Çıralı to Beycik (Inland Alternative)

This is a mountain stage with significant ascents and rocky paths. Sturdy boots and trekking poles are strongly recommended, and the descents can be hard on knees.

Water is available at intervals along the route, but plan refills carefully. Top up at every village fountain or natural spring you pass; gaps of 2-3 hours between sources are common.

The route runs largely under tree cover, providing welcome shade through most of the walk — comfortable even in late spring or early autumn.

You'll move between roughly 4 m and 730 m above sea level on this stage — 1056 m total ascent and 385 m descent over 16.7 km.

A challenging stage with sustained climbs and technical terrain. Allow extra time, start at first light, and carry more water than you think you'll need.

Çıralı is about 79 km (about 1 h 30 min) by road from Antalya; the dolmuş from Antalya's bus station drops you at the turn-off on the highway, about 7 km above the village. Beycik, at the end, is a mountain village about 28 km (about 35 min) by road from Kemer, the nearest town, and about 71 km (about 1 h 20 min) from Antalya; arrange a taxi or a transfer through your pension.

This is stage 19a, an alternative route, part of the Olympos to Antalya Mountains section — the rugged final section over the Beydağları mountains, past Tahtalı's summit and down to Antalya. It leaves the main route at Çıralı, where stage 18 (Olympos to Çıralı) ends, as the inland alternative to stages 20 to 22 along the coast. From Beycik, stage 21a (Beycik to Yaylakuzdere (Mountain Alternative)) or stage 21b (Beycik to Çukuryayla (High Route)) crosses Tahtalı, and stage 21c (Yaylakuzdere to Gedelme) rejoins the main route at Gedelme, where stage 23 starts.

The Lycian Way is best walked in spring (mid-March to mid-May) or autumn (mid-September to mid-November). October and April offer the most reliable weather: mild temperatures, clear skies, wildflowers in spring or olive harvest in autumn, and far fewer hikers than the shoulders of those windows. Summer (June-August) is generally too hot for comfortable walking — coastal stages routinely exceed 35°C and water sources dry up. Winter (December-February) brings rain to the coast and snow to mountain passes; the trail is walkable but conditions are unpredictable, especially on the higher inland stages.