UK-based Time Out magazine has named Turkey’s historic Lycian Way the world’s most beautiful hiking trail, placing it first on its list of the top ten walking routes.
Stretching along the Mediterranean coast, the Lycian Way offers breathtaking scenery that combines ancient ruins, rugged mountains and turquoise lagoons.
The prestigious publication described it as a route of exceptional beauty that weaves through landscapes rich in history and culture. Beginning near the city of Antalya, the trail links several ancient Lycian settlements, including Patara, Xanthos, Olympos, Kayaköy, Faralya and Kabak Bay. It provides an unforgettable journey for anyone who loves both nature and the past.
Autumn, particularly between September and November, is highlighted as the ideal season to walk the route, thanks to mild weather and the chance to support sustainable tourism. Spanning more than seven hundred kilometres from Fethiye in Muğla to Antalya, the Lycian Way is more than a walking path. It is an immersive experience through time and landscape.
Created in 1999 by British-born explorer Kate Clow, the trail follows routes once used to connect the ancient Lycian cities. Today, around thirty thousand hikers a year explore it. Ongoing efforts to renew signs and improve accessibility continue to enhance its reputation as one of the world’s most remarkable long-distance walks.