About this stage
The Lycian Way begins in the bustling harbour town of Fethiye and climbs steadily through fragrant pine forests to the hillside village of Ovacık. The route passes ancient Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliffs above Fethiye and offers the first tantalising views of the famous Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz far below. A moderate warm-up stage that sets the tone for the adventure ahead.
Stage highlights
- Lycian rock tombs above Fethiye
- Blue Lagoon and Ölüdeniz panorama
- Pine forest ascent
- Kayaköy ghost village nearby
What to expect on the trail
The trail winds through pine and cedar forest, often shaded and fragrant. Surfaces are mostly soft underfoot, with some rocky sections.
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.
Shade is patchy. The pine forest offers relief on the climb to Ovacık, but the open stretches require a sun hat, sunscreen and frequent water breaks in summer.
You'll move between roughly 4 m and 341 m above sea level on this stage — 451 m total ascent and 179 m descent over 11.3 km.
A moderate stage requiring reasonable hill-walking fitness. Most active hikers complete it in the suggested time with a 30-minute lunch break.
Getting there
The stage starts in Fethiye, which has a bus station. Dalaman airport is about 55 km (about 1 h 10 min) by road, and the Havaş shuttle bus runs from the airport to the town centre. The stage ends at the Ovacık trailhead, about 11 km (about 20 min) by road from Fethiye; the Fethiye–Ovacık dolmuş runs every 20 minutes, so you can go back to town for the night.
Where this stage fits in the trail
This is stage 1 of 26, part of the Western Lycian Coast section — the western coastal section running from Fethiye through Ölüdeniz, Faralya and the Patara dunes towards Kalkan. As the opening stage, it sets the tone for the whole 540 km route towards Antalya.
Best time to walk this stage
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.