Walks of Turkey's Turquoise Coast

Welcome to Kaş, a pretty coastal town occupying the site of Antiphellos – a well-preserved first-century BCE theatre stands in tribute to the ancient town. There are no activities planned for today so you are free to arrive at any time and enjoy the hotel facilities.

We start our trip with a gentle warm-up day. The morning is spent on an orientation walk discovering Kaş, then we can enjoy coastal views through the olive groves on the way out to Limanagzi beach, where a historic shipwreck was once excavated. This is part of the famous Lycian Way. At Limanagzi, we have time to relax or swim before we head back to Kaş by another route, where you may see some rock tombs, a feature of the area. It was a custom of the Lycians (the predominant people of the area between the 15th and 14th centuries BCE) to build tombs for their dead in mountainsides, or at least in high places, as they believed they would be carried to the afterlife by a winged creature. There is also the option to take a water taxi back to Kaş (B).

After a vehicle transfer (30 minutes), we start our walk along one of the most spectacular sections of the Lycian Way. There are great views out to sea and we can spot Lastellirizo, the closest Greek island to mainland Turkey. We end up at yesterday's finish point where we visit a low-key beach club; there is time to swim and relax before returning to Kaş by water taxi (B).

In the hills above Kaş there are many ancient sites and one of the most enigmatic is Phellos, hardly excavated.

After a vehicle transfer (25 minutes), we start our walk close to the ancient ruins. Today's walk is mostly downhill, firstly to the village of Cukurbag. There are some great views over the coast. If the weather is hot, we shorten the walk using a vehicle transfer for 1. 8mi (3km). Our walk brings us down back into Kaş (B).

Your leader will advise on things to do in and around Kaş, including some self-guided walking options. A very popular excursion is sea kayaking at Kekova, an alternative way to explore the Kekova region and Turquoise Coast. Our optional guided tour departs from the small fishing port of Ucagiz (approximately 45 minutes' transfer from Kaş) to explore the island of Kekova and float over the sunken city there. We disembark at the hillside village of Simena and stroll up to a superb fortress where we can enjoy spectacular views over the aquamarine bays, inlets and islands below. We have a late lunch and then transfer back to Kaş in the mid-afternoon (B).

Today we travel inland for approximately 1hr 45min to Arycanda, a city renowned in Lycian times for its love of pleasure and merrymaking as well as being in constant debt. Arycanda is the most impressive of the Lycian cities and its setting is one of the most outstanding in all southern Turkey. After visiting the site, we enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch with a local family in the village (payable locally).

In the afternoon, we drive approximately 20 minutes to the Ordubek Plateau and begin the 5mi (8km) walk to Yazirbeli village. This is the highest point of the day; from here, we begin our descent with fabulous views of the surrounding landscape, made more colourful by cedar and juniper trees (B).

Today is free for relaxing and exploring Kaş, a small coastal town with a pretty harbour. Although tourism has discovered Kaş it has retained much of its old charm. There are opportunities to walk to the ancient theatre on the peninsula as well as the nearby rock-cut tombs. The more active can try their hand at diving or paragliding (B).

Our adventure ends after breakfast today and we begin our return journey home. If you'd like to spend a bit more time exploring this beautiful stretch of Turkey, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay (B).