The Carian Trail — Latmos & Cruise-Trek in the Mediterranean
A trek in the heart of the Latmos mountains, between Byzantine ruins and shepherd villages, extended by a hiking cruise along the turquoise coves of the Mediterranean aboard a gulet.
This journey combines two worlds. First the Latmos mountains (1367 m), a haven of peace overlooking Lake Bafa, once a gulf linked to the open sea: here you walk on mule trails traced by shepherds, among umbrella pines, rock paintings, monasteries and Christian hermit cells. Then, at Fethiye, you board a gulet for five nights of hiking cruise: each day a walk on coastal paths to archaeological sites reachable only on foot, each evening a different anchorage and a dinner prepared on board.
CODE AA-CAR-01
11 days · Level 2/5
Price depends on group size and season: a detailed, no-obligation quote on request.
- Hikes in the Latmos mountains and around Lake Bafa
- Balıktaş rock paintings and the Yediler monastery
- Five nights of cruising aboard a comfortable gulet
- Ancient sites reachable only on foot (Lydae, Gemili Island)
- The Greek Orthodox ghost village of Kayaköy
- Daily swims in the turquoise coves
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Flight – Milas-Bodrum airport
Welcome at Milas airport. The region, whose history goes back 5,000 years, has been home to Carian, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilisations. Transfer and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Milas – Sakarkaya – Karahayıt
Transfer (50 min) to Sakarkaya village, start of the walk. Climb towards the Latmos heights (approx. 800 m) among umbrella pines, with views over Lake Bafa, and discovery of the Balıktaş rock paintings. Arrival at Karahayıt. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. Ascent/descent: +580 / -896, 11 km (4-5 h walking).
Day 3: Karahayıt – Yediler monastery – Kapıkırı
Trek around the Latmos foothills, which hide traces of life 8,000 years old. Visit of the Yediler monastery area, built according to tradition by monks who came from Egypt in the 7th century, hiding among the steep rocks. Arrival at Kapıkırı village, on the lakeshore. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. Ascent/descent: +312 / -565, 14 km (5-6 h walking).
Day 4: Bağarcık – Kapıkırı
Early morning departure by vehicle to Bağarcık, a typical village of eastern Latmos living from pine nut production and livestock. Gentle climb among magmatic rocks, red pines and maquis to the pass, then a long descent. End at Kapıkırı village. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. Ascent/descent: +407 / -1051, 17 km (6-7 h walking).
Day 5: Kapıkırı – Fethiye – Boarding
Transfer to the Mediterranean and the port of Fethiye (3 h), on the site of ancient Telmessos overlooked by its rock-cut tombs, including that of Amyntas (4th c. BC). Boarding the gulet, fitted with double cabins with shower and toilet, where a cook prepares a different meal every evening. Overnight on board.
Day 6: Fethiye – Gemili Island
Sailing (2 h) to Gemili Island, with a swim stop in a pretty bay. In the afternoon, visit the island that once held a Byzantine town: chapels, churches, dwellings, cisterns, and a curious vaulted corridor several hundred metres long. Exceptional sunset. Dinner and overnight on board. Walking: 2 h.
Day 7: Gemili – Kayaköy – Ağalimanı
Landing on Ölüdeniz beach. Climb with widening views over the coves and turquoise water, then arrival at Kayaköy, a ghost village of hundreds of white houses abandoned by its Greek Orthodox inhabitants in 1923 (Treaty of Lausanne). Descent towards the Soğuksu bays, a swim, then sailing to Ağalimanı cove. Dinner and overnight on board. Walking: 3 h.
Day 8: Ağalimanı – Lydae – Sekemekli
Across hills and valleys, always facing the sea, walk to a small mountain village living from goat and sheep herding — perhaps a chance for a welcome tea. Visit of the unexcavated ruins of the ancient city of Lydae, then descent to Sekemekli cove for a swim in the warm waters. Dinner and overnight on board. Walking: 4 h.
Day 9: Çamlıköy – Hamam – Sarsala
Short sailing to Çamlıköy bay. Walk on a beautiful coastal path to Hamam cove and its medieval baths known as 'Cleopatra's'. Relaxation, then continuation along the coastal paths to the boat, in Sarsala bay. Dinner and overnight on board. Walking: 4 h.
Day 10: Tersane Island – Yassıcalar – Göcek
Sailing to Tersane Island for a short walk, then back on board for lunch. Sailing to the Yassıcalar islands, ideal for swimming and relaxing. In the afternoon, entry to the port. Overnight on board. Walking: 2 h.
Day 11: Dalaman – Return flight
Short transfer (30 min) to Dalaman airport for the return flight.
Included / Not included
What’s included
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- Full board (picnic lunch, dinner), except meals on the first and last days
- All luggage transfers throughout the trip
- Transfers as set out in the itinerary
- Entrance fees for the sites listed in the itinerary
- A Turkish hiking guide who speaks your group's language
- A group of 4 to 15 people
- Accommodation in 3* hotel, family guesthouses in the mountains and aboard the gulet (double cabins with shower and toilet)
- Mineral water during meals
What’s not included
- International and domestic flights
- Meals on the first and last days
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Comprehensive travel insurance (cancellation, assistance and repatriation, trip interruption)
- Tips
- Single room supplement
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the trek and the cruise? A Turkish guide who speaks your group's language is with you from the Latmos to the end of the trip, both on the shepherds' mule paths and on the walks from the gulet. On board, the crew handles the sailing and a cook prepares a different meal every evening. The group has 4 to 15 people. Meals on t…
Where do we sleep: guesthouses or on the boat? Both. The first night, after the welcome at Milas-Bodrum airport, is in a 3-star hotel. Nights 2 to 4 are in family-run guesthouses in the Latmos villages, first Karahayıt, then Kapıkırı on the shore of Lake Bafa. From day 5 you board a gulet in Fethiye for five nights, in double cabins with shower…
How much walking is there each day? There are two paces. In the Latmos there are three proper trekking days: 11 km in 4 to 5 hours, 14 km in 5 to 6 hours, then 17 km in 6 to 7 hours, on mule paths with long descents. During the cruise the walks are shorter, 2 to 4 hours between swims: Gemili island, Kayaköy, Lydae, Hamam cove. You ne…
Which stage is the hardest? Day 4, from Bağarcık to Kapıkırı. You leave early by vehicle for this village in the eastern Latmos, which lives from pine nuts and livestock. The climb is gentle among volcanic rocks and red pines, but the descent that follows is long: 17 km, +407 m / −1051 m, 6 to 7 hours of walking. Thighs and k…
How do luggage and the move from the lake to the sea work? In the Latmos, your luggage is moved from guesthouse to guesthouse and you walk with a daypack. On day 5 a transfer of about 3 hours takes you from Kapıkırı to the port of Fethiye, where you board. After that, no more packing: you keep the same cabin for five nights, go ashore each day for the walk…
When is the best time to go? In April–May or September–October. In spring the Latmos is green and temperatures stay pleasant for the long opening stages. In September and October the sea has kept its summer warmth, which makes the daily swims on the cruise very enjoyable. High summer is avoided, as the heat would make the 6- t…