About this stage
A beautiful forest walk through cedar and juniper woodland from Gavurağılı to the small village of Bel. The trail follows ancient Roman roads in places, with sections of original stone paving still intact. The shaded forest offers welcome relief from the coastal heat and the path passes several seasonal water sources.
Stage highlights
- Ancient Roman road sections
- Cedar and juniper forest
- Seasonal mountain springs
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.
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 640 m and 870 m above sea level on this stage — 250 m total ascent and 120 m descent over 5 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.
Getting there
Public transport access between Gavurağılı and Bel is limited. Most hikers reach this stage by walking from a neighbouring section, or by private taxi from Antalya or Fethiye (a 1-2 hour drive depending on the trailhead).
Where this stage fits in the trail
This is stage 5 of 27, part of the Western Lycian Coast section — the western coastal section running from Fethiye through Ölüdeniz, Faralya and the Patara dunes towards Kalkan. It connects stage 4 (Alınca to Gavurağılı) to stage 6 (Bel to Letoon/Xanthos), and works well as part of a multi-day section walk.
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.