Çıralı: Turtle Beach and the Lycian Way

Çıralı combines a nesting beach around 3.2 kilometres long with the Lycian Way running directly along the coast. It also has archaeological sites and a history of ancient worship. This gives you several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: coastal scenery and nature, two directions of a long-distance hiking trail, or historic sites. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Çıralı, you can decide what will shape your stay based on your interests.

A beach closely connected to nature

Çıralı Beach is 3.2 km long; the shoreline measurement may vary slightly depending on the method used. It is a nesting beach for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). The length gives you a clear sense of the extent of this stretch of coast, while its role as a nesting beach creates a tangible connection with nature. For travellers who want to combine the coast with nature, this is a defining feature of Çıralı.

Two directions on the Lycian Way

The Lycian Way runs along Çıralı Beach and splits near the end of the beach into an eastern and a western route. To the east, the route follows the coast around several bays to Tekirova and onwards to the archaeological site of Phaselis. To the west, the trail climbs from Çıralı towards Ulupınar and Beycik; it continues north over Tahtalı Dağı. The difference is clear when planning: one direction stays close to the coast, while the other begins with an uphill climb. You can choose between a coastal route with bays and an uphill route.

Orange groves and ancient history

On the Antalya–Ulupınar coastal road, the first southeastern turnoff, signposted “Olympos,” leads to Çıralı and Yanartaş. From the beach of the ancient city of Olympos, you can reach Çıralı on foot by walking 300 m east. From the bridge at the entrance to Çıralı, a road passes through orange groves and leads after about 3.5 km to the archaeological site of Khimaira, known locally as “Yanartaş.” In antiquity, Chimaera was used as an important centre of worship for Hephaestus. For navigation, you’ll encounter the names Khimaira and Yanartaş for the site, while Chimaera is associated with its ancient history of worship.

Plan your accommodation and stay

Çıralı has places to eat, shop and stay overnight; there are also numerous restaurants, cafés and bars near the beach. Individual businesses may change. If a particular place is important to your plans, check its current offering before visiting.

These differences can be a useful starting point when looking for a holiday apartment in Çıralı: first decide whether you want to focus mainly on the nesting beach, the coastal route or the western uphill route. If you’re more interested in antiquity, Olympos and Khimaira add an archaeological dimension to the coastal and hiking experiences. This way, you can tailor your search to the kind of trip you actually have in mind.

Discover more destinations

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