Walk ancient paths, hand- pick wild olives and uncover timeless treasures.
Join our easy-moderate guided walking tour on ancient paths to historic sites, through olive groves. Along the way you’ll help local families collecting olives. Pick wild olives yourself, gather them to take home for pickling or deliver them to be pressed into the purest olive oil. Discover tradition, taste authenticy, bring home a piece of history and knowledge.
Highlights:
Lyrboton Kome and Perge.
Lyrboton Kome was an ancient settlement near Antalya,known as one of the earliest olive oil production centers in the region. The village supplied olive oil to Perge, the Roman capital of the region .
The Via Sebaste
An important Roman road, that connected the cities on the sea to the Anatolian hinterland,built in the 1st century AD.
- Kayaköy
a ghost village near Fethiye abandoned in the early 20th century. The host of the hotel where we will stay organizes a workshop ‘ Cooking with olive oil ‘ for us . We will prepare delicious ‘ mezes’. She has a lot of knowledge about the several types of of olive oil and supports organic pure products.
- Sidyma
a lesser -known Lycian site with tombs and ruins scattered across a rural village setting. For the local villagers, the olives are a main income, as we will hear.
Patara
is famous for its vast ruins and stunning beach. Although many have small pensions, and hotels agriculture is still an important source of income for the locals. In autumn the families collect the olives. The family of the hotel we are staying will show us how they pickle them.
Xanthos
was the capital of Ancient Lycia.
Tlos
Known for its fortress, rock-cut tombs and views over the Xhantos valley was once an important centre for olives. Several ruins of workshops were found in nearby villages.
To conclude the trip w’ll visit a modern factory where the olives are delivered. Here we will discover the stages of production and packaging.
İncluded in this trip is a donation of € 5 p.p. to Anatolivar, a society that supports Olive Producer Communities in Türkiye towards achieving the goals of the European Green Deal.
Grade: Easy Moderate ( 2- 3)
Generally good paths with some stony sections. Some scrambling.
Distances: 5 -12 km per day.
Elevation: highest point on the route 742 m
Comfort: 2-3 ***
Small hotels, boutique style hotels in Antalya and Kayaköy . Wooden cabins with awesome views in Alınca, village house in Sidyma, family hotel in Patara.
Daily Program
Arrival in Antalya and transfer to hotel in Antalya’s old town
Night: Small hotel in Antalya. (BB)
Day 2 Ancient olive heritage and Perge.
Morning:
Visit to Lyrboton Kome an Ancient settlement near Antalya known as one of the earliest olive oil poduction centers in the region. Archaeological remains include olive presses and storage facilities, showing the importance of olive cultivation in antiquity.
Afternoon : Visit to Perge, Ancient city.
founded by the heroes of the Trojan war, was the principal city in Hellenistic and Roman times The site includes a theatre, Hellenistic towers, baths, colonnaded street. Olive oil from Lyrboton Kome was supplied to Perge.
Night: Small hotel in Antalya. (BB)
Day 3: Ariassos- Via Sebaste – Antalya.
After breakfast drive to Ariassos for a quick look at the impressive arch of the ancient Roman city. Then continue to the village of Dağbeli where the walk on a part of the Ancient Roman road starts.
The walk begins at an Ottoman cistern and follows a forest track leading to the paved Roman road. Alongside the road lie Roman remains: a milestone,sarcophagi and ancient water well. The road istself is surrounded by olive groves.
Hands on Olive harvest.
You’ll have plenty of time to collect as many olives as you wish. To make the most of it, bring the right tools: Sturdy gloves, pruning shears; professionals use an olive hand rake.
Not only can you pick directly from the trees, but you can also gather the olives that have naturally fallen on the ground. The harvest is often so abundant that you’ll quickly fill your basket and may even need an extra bag.
The walk concludes at the evocative remains of an old settlement where you are collected for your onward journey to Antalya.
Walk:
Distance: 8 km/ 2-3 hrs + time to gather olives
Altitude : + 597 m/ – 397m
Night: Small hotel in Antalya (BB)
Kayaköy & Culinary workshop.
After breakfast you are transferred to the hautingly beautiful village of Kayaköy. ( 207 km- 3,5 hrs) Explore the valley and abandoned stone houses, churches , and hidden courtyards of Kayaköy, a poignant reminder of Anatolia’s layered heritage.
Later, join a hands—on cooking workshop, where you’ll prepare traditional mezes with fragant olive oil.From creamy dips to vibrant salads, you’ll discover the secret of Mediterranean flavors and enjoy tasting your own creations
Walk:
Distance : 12 km/ 4 hrs/
Altitude: + 107 m/- 107 m
Night: comfortable guesthouse in Kayaköy (HB)
Walk Kayaköy- Ölüdeniz ( Alınca)
The day begins with a scenic walk from the atmospheric village of Kayaköy down to the turquoise bay of Ölüdeniz. The trail winds through pine forests and hillside paths , gradually opening to breathtaking views of the lagoon and the Mediterranean Sea.
