Kalkan lies on the Lycian Way, voted one of the world’s top-ten long distance walks by the Sunday Times. Running from Fethiye in the west to Antalya in the east, many of the nicest stretches of the path are within easy reach of Kalkan.
At Abi Travel, we can put together bespoke walking programmes for groups of any size, led by knowledgeable, experienced, English-speaking guides, who have walked all of the sections many times. The walks are equally suitable for families, groups of friends or members of walking clubs.
Each programme takes into account the age, ability and fitness of the group, with walks varying in length from as little as six or seven kilometres to longer day walks of 15 to 20 kilometres, as well as the different levels of gradient and path conditions.
Typically, walking groups spend five days walking, with a day off in the middle to laze around on the beach, catch up on a little shopping or perhaps try their hand at sea kayaking or paragliding. Some groups spend a week walking, then enjoy a second, more leisurely week exploring the local area and visiting some of the countless other nearby places of interest.
The routes cover many different types of landscape – one day you may be walking the lower slopes of the Taurus Mountains, the next day following a well-preserved Roman aqueduct, passing through ancient Roman and Lycian sites on your way to the fabulous white sandy beach at Patara – the former capital of ancient Lycia. Spring walkers will enjoy the vista of pastures carpeted with myriad wild flowers, including poppies, crocus, anemones, daisies and several varieties of wild orchid. Wildlife lovers are often treated to the spectacle of falcons, eagles, owls, chameleons red squirrels and tortoises, as well as lots of other wild animals, insects and birds. On many of the walks, our groups are invited by local farming families to join them for tea and gossip – many of them are several miles from the nearest village with no transport of their own and our visits are often the highlight of their month
There is a wide choice of accommodation available, depending on the requirements of each individual group. This ranges from self-catering villas and apartments – many with their own pools - to simple pensions and more luxurious hotels. Picnic lunches can be provided for the daily walks, and other activities can be arranged separately for any non-walkers in the party, or for days when the group is not walking. Popular days out include boat trips to Kekova Island to see the sunken city and to visit the medieval castle at Simena, which has a Lycian amphitheatre within its walls from a previous age; and to the famous Saklikent Gorge, where you can enjoy wading in the icy cold, fast-flowing river, rewarded by a lunch of extremely(!) fresh trout at one of the little restaurants built on wooden platforms overhanging the water.
We can also arrange for a number of different local restaurants in Kalkan and the surrounding villages to provide dinner for your group for some or all of the evenings during your stay, which helps to maintain the party atmosphere.
The best months of the year to walk are October, November, March, April and the first half of May. December to February often enjoy long spells of glorious weather, but there is generally more chance of rain during that period. From the end of May until the end of September, the high temperatures make it unsuitable for walking.
If you would like more information on designing a walking holiday to suit your family or group, please contact:
Akbel to Patara
Approximately four hours - easy.
The walk starts in the olive groves near the hamlet of Akbel, just above the town of Kalkan. It follows an easy, level track with views across...
Gokceoren to Saribelen
Approximately four to five hours - easy
We start the walk in the very pretty village of Gokceoren high in the hills above Kas and Kalkan. This is the summer retreat for...
Saribelen to Gokceoren, via the mountain track - easy to moderate
Approximately four to five hours.
We start the walk just above the village of Saribelen. A short, but rather steep, ascent...