Carian Trail (Datça sections)

The Carian Trail is a waymarked long-distance hiking route of more than 800 km that follows the ancient region of Caria, mostly within Muğla province. Opened to walkers in the 2010s, it links the Bozburun and Datça peninsulas, the shores of the Gulf of Gökova and the hinterland. Footpaths, old village tracks and forest roads follow one another along the way; some stretches pass through village squares, others along lonely ridges.

The Datça sections start in Eski Datça, run out to Knidos at the western tip and then turn back east, with stops such as Mesudiye, Palamutbükü, Knidos, Kızlan, Emecik and Balıkaşıran along the way. You walk through olive and almond groves, pine woods and scrub-covered hillsides, and where the path drops to the shore there's often a chance to swim in a cove. The Datça and Bozburun peninsulas are a designated Special Environmental Protection Area.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. From March to May the hillsides turn green and flower; from late September into November the weather is again kind to walkers. The mild winters also offer good walking days, though paths can be muddy and slippery after rain. In summer, the heat and long unshaded stretches make walking hard going, and potentially dangerous.

The route is marked with red-and-white paint stripes, but marks can be faded or missing in places, so carry an offline map or GPS track, tell someone your plans and take plenty of water. Rather than walking all the Datça sections end to end, you can plan stretches between villages as day hikes; just arrange a taxi or a lift back in advance.