöz fishing dock. Off the trail- side trails and Mt. Olympos. Off the trail- Çirali beach. Off the trail- Yannick, the inventor of this hike, in climbing paradise. Off the trail- Olympos archaeological ruins. For more offbeat Anatolia, check out my Turkey archive posts.