Türkiye: Lycian Way, Scuba Diving, and Other Adventures
Roman amphitheater in Kas, Türkiye
In October of 2024, we spent a month in Türkiye. We traveled there with the intention of backpacking the Lycian Way, a 335 mile (760 km) trail along the southern coast of the country. Due to an unexpected heat wave, we had to modify our plan - but I’m so glad we did!
Instead of backpacking, we used the local bus system to traverse the Lycian Way, moving between trail towns along the Tekke Peninsula: Letoon, Xanthos, Kas, Patara Gelemis, Cirali, and Antalya. In each town, we lingered up to a week, day-hiking along the trail, exploring Roman amphitheaters and Lykkian tombs, scuba diving, kayaking, and simply kicking back beachside to enjoy the healing waters of the Mediterranean and lots of seafood.
In addition to Türkiye’s southern coast, we also visited Cappadocia, ‘cause we really wanted to see the mysterious underground city of Derinkuyu for ourselves! Off the tourist beat in Cappadocia, we were surprised to discover loads of scenic hiking trails winding through the region’s iconic fairy towers and ancient cave churches. #winning!
Our month in Türkiye was different than expected, but endlessly exciting: archaeology, rich cultural history, ancient tales, sunken towns and underground cities, fiery mountains that never extinguish, mournful calls to prayer… never a dull day in Türkiye!
Stories Across Türkiye’s Tekke Peninsula, Cappadocia, and Istanbul
