When to hike the Lycian Way

I backpacked along the Lycian Way at different times. I was there in November, December, January, March, April, and May. To make my words more convincing in your eyes I must say that I hiked the Lycian Way several times, in total, I was there around 10 times guiding my groups. So I have got some statistics for you :)
You can find information on the internet that it is best to hike along the Lycian Way from April to May and from September to the end of October. It is because during summer it is too hot on the trail and during winter months it is rainy. Fair enough, but I was lucky when I hiked in January, there was just 1 rainy day out of 10.

I personally think that it is best to hike around the 15th of October - to the 20th of November and from the 1st of March - to the 15th of April. In March and November, it is about 20℃ in Turkey and you might think the season is over or not yet started. I want to warn you that on the trail, the temperature feels different! It is not windy there, so for me, this is the perfect time to hike. You might even want to swim in the sea! That is what we have actually done when we hiked in March and November numerous times.

You can find below a more detailed summary of my hiking experience at different times of the year.
You can find information on the internet that it is best to hike along the Lycian Way from April to May and from September to the end of October. It is because during summer it is too hot on the trail and during winter months it is rainy. Fair enough, but I was lucky when I hiked in January, there was just 1 rainy day out of 10.

I personally think that it is best to hike around the 15th of October - to the 20th of November and from the 1st of March - to the 15th of April. In March and November, it is about 20℃ in Turkey and you might think the season is over or not yet started. I want to warn you that on the trail, the temperature feels different! It is not windy there, so for me, this is the perfect time to hike. You might even want to swim in the sea! That is what we have actually done when we hiked in March and November numerous times.

You can find below a more detailed summary of my hiking experience at different times of the year.


January: hike only the central or western part of the trail, on the eastern part, might be snow. During our hike from the 28th of December to the 10th of January, it was about 15 ℃, partly cloudy. Sometimes we wore only t-shorts without jackets. We were lucky, it could be way rainier.



February: I have not hiked in February, but I assume it is a bit warmer than in January with less possibility of rain. Still remember that on the trail temperature feels different than in the city due to the lack of wind.



March: hiked 2 times along the central part of the Lycian Way: 2-8th of March and 6-14th of March. It was warm enough to wear shorts and t-shirts even though the thermometer said it is only 18 ℃. It was sunny most of the time, and 2 times it was rainy. Do take a swimming suit even if it feels crazy, just in case :)



April: hiked once the central part of the Lycian Way. It was warmer than in March with no rain at all.


May: I have hiked once and it is quite hot. I recommend hiking only at the beginning of May. There is no rain at all. You must have a headdress and enough amount of water to avoid heatstroke.


Summer: I do not recommend hiking the Lycian Way during summertime and I have never done it myself.


September: I have not hiked, but for me personally it seems to be still too hot. I recommend hiking along the Lycian Way only after the 15th of September.


October: I have not hiked the Lycian Way during October but I suppose it will be comfortable and no rains in any part of the trail.


November: I hiked in November 3 times. 1-15th of November, 14-20th of November, and 15th-28th of November different parts of the trail. At the beginning of November, it is just perfect to hike any part, no rain and warm, really warm, like 25 ℃ hot. Bear in mind, if you backpack and hike the eastern part of the trail, there might be 1-2 ℃ during the night. Consider taking a good warm enough sleeping bag. In the middle of November (until the 20th of November) it is still warm and there was no rain. I suggest hiking only the central and western parts of the Lycian Way. Both times I saw on the weather forecast rain 10 days before I came to hike, but when I actually came, the weather became better. In the second half of November, it was rainy some days. Once at the very end of November it was raining all night quite heavily. Maybe during this time, it is good to consider staying in guest houses in case of bad weather.


December: I was on the Lycian way only at the beginning of December and it was rainy. I personally do not recommend hiking at this time.
January: hike only the central or western part of the trail, on the eastern part, might be snow. During our hike from the 28th of December to the 10th of January, it was about 15 ℃, partly cloudy. Sometimes we wore only t-shorts without jackets. We were lucky, it could be way rainier.



February: I have not hiked in February, but I assume it is a bit warmer than in January with less possibility of rain. Still remember that on the trail temperature feels different than in the city due to the lack of wind.



March: hiked 2 times along the central part of the Lycian Way: 2-8th of March and 6-14th of March. It was warm enough to wear shorts and t-shirts even though the thermometer said it is only 18 ℃. It was sunny most of the time, and 2 times it was rainy. Do take a swimming suit even if it feels crazy, just in case :)



April: hiked once the central part of the Lycian Way. It was warmer than in March with no rain at all.


May: I have hiked once and it is quite hot. I recommend hiking only at the beginning of May. There is no rain at all. You must have a headdress and enough amount of water to avoid heatstroke.


Summer: I do not recommend hiking the Lycian Way during summertime and I have never done it myself.


September: I have not hiked, but for me personally it seems to be still too hot. I recommend hiking along the Lycian Way only after the 15th of September.


October: I have not hiked the Lycian Way during October but I suppose it will be comfortable and no rains in any part of the trail.


November: I hiked in November 3 times. 1-15th of November, 14-20th of November, and 15th-28th of November different parts of the trail. At the beginning of November, it is just perfect to hike any part, no rain and warm, really warm, like 25 ℃ hot. Bear in mind, if you backpack and hike the eastern part of the trail, there might be 1-2 ℃ during the night. Consider taking a good warm enough sleeping bag. In the middle of November (until the 20th of November) it is still warm and there was no rain. I suggest hiking only the central and western parts of the Lycian Way. Both times I saw on the weather forecast rain 10 days before I came to hike, but when I actually came, the weather became better. In the second half of November, it was rainy some days. Once at the very end of November it was raining all night quite heavily. Maybe during this time, it is good to consider staying in guest houses in case of bad weather.


December: I was on the Lycian way only at the beginning of December and it was rainy. I personally do not recommend hiking at this time.
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