Lycian Way Olympos Trail – Gods and goats
Styles
• Trail Riding
• Point to Point Trails
• Guided tour
• Package program
• Expedition
• Solo-riders, familiers, couples, kids and teens
Key information
• Rider Weight Limit: 80 kilograms / 176 pounds
• Horse Height Range: 15 hands
• Tack Type: English tack
• Horse Breed: Arabian, Local crosses
Highlights
• 5 days with horse riding
• Approximate daily riding time: 3 to 6 hours
• English-speaking guide and local guide assistance
• Luggage transport and airport transfer service
• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners
• 3 nights in hotel, 1 nights in guesthouse accommodation and 1 night in tent
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 5 riders. Solo traveler 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 April: 1650€ per person in shared accomodation
- High season rate applies from May to October: 1800€ per person in shared accomodation
- 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”, Hadrian’s Arch from AD 131, Hellenistic theater dated back to 2nd century, Greek acropolis and byzantine basilica, theatres, 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.
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.
Countryside residence for the first 2 days and the last day, tents, local houses and sleeping bags in trail
Day 1: Arrival day
Transfer from the airport, check-in, rest in the hotel and walking in the city of Kemer (no riding).
Day 2: Pre-ride and chilling time
Transfer to the stable after breakfast and meeting horses, safety instructions, brushing and saddlin-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 pomgranate gardens, riuns of ancient village, springs and small palm forest.
Pace: walk, trot, canter.
After the ride our guests can relax near the pool or at the beach and pack for trail.
We’ll have welcome dinner together and tour to Chimera mountain at dawn.
Day 3: Gedelme
We start right after breakfast. After 1,5−2 hours riding we arrive to beautiful canyon with mountain river. You can drink clean fresh water, swim and make pictures. 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.
First stop is in the village called Gedelma. There we see a castle and a very old tree (about 2500 years old).
We will spend the night in 150 year old local village house living like Turkish family.
Pace: walk, trot, canter.
Day 4: 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. 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, no tent).
Pace: walk and trot mostly, short gallops.
Day 5: Secret bay
We are starting to get down to the sea level. It takes 6−7 hours. The road is surrounded with beautiful bays and untouched nature. 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.
Pace: walk and trot on the way, canter on the beach (we’ll make nice pics and videos).
Day 6: Tekirova and Phaselis
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). This is the most dangerous climbing part as the path to Phaselis is too narrow and rocky. You’ll have to walk beside your horse for some time.
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.
Day 7: 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.
Local guide and English/German/Russian/Turkish/Ukrainian/Arabic spaeking guide from Free Riding Tours
The whole way is about 540 km. We’ll cover 150 km of the distance or so-called Eastern Lycian Way starting from Kuzdere and around Olympos (Tahtali) mountain passing Gedelme, Beycik, Cirali, Tekirova and Camyuva. We’ll visit one of the Licain 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, 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 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.