16th November, 2019
- Day 7: from one wildcamp near Delikkemer to another
- Distance: 23.6km
- Ascent / Descent: 690m / 720m
- Weather: hot, 24 degrees C
- Accommodation: wildcamp near Delikkemer
- Total cost for one (Turkish Lira ₺): resupply at market in Gelemiş (Patara village) for water, dinner and breakfast 35 = ₺35 (~£4 / €5 / US$6)
The alarm goes off at 6:45am but it’s hard to get up when it’s still dark outside. We’d both like to be making more miles but are struggling with the limited daylight hours. Sunrise is now 7:40am with sunset at 5:59pm.
Today we’re doing a loop walk to visit Patara ruins (we feel guilty for missing the UNESCO sites of Letoon and Xanthos).
7:11am – getting ready to set off at first light
We hit the trail at 7:45am and continue beside and sometimes on top of the aqueduct.
8:01am – continuing along the Roman aqueduct
8:05am – Sarah in a passage under the Roman aqueduct at sunrise at Delikkemer
We soon reach the Delikkemer junction and veer off towards Patara.
8:20am – 10km to Patara
8:36am – filling up my Water-to-go filter bottle
A typical water source on the Lycian Way
Beehives
We finally reach the bottom of the hill and find ourselves walking past scattered tombs. We pass a Turkish tour group then reach the road and are surprised there’s no ticket office for the Patara ruins which we appear to be right in the middle of. (Check out this very interesting site if you want to know more about Patara.) The site is spread out and the temperature is already at baking level (for me anyway, Sarah is in her element with this weather!) We take a quick break (me in the little shade I can find behind an ancient arch) and plunder our food-bags for a second breakfast. Crackers and peanut butter for me.
The site, an ancient Lycian harbour city dating back to the 8th Century BC, is vast and impressive and other than the Turkish tour group who have disappeared to another corner, we have it to ourselves. Among other many interesting facts (check the above link), St Nicholas (ca. 280-343) was born here.
10:43am – the Arch of Mettius Modestus in Patara
A replica ancient reed boat at the Patara ruins
The assembly hall of the Lycian League at the Patara ruins
Amphitheatre at the Patara ruins
The main street at the Patara ruins
Ancient columns in the main street at the Patara ruins
A lions head at the Patara ruins
After exploring the site thoroughly we head up the road, exiting through the ticket office! So you do have to pay, but the trail cunningly bypasses the ticket office (coming the direction we did). With the help of a small hitchhike we arrive in Gelemiş village (it’s off the trail anyway!) We pick up fresh baguettes with cheese for dinner and snacks for tomorrow. We also refill, this time we need enough until we arrive in Kalkan tomorrow, 20km away. I drink 1L plus a fresh pomegranate juice and carry 3.5L.
12:05pm – every market has a fresh bread cupboard like this at the entrance
Leaving Gelemiş, even though there are three hills to climb in the hot afternoon sun to reach the junction in Delikkemer again, it’s a breeze as the whole way is along dirt roads.
1:50pm – looking back down on the site of the Patara ruins
2:41pm – Likya Yolu – the Turkish name for Lycian Way
2:56pm – Symmetree
Retro motorbikes and cars are the norm here
Me snapping those coastal views
We make good time and at 4:30pm reach a campsite that we spotted this morning. As has become customary on this trip, we do rock-paper-scissors to see who gets the spot with the view (there’s only room for one tent). I lose! That’s three times in a row now, I wish I’d never suggested it 😉
It’s nice to arrive with plenty of time to set up camp and eat dinner before dark.
Hanging up our clothes to dry after a very hot and sweaty day!
5:03pm – camping with a view towards Kaş
Don’t judge me!
Around 9pm, I wake to voices getting closer and closer. It sounds like an amorous couple and they seem annoyed to have spotted my tent. I know I’ve been spotted because they keep shining their light on me. I think I might have inadvertently ruined their plans for a romantic rendezvous. They chat for a few minutes, then walk off. I’m impressed that anyone could walk on that trail in the dark, well done! And sorry if I spoilt your plans.
Lycian Way – route information by Komoot – day 7
We’re using Komoot* for navigation and to record our own tracks. Prior to departing the UK we uploaded the GPX tracks to Komoot so we can now use them for navigation (with voice commands). We’re also using Komoot to record our own daily tracks which gives us the above maps, elevation profiles, distance, speed etc. You can find our collection of tracks on the Komoot App by searching ToughGirl for Sarah and followingthearrows for me. Or click the link in the caption on the above map to go straight to the track.
*Komoot premium was gifted and we also received sponsorship for this hike.
To see Sarah’s vlogs of our Lycian Way hike, click here. You can also follow her on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and keep up to date with the Tough Girl podcasts here.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I’ll add a FAQ post at the end of the trip.
followingthearrows 