Turkey: Lycian Way Pegasus Trail – ride the ledend!
Styles
• Trail Riding
• Point to Point Trails
• Guided tour
• Package program
• Expedition
• Solo-riders, familiers, couples, kids and teens
Key information
• 5 or 6 days horseback, English tack, Arabian horses
• Approximate daily riding time: 3 to 6 hours
• English-speaking guide and local guide assistance (1 for 8 riders)
• Luggage transport and airport transfer service
• 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 6 dinners
• 3 nights in hotel, 1 nights in guesthouse accommodation and 1 night in tent
• Rider Weight Limit: 80 kg/ 176 pounds
Highlights
• Ride half of famous Lycian Way trekking rout horseback
• Visit antic cities of Olympos or Phaselis, Byzantene castle and 2000 year old forest
• Cross legendary Olympos (Tahtali) mountain that is said to be Zeus residence
• Climb to mysterious Chimera mountain burning inside where Pegasus the winged horse was broken
• Stay overnight in authentic 150 years old Tukish village house
• Spend one night on the beach where turtles nest, experience 5 climate zones in one day
• Enjoy long and fast canters on powerful Arabean horses
CHECK AVAILABILITY AND PLAN YOUR DREAM TRIP!
- The ride will depart if 1 and more riders join. Departures guaranteed.
- You will be requested to confirm your riding skills
- All trail and camping equipment is provided. Just bring your breeches.
- Small groups up to 6 riders. Solo travelers are welcome with the same price.
- Riding in the national parks closed for tourism as sea turtle nest there
- Low season rate applies from November to May: 1500€ per person in shared accomodation for 7 days and 1750€ for 8 days. Single supplement 200€.
- High season rate applies from June to October: 1850€ per person in shared accomodation for 8 days and 1750€ for 7 days. Single supplement 300€
- For a group of 5+ riders discount and private dates are possible
They say you can find more antique sights in Turkey than in Greece or Italy. This trail collects the remarkable places from each civilization that ruled this land of southwestern Anatolia on the Mediterranean Sea coast starting from Lycia times and till nowadays. We will ride through the short part of the Lycian Way in Antalya province witnessing each new culture and traditions trace. Roman baths and roads, the town “protected by Gods”, emperrors’ Archs, Hellenistic theater, Greek acropolis and byzantine basilica and castle. We will climb Olympos mountain. They still argue if this Olympos is that famous place where Roman gods lived. And some researches count this place the motherland of piracy. It had a long history in the ancient Mediterranean stretching from the time of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten and throughout the Middle Ages. And visit the burning mountain of Chimera where according to the legend Pegasus the winged horse was ridden for the 1st time.
While ancient citizens of the area have vanished the modern village life also is disappearing under big cities pressure. But stunning nature of here remains the same. The beach of Carali is known as one of the cleanest in the world and shelters caretta turtles when they make babies. This trip is perfect to experience really authentic things, wild nature where human presense is forbidden and combine with seaside vacation.
The Lycian Way (Turkish: Likya Yolu) is a marked long-distance trail in southwestern Turkey around part of the coast of ancient Lycia. The Lycian Way, used by the Lycians as a footpath and mule trail, was conceived by Kate Clow, a British expatriate living in Turkey since 1989, and opened in 1999. The region of Lycia was occupied by the Persian Empire, Ancient Greece, and then controlled by Ancient Rome, Byzantine Empire, Seljuk Empire, and finally the Ottoman Empire. Rock-cut tombs on cliff walls and sarcophagi in the region testify to the Lycian civilization.
The whole way is about 540 km. We’ll cover around 200 km of the distance crossing Tahtali mountain at 2000m high point and experience 3 climate zones within one day. We’ll make it in expedition format when riders will spend 5 days together with their horses taking care of each other, camping in some really wild gems and swimming in the sea. It’s 100% worth to see.
Countryside residence with all amenities for the first 2 days and the last day, tents, local village houses and sleeping bags in trail. No tent (only hotel) accomodation is available with surcharge of 200€.
Day 1.
Transfer from Antalya airport to Kemer, check-in, welcome dinner and rest in the hotel. We’ll accommodate in the oldest ranch of the area conquered by the city and renovated to the hotel but still keeping its atmosphere: jungle, birds, garden and stable converted to modern gym. No riding today.
Day 2.
Breakfast, meeting horses, riding and safety brief, brushing and saddling-up.
We’ll ride in the forest around Kuzdere for 2 hours to check group skills and pick up appropriate horses for further trip. We’ll see orange and pomegranate gardens, ruins of ancient village, springs and small palm forest.
Pace: walk, trot, canter.
After the ride we’ll have short brief on the trail with detailed instructions about the rout, things to pack etc. Lunchtime our guests can relax near the pool or at the beach and pack for trail.
Later we’ll go together for sightseeing tour to Chimera mountain at dawn and Olympos antique city. This is the last day in the hotel.
Day 3.
Let the trail begin. We start right after breakfast and check-out from the hotel. We’ll meet you at the stable at 11.00. You will prepare your horse, pack saddle bag and pass your trail baggage to safety car before dispatch. You can leave the stuff you don’t need for trail separately; guide will keep it safe until you return. Your stuff for trail will go with safety car, you will have it on every camping stop.
After 1,5-2 hours riding, we arrive to beautiful Kesme Bogazi canyon with mountain river. You can drink clean fresh water, swim and make pictures. This is also our lunch break. After that we start climbing the highest mountain of the region — Tahtali (2365 meters above the sea level). The road goes up and perfect for trot and canter.
