Neha Patil (Editor)

Carian Trail

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Phone
  
+90 530 656 07 61

Address
  
Mugla, Aydın, 48000 Muğla Province, Turkey

Hours
  
Open today · Open 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hours

Similar
  
Labranda Ruins, Muğla Museum, Lycian Way, Alinda, Beşparmak Mountains

The Carian Trail is an 820 km long-distance footpath exploring the South Western corner of Turkey through the modern provinces of Muğla and Aydın. The trail is new and winds through some of the lesser known regions of Turkey.

The trail was explored and mapped beginning in 2009 was opened by Yunus Özdemir, Altay Özcan and Dean Livesley. It was opened for travel in 2013.

The trail is named after the Carian civilization, indigenous people of Asia Minor. It passes through an area with many ancient ruins. Stone paved caravan roads and mule paths connect villages from the coast to a mountaineous hinterland. There are pine forest covered mountain slopes, olive terraces and almond groves which are an important part of the region's economy.

The trail is signed and waymarked allowing both independent and group travellers to hike and enjoy the scenic beauty and cultural treasures of Caria.

Route

The Carian Trail consists of six sections:

  • Bozburun Peninsula: 141.2 km The official start of the trail starts from İçmeler and follows Turunç, Kumlubük, Bayır, Taşlıca, Söğüt, Bozburun, Selimiye, Orhaniye, and ends in Hisarönü
  • Datça Peninsula: 240.7 km. The section starts from Old town of Datça, 3 km before Datça, and follows Hızırşah, Domuzçukuru, Mesudiye, Palamutbükü, Knidos, Karaköy, Kızlan, Emecik, Balıkaşıran, Akçapınar, and ends in Akyaka. The part from Balıkaşıran to Akyaka can also be biked.
  • Ceramic Gulf (Gulf of Gökova): 139.2 km. The section starts from Akyaka and heads west following Turnalı, Sarnıç, Akbük, Alatepe, Ören (Ceramos), Türkevleri, Bozalan, Mazı, Çiftlik, Kızılağaç and arrives in Bodrum (Halicarnassos) finishing in ancient city of Pedasa.
  • Carian Hinterland: 174.2 km. The section starts from Bozalan heading North and follows Fesleğen, Karacahisar, Milas (Mylasa), Kargıcak, Labraunda, Sarıkaya, Çomakdağ, Kayabükü, Sakarkaya and arrives at the shores of Lake Bafa. Heading up the Latmos (Menteşe) Mountains the trail continues to the summit (1350 m), Bağarcık, Kullar, Yahşiler, Tekeler and finishes in Karpuzlu (Alinda) which is the official finish of the Carian Trail.
  • Muğla Environs: 108.5 km. Heading north to Akyaka, the section passes through Kuyucak, Karabağlar, Muğla, Değirmendere, Ekizce, Bayır, Belen Kahvesi and finishes in the ancient city of Stratonikeia. It is possible to bike most of this section.
  • Dalyan: 11 km . Starting from Dalyan, the trail passes by Caunos and ends in Ekincik bay.

    • The route passes through many ancient cities like; Amos, Syrna, Phoenix, Loryma, Hydas, Castabos, Knidos, Idyma, Thera, Mobolla, Stratonikeia, Ceramos, Halicarnassos, Pedasa, Mylasa, Labraunda, Herakleia ad Latmos, Alinda and Caunos.

    References

    Carian Trail Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA