Walking Turkey's Turquoise Coast

Our trip starts today in Kas, a beautiful coastal town set against a backdrop of steep forested cliffs at the foothills of the Taurus mountainous, overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Kas is known for its old town, cafes, restaurants and interesting shops and these are within walking distance of our hotel, as is the waterfront.

For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Kas at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Dalaman Airport (DLM), which is around two hours drive . Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If you arrive earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to relax beside our hotel's outdoor swimming pool, have a drink in the terrace bar or to take a stroll around the harbour.

This morning we get our bearings with a guided orientation walk around Kas's cobbled streets and network of back-alleys, passing some of the Lycian tombs that lie scattered around the town. Kas is built around the remains of ancient Antiphellos. A short walk from the centre we'll find the horseshoe-shaped Hellenistic theatre where we can climb to the top of the well-preserved theatre for magnificent sea views.

Picking up picnic supplies we walk to Limanagzi Beach, following the cliff top path taking in the coastal views. Limanagzi is a beautiful sheltered bay only accessible on foot. Two rock-hewn Lycian burial chambers can be found in the forest at the edge of the beach. After a chance to relax or swim in the warm water we head back to Kas, either on foot following a different route passing ancient Lycian tombs cut into the cliffs or by taking a water taxi across the bay (not included).

Today's eight kilometre walk is expected to take around three hours with 170 metres of ascent and descent.

Today we drive to the Roman engineering marvel of Delikkemer, this hillside aqueduct was once part of the system that brought water to Patara. We continue to Inpinar, the catchment tunnel of the Xanthos Aqueduct from where our walk begins.

We'll walk along a section of Lycian Way to Cavdir village. The Lycian Way is a 540 kilometre long marked footpath winding around the coast of southern Turkey. It is up there with the most beautiful walks in the world, combining Mediterranean views, mountainous hinterland, Turkish culture and ancient ruins. We join the trail near the ridge of the valley , following the aqueduct through quiet villages surrounded by olive groves.

We then drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Xanthos, the once great capital of ancient Lycia. With a tragic history drenched in violence, Xanthos contains some impressive remains including an inscribed obelisk that dates back to the 5th century BC and a tomb unique to Lycia which is actually two-tombs-in-one, a normal Lycian sarcophagus which rests upon a short pillar tomb. We return to Kas by bus to enjoy the rest of the afternoon in the town.

Today's five kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours with 100 metres of ascent and 250 metres of descent.

Kas has much to offer for those who just want to relax and soak up the atmosphere today, with it's shady cafes, coves for swimming and some beautiful local crafts on offer.

There are also several possibilities for day trips including the option to visit the isolated and ruggedly beautiful Greek island of Meis, just one mile from the Turkish coast. Alternatively spend the day at the picturesque bay of Kekova, taking a boat trip or sea-kayaking over the sunken city to the village of Simena and hike up to the medieval castle. The scenic setting at Kekova is the result of various earthquakes that have partly submerged the streets and buildings of, now visible in the crystal clear waters.

For those wishing to walk today, your leader will be available to guide an eight kilometre hike from the aqueduct of Delikkemer to the ruins of Patara. Patara was one of Lycia's principal ports under the Romans, once a wealthy city, the ruins are extensive. The walk follows the aqueduct system as it contours around the hillside, before descending to the endless sands of Patara beach.

We spend the day walking between hidden villages in the hinterland. Walking above the farming community of Gökçeoren we pick up the Lycian Way and trek through tiny settlements. The path ascends to give us magnificent sea views all the way back to Baba Dagi mountain near Fethiye, past Patara Beach and across to Meis Island. Following the red and white Lycian Way markers, we'll pass ancient Lycian rock tombs and an area of unusual eroded rock before finally meeting our bus near the village of Saribelen and returning to Kas.

A popular holiday destination for Turks, Kas has some great restaurant options for you to try over the course of the week. Some of the liveliest bars and restaurants cluster around the harbourfront square where children play until late at night while the adults can enjoy a raki (the local aniseed spirit) or a beer. More traditional izgara restaurants (where you can watch the meat being cooked over a massive open grill) can be found in the smaller back streets.

Today's 11 kilometre walk is expected to take around four-and-a-half hours with 450 metres of ascent and descent.

Today we journey into the mountainous interior, driving up to the 1,580 metre Kuruova Pass. We spend the morning hiking in the shadow of Mount Akdag (3,048m), following a network of trails and tracks taking us through forests of cedar, pine and juniper trees.

Passing scattered villages and farmsteads we descend, first on forest track and then on an ancient footpath, before reaching a wooden bridge and crossing the deep Kibris canyon. After a short but steep climb to the hamlet of Kalkangolu , we'll meet our waiting bus and drive on to the village of Sutlegen where we'll have lunch in a local home.

Meals served at home in the villages are traditionally eaten from large communal plates whilst sitting on cushions on a floor covered in brightly-coloured woven carpets. However, if the weather is fine we may sit outdoors and dine al fresco under the shade of the vines. All Turkish meals generally start with hot and cold meze (starters), accompanied by limitless supplies of the morning's freshly baked bread. Popular meze include cacik, a yoghurt and garlic dip, a variety of aubergine dishes and dolma, vine leaves stuffed with minced lamb and rice. A fresh salad of homegrown tomatoes, cucumber and sweet red onion is generally always served together with other seasonal fresh vegetables. Main course dishes are usually a grilled meat dish with lamb being the most popular, accompanied by bulgar wheat or rice and sometimes fried potatoes.

After lunch there's time for a wander in the village and visit to the local mosque before we drive back to the coast by a different spectacular route. If time and weather allows there will be the opportunity to stop for a swim at Kaputas Beach.

Today's seven kilometre walk is expected to take around three hours with 250 metres of ascent and 630 metres of descent.

We walk on another section of the Lycian Way today, driving to the village of Kapakli where we pick up the trail with lovely coastal views. We descend to the coast and a beautiful cove of sparking white limestone pebbles before approaching the sandy Demre river mouth. Crossing a wooden bridge, we walk along the untouched golden beach into the small harbour of Andriake.

In early Byzantine times, Andriake was once the harbour of Myra and the capital of Lycia, housing the Lycian fleet. We'll have time to visit the remains of the ancient city. Hadrian's Granary, which was built in 129 A.D., has been carefully restored to become the open-air Museum of Lycian Civilizations complete with a reconstructed Roman-era boat and bird-observation platforms. Flamingos can sometimes be spotted here.

Today's eight kilometre walk is expected to take around three hours with 170 metres of ascent and 240 metres of descent.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kas.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Kas at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Dalaman Airport (DLM).