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TÜRSAB licensed · D-12490
📍 Antalya90 km from AYT🏨 10 hotels

Olympos & Çıralı Airport Transfer

Lycian Way · sea turtles · eternal flames.

90 km
AYT · 80 min
230 km
GZP · 195 min
About Olympos & Çıralı

About Olympos & Çıralı

Olympos and Çıralı share a roadless pebble beach 90 km west of Antalya Airport — ancient ruins, the eternal flames of Mount Chimera, and a strict no-construction belt that has kept the bay almost wild.

Barefoot, unhurried and refreshingly undeveloped. Olympos draws a younger, backpacker and trekker crowd to its treehouse lodges, while Çıralı next door is its calmer, family-friendly twin: a single sleepy lane of cafes and pensions lost in orange groves, a dark protected beach at night, and the mountains pressing right down to the sea. No high-rises, no club strips, no traffic on the sand. People come to swim, hike, eat fresh trout by the stream and watch the flames after dark, not to party. If you want polish and big buffets, this is not the place; if you want nature and authenticity, it is one of the best-kept corners of the coast.

Best season
Late April to October, with May, June and September the sweet spot: warm sea, long sunny days and fewer crowds than peak August. July and August are hot and busiest. The turtle nesting season runs May to October, hatchlings usually emerge from July onward. Spring is glorious for hiking the Lycian Way before the heat, while winter is very quiet with many lodges closed and the Chimaera at its most dramatic against cold dark skies.
Hidden gem · The Chimaera After Dark
Most day-trippers hike up to Yanartaş in daylight and miss the magic. Come at dusk instead: as the sky fades, the flames glow far brighter against the dark hillside, and on a clear night you can see them flickering from the beach below. Bring a torch for the 20 to 30 minute uphill walk, wear proper shoes for the rocky path, and pack a few marshmallows like the locals do.
What Olympos & Çıralı is famous for

Six reasons people choose Olympos & Çıralı

The standout features that set Olympos & Çıralı apart from every other Antalya region.

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The Chimaera Eternal Flames
On the slopes above Çıralı, dozens of small flames flicker straight out of the bare rock at Yanartaş, fed by natural methane seeping from the ground for roughly 2,500 years. The ancients believed this was the fire-breathing Chimaera, and the myth gave its name to the very idea of the Olympic flame.
🏛️
Ancient Olympos Ruins
A Lycian League city wrapped in oleander and wild fig, with Roman gates, a theatre, bath houses and carved sarcophagi scattered along a stream that runs down to the sea. Once a pirate stronghold under Zeniketes, today it is wonderfully overgrown and atmospheric rather than restored.
🐢
Çıralı Turtle Nesting Beach
This 3 km arc of shingle and sand is a protected loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nesting ground inside a first-degree nature reserve. Each summer scores of nests are laid here, which is why the beach stays unlit at night and lodges dim their lights from May to October.
🌳
Treehouse & Bungalow Lodges
Olympos made its name with rustic wooden treehouse pensions tucked into the citrus groves, while Çıralı leans toward low-rise garden bungalows. Almost nothing rises above the tree line, and there are no big concrete resorts. It is one of the last truly low-key stretches of the Turkish Mediterranean.
🥾
The Lycian Way
Turkey's most famous long-distance trail threads right through here, climbing from the beach over pine ridges of the Beydağları toward Adrasan and beyond. You can walk a short scenic section between Olympos, Çıralı and the Chimaera without committing to the full 540 km route.
🏞️
Beydağları Coastal National Park
Both villages sit inside Olympos Beydağları Coastal National Park, where pine forest tumbles down to clear turquoise water. The protected status is exactly why development stayed small and the landscape stayed wild, a rare combination on this coast.
What to do

Things to do in Olympos & Çıralı

A short-list our drivers and dispatchers recommend after dropping guests at their hotel.

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Hike to the Eternal Flames
Walk the rocky 1 km path up from the Çıralı road to Yanartaş and watch the natural flames dance from the rock. Go at sunset or after dark for the full effect, and allow 20 to 30 minutes each way.
🏛️
Wander the Olympos Ruins
Follow the shaded streamside trail through the ancient city, past tombs, the theatre and Roman walls swallowed by greenery, finishing at the dramatic beach where the gorge meets the sea.
🏊
Swim at Çıralı Beach
Take a dip in the clear, deep waters off the long pebbly shore. The sea drops off quickly, so it is great for swimming, and the mountain backdrop makes every sunset a show.
🥾
Walk a Stretch of the Lycian Way
Pick up the waymarked trail for a half-day