Detailed Itinerary

Trip Name: [8 days] Lycian Way Multi Sport

GENERAL Dates: January 7th – January 20th, 2022 for the Small-Group (Guided) tour.

This trip may be privatized for up to 10 people with a flexible departure date between April and November.

This trip through Southwestern Turkey along the Lycian Way blends healthy outdoor activities with rich history and cultural sites. We'll stay in the most charming villages and towns of the Lycian Coast. We'll hike, visit classical coastal sites, sea kayak to explore sunken cities, and search for the fire breathing monster, Chimaera of Mt. Olympos.

Main Stops: Olympos/Çıralı – Kaş – Dalyan

About the Tour Operator: More and more people these days are demanding personal and meaningful vacations, rejecting large package tours to travel in small groups, with good companions. These discerning travelers want to be physically active and intellectually challenged. They are considerate about their carbon footprint and they want to use the services of a local tour operator with environmental awareness. We have accomplished the task of combining these aspects in active and memorable trips.

Day 01: Arrive in Antalya Meet at the Antalya Airport and take a private minivan to be transported 1.5 hours away to Olympos Beach. Here, you’ll stay at a beachfront comfortable motel.

Çıralı Village is the coastal segment of Termessos and Beydağları National Park, where the Carretta carretta sea turtles lay their eggs. The beach is about 2 kilometers long, at the foothills of Mount Lycian Olympos (2400m/8000ft), with the ancient city of Olympos on one side and the eternal flames of the fire-breathing monster on the other.

Check-in, free time to swim, rent a bike, rest, and have a welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Beachfront family-run motel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 02: Olympos/Çıralı

Today we hike to the ancient city of Olympos (5h/7miles). Olympos is of one of the major cities of Lycia. It has been a pirate’s harbor once in a well protected gorge. We hike

© Yūgen Earthside – All Rights Reserved – 2020 - 2 - through fields covered with blooming flowers of the Mediterranean, pomegranate orchards, and ancient graveyards with spectacular views of Lycian Olympos.

We end at a beach tavern for lunch and enjoy the rest of the day with free time.

Accommodation: Beachfront family-run motel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 03: Olympos/Çıralı After a 5-min drive, we hike (2.5h/5miles) to Ulupınar Village which is the house of a dozen trout farms, built on ice-cold spring waters under the gigantic plane trees (Planatanus orientalis).

After a relaxing lunch on wooden platforms built on ice-cold spring waters, we go back to the beach and rest. At the end of the day, we meet again for a 2km round trip hike to the eternal flames of the fire-breathing monster (Chimaera), at the foothills of Mount Olympos.

Day 04: Kaş

Early in the morning we drive to Ucagiz Lagoon to meet our sea kayaks. Ucagiz is an excellent base to meander the Kekova Sound, including the lagoon, ancient settlement of Lycian Simena and the sunken city of Kekova Island.

We may also hike 1 hour (RT) to snorkel over the sunken ruins of Aperlai, where we can see foundation of temples, harbor buildings, fragments of columns and lots of pottery under the water. Then proceed 45 min to Kas to spend the night. Kas is a sleepy Meditarrenean village with white washed houses and begonvillas and nice restaurants.

Accommodation: 3-star sea-view hotel Meals: Breakfast

© Yūgen Earthside – All Rights Reserved – 2020 - 4 - Day 05: Kaş Free day. We will offer optional activities:  Coasteering – 50 Euros pp, including equipment, guide, support boat and snacks.  Mountain biking – 40 Euros pp, including equipment, guide, support vehicle, lunch, drinking water and snacks.  Scuba diving – 32 Euros pp for 1 diving tandem dive or 55 Euros pp for 2 dives.  Patara Ancient Site and Beach & Xhanthos – 25 Euros pp, including transportation and entrance fees and guiding. 45 minutes’ drive each way. (We arrange this activity.) The cost is for entrance and fuel. We already have the van and the guide on board.

Accommodation: 3-star sea-view hotel Meals: Breakfast

Day 06: Dalyan

After an hour drive, we get on board our private boat and cruise to Agalimani cove for relaxing and swimming.

In the afternoon we an optional 9K hike through pine forests enjoying spectacular views of the Mediterranean, via the Lycian site of Lydae, which is accessible only on foot, to

We spend the night in Dalyan.

Accommodation: Family-run waterfront motel Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 07: Dalyan

Dalyan is 4km inland, located on Dalyan Delta. It is right across the ruins of ancient Caunus. In the morning our fishing boat takes us to Iztuzu Beach through a maze of cactails. Dalyan delta is a natural fishery and the beach is well-known as the place where the rare sea-turtle species Caretta carettas (loggerhead turtles) lay their eggs just like Olympos Beach.

After exploring the delta and maybe tasting a couple blue crabs famous in this location, we take a short hike from Çandır Village (3km) to visit the extensive and impressive ruins of Caunus. We end the day at our comfortable hotel on the river and enjoy our Farewell Dinner admiring the 5th Century Rock Tombs across our hotel.

Accommodation: 4-star waterfront hotel Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Departure from Dalaman Airport

After breakfast, our private van transfers us to Dalaman Airport.

Meals: Breakfast

INCLUSIONS

 Accommodation: Charming local hotels.  Meals: o 7 Breakfasts o 6 Lunches o 6 Dinners o Bottled water with meals and a big container on the van for refills (we recommend you bring your own reusable water bottle, too.)  Transportation: Private minivan throughout the trip.  Permits, Fees, Guides: Licensed tour guide throughout trip.  Other: o Entrance fees to Olympos, Chimaera, Simena, Patara, Xhantos and Caunus ancient sites o Private sea-kayaking tour in Kekova Sound

EXCLUSIONS

 Meals: o 1 lunch on the free day o 1 dinner on the free day  Transportation: o International flights to/from Istanbul o Domestic flight to Antalya and from Dalaman  Other: o Visa o Travel insurance o Personal expenses