Carian Trail Trekking Tour

Lace up your walking boots and escape the crowds: Turkey’s longest hiking trail offers a window into the country’s lesser-visited, southwest shores and hinterlands. The 530-mile route, completed in 2013, has its roots in ancient history — some stone paths are said to have been laid by Alexander the Great’s men over 2,000 years ago. In an exciting addition to the trail, a new project aims to develop and promote one of its most underrated attractions: the Latmos rock paintings. Nearly 180 Neolithic paintings adorn the Latmos Mountains, many of which have been interpreted as symbols of peace and brotherhood that further elevate the historic importance of the Carian Trail as an ancient trading thoroughfare.

From National Geographic Traveler Turkey

 

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/best-of-the-world-35-destinations-for-2021

DAY 1 /// DALAMAN - CARIAN TRAIL (Sarnıçköy-Turnalık Route) - AKYAKA

Meeting at 09:00 at Dalaman Airport for the Carian Trail Trekking Tour, and we go to Gökova with our transfer bus.

In this tour, we will trek on the selected routes of the Carian Trail from Gökova Bay, Bozburun Peninsula and Datça Peninsula, and exquisite views will be waiting for us. Before meeting the magnificent nature of the region, we first take a break in the village of Akçapınar in Gökova. The toast here is famous. The famous Akçapınar toast and fresh pomegranate juice are the perfect pairings. Afterwards, we take a scenic road to Sarnıçköy, near Akyaka, which is the starting point of the track where we will take our first day hike. Near Sarnıçköy, we get out of our vehicle and enter the path in the forest and mainly follow the path that continues on the dirt roads in the forest. Then we start the descent down the hill and from time to time unique views of the bay await us. And at the end of the walk, we reach Turnalık Beach and meet our vehicle waiting for us here. After meeting with the vehicle, we drive to Bozburun, where we will stay in a two-hour journey. After settling in our hotel in Bozburun, our guests can enjoy the sea by jumping into the clear waters of the Aegean in front of our hotel.

 

Trekking route distance:  10 km
Trekking time: 4.5 hours (250 m ascent / 850 m descent)

Accommodation: Selimiye Solto Beach Hotel

Meal: Dinner included

 

DAY 2 /// CARIAN TRAIL (Çakal Bay - Roof Bay Route) - SELİMİYE - BOZBURUN

After breakfast, we travel for about 1 hour and reach our starting point on the Marmaris-Datça road. From here, we start walking towards the north with the forest trail. After walking on a slightly undulating track through the forest for approximately 1 km, we reach the shore, Çakal Bay, and turn our direction to the east, and reach Cati Bay by walking mainly close to the shore, accompanied by the magnificent bay views. We have swimming breaks in untouched bays during swimming periods. There are hills with a view, narrow paths, walking in the forest, walking from the shore, crossing a stream on this track. In the afternoon, we meet with our vehicle at the Cati Bay and pass to the magnificent Selimiye. After an hour of free time in the famous coastal town, we complete our program and return to Bozburun.

 

Trekking route distance:  11,5 km
Trekking time: 5.5 hours (280 mt ascent / 395 mts descent)

Accommodation: Selimiye Solto Beach Hotel

Meal: Breakfast and dinner included

 

DAY 3 /// CARIAN TRAIL (Bahçeli-Taşlıca Route) - BOZBURUN BOAT TOUR - SÖĞÜT VILLAGE

After breakfast at our hotel, on the third day, we reach Bahçeli, the starting point and start trekking. We reach Taşlıca village, which is the southernmost point of our route, by walking south from the route that generally continues between stone ruins and maquis. After taking a tea break here, we return to Bozburun. After the lunch break, we take a boat tour in the unique bays of Bozburun by private boat. At the end of the day, we visit the coast of Söğütköy after taking a three-hour boat tour, taking a stroll in Bozburun bays and taking a sea break at three places. There is delicious ice cream, it is recommended.

 

Trekking route distance:  7 km
Trekking time: 3-3.5 hours (350 mt ascent / 550 mts descent)

Accommodation: Selimiye Solto Beach Hotel

Meal: Breakfast and dinner included

 

DAY 4 /// CARIAN TRAIL (Bayir-Kumlubuk Route)

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and drive to Bayır village, which is the starting point on the last day. You can shop from the oil and honey produced by the villagers in the village, which is home to a century-old plane tree in its square. Then we start our walk from here. By walking in the northeast direction all day long, we proceed through the Kizilcaöğütmen, Denizalan, Ilımarm localities, mostly through the forest, through the maquis, on the paths with many ups and downs. It's a scenic track. We reach Kumlubuk Bay in the afternoon. After showering and changing clothes at the contracted facility, departure to Dalaman Airport. Arriving to Dalaman Airport around at 17:45 and finishing the tour.

 

Trekking route distance:  13 km
Trekking time: 6 hours (700 m ascent / 870 m descent)

Meal: Breakfast included

 

Note: In case of weather conditions if we have to cancel the boat tour, Datça and Knidos tour will be made instead of boat tour program.