Main Path
Alakilise Ruins – Yatıkardıç Yayla
ID: 
44

Middle portion of the remote, beautiful 39 km / 24 mi mountain route between Demre / Myra and Finike, usually done over three stages and typically requiring camping.

Alakilise ruins.
Image credit:  
Łukasz Ostojski
, All rights reserved

Essentials

Alakilise Ruins (historical site)
Yatıkardıç Yayla (plateau, shepherds’ encampment)
W–E section with Yatıkardıç Yayla to the E, while the path itself bulges significantly to the N.
Has a steep slope on the W (Demre) side, a broad, flat-ish crown, and a comparatively modest (and shorter) slope on the E (Finike) side. The average slope on the W side (ascending from Alakilise) is about 18.5% with long stretches exceeding 30%. On the E side, the average slope (descending towards Yatıkardıç Yayla) is about 10.5%, with a couple of modest-length stretches reaching 20%+.
Mostly follows rugged mountain paths, with a small bit along tracks. There’s a fair amount of scree on both sides of the mountain as well as some rock fields. Proceed with caution and watch your footing carefully.
Trail markings are sometimes unreliable along this stretch. Even with GPS tracks, you should allow some time for possibly losing the trail on occasion.

Metrics

Select the tab below corresponding to the direction you plan to walk.
Towards Yatıkardıç Yayla:
Towards Alakilise Ruins:
12.2 km / 7.6 mi
Distance
1,128 m / 3,701 ft
Ascent
487 m / 1,598 ft
Descent
~6.0 hrs
Duration
Elevation chart.
12.2 km / 7.6 mi
Distance
487 m / 1,598 ft
Ascent
1,128 m / 3,701 ft
Descent
~6.0 hrs
Duration
Elevation chart.

Handy Things to Know

The following notes are gathered from our own experiences and from feedback sent to us by other hikers. Let us know how we can improve these notes – and thanks!

Wayfinding

  • Way-markings are often more visible hiking this section eastward (towards Yatıkardıç Yayla) than they are hiking towards the Alakilise ruins (though this could change whenever the trail maintenance team comes through next to refresh the blazes…).

Water

  • There are several water sources along the way, however you should not rely on them. They are often dry and, when not, are usually not clean (purification / filtering definitely required!).
  • Often you can purchase water bottles from shepherds, especially from on Yatıkardıç Yayla, though this should not be replied upon.

Highlights

  • You’ll often run into shepherds on this section. We’ve always found them to be very friendly and happy to meet you, even if they look gruff and unwelcoming at first sight. Call out a friendly ‘Merhaba’ (hello) and toss them a big smile and don’t be surprised if they wave you over and share a lunch with you. Even if you speak no Turkish, gestures and smiles are great communication tools. Let them inspect your gear (they often find it fascinating what we carry), find some way to convey where you are from (a flag pin attached to your cap or backpack is useful for this), and maybe carry some small give-away items (your humble author often has extra Canadian flag pins to pass out, for example, which seem to be very, very well-received).
  • As you can imagine, the mountain scenery is gorgeous. There are many interesting rock formations, especially on the slope above Alakilise ruins.

Tips

  • There are no communities at all on this section. Other than some shepherd huts in a couple of places, this is almost entirely a wilderness hike.

Route Planning

  • There are rural roads / tracks that roughly (sometimes only very roughly) follow closely to the route. It is good safety practice on mountain hikes to keep yourself mindful of your position relative to nearby roads / tracks. If you have any difficulties on the route, make for the nearest road. Indeed, if weather conditions seem questionable, consider following the roads instead of the trail.

Alerts / Hazards

  • Important: Please see the notes in the Demre – Alakilise section (especially the Tips and Alerts notes) as many of the notes will apply to this section as well.

Camping

  • There are numerous camping spots along this section. However, take care to find yourself a suitable spot well before sunset – there are many long stretches of uneven ground. There are more camping spots on the E side of the mountain than on the W side.