After the walk and rest in Ölüdeniz you are transferred to the mountain village of Alınca, perched high above the coastline. ( 22,5 km/ 45 mins)
Walk:
Distance: 8 km/ 3hrs
Altitude: + 134 m/ – 354 m
Night: Wooden cabins in Alınca (HB)
awesome seaviews
Alınca- Sidyma.
Leaving the mountain village of Alınca, the trail winds through rugged landscapes with sweeping views over de Mediterranean. The path descends gently, passing terraced fields, olive groves and quiet rural hamlets, before climbing toward the ancient site of Sidyma.
At the end of the walk, you arrive at the ecovative remains of Sidyma, once a thriving Lycian settlement .Here, scattered among the hillsides, you’ll find weathered tombs. Temple ruins and fragments of a civilization long gone set against a backdrop of rugged hillsides.
Walk:
Distance: 11 km/ 4 hrs
Altitude : + 330m/ – 500 m
Night: authentic Village house in Sidyma (HB)
Sidyma- Seki ( Patara)
A short walk following an old path that zigzags downhill through centuries-old olive trees takes you to the village of Seki. The views across fertile fields and Akdağ mountains are awesome
The walk concludes in the village of Seki, where traditional stone houses welcome you and offer you a glimpse of traditional rural Turkish culture
Hands-On Olive Harvest.
During the walk, you’ll also have the chance to help the villagers gathering olives from the groves that dot the landscape. The harvest adds a hands-on , authentic touch to the day, connecting you with the land and its traditions.
After a well-earned rest you are transferred to the ancient city of Xanthos for a short but memorable visit . In just an hour, you can explore highlights such as the Lycian tombs , The Roman theatre and the remains of monumental inscriptions that reveal the city’s turbulent past. (60 mins)
Walk:
Distance: 8 km ( 2-4 hrs)
Altitude: + 125 m/ – 154 m
Night: Family hotel in Patara (HB)
Circular walk through olive groves and ancient site of Patara.
Leave the village via village roads leading into the olive groves. Families often gather olives here in late autumn. They spread nets under the trees and knock down olives with long sticks. The groves provide shade and a peaceful contrast to the grandeur of the ruins you walk to. One of the first buildings you will discover is the recently restored Nero lighthouse, once a beacon for ships entering Patara’s harbour, the lighthouse is a striking new highlight amongst the other vast ruins- parliament building, theatre , baths and agora The beach is long, the sea inviting.
Evening ‘hands-on ‘ olive pickling workshop
Back at the hotel the host will look at what you’ve gathered- sorting ripe from unripe , bruised from perfect and will show you how to pickle olives
Workshop flow
- Welcome and sorting
Everyone gathers around baskets of harvested olives. The host explains how to choose the best ones.
- Hands-on Crackling: Each participant cracks or slits olives with small knife , learning the traditional technique
- Soaking ritual: Olives are placed in water jars, and you are shown how to change the water Daily to remove bitterness.
- Brine preparation: Together you mix altwater, something adding lemon slieces,garlic,or herbs.
- Flavoring Secrets: the host shares family tips- like adding bay leaves or chili for a unique taste.
- Sealing the jars: everyone fills their own jar, which becomes a personal souvenir of the workshop.
Walk:
Distance: 11 km/ 4 hrs
Altitude: + 330 m/ – 496m
Night: Family hotel in Patara (HB)
Visit to Tlos, Yaka waterfall park, Olive oil factory
Morning- Tlos Ancient city.
Explore one of the oldest Lycian cities, perched on a hill with sweeping views of the Xanthos valley. Among the highlights are an Acropolis, Roman baths , Amphitheatre and rock-cut tombs. Tlos was also known as the mythological home of Bellerophon and Pegasus.
Following lunch at yakapark, famous for its trout farms and shaded terraces visit to a working olive oil factory . Watch the modern process of pressing and bottling , contrasting with the ancients methods you saw earlier
Night: Family hotel in Patara (HB)
Onward travel.
Transfer to Dalaman airport for flight. (113 km/ 2 hrs)
9 Nights based on Bed and breakfast
Dinner x 6 Nights
(Packed)lunches x 8
English speaking guide.
Bus transport and luggage transfers.
Workshops Cooking & Pickling of olives
Jars, gloves and other materials necessary for the harvest of olives.
Donation of € 5 p.p. to Anatolivar https://www.slowfood.com/funded-projects/anatolivar/
Minimum 8 people – Maximum 13 people
evening meals in Antalya ( x3 )
Entrance fees to sites
Kayaköy:c. € 2
Xanthos: € 3
Tlos:€ 3
Patara:€ 15
Tip for guide
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