Loop trail Enişdibi - Likya Yolu 6.04 - Smugglers Inn - Istlada. Nature trails and an ancient Lycian city.

An adventurous route through a natural landscape with impressive rock formations and a beautiful stretch along the sea coast. Also included are the Likya Yolu and the ancient Lycian city of Istlada.

The route starts next to the mosque of Enişdibi. The people in this area live from tourism, from greenhouses and from making molasses from the Carob trees.

We walk a short distance on a dirt road between some greenhouses and then continue on a challenging nature trail. The route is indicated with blue dots. These marks are indicated in a one way manner. So, walking in the other direction is rather difficult to find and is not recommended. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and long trousers, and bring walking sticks. There are often a lot of stones on the paths we are going to follow.
In respect to natural beauty this part is very exciting. There are impressive rock formations.
After about 3 km from the start, we will pass a viewpoint that offers a view over Kekova.
We then continue walking until we reach a small road. From here on we follow white/red indications.
On this part of the walk, we are actually going to follow the Likya Yolu 6.04.
We pass a shipyard and not much later we reach the Üçagiz Cemetery. Make sure to have a look at the Cemetery. If we keep right here, we go to the Üçagiz Kekova Castle. Going there would be another excursion in itself. This walk focuses on natural beauty and not on cultural heritage so I have skipped this interesting detour. Therefore, we turn left after the Cemetery (at the fountain with drinking water). We have left the asphalt now and are walking on a dirt road. We pass an area of greenhouses. For almost three km we walk over a stretch of more or less flat land with open areas and pieces of forest. At a certain point we see a castle on a hill. We than arrive at the smuggler’s inn. The smuggler's inn can also be reached from the sea and looks like a superb place to have some food and swim in the sea in the summer season.
At this time the inn was closed. So apparently there is only service in summer time.
From here we continue close to the coast and we have beautiful views over the sea and the many islands in the area. The sea water is of a stunning blue colour.
We continue another while along the coast where we walk past a bay with quite a few pleasure boats anchored there. After about a kilometre past the smugglers we leave the coast and head inland again. Our next goal is now Istlada.

Ancient Lycian city Istlada.
Lycia was a state or nationality that flourished in Anatolia from 15–14th centuries BC (as Lukka) to 546 BC. It bordered the Mediterranean Sea in what is today the provinces of Antalya and Muğla in Turkey as well some inland parts of Burdur Province.
At this place there are still some walls standing and we can also admire an authentic well. In a field next to it we find a number of sarcophagi that are still intact.

At Istlada we leave the Likya Yolu and continue on an un-signalled nature trail. It is actually the route with the blue dots again, but we are now walking it in the opposite direction, so the marking is of no use to us. Thus pay close attention to the GPS track. We now go a short distance through a section with some beautiful rocks and then arrive at a few greenhouses.
We soon come across an unpaved road that we follow.
Once we arrive at the main road, we cross it and continue along a small road between more greenhouses. This is the place where the people who are active on the boats during the tourist season in winter seem to earn their living (at least that's how they explained it!). This quickly brings us back to Enisdibi and to our starting point

Some additional information:
The route is designed in a counter clockwise direction.
Time spent: total = 8 hours 49 minutes of which moving = 3 hours 21 minutes
There are no picnic tables along the way
There is drinking water after 5,2 kilometres.
The track is moderate from a technical point of view.
Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and long trousers. There are often a lot of stones on the paths we are going to follow.
Presence of signposts:
Blue dots: first 4 km
White red signalling (Likya Yolu) km 4 > 10

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Disclaimer.

I have personally performed and then downloaded the route described, along with the track and waypoints, based on my personal experience. However, it is important to note that these should be considered as general guides and not precise instructions. Trails may not always accurately represent the exact itinerary due to factors such as weak satellite reception during GPS recording, especially in areas with ravines, deep gorges, dense forests, and similar conditions. Furthermore, the situation of the hiking trails may change over time, meaning that the descriptions given no longer correspond to the current situation.

It is the sole responsibility of the individual undertaking these trails to take appropriate safety measures, which should be tailored to the specific difficulty level and be in accordance to the prevailing weather conditions. Additionally, it should be realized that one's technical and physical preparedness play a crucial role in ensuring a safe hiking experience.

I strongly recommend hiking with a companion when venturing into the mountains. Always inform a friend or family member of your itinerary and estimated time of return. Ensure that your phone has a sufficient battery charge, and carry an adequate supply of water, food, and appropriate shelter for the season and the chosen route.

Please commit to leaving the natural environment as pristine as you found it, or even better. This way, we can all continue to enjoy the beauty of these trails, leaving behind only the traces of our footsteps.