Why Time Out Named the Lycian Way the World's Most Beautiful Hiking Trail

Published by Lycian Walk — Turkey's most experienced Lycian Way operator since 2007

What Time Out Actually Said — and Why It Matters

On 22 October 2025, Time Out published its global ranking of the world's most scenic hiking trails. The Lycian Way took first place. The feature, written by Time Out London contributor Annie McNamee with trail reporting by travel writer India-Jayne Trainor, placed Turkey's 540-kilometre coastal route ahead of established benchmarks including Patagonia's O Circuit and the Alpine Tour du Mont Blanc.

The citation referenced the trail's combination of ancient ruins, sea cliffs, and the gin-clear lagoon at Ölüdeniz. It described the route as a former Lycian trade network — a path that once connected the settlements of an entire civilisation — now rewaymarked and open to long-distance hikers.

This is not the first time the Lycian Way has received international attention. It has appeared in Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveller, and numerous European hiking publications over the past two decades. But a Time Out ranking carries a specific audience: urban travellers, first-time trekkers, and culturally motivated hikers who may not have considered Turkey as a walking destination before. That audience shift matters for anyone planning a trip here.

We have been operating guided walks on the Lycian Way since 2007. We were here before the award, and we will be here after the next one. What we can offer is a field-level assessment of what Time Out got right, what the article left out, and what any serious hiker needs to know before committing to this route.

What the Award Got Right

Time Out identified three qualities that genuinely define this trail: archaeological density, terrain variety, and coastal access. These are not marketing claims — they are observable facts at ground level.

Archaeological density. No comparable long-distance trail in Europe or the Mediterranean runs through the same concentration of intact ancient sites. In the western section alone, between Fethiye and Kaş, a walker passes the rock tombs above Fethiye harbour, the ruins of Pinara, the UNESCO-listed sites of Xanthos and Letoon, the Roman theatre at Patara, and the submerged city of Simena near Üçağız. These are not roadside interpretive boards. Several sites require route deviation of fewer than 200 metres from the waymarked trail.

Terrain variety. The surface underfoot changes substantially across the 540 kilometres. The western sections around Ölüdeniz and Faralya involve exposed limestone ridgelines with significant elevation change. The Kaş to Finike stretch crosses lower, more agricultural ground with sections of ancient mule track. The eastern approach to Olympos and the Taurus foothills above Geyikbayırı presents a more forested, technically demanding finish. A single trail classification cannot cover all of this. Time Out described the variety accurately.

The Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz. This is a genuine visual landmark. Seen from the ridge above the bay at approximately 400 metres, the colour contrast between the lagoon and the open Mediterranean is arresting in a way that photographs do not reliably convey. Time Out highlighted this correctly.

What the Article Did Not Cover

A global lifestyle magazine has a different brief than a trekking operator. Time Out's piece was accurate but necessarily abbreviated. Several practical realities of the Lycian Way did not appear in the feature.

Waymarking is inconsistent. The red-and-white blazes that mark the route are reliable on the most-walked western sections. On the central and eastern sections — particularly around Finike, the approach to Olympos, and the final stages toward Geyikbayırı — gaps in waymarking require navigation competence or a downloaded GPS track. Hikers relying solely on trail markers have reported multi-hour route deviations in these sections.

Daily elevation gain is substantial. The trail is not a coastal promenade. Most walking days on the western section involve 700 to 1,000 metres of cumulative ascent and equivalent descent. Hikers without experience of multi-day trekking with a loaded pack on sustained gradients will find the first three days significantly harder than anticipated.

Water availability is variable. Reliable water sources exist at village stops and some fountains along the route, but sections between villages — particularly in the eastern half — can extend 15 to 20 kilometres without accessible water. Planning water carries is not optional in spring and autumn; it is essential.

Summer is not viable. The Time Out article did not specify season. Coastal temperatures on the Lycian Way reach 38°C to 40°C in July and August. At altitude on the exposed limestone sections, there is no shade. We do not operate summer departures for this reason, and we do not recommend self-guided summer hiking on the main ridge sections.

Terrain and Difficulty: A Realistic Assessment

The Lycian Way does not have a single difficulty rating. It ranges from T2 to T4 depending on section, season, and weather conditions.

The T4 sections involve sustained exposure, loose scree on descent lines, and in spring, can carry residual wet conditions on limestone. These are not technically alpine, but they are not straightforward trekking paths either. Hikers with a history of knee problems should assess the descent profile carefully before committing to ridge sections.

The full 540-kilometre route takes 30 to 40 days for experienced trekkers moving at a consistent daily pace of 15 to 22 kilometres. Most international visitors complete a 5 to 14-day section, typically on the western stretch between Fethiye and Kaş, or the coastal section around Olympos.

The Lycian Way Versus the Trails It Outranked

Time Out placed the Lycian Way above Patagonia's O Circuit (Torres del Paine, Chile) and the Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland). This comparison is worth examining on practical grounds.

Patagonia's O Circuit is a 9-day route through Torres del Paine National Park, involving glacier crossings, significant technical sections, and weather patterns that can change within hours. The O Circuit demands previous high-altitude and glacier-adjacent experience. Access requires long-haul flights and logistical complexity. Season is tightly constrained to November through March.

Tour du Mont Blanc is an 11-day, 170-kilometre circuit of the Mont Blanc massif at elevations reaching 2,665 metres. Alpine terrain, potential snowfields in early season, and significant refugio booking competition define the experience. It is mechanically accessible from multiple European hub cities.

