The "Likya Yolu" or Lycian Way is the most famous waymarked long-distance walking route of Turkey.
Approximately 540 km long, it stretches from Ölüdeniz, near Fethiye, to Geyikbayırı, near to Antalya.
The name is taken from the ancient Lycian civilisation that once ruled the area.
A British lady living in Turkey, Kate Clow, began investigating walking routes there in 1992. In 1997 she won an award from a Turkish bank, which enabled her to open this route two years later.
http://cultureroutesinturkey.com/the-lycian-way/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia
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| Lycian Way hiking trail. By foot, it takes one month to link the tourist spots of Antalya and Fethiye. |
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| 9.2kg backpack, including tent, air mattress, sleeping bag and hiking poles. |
Sunday 24/Mar/2019.
Home to Istanbul journey.
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| Flight announcement Marseille to Istanbul, 3h05 flight. |
- Turkish Airlines flight TK1368 from Marseille (MRS) to Istanbul Ataturk (IST), 18:00-23:05, 3h05, 184€ return, Boeing B737-800.
- Taxi ride from airport to hotel, 15€.
|---| Kocasinan Airport Hotel, 29€/n.
Monday 25/Mar/2019.
Istanbul to Fethiye journey.
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| Flight announcement Istanbul to Dalaman, 1h30 flight. |
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| Dalaman to Fethiye bus, a 30 minutes ride. Bus destinations are clearly marked ! |
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| Fethiye, Lycian rock tombs 400 BC. |
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| Fethiye. |
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| Fethiye, temple-tomb of "Amynthas", with a skillfully imitated four-panel door on rock. |
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| Fethiye. |
- Hasta bus from Dalaman to Fethiye, 1h, ~4€.
|---| Yildirim Guest House, Fethiye, 6€/n dorm.
Tuesday 26/Mar/2019.
Ovacik to Faralya, 13.5km 5h +630m -560m (Hike 1).
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| Taking the "Dolmus" (minibus) to the start of the hike (Ovacik). |
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| Official starting point of the Likya Yolu. |
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| Taking a pomegranate-orange juice, 5TL. |
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| A bee keeper. |
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| A welcome fresh-water well. |
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| A cheese-pancake for lunch. |
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| Butterfly valley. |
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| Butterfly valley. |
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| Sunset. |
|---| "George's" guesthouse, Faralya, 200TL/n/2p incl. dinner and breakfast.
Wednesday 27/Mar/2019.
Faralya to Gey, 20km (Hike 2).
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| Leaving "George's" guesthouse of last night. |
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| Ottoman cistern. |
|---| "Muhtar'in Yeri" Guesthouse, Gey, 200TL/2p.
Thursday 28/Mar/2019.
Gey to Pydnai, 20km (Hike 3).
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| Leaving the guesthouse. |
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| Talking to the tree. |
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| Pydnai ruins. |
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| Pydnai ruins. |
Friday 29/Mar/2019.
Pydnai to Kinik (Xanthos),16km 5h +150m -140m (Hike 4).
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| Flooded wetlands. |
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| Letoon ruins. |
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| Letoon ruins. |
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| Kinik, market. |
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| Kinik, market. |
|---| Neruda Pansiyon, Kalkan, 150TL/2p without meals.
Saturday 30/Mar/2019.
Kinik (Xantos) to Akbel, 21km 7h +945m -738m (Hike 5).
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| Xanthos ruins. |
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| Xanthos ruins. |
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| Xanthos ruins. |
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| Xanthos ruins. Stone pilar with Lycian and Greek text that allowed the alphabet decoding. |
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| Elections gathering ("Ampul" party = Erdogan party). |
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| It's the day before the elections. Oops... |
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| Roman aqueduct channel. |
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| Hitch-hiked rusty Renault car. The lady offering oranges and sweets. |
|---| Neruda Pansiyon, Kalkan, 150TL/2p without meals (2nd night).
Sunday 31/Mar/2019.
Akbel to Gelemis/Patara, 14km 4h15 +192m -434m (Hike 6).
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| Syphon-type aqueduct, a Roman engineering marvel. http://www.romanaqueducts.info/aquasite/patara/index.html |
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| Modular syphon pipe element. |
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| A friendly turtle. |
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| A bee keeper. |
Patara.
Capital of Lycia during the Roman imperial period.
Also, Saint Nicholas was born here.
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| Sarcophagus. |
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| Sarcophagus. |
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| Triumphal Arch dedicated to roman emperor Vespasian. |
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| Patara's main arcade. |
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| Patara's theater. |
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| Patara beach. |
|---| Neruda Pansiyon, Kalkan, 150TL/2p without meals (3rd night).
Monday 01/Apr/2019.
Gelemis/Patara to Kalkan, 20km 6h30 +760m -716m (Hike 7).
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| Back to yesterday's Roman aqueduct. |
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| Hard to believe 60 000 people hike the Likya Yolu... |
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| Kalkan. |
|---| Gul Pansiyon, Kalkan, 180TL/2p incl breakfast.
Tuesday 02/Apr/2019.
Kalkan to Saribelen, 18.5km 7h +1323m -475m (Hike 8).
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| Guesthouse breakfast. |
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| Guesthouse terrace. |
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| Leaving Kalkan. |
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| Graneries. |
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| Bezirgan. |
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| Bezirgan. |
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| Instructions to reach the beautiful "Mozaik Pansiyon". |
|---| Mozaik Pansiyon, Saribelen, 130TL/p full board.
Wednesday 03/Apr/2019.
Saribelen to Gökçeören, 10km 3h15 +301m -288m (Hike 9).
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| Hüseyins House (a business-minded shepherd). |
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| Hail storm. |
|---| Family, 125TL/p half board, Gökçeören.
Thursday 04/Apr/2019.
Gökçeören to Çukurbag, 20.5km 7h +596m -866m (Hike 10).
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| Leaving the pansiyon. |
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| Phellos ruins, still unexplored. |
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| Phellos ruins, temple-tombs. |
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| Phellos ruins, sarcophagus. |
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| Çukurbag, water well. |
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| Kas, sunset. |
|---| Aphrodite Pansiyon, Kas, 150TL/p incl breakfast.
Friday 05/Apr/2019.
Kas to Bogazcik, 20km 8h +887m -603m (Hike 11).
Note : for the section Çukurbag to Kas see 20/April/2019).
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| Leaving Aphrodite Pansiyon. |
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| Kas. |
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| Leaving Kas. |
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| Sarcophagus. |
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| Cistern. |
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| A lot of plastic trash on the beach. |
|---| Ali's House, Bogazcik, 140TL/p half board.
Saturday 06/Apr/2019.
Bogazcik to Üçagiz, 15km 6h +300m -575m (Hike 12).
A rainy day...
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| Leaving the guesthouse. |
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| Apollonia ruins. |
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| Aperlae ruins. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperlae |
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| Aperlae ruins, In the background the 'Purple House'. |
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| Yörük Ramazan boarding pier. |
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| Üçagiz, reached right before the storm. |
|---| Cennet House, Üçagiz, 140TL/p half board.
Sunday 07/Apr/2019.
Kaleköy (resting day)
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| Üçagiz. |
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| Üçagiz. |
Sunken City (Kekova Adasi).
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| Sunken City. |
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| Sunken City. |
Kaleköy (Simena).
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| Kaleköy. |
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| Kaleköy. |
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| Kaleköy. |
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| Kaleköy castle, miniature roman theater. |
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| Kaleköy, sarcophagus. |
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| Kaleköy. |
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| Kaleköy. |
Üçagiz.
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| Üçagiz. |
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| Üçagiz. |
|---| Cennet House, Üçagiz, 140TL/p half board.
Monday 08/Apr/2019.
Üçagiz to Demre, 18.5km 6h +351m -348m (Hike 13).
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| Cakil Plaji. |
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| Cakil Plaji. |
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| River crossing. |
Andriake Museum (Sura).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andriaca
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| The twelve Lycian Gods. |
Saint Nicholas church (Demre).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Church,_Demre
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| Saint Nicholas' sarcophagus. His remains were stolen by knights from Bari. |
|---| Kent Pansiyon, Demre, 200TL/2p half board (1st night).
Tuesday 09/Apr/2019.
Demre to Archangel Gabriel Church (Hike 14).
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| Alakalise ruins, Archangel Gabriel church. |
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| Alakalise ruins, Archangel Gabriel church. |
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| Alakalise ruins, Archangel Gabriel church. |
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| Too bad weather to proceed across the mountain pass (1750m). |
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| Granary. |
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| Bee keeper. |
Myra.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myra
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| Myra, Roman theater. |
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| Myra, Lycian cave-tombs. |
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| Myra. |
|---| Kent Pansiyon, Demre, 200TL/2p half board (2nd night).
Wednesday 10/Apr/2019.
Finike to Karaöz, 30km (Hike 15).
Note : segments Alakilise to Belos (18.5km) and Belos to Finike (9.6km) were wisely skipped because of bad mountain weather forecast (rain, snow, and hail).
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| Leaving the guesthouse a second time, to be dropped behind Finike. |
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| Birthday picnic. |
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| Today's hike 95% on asphalt. |
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| Entering the village. |
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| Birthday cake surprise at the guesthouse. |
|---| "Gelidonya Pansiyon", Karaöz, 240TL/2p full board.
Thursday 11/Apr/2019.
Karaöz to Adrasan, 22km 8h +925m -930m (Hike 16).
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| Leaving the guesthouse. |
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| Cape Gelidonia lighthouse. |
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| Cape Gelidonia. |
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| Wild tulips. |
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| Approaching Adrasan. |
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| Adrasan. |
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| Adrasan. |
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| Mount Olympos, tomorrow's destination. |
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| An excellent refreshment ! |
|---| "Motel Blue Bay", Adrasan, 80TL/p incl breakfast.
Friday 12/Apr/2019.
Adrasan to Çirali, 14.5km 7h +795m -810m (Hike 17).
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| Leaving the excellent guesthouse. |
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| Help-yourself shop. |
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| River crossing, while guidebook and GPS showed a bridge... |
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| Pomegranate-orange juice and wooden kitchen spoon shop. |
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| Picnic place at the mountain pass between Adrasan and Çirali. |
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| Olympos ruins. |
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| Çirali. |
|---| Village Garden, Çirali, 150TL/2p incl breakfast (1st night).
Saturday 13/Apr/2019.
Çirali to Beycik, 18.5km 6h30 +1165m -360m (Hike 18).
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| Oven-fresh bread for breakfast. |
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| Free hiking sticks. |
Chimeras.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(mythology)
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| Eternal fire. |
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| Eternal fire. |
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| Grorgia's river crossing. |
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| Ulupinar, famous for the trout restaurants. |
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| Trout farm and restaurant. |
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| Just 15 minutes happen between catching the trout and being served. |
|---| Village Garden, Çirali, 150TL/2p incl breakfast (2nd night).
Sunday 14/Apr/2019.
Beycik to Gedelme, 20km 8h +1120m -1266m (Hike19).
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| Donativo-based hiker stall. |
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| Tahtali mountain pass 1815m. |
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| WildWild crocus flowers. |
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| Tahtali Dagi mountain 2363m. |
|---| Family, Yaylakuzdere, 240TL/2p half board.
Monday 15/Apr/2019.
Gedelme to Göynük Yaylasi, 10km 3h30 +540m -355m (Hike 20).
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Leaving the pansiyon. |
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| Gedelme, 2000 years old plane tree. |
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Gedelme, rundown tourist infrastructure. |
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| Road washed away. |
|---| Gül Mountain Hotel, 450TL/2p half board.
Tuesday 16/Apr/2019.
Göynük Yaylasi to Göynük, 15km 6h +520m -1330m (Hike 21).
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| Dumped by the hotel driver at the trailhead. |
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| Scorpions warning. |
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| Dangerous river crossing. |
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| Dangerous river crossing. |
|---| Apartment, Göynük, 200TL/2p half board.
Wednesday 17/Apr/2019.
Hisarçandir to Çitibi, 11.7km 3h30 +650m -490m (Hike 22).
Note : for the segment from Göynuk to Hisarçandir see 18 and 19/Apr/2019.
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| Leaving the apartment. |
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| Dropped by a kind driver at Hisarçandir. |
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| Start of the trail. |
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| End of the trail, also OUR END OF THE LIKYA YOLU !!! |
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| Hotel for two nights (tonight and the day after tomorrow). |
|---| Sibel Pansiyon, Antalya, 180TL/2p incl breakfast (~28€).
Thursday 18/Apr/2019.
Güynük to Hisarçandir, 22.5km 9h +1570m - 755m (Hike 23).
Note : this segment was skipped earlier.
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| Clearly marked local buses at the 'Otogar'. |
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| Sarçinar Pinari water well. |
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| Wild campsite near the well. |
|---| Tent.
Friday 19/Apr/2019.
Güynük to Hisarçandir, 22.5km 9h +1570m - 755m, cntd (Hike 24)
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| Approaching the steep ridge. |
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| Hüdacik pass, 1350m. |
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| 200m through frozen snow. |
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| Baba Çesme (Father's Spring). |
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| Etmayani Pinari (Apples Spring), highest point of the day, 1480m. |
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| Smooth 8km descend to Hisarçandir. |
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| Dropped by a kind truck driver at a treehouse restaurant. |
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| Treehouse restaurant. |
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| Mountain views from Antalya. |
|---| Sibel Pansiyon, Antalya, 180TL/2p incl breakfast (~28€)
Saturday 20/Apr/2019.
Antalya to Kas journey.
|---| Aphrodite Pansiyon, Kas.
Sunday 21/Apr/2019.
Çukurbag to Kas (Hike 25).
Note : this segment was skipped earlier.
|---| Aprodite Pansiyon, Kas
Monday 22/Apr/2019.
Kastellorizo island (Greece) and Kas to Antalya journey.
The easternmost of the Greek islands.
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| The famous "Blue Cave". |
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| Easter Eggs ! Greek Orthodox Easter is next Sunday. |
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| Leaving Kastellorizo and Greece. |
|---| Sibel Pansiyon, Antalya, 150TL/2p (as no breakfast).
Tuesday 23/Apr/2019.
Antalya to Istanbul journey.
- Taxi from Antalya city center to the Airport, 70TL/2p.
- Pegasus flight PC2007 from Antalya (AYT) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), 9:50-11:05, 1h15, Airbus A320.
- City bus E10 from the airport to Kadikoy.
- Ferry from Kadikoy to Karikoy
|---| Galata West Hostel, Istanbul.
Wednesday 24/Apr/2019.
Istanbul to Home journey.
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| Galata tower. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galata_Tower |
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| Panorama from the Galata tower. |
New Istanbul Airport.
- Havaist shuttle bus from Taksim Square to New Istanbul Airport, 1h40, 15TL.
- Turkish Airlines flight TK1367 from New Istanbul Airport (ISL) to Marseille (MRS), 14:35-17:00, 3h25, Airbus A321.
|---| Home.
