About this stage
A long mountain day. From Göynük village it is about 3 km of road and track up to the mouth of Göynük canyon, where the waymarked trail begins and climbs about 20 km through forest and over the shoulder of the Beydağları to the mountain village of Hisarçandır. Remote mountain walking with spectacular views back towards Antalya and the Beydağları peaks.
Stage highlights
- Remote mountain wilderness
- Beydaglari mountain views
- Ancient nomad paths
- Wildflower meadows in spring
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.
Shade is patchy. Forest sections offer relief on the climb of about 20 km from Göynük canyon over the shoulder of the Beydağları, but the open stretches require a sun hat, sunscreen and frequent water breaks in summer.
You'll move between roughly 25 m and 1,481 m — 1,593 m of ascent and 719 m of descent over 22.6 km, about 8.5 hours of walking.
A challenging stage with sustained climbs and technical terrain, and no facilities once you leave the canyon. Carry a full day's food and water, start at first light, and consider splitting the stage rather than finishing in the dark.
Getting there
Göynük 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; the waymarked trail starts about 3 km up, at the mouth of Göynük canyon. Hisarçandır, at the end, is a mountain village about 30 km (about 55 min) by road from Antalya; arrange a taxi or a transfer through your pension.
Where this stage fits in the trail
This is stage 24 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 23 (Gedelme to Göynük) to stage 25 (Hisarçandır to Geyikbayırı), 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.