The Lycian Way is longer than both, seasonally flexible, and culturally distinct in ways that have no direct analogy on either Alpine or Patagonian routes. The argument for ranking it above these trails is defensible on the grounds of variety, archaeological uniqueness, and accessibility. The comparison does not hold on technical difficulty — the O Circuit is harder at its maximum points — but that is not what Time Out was measuring.

Seasonal Planning: When to Actually Walk This Trail

The practical hiking window on the Lycian Way is March to May and October to mid-November. Within this window, conditions vary.

October to early November is our recommended period for most clients. Temperatures on the trail average 18°C to 24°C at coastal levels and 10°C to 16°C on ridge sections. Accommodation is open across all sections. The summer crowds that affect Ölüdeniz and Kaş have cleared. The sea remains swimmable through most of October — water temperatures are typically 22°C to 24°C at that point in the season.

March to April offers wildflower coverage on the limestone sections and green terrain in the valley approaches. Rain is possible but rarely sustained. Some accommodation on the eastern sections may not open before mid-March.

November to February is possible on the western and central sections for experienced hikers. The eastern ridge sections above 1,000 metres can carry snow from late November. Several village guesthouses close entirely in December and January.

May is viable but approaches the upper temperature threshold on exposed coastal ridges. The Ölüdeniz to Faralya section in May can reach 30°C by midday.

We do not run departures between June and September. The risk-to-reward ratio on summer trekking on this trail is unfavourable.

Who Is This Trail For — and Who Should Reconsider

The Lycian Way is frequently described as accessible to all levels of hiker. This is partially true and partially misleading.

The trail is appropriate for: Hikers with at least two or three previous multi-day walking trips. People who are comfortable navigating with a combination of waymarks and GPS. Travellers interested in history and archaeology as a component of the walk, not just the physical challenge. Those prepared to carry 2 to 3 litres of water between supply points.

The trail requires careful consideration for: Hikers with no previous multi-day experience. Individuals with significant knee conditions, given the descent profiles on the ridge sections. Anyone planning a solo self-guided route on the central or eastern sections without GPS competence.

Guided versus self-guided. A guided approach is more appropriate than self-guided when the group includes mixed fitness levels, when the itinerary covers remote eastern sections, or when the trip is a first experience of multi-day trekking in a non-European context. Self-guided trekking on the well-marked western section (Fethiye to Kaş) is achievable with proper preparation, downloaded GPX tracks, and confirmed accommodation bookings.

The Time Out award will increase the number of under-prepared hikers attempting this trail. Operators and village guesthouses have already noted an uptick in booking enquiries from hikers with no prior trekking background. This is worth stating clearly: the Lycian Way is a serious long-distance route. The award changes its profile, not its terrain.

Planning Your Lycian Way Trip

The award has created genuine demand. Guesthouses on the popular Fethiye to Kaş section fill quickly in October and April. Booking accommodation three to four months in advance is advisable for spring and autumn departures.

Our self-guided tours cover sections from 5 to 14 days, with the most requested itinerary being the 7-day Fethiye to Patara route. For those with more time, the 10-day and 14-day options extend to Olympos and the eastern Taurus sections respectively.

If you are considering a self-guided walk, the western section from Fethiye to Kaş is the most reliably waymarked and most serviced part of the route. Begin with a 5 or 7-day itinerary rather than committing to the full trail without prior knowledge of the terrain.

The Lycian Way deserves its recognition. It earned the Time Out ranking on the strength of what it actually offers — not on marketing, not on tourism board campaigns. Walking it is a different experience from reading about it, as is true of any serious trail. The award is a useful starting point. This article is the next step.

→ Walk the world's #1 trail with Turkey's most experienced local operator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Time Out name the Lycian Way the world's most beautiful hiking trail?

Time Out named the Lycian Way the world's most beautiful hiking trail in October 2025 based on its combination of archaeological sites, coastal scenery, and terrain variety. The ranking placed it above Patagonia's O Circuit and the Tour du Mont Blanc, citing the route's unique blend of Lycian ruins, sea cliffs, and the Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz as distinguishing factors.

How long does it take to walk the full Lycian Way?

The complete 540-kilometre Lycian Way takes approximately 30 to 40 days for experienced trekkers walking 15 to 22 kilometres per day. Most international visitors complete a 5 to 14-day section rather than the full route. The western stretch from Fethiye to Kaş is the most popular shorter section and is typically covered in 7 to 10 days.

What is the best time of year to hike the Lycian Way?

October to mid-November and March to April are the most suitable periods for hiking the Lycian Way. Temperatures during these windows are 15°C to 25°C at coastal elevation. Summer hiking is not recommended — coastal temperatures regularly reach 38°C to 40°C on exposed sections. Some eastern guesthouses close between December and mid-March.

Is the Lycian Way suitable for beginners?

The Lycian Way is not recommended as a first multi-day hiking experience. Daily elevation gain ranges from 400 to 1,000 metres depending on section, surfaces include loose scree and exposed limestone, and waymarking is inconsistent on the central and eastern portions. Hikers with previous multi-day trekking experience and basic GPS navigation competence are best suited to this trail.

What are the key archaeological sites along the Lycian Way?

The Lycian Way passes or provides close access to several major archaeological sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Xanthos and Letoon, the Lycian rock tombs above Fethiye, the Roman theatre at Patara, the ancient city of Myra near Demre, the ruins of Olympos, and the partially submerged city of Simena near Üçağız. Most sites require a deviation of under one kilometre from the main trail.

Do I need a guide to hike the Lycian Way?

A guide is not legally required on the Lycian Way. On the western section from Fethiye to Kaş, self-guided hiking is achievable with downloaded GPX tracks and pre-booked accommodation. A guided approach is advisable for the central and eastern sections, for hikers without prior multi-day trekking experience, or for groups covering more than 10 days on the trail.