Carian Trail

The Carian Trail (Turkish: Karia Yolu) is an 820 km long-distance footpath exploring the South Western corner of Turkey through the modern provinces of Muğla and Aydın.

There are pine forest covered mountain slopes, olive terraces and almond groves which are an important part of the region's economy.

In 2012 South Aegean Development Agency (Güney Ege Kalkınma Ajansı) also started to support it with additional monetary backing.

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 section is 174.2 km long and 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 north to Akyaka, the section passes through Kuyucak, Karabağlar, Muğla, Değirmendere Kanyonu, Ekizce, Bayır, Belen Kahvesi and finishes in the ancient city of Stratonikeia.

The route starts from Dalyan and passes by Kaunos, a historically important sea port with a history that can be tracked back to the 10th century BC.

Putting signposts on Carian Trail
A view of the Carian Trail at Menteşe, Muğla
A typical sign on the trail
Panoramic view of Knidos