Amenities

  • Sometimes you can get a limited selection of supplies at an impromptu mini-market on Yatıkardıç Yayla (plateau with some huts frequented by shepherds) but this shouldn’t be relied upon.

Attractions & Highlights

Notable highlights along the trail and at either endpoint include:

Accommodations

Here’s what we’re currently tracking for this trail section:

Wild Camping Locations

Here are the wild camping locations that we’re currently tracking along this trail section:
  • Campsite at Alakilise Ruins
    Wild Campsite
    Campsite
    At Alakilise Ruins
  • Map of Campsite slightly north of Yatıkardıç Yayla [764] [CE734]
    Wild Campsite
    Campsite
    Between Alakilise ruins and Finike
  • Campsite by huts at Yatıkardıç Yayla
    Wild Camping
    Campsite by Huts
    At Yatıkardıç Yayla

Water Sources

Here are the water sources that we’re currently tracking along this trail section or at either endpoint:
  • Covered Well Near Highpoint Between Alakilise Ruins & Yatıkardıç Yayla
    Water Source
    Covered Well
    Near Highpoint Between Alakilise Ruins & Yatıkardıç Yayla
  • Cistern Near Highpoint Between Alakilise Ruins & Yatıkardıç Yayla
    Water Source
    Cistern
    Near Highpoint Between Alakilise Ruins & Yatıkardıç Yayla
  • Cistern North of Yatıkardıç Yayla
    Water Source
    Cistern
    North of Yatıkardıç Yayla
  • Water Source at Yatıkardıç Yayla
    Water Source
    Water Source
    At Yatıkardıç Yayla

Where to Next?

From Yatıkardıç Yayla:

  • Map of the Lycian Way between Yatıkardıç Yayla and Finike.
    Main Path
    Yatıkardıç Yayla – Finike
    Distance
    14.5 km / 9.0 mi
    Ascent
    167 m / 549 ft
    Descent
    1,630 m / 5,346 ft
    Est. Duration
    6.75
    Easternmost section of the beautiful 39 km / 24 mi three-part stretch between Myra (just north of Demre) and Finike, through rugged mountains. Usually done over three stages and typically requiring camping.

From Alakilise Ruins:

  • Map of the Lycian Way between Demre and the Alakilise ruins.
    Main Path
    Demre – Alakilise Ruins
    Distance
    12.5 km / 7.8 mi
    Ascent
    1,138 m / 3,733 ft
    Descent
    332 m / 1,088 ft
    Est. Duration
    5.75
    Westernmost portion of the remote, beautiful 39 km / 24 mi mountain route between Demre / Myra and Finike, usually done over three stages and typically requiring camping.

Pretty Pictures

Sometimes nothing beats a good photo. Or even a bad photo! If you’d like to share some or all of your photo collection with the Trekopedia community, contact us at photos@trekopedia.com and we can arrange a transfer of them. And thanks!
All photos are copyright by their respective owners and are used with permission.
  • Goats in rocky field at Alakilise ruins
    Goats in rocky field at Alakilise ruins
    Photo by 
    Anna Flack
     – 
    Fall 2022
  • Alakilise ruins
    Alakilise ruins
    Photo by 
    Anna Flack
     – 
    Fall 2022
  • Rocky path above Alakilise ruins
    Hiker on a rocky path above the Alakilise ruins
    Photo by 
    Irene Dijkmans
     – 
    Fall 2022

How You Can Help

Trail research is never actually done. Here’s some of what we’re looking for:
✅   More photos! Ideally with geo-location information in the metadata. In addition to using some photos on Trekopedia, we add them to our internal reference database which significantly helps us with trail research. The more photos, the better! If you are willing to share your collection with us, we’d be incredibly grateful. Let us know and we’ll arrange a transfer.

✅   Points of interest. Help us identify (and geo-locate) accommodations, attractions, restaurants, markets, trail waypoints, confusing or problematic junctions, difficult or hazardous places, water sources, and so on. 

✅   Tips & recommendations. Share your thoughts with other hikers.
In addition to the above, please see this article for information on more general ways you can help. Thanks!
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