The Carian Trail ( tr, Karia Yolu) is an 820 km

long-distance footpath A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway (landscape), greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking (wilderness), backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-cou ...

exploring the South Western corner of

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...

through the modern provinces of

Muğla Muğla () is a city in southwestern Turkey. The city is the center of the District of Menteşe and Muğla Province, which stretches along Turkey's Aegean coast. Muğla's center is situated inland at an altitude of 660 m and lies at a dista ...

and Aydın. The trail is officially opened in 2013 and winds through some of the lesser known regions of Turkey. The trail is named after the

Carian The Carian language is an extinct language of the Luwic subgroup of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family. The Carian language was spoken in Caria, a region of western Anatolia between the ancient regions of Lycia and Lydia, ...

civilization, indigenous people of

Asia Minor Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

. It passes through an area with many ancient ruins. Stone paved caravan roads and mule paths connect villages from the coast to a mountainous 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 with red and white stripes (

Grande Randonnee The GR footpaths are a network of long-distance walking trails in Europe, mostly in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. They go by the following names: french: link=no, sentier de grande randonnée, vls, link=no, Groteroutepad, nl, L ...

convention) allowing both independent and group travelers from inside and outside of Turkey to hike and enjoy the scenic beauty and cultural treasures of

Caria Caria (; from Greek: Καρία, ''Karia''; tr, Karya) was a region of western Anatolia extending along the coast from mid- Ionia (Mycale) south to Lycia and east to Phrygia. The Ionian and Dorian Greeks colonized the west of it and joined ...

History

Even though it's known that local hikers have used the trail for outdoor sports before the establishment of the Carian trail, foundation of a continuous trail can be attributed to the premise expedition trips of Yunus Özdemir, Altay Özcan, Volkan Demir and Dean Livesley starting in 2009, which lasted 4 winters. The idea behind the expedition was to establish a long-distance hiking trail around the historical Carian regions. After the initial expeditions a route made of

historic roads Historic roads (historic trails in USA and Canada) are paths or routes that have historical importance due to their use over a period of time. Examples exist from prehistoric times until the early 20th century. They include ancient trackways ...

, village paths, ridgeways and forest alleys was established. Under the leadership of Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Muğla Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası) the Carian Trail project has been launched. In 2012 South Aegean Development Agency (Güney Ege Kalkınma Ajansı) also started to support it with additional monetary backing. The Carian Trail has officially opened in February 2013.

Route

820 km long trail has 4 main sections,

Bozburun Bozburun is a small seaside town with own municipality in Marmaris district, in southwestern Turkey. The permanent population is about 2000. It is situated on the coast of the peninsula of the same name ( Bozburun Peninsula) which extends in para ...

Datça Peninsula Datça is a district of Muğla Province in south-west Turkey, and the center town of the district. The center is situated midway through the peninsula which carries the same name as the district and the town ( Datça Peninsula). It was a nahiya of ...

Gulf of Gökova Gulf of Gökova ( tr, Gökova Körfezi) or Gulf of Kerme ( Turkish: Kerme Körfezi, Greek: Κεραμεικός κόλπος, Latin: Ceramicus Sinus, English: Ceramic Gulf or Gulf of Cos), is a long (100 km), narrow gulf of the Aegean Sea b ...

and Carian Hinterland, with an additional section that encompass

and surrounding regions. All of the trail has been divided into 46 stages. It also includes a smaller 11 km long section called Dalyan, which is isolated from other sections. Some sections and stages can be cycled. Muğla 22

Bozburun Peninsula

Bozburun Peninsula section is 141.2 km long and is the official starting point of the trail. It starts from

İçmeler İçmeler is a popular Turkey, Turkish holiday resort situated 8 kilometres southwest of Marmaris. It is also a municipality of its own. İçmeler bay is located on the Datça peninsula. The town is surrounded on three sides by pine forests. H ...

and follows Turunç, Kumlubük, Bayır, Taşlıca, Söğüt,

, Selimiye, Orhaniye, and ends in

Hisarönü Hisarönü is a tourist resort village in the Fethiye district of the Muğla Province of Turkey. It is situated at the western extreme of the Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the ...

Datça Peninsula

Datça Peninsula is 240.7 km of length. The section starts from Old town of

Datça Datça is a district of Muğla Province in south-west Turkey, and the center town of the district. The center is situated midway through the peninsula which carries the same name as the district and the town ( Datça Peninsula). It was a nahiya of ...

, 3 km before

, and follows Hızırşah, Domuzçukuru, Mesudiye, Palamutbükü,

Knidos Knidos or Cnidus (; grc-gre, Κνίδος, , , Knídos) was a Greek city in ancient Caria and part of the Dorian Hexapolis, in south-western Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. It was situated on the Datça peninsula, which forms the southern side ...

, Karaköy, Kızlan, Emecik, Balıkaşıran, Akçapınar, and ends in Akyaka. The part from Balıkaşıran to Akyaka can also be biked.

Gulf of Gökova

Ceramic Gulf (

) is a section with 139.2 km of trail. The section starts from Akyaka and heads west following Turnalı, Sarnıç, Akbük, Alatepe, Ören (

Ceramos Ceramus or Keramos ( grc, Κέραμος) is a city on the north coast of the Ceramic Gulf—named after this city—in ancient Caria, in southwest Asia Minor; its ruins can be found outside the modern village of Ören, Muğla Province, T ...

), Türkevleri, Bozalan, Mazı, Çiftlik, Kızılağaç and arrives in

Bodrum Bodrum () is a port city in Muğla Province, southwestern Turkey, at the entrance to the Gulf of Gökova. Its population was 35,795 at the 2012 census, with a total of 136,317 inhabitants residing within the district's borders. Known in ancient ...

( Halicarnassos) finishing in ancient city of Pedasa. Muğla 87

Carian Hinterland

Carian Hinterland section is 174.2 km long and starts from Bozalan heading North and follows Fesleğen, Karacahisar,

Milas Milas ( grc, Μύλασα, Mylasa) is an ancient city and the seat of the district of the same name in Muğla Province in southwestern Turkey. The city commands a region with an active economy and very rich in history and ancient remains, the ter ...

(

Mylasa Milas ( grc, Μύλασα, Mylasa) is an ancient city and the seat of the district of the same name in Muğla Province in southwestern Turkey. The city commands a region with an active economy and very rich in history and ancient remains, the ter ...

), Kargıcak,

Labraunda Labraunda ( grc, Λάβρανδα ''Labranda'' or Λάβραυνδα ''Labraunda'') is an ancient archaeological site five kilometers west of Ortaköy, Muğla Province, Turkey, in the mountains near the coast of Caria. In ancient times, it was h ...

, Sarıkaya, Çomakdağ, Kayabükü, Sakarkaya and arrives at the shores of

Lake Bafa Lake Bafa ( tr, Bafa Gölü) also known as Lake Çamiçi ( tr, Çamiçi Gölü) and in earlier times the Vafi Sea ( tr, Vafi Denizi) is a lake situated in southwestern Turkey, part of it within the boundaries of Milas district of Muğla Province ...

. Heading up the Latmos () the trail continues to the summit (1350 m), Bağarcık, Kullar, Yahşiler, Tekeler and finishes in

Karpuzlu Karpuzlu is a town and district of Aydın Province, in the Aegean region of Turkey, from the city of Aydın. It became a district centre after separation from Çine in 1990. Karpuzlu is reached by turning off the road from Aydın to Çine. Ther ...

(

Alinda Alinda ( grc, Ἄλινδα) was an inland city and bishopric in ancient Caria, in Asia Minor ( Anatolia). Modern scholars identify Alinda with the Hellenistic foundation of Alexandria ad Latmum (Ἀλεξάνδρεια πρὸς τῷ Λάτμ� ...

) which is the official finish of the Carian Trail.

Muğla Environs

Environs section consists of 108.5 km of trail. Heading north to Akyaka, the section passes through Kuyucak,

Karabağlar Karabağlar is a district of İzmir Province of Turkey. It is one of the metropolitan districts of İzmir. Karabağlar was turned into a district by the Cabinet of Turkey The Cabinet of Turkey ( tr, Türkiye Kabinesi) or Presidential Cabine ...

, Değirmendere Kanyonu, Ekizce, Bayır, Belen Kahvesi and finishes in the ancient city of Stratonikeia. It is possible to bike most of this section.

Dalyan

Dalyan is the smallest section of the trail with only 11 km of length. The route starts from Dalyan and passes by

Kaunos Kaunos (Carian: ''Kbid'';. Translator Chris Markham. Lycian: ''Khbide''; Ancient Greek: ; la, Caunus) was a city of ancient Caria and in Anatolia, a few kilometres west of the modern town of Dalyan, Muğla Province, Turkey. The Calbys ...

, a historically important sea port with a history that can be tracked back to the 10th century BC. Trail ends in Ekincik Bay.

Ancient sites

The route passes through many ancient cities like;"Historical trails in Turkey bound by nature and beauty"
''Daily Sabah'', SENA ALKAN, ISTANBUL July 3, 2015 *

Amos Amos or AMOS may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Amos Records, an independent record label established in Los Angeles, California, in 1968 * Amos (band), an American Christian rock band * ''Amos'' (album), an album by Michael Ray * ''Amos' ...

* Syrna *

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

* Loryma * Hydas * Castabus *

Idyma Idyma ( grc, Ἴδυμα), or Idymus or Idymos (Ἴδυμος), was a coastal town of ancient Caria, strategically placed at the head of a gulf, near the Idymos (Ἴδυμος) river. It is located in the modern town of Gökova. In 546 BCE, ...

Thera Santorini ( el, Σαντορίνη, ), officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα ) and classical Greek Thera (English pronunciation ), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from the Greek mainland. It is the ...

* Mobolla * Stratonikeia *

* Halicarnassos * Pedasa *

* Herakleia ad Latmos *

Caunos Kaunos (Carian: ''Kbid'';. Translator Chris Markham. Lycian: ''Khbide''; Ancient Greek: ; la, Caunus) was a city of ancient Caria and in Anatolia, a few kilometres west of the modern town of Dalyan, Muğla Province, Turkey. The Calbys rive ...

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official Page for Carian Trail

Carian Trail Routes, pics ve GPS records:Turkish/partly English site

Guide books and maps about the Carian Trail
(in Turkish)
Water sources and accommodation on the trail
(in Turkish)
Carian Trail on Culture Routes in Turkey
Caria Aegean Region Tourist attractions in Turkey Hiking trails in Turkey Tourism in Turkey