There still debates are going on if this mountain is famous Olympus (God Zeus residence) or the one in Greece. The road goes up and perfect for trot and canter. We will spend in the saddle 2-2.5 hours more.
First stop is in the village called Gedelme. First stop is in the village called Gedelme. There we see a byzantine castle and very old platan trees (about 2000 years old).
We will sleep in the comfortable bunalow with bed and hot water right close to the castle.
Pace: walk, trot, canter.
Day 4. (WE SKIP THIS DAY in 7 DAYS PROGRAM)
Lycian Switzerland. After breakfast we’ll head to the hidden valley of Ovacik with shepherds’ house. We’ll see how highlanders live, run crazy gallop on green meadow and let horses eat grass after. This day is for fast canters. Totally we’ll spend about 5 hours in the saddle.
After stop we come to the camping place at platan forest, feed and brush horses, prepare the camp. Then we have dinner and go sleep. We will come back to Geselme overnight.
Day 5.
Touch the sky. We start with breakfast and feeding horses. After that we climb Tahtali mountain again. This day we have our highest point up to 2000m. The weather is changing and we are reaching the territory without the trees covered with clouds you can literally touch. We will meet more shephards and beautiful hidden valleys. The view is breathtaken. After reaching the highest point we start to move down till we reach Beycik — a village with beautiful mountain and sea view. We make a break there, eat, take care of the horses, take shower and stay in the village for sleeping (in the rooms with private hot shower, no tent). This is the longest riding day of 6 hours in the saddle.
Pace: walk and trot mostly, short gallops.
Day 6.
We are starting to get down to the sea level. It takes up to 6 hours as well. The road is surrounded with beautiful bays and untouched nature. There is a chance to meet wild horses today. After crossing the biggest bay we arrive to the turtle bay for one night accommodation. This is national park and only backpackers allowed. Sometimes you see no people at all on this day. Tents and food are already prepared there. Riders can swim with/without horse and wash after in the fresh mountain spring. Who doesn’t want to sleep in the tent can order transfer to hotel and back with 200€ surcharge.
Pace: walk and trot on the way, canter on the beach (we’ll make nice pics and videos). Pace: walk, trot, cantrer.
Day 7.
Starting our way to the ranch. On the way we cross five bays with marvelous view and an ancient city of Phaselis (2000 years old). It is possible to make a lunch break there. After lunch we are coming back to the ranch trotting and galloping through the village of Tekirova. We will be back in the evening. Riders have time for shower, massage and Turkish bath before gala-dinner. Pace: walk, trot, cantrer.
Day 8.
Good-bye day. Riders check-out and transfered to the airport. We can buy souvenirs on our way.
NOTE:
Program can be adjusted to seasonal weather conditions or riders’ specific requirements to stay longer at best locations.
Please mind weight restrictions. This is expedition trip. Once we are off the ranch we can’t change the horse. So weight control will be applied to all riders upon arrival. Riders exceeding weight limit will not be allowed to ride with no refund. You should be not more than 80 kg with your gear.
Riders are responsible of their horses durung all the trip: feeding, brushing, saddling.
- 07 June 2026 – 13 June 2026: SOLD OUT!
- 06 September 2026 – 12 September 2026: 7 days 2 saddles left
- 20 September 2026 – 27 September 2026: 8 days 3 saddles left
- 04 October 2026 – 10 October 2026: 7 days 5 saddles left
- 18 October 2026 – 25 October 2026: SOLD OUT!
- 08 November 2026 – 15 November 2026: 8 days 2 saddles left
- 04 April 2027 – 10 April 2027: 7 days 6 saddles left
- 18 April 2027 – 25 April 2027: 8 days 6 saddles left
- 09 May 2027 – 15 May 2027: 7 days 6 saddles left
- 23 May 2027 – 30 May 2027: 8 days 4 saddles left
- 06 June 2027 – 13 June 2027: 8 days 6 saddles left
- 05 September 2027 – 11 September 2027: 7 days 6 saddles left
- 19 September 2027 – 26 September 2027: 8 days 6 saddles left
- 03 October 2027 – 10 October 2027: 8 days 6 saddles left
- 17 October 2027 – 23 October 2027: 7 days 6 saddles left
- 31 October 2027 – 07 November 2027: 8 days 6 saddles left
Local English spaeking guide or guide from Free Riding Tours, one for the group of up to 8 riders.
Ranch is located in Kemer, Antalya.
The whole Lycian Way is about 540 km. We’ll cover 200 km of the distance or so-called Eastern Lycian Way starting from Kuzdere and around Olympos (Tahtali) mountain passing Ovacik, Gedelme, Beycik, Cirali, Tekirova and Camyuva. We’ll visit one of the Lycain cities named Olympos or Phaselis, Bizanthene castle in Gedelme, 2000-year old trees and caves, breathtaken panoramas of wild bays and rocky forests.
All-inclusive without alcohol drinks. Local Turkish village cuisine. Vegetarian menu available.
Transfer from & to Antalya airport, accomodation, guided riding program and sightseeing tour, food, trail equipment and horse rental, safety car on the rout included.
Travelling and cancelation insurance, airflight, visa, tips, alcohol drinks and personal expenses not included.
Book a flight to Antalya airport. For EU citizens the following companies are recommended as best price: Tui, Corendon, Sun Express.
Reservation upon 20% non-refundable deposit, 60 days in advance balance payment. Cancellation earlier than 60 days — deposit can be used for another trip, cancellation in between 60 and 30 days — 50% refundable, cancellation 30 days and later — non-refundable.