About this stage
A long descent from the mountain village of Gedelme through pine forests and along river valleys to the resort town of Goynuk. The trail passes through dramatic canyon scenery.
Stage highlights
- Goynuk Canyon
- River valley walking
- Pine forest descent
- Mountain to coast transition
What to expect on the trail
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.
You'll move between roughly 25 m and 977 m above sea level on this stage — 929 m total ascent and 1591 m descent over 24.6 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
Gedelme is a mountain village about 16 km (about 30 min) by road above Kemer and about 59 km (about 1 h 20 min) from Antalya; arrange a taxi or a transfer through your pension. Göynük, at the end, lies by the coast road between Kemer and Antalya, about 37 km (about 45 min) by road from Antalya, and the Kemer–Antalya dolmuş runs along that road.
Where this stage fits in the trail
This is stage 23 of 26, 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 connects stage 22 (Phaselis to Gedelme) to stage 24 (Göynük to Hisarçandır), 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.