Turkey Road Trip & Nature Hikes: Cappadocia to the Lycian Way - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cappadocia, Transfer to Uchisar

Welcome to Turkey! This culturally rich nation occupies an interesting part of the map in that it's a bridge between the Middle East and the West. There is no shortage of historic ruins here, ranging from ancient Greek to Roman to Christian and Islamic cultures. Then there's all the natural beauty, from the stunning coastline along the Aegean and Mediterranean seas to inland valleys and mountain regions. The trip kicks off with one such highlight: Cappadocia. Located on the arid plains of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, it's an area known for its towering "fairy chimney" geological formations and lunar valleys. 

You'll arrive at the airport in Kayseri, the main hub for travel to Cappadocia. A personal guide will transfer you by car west to Uçhisar. This town is unique in that its highest point is a citadel carved into towering volcanic rock. A popular activity is hiking to the top, where you'll enjoy the best panoramic views of Cappadocia anywhere. 

After checking in to your hotel and getting settled, you can explore Uçhisar. You might notice that around town, various hotels, restaurants, and other buildings are built into the rock formations dotting the landscapes. It's just one of many reasons this area is so unique.

Day 2: Göreme Museum, Pottery Demonstration & Valley Hike

UNESCO-protected Cappadocia is famous for its towering rock formations, nicknamed "fairy chimneys" because of their otherworldly shape. They were formed millions of years ago from volcanic eruptions. These eruptions left the landscape covered in mounds of thick ash, which solidified and were shaped by wind and erosion over time.

You'll visit the Göreme Open Air Museum in the morning, which showcases the area's history, highlighting the cluster of rock-hewn churches and Byzantine landmarks. Including the ancient art and frescoes left behind by persecuted Christians that fled to this region during Roman times and carved homes into the rock. As you stroll the site, you'll learn about the techniques the residents used to create these structures and artworks. The history is exceptionally rich in this area, as most churches here date from the 10th-12th centuries.

The uniqueness of the structures also lends the valleys of Cappadocia a lunar quality. In the afternoon, you'll embark on a brisk, easy hike to one such locale: Love Valley. It is so named for the towering rock structures shape. Alternatively, you can choose an optional, 2-hour horseback ride through another stunning valley.

Day 3: Morning Balloon Ride, Cooking Class & Valley Visits

The most popular activity in Cappadocia is a sunrise balloon ride over the valley. It's a particularly unforgettable experience not just because of the views but also because the plateaus and rocks here have a painted quality. They even appear to change color in the shifting light. First thing in the morning, you'll have the option to take one of these balloon tours.

When you return to Uchisar, you're in for a real treat, both literally and figuratively. You'll visit a private home where a local family will teach you how to cook traditional delicacies in preparation for today's lunch. Learn how to make dishes such as savory borek pastries, stuffed eggplant, and delectable baklava. You'll sit down to a multi-course lunch with your new friends and enjoy your creation accompanied by rich Turkish coffee when you're done. 

After lunch, enjoy additional panoramic views of Cappadocia from Avcilar Valley and Paşabağ Valley (Valley of Monks). These feature some of the most incredible fairy chimneys and cave dwellings, so you'll want to take plenty of photos. Then, in the early evening, you'll return to your accommodation for relaxation before heading into town for dinner.

Day 4: Kaymakli Undeground City, Ihlara Valley Hike

In the morning, you'll head out on another excursion to Kaymakli Underground City. This is one of the aforementioned underground cities built by the early Christians to protect themselves from religious persecution. It comprises an elaborate maze of nearly 100 tunnels and various caves, and it's one of the widest of the region's underground cities. Four city levels are open to the public, with the fourth level located 65 feet (20 m) underground.

Up next is a scenic and easy 2-hour hike in Ihlara Valley. The 4-mile (7 km) walk follows the canyons of the lovely Melendiz River. The terrain is flat, making it easy for most age groups and skill levels. Keep an eye out, as, along the valley, there are several rock-cut churches.

Day 5: Cappadocia to Antalya Road Trip

In the morning, you'll head out with your driver on a full-day road trip, leaving the arid plateaus of Central Anatolia as you head southwest to the resort city of Antalya. This is the gateway to the Mediterranean and Turkey's stunning Turquoise Coast, famous for its golden beaches, coastal mountains, pine-fringed bays, and azure waters. Antalya is one of the country's premier holiday destinations and the very definition of a historic Mediterranean port, complete with a yacht-filled old harbor, stunning Roman ruins, and Ottoman-era houses.

You'll stop at Sultanhani, a town known for its 13th-century caravanserai, before continuing to Konya. This historic city is a famous pilgrimage destination for Sufis. It's home to the tomb of the Celaleddin Rumi, known as Mevlana, an important mystic and founder of the Mevlevi order. You'll visit the Mevlana Museum, which includes a 13th-century mausoleum housing Rumi's sarcophagus. Other exhibits here include a collection of artifacts belonging to the Mevlevi Order (books, carpets, and artworks). Near the museum is the Mevlana Cultural Center, which stages whirling dervish ceremonies.

Following lunch, you'll head south to the Aspendos Theater. Built in the 2nd century CE, Aspendos is the most well-preserved Roman amphitheater in Turkey and is still in use today. You'll get to stroll around some 7,000 seats on tour. Then hit the road for the last leg of the trip, arriving in the evening at your hotel in Old Town, Antalya's historic center. Once the capital of the ancient region of Pamphylia, this city is now a modern coastal paradise. Besides its stunning Mediterranean beaches, Antalya is known for its nearby waterfalls and Byzantine hilltop castles. 

Day 6: Tour Antalya's Old Town

After breakfast, you'll meet a personal guide who will lead you on a 3-hour walking tour of Kaleiçi (Old Town) district. This tour focuses on the city's archaeological heritage, which spans the Roman, Seljukid (Turko-Persian), and Ottoman eras. Antalya has such a diverse history precisely because of this port city that has seen its fair share of cultures over the millennia. 

Highlights of the tour include a stop at Hadrian's Gate, a well-preserved triumphal arch built for Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century CE. There's also the Yivli Minaret Mosque, built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad I in the 13th century and whose 124-foot (38-m) fluted minaret is an icon of the city. Another stop is the legendary Broken Minaret (Kesik Minaret). It sits on a site that has been a Roman temple, a Byzantine church, a Seljuk mosque, a Christian church, then a mosque again during Ottoman rule. The mosque is now in ruins, with only its stone minaret remaining.

After Kaleiçi, you'll visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum. This adds perspective to the architectural marvels you've seen by providing a timeline of Antalya's history from antiquity to the present day.

Day 7: Road Trip to Kaş via Chimaera & Myra

This morning, hit the road for the 161-mile (260-km) drive southwest from Antalya to Kaş. It's a beautiful coastal drive full of incredible seascapes that will take you alongside forests and around mountains. The trip takes around 4-5 hours, but you'll break it up with several stops. The first is at Mount Chimaera, known in Turkish as yanartaş ("burning rock") for its flaming gas vents that have been burning for millennia and were once used as a navigational reference for ships at sea.

The next stop is Myra, Located 1.5 km north of the town of Demre. This archeological site was once one of the most important cities in the Lycian Union. The site is known for its ancient amphitheater and rock tombs with intricate carvings dating to around the 4th century BCE. Upon arrival in the coastal town of Kaş, you'll check into your hotel and will have the remainder of the day free.

Day 8: Hike from Phellos to Kaş

In the morning you'll take a bus into the mountains and to Phellos. Then it will be time to lace up your hiking boots and begin your nature hike on the legendary Lycian Way. 

 

The adventure starts with a day hike from Phellos back down the mountains to Kaş. First, though, you'll explore the ruins of Phellos' ancient city. Besides their historical relevance, these sites offer sweeping views over the Mediterranean to the Greek island of Kastelorizo in the distance. After the ruins, you'll begin the 5-hour hike down the trail, stopping along the way in the picturesque village of Cukurbag for a refreshing tea break. Then traverse a plateau up to cliffs that overlook the Bay of Kaş. From here, it's a steep but scenic descent to the end of the trail, where a bus will be waiting to take you back to Kaş. 

Day 9: Hike to Ucagiz

Get ready for another exciting day of hiking the stunning coastal trails of the Lycian Way. In the morning, you'll transfer to the archaeological site of Apollonia, home to the ruins of an ancient Lycian city, to begin the day's 4-hour hike. It first leads up a path scattered with sarcophagi to the top of a hill, home to a Byzantine acropolis and small amphitheater. From these sites, there are nice views that look back down the coast toward Kaş.

After that, the path will take you a couple of hours downhill to the archeological site of Aperlai, located in a tranquil coastal inlet. Once the head of the Lycian Federation, the massive walls of this ancient city are pretty impressive, as they begin on the shoreline and then gradually merge with the coastal hills. Take a break for a traditional Mediterranean lunch of fresh-grilled fish and enjoy it right on the water.

Once you've finished eating, you'll hop on a boat toward Ucagiz. The main attraction at this tiny fishing village is the ancient necropolis of Teimiussa, where you'll see ancient Roman sarcophagi and Lycian rock tombs rising along the terrain. Take in the quiet charm of the town before heading back to Kaş.

Day 10: Boat Tour of Kekova Bay, Transfer to Adrasan

Give your legs a break by enjoying a day out on the water. This boat tour will take you along the tranquil waters of the Turquoise Coast amid the various islands that surround Kekova Bay. One stop is a visit to the remote fishing village of Simena (also known as Kaleköy)—the only Mediterranean town in Turkey without road access.

 

Another highlight of the tour is a jaunt across the water to Kekova Island. In the crystalline waters of the Mediterranean here, you can see the partially-submerged ruins of ancient Simena. Above ground are the ruins of Lycian tombs, a church, and a stone staircase descending into the ocean. Underneath the water is the remains of houses, public buildings, and even a shipyard. After the boat tour, you'll get on a bus to the tranquil seaside town of Adrasan.

Day 11: Cape Gelidonya Hike

In the morning, you'll take a bus from Adrasan a few minutes to Karaöz. This tiny coastal village will be your starting point for a 6-7-hour hike that continues along the Taurus Mountains. One of the day's highlights is a stop at Cape Gelidonya, a site most famously known for the Bronze Age shipwreck discovered here in the 1950s. You'll also pass by the cape's lighthouse, which overlooks a collection of forested islets. After a scenic lunch near the lighthouse, you'll hop on the bus back to Adrasan.

Day 12: Hike to Olympus

Today's 6-7-hour hike will be a bit more strenuous, as most of the trail follows an uphill route. The path first takes you through groves of orange and pomegranate trees, then up the western slope of Musa Daglari Mountain. The trail here rises through a labyrinth of shady pine forests and sandstone gorges as you pass by quaint shepherd's huts.

Eventually, you'll take a water break on a high-altitude plateau that is dotted with colorful orchids in springtime. For lunch, stop at the foot of the adjacent Tahtalı Dağı, a mountain known as the Lycian Olympus. After an extensive rest, you'll take on the steep and rocky descent to the ruins of Olympos, an ancient Lycian city. From here, meet the tour bus, which will take you back to Adrasan.

Day 13: Hike Mount Chimaera, Transfer to Antalya

In the morning, you'll transfer to the area of the Olympos Valley near the expansive Cirali Beach. You'll then head back to legendary Mount Chimaera and embark on a 4-5-hour hike up it. An interesting bit of folklore is that this mountain is widely believed to be the origin of the mythical Chimaera monster.

After descending the mountain, you'll continue hiking a little way north to the pretty riverfront village of Ulupınar. Here you can enjoy a meal of fresh fish. Then transfer to nearby Adrasan, where you'll catch a bus to Antalya. You can kick back and relax as this concludes your grand hiking adventure on the Lycian Way!

Day 14: Depart Antalya

In the morning, your personal driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the airport in Antalya for your flight home. Safe travels!

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