Private Olympos and Chimaera Tour from Antalya
A ruined city in the forest, a beach below it, and flames that never go out on the hillside above.
Photo: Turkey Your Way
- Duration
- Full day (about 9 hours)
- Region
- Antalya, Mediterranean
- Walking
- Moderate
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
Best for Families
Tour code ANT-D07
The essence
A private Olympos Chimaera tour follows the coast south of Antalya to three places in one day. First, you walk through Phaselis, a harbor town on a small peninsula. Then you reach Olympos, a Lycian city whose ruins lie in the forest by the sea. Finally, you climb to Yanartaş, the Chimaera, where flames of natural gas have burned from the rocks since antiquity. Your guide and driver stay with you all day.
Highlights
- Phaselis and its three ancient harbors
- Olympos, a Lycian city in the forest
- The beach below Olympos
- The flames of Yanartaş, the Chimaera
- A day on the coast south of Antalya
Program
-
Morning
Pick-up in Antalya
Your driver collects you from your hotel for the coast road south.
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Late morning
Phaselis
The harbor town on its peninsula.
Opening hours & dress code -
Midday
Olympos on the Olympos Chimaera tour
The ruins in the forest and the beach.
Opening hours & dress code -
Late afternoon
Yanartaş, the Chimaera
A walk of about half an hour up to the flames.
Opening hours & dress code -
Evening
Back
The drive back to Antalya.
In depth
On a hillside above Çıralı, small flames burn straight out of the rock, as they did when the Lycians lived below. A private Olympos Chimaera tour takes you to them at the end of a day on the coast south of Antalya.
Phaselis and Olympos on the Olympos Chimaera Tour
Phaselis
First, your driver takes you to Phaselis, a town on a small peninsula that Rhodian colonists founded in the 7th century BC. It had three harbors, and in 333 BC its people met Alexander the Great with a golden crown.
Olympos
Next, you reach Olympos, named after the mountain that rises behind it. It was one of the six leading cities of the Lycian League, and in 78 BC the Roman commander Servilius Isauricus cleared it of pirates. Today, most of its ruins lie among the trees, a short walk from the beach.
The Flames of the Chimaera
The walk up on the Olympos Chimaera tour
Then, in the late afternoon, you drive to Çıralı and walk for about half an hour uphill to Yanartaş. The site sits about 300 meters (980 feet) above the beach, inside the Beydağları Coastal National Park.
Why the rocks burn
The flames come from methane that seeps through cracks in the rock from a natural gas source. Because they never went out, the ancient city became a religious center, and the place took the name of the fire-breathing Chimaera of legend. Finally, you drive back to Antalya. Nearby, our Antalya city tour visits Hadrian’s Gate and Kaleiçi, and our Side and Manavgat tour goes to the Manavgat Waterfall.
From our guides
Our suggestion Stay at Yanartaş for the last light of the day, when the hillside turns dark and the flames show best.
Would you like to see the eternal flames of the Chimaera? Send us your dates, and we will plan Phaselis and Olympos first and the walk up to the Chimaera to close the day.
Before you go
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- Entry
- Ticketed museum site
-
- Entry
- Ticket for the ancient city and for Yanartaş
-
- Entry
- Ticketed at the trailhead; check hours locally
Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.
What’s included
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- A private vehicle and driver for the day, with pick-up from your hotel
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“I visited Istanbul with my mother, and I can honestly say that working with Soner and his team was one of the best decisions we made for our trip.”
From your guide
What to wear
Swimwear for the beach, shoes with grip for the forest paths, and a flashlight if you stay at the flames after dark.
Best time
Spring and autumn. In summer, we save the Chimaera walk for the cooler evening.
Photos
The flames show best in the last light of the day, when the hillside turns dark.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning, from your hotel
- Ends
- Your hotel
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in Antalya, Kemer or Belek
- Walking
- Moderate: forest paths at Olympos and an uphill walk to the flames.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs. The walk to the flames is steep and uneven.
- Cancellation
- In heavy rain, we change the order of the day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chimaera on the Olympos Chimaera tour?
Small flames that burn from cracks in the rock, fed by natural gas. People have known them since antiquity.
How long is the walk on the Olympos Chimaera tour?
About half an hour uphill from the entrance to the flames.
Can we swim on the Olympos Chimaera tour?
Yes. The beach lies right below the ruins of Olympos.
Is the Olympos Chimaera tour suitable for kids and seniors?
Yes, for children and older travelers who can walk on uneven ground. Tell us your needs. The walk to the flames is steep and uneven.
What should I wear?
Swimwear for the beach, shoes with grip for the forest paths, and a flashlight if you stay at the flames after dark.
Can we customize the Olympos Chimaera tour?
Yes. It is private, so we can drop Phaselis, give Olympos more time or change the order.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
