By KARA GODFREY

Less than two hours from Dalaman Airport lies Fethiye, a beautiful city that is home to some of the best restaurants and activities.

Walking along the natural harbour is the perfect place to try some of the best local food before grabbing a boat and sailing out for a day on the sea on the famous Ölüdeniz beach.

Even paragliding 1800km from Babadağ Mountains is recommended as one of the best ways to see the numerous lagoons and beaches, using Sky Sports (www.skysports-turkey.com) as one of the most reputable firms in the area for even the most nervous of flyers to seem secure.

Yet renting a car and driving through the region is the best way to learn about the history of the country, looking at the ruins and artefacts of the Lycian culture, one with a fascinating past.

Lycia was part of Anatolia, what is now seen as modern-day Türkiye, and has since become the areas of Antalya and Muğla.

Dating back to the 15th century BC, the native language was lost over time, during their defeat during the Persian Wars as well as being infused with Greek after falling to Alexander the Great.

One of the most popular sights of Lycian history is the rock tombs of Fethiye and Dalyan.

Many fallen citizens were buried in these rock tombs that were built into the rocky cliffs.

Depending on the money and status of the departed, rock tombs varied from a simple hole in the wall to an ornate and grandeur door where the dead would be buried with their riches, ready to be resurrected.

Kayaköy

The ghost village of Kayaköy reveals some of the most recent history of the culture.

A large community of Greeks lived in Lycia but were forced to abandon their homes in 1920 following a population exchange with Greece.

While they were told they would return, this never came to fruition and the homes were looted for everything including the wooden beams of the roofs, leaving behind the shell of the house. The stunning empty houses are left to be explored in the open elements as they fall into disrepair.

The ghost village was also the backdrop to the famous Louis de Bernieres novel Birds Without Wings, a 1920s love story.

Xanthos-Letoon

Next, head to Xanthos-Letoon, a UNESCO site that is one of the most important religious areas that dates back to the 6th century BC.

The inscriptions provided historians with an abundance of knowledge surrounding Lycian traditions and Hellenic influence.

Once the capital of Lycia, the Temple of Leto is the main attraction, along with rock tombs of modest design.

Saklıkent Gorge

Saklıkent Gorge is also worth a drive through, albeit rather touristy, as the second largest gorge in Europe and one of the deepest in the world.

The 4km hike is a long and slippery one but is worth the ending with a beautiful waterfall gushing into the river.

Netted hammocks and low tables are perfect for those who want to catch a break, settled into the shallow water to stay cool and dip their toes while eating the local fish.

Tlos

Tlos, an ancient ruin on the hill of Lycia, was one of the six cities in the region and are one to explore along the drive.

It is one of the oldest and largest settlements, before being inhabited by Romans, Byzantines and Ottoman Turks during the defeat of the Lycian culture.

A large Roman theatre within the hillside shows off the backdrop to the majestic ruins, along with two bathhouses just next door. It was also home in Greek Mythology to the winged horse Pegasus, and his owner Bellerophon.

Lycian Way

One of the main attractions of the holiday comes with staying up in the hills, close to the Lycian Way. Stretching from Ölüdeniz beach to Geyikbayırı in Antalya, the 540km walk takes a full three weeks to do in its entirety.

Expect to see campers walking in the sweltering heat with their backpacks and water bottles, but clever holidaymakers can choose to explore just a couple of miles (outside of the midday sun) to explore.

The rocky terrain, while slightly treacherous, opens up to carob trees, pine honey, and an abundance of herbs and fruits such as figs and pistachios throughout offering an assault on the senses of chattering birds and rich sweet smells.

Nestled along the way is Kıdrak beach; there is a charge to enter but the beach is nearly entirely devoid of tourists for an off-the-beaten-track experience.

Where to stay

To avoid the over-tourism that is plaguing the popular cities in Europe, staying at boutique hotel Mandarin & Mango within the hillside is a must.

Coming with a story, the furniture found throughout is the owner’s grandfather’s heirlooms, or is built from the rocks and the wood found within the area.

Private rooms with a balcony and hot tub, spacious and cool bedrooms and ornately build furniture made from scratch, offer no noise but the birds and the morning cockerel.

Winding down near the private pool before dinner, a five-course affair made from scratch is on offer which varies every day, even for travellers who choose to spend a fortnight.

Tango classes, cookery lessons and yoga can even be tried in the hotel throughout the year during certain months.

Dog lovers will enjoy being greeted by Pasha, the old mongrel with arthritis who lazes by the pool.

Getting there

Fly all year round from London to Dalaman with Pegasus Airlines’ daily scheduled flights. Book at www.flypgs.com, on Pegasus App or via usual sales channels.

This article was first published on 19 July 2018.

The post Why a road trip through Muğla offers the best of Lycian history in Türkiye appeared first on Fethiye Times.

Turkey (or Türkiye) is a mountainous country with beautiful scenery and large areas of unspoiled countryside, which are wonderful natural preserves for the extraordinary variety of wildlife, flora and fauna.

The mountainous nature of the country has had a strong influence on its cultural evolution. For centuries, nomads and semi-nomadic peoples have lived here and migrated annually with their livestock to the fresh pastures of the mountains and hills around. These alpine meadows, or yayla, still represent a firm tie to traditional culture.

Hiking

Hiking allows you to get away from the crowds and discover more about the real Turkey we’re talking about, with stunning scenery, remote historic sites, traditional villages and, of course, the friendly villagers waiting to welcome you.

Serious hikers will probably want to explore Turkey’s rich interior and mountainous east but, even by walking a short distance inland from some of the busiest coastal resorts, it can feel as if you are in a different world.

Turkey has three official long-distance footpaths, the Lycian Way, listed by the Sunday Times as one of the world’s top ten walks, the St Paul Trail and the Carian Trail.

Lycian Way

The Lycian Way is a 540km way-marked footpath around the coast from Fethiye to Antalya. It takes its name from the ancient civilisation which once ruled the area, the most visible reminders of which are the carved rock tombs that can be seen throughout the region. This section of the coastline is breathtaking, with wooded mountains rising steeply from the shore affording fantastic views and making for varied walking conditions. The route also goes past many of the more remote historic sites. The route is graded medium to hard; it is not level walking but has many ascents and descents as it approaches and veers away from the sea. It is easier at the start near Fethiye and gets more difficult as it progresses. It is recommended that you walk the route in spring or autumn; February-May or September-November. Summer in Lycia is hot, although you could walk the shorter, shady sections. The route is mainly over footpaths and mule trails; it is mostly limestone and is often hard and stony underfoot.

Highlights of the Lycian Way

You can find out more about the beaches along the Lycian Way in this article by Lisa Morrow.

Turkey’s Lycian Way: An epic hike with beautiful beaches at every turn

St Paul Trail

The St Paul Trail is a newer way-marked footpath leading from Perge, 10km east of Antalya, to Yalvaç, NE of Lake Eğirdir. There is a second branch starting at Aspendos, 40km east of Antalya and joining the first route at the Roman site of Adada. The route totals about 500km. This route partly follows the one walked by St Paul on his first missionary journey in Asia Minor. It starts at sea level and climbs up to 2200m, with two optional peaks at around 2800m. Although the St Paul Trail is slightly wilder than the Lycian Way, it is also higher and cooler in the summer. The trip has varied and enjoyable walking days, some of which take you to ridge and peak tops, while others pass through forests, fields and ancient villages.

Sütcüler

The town of Sütcüler, in the first part of the walk, was an important administrative centre during Ottoman times.

There is an old mosque from that period in the town centre and ruins from Roman times on a nearby hill. Ancient pilgrimage routes ran through the adjacent gorges and the area was known as Bavul, after St Paul. The second part of the walk takes you over the shoulder of Mt Davras (2635m) and across the İsparta plain for two days trekking in the Barla mountains. You have the option to climb Gelincik Dağı (2799m) and Mt Kaymaz (2250m). Stay in Barla before moving on to the lakeside town of Eğirdir for an ascent of Sivri Dağı, with time to take a Turkish bath (hamam) or swim in the lake.

Highlights of the St Paul Trail

The Carian Trail – Turkey’s Longest Coastal Hiking Trail

The Carian Trail is an 800 km long-distance walking path in Southwest Turkey stretching from Bodrum and Karpuzlu, by the Aegean Sea in the west, around the Gulf of Gokova, to Içmeler, by the Mediterranean in the south-east.

The trail was officially opened in 2013 and was soon hot on the heels of the Lycian Way, Turkey’s most popular long-distance walk.

Named after the Carian civilization, the trail follows a route through a region rich in ancient ruins and history. Stone-paved caravan roads and mule paths connect villages from the coast to a mountainous hinterland, accessing a lesser-known and unspoiled region that is full of colour and tradition for all to enjoy. 

The trail is signed and way-marked according to international standards allowing both independent and group travellers to hike and enjoy the scenic beauty and cultural treasures of Caria. 

Swim in turquoise waters from deserted beaches, climb through pine-scented forests to discover ancient ruins, and look out over a dramatic coastline across to the Greek islands of the South Aegean. Rare mountain goats still roaming the remote forests of the Datça peninsula, boat building in Bozburun, Neolithic cave paintings of the Bafa region, traditional village carpets woven by village girls; all this and more awaits the hiker in search of new adventure…

Carian Trail consists of four main sections:

Bozburun Peninsula

Datça Peninsula

Gulf of Gokova

Carian Hinterland

One alternative section:

Muğla Environs

For more information on these routes, visit:

www.lycianway.com

Culture Routes Society: St Paul Trail

www.cariantrail.com

Sources: Discover Turkey/Culture Routes Society

This article was first published on 15 January 2019.

The post Discover Turkey: hiking the ways and trails appeared first on Fethiye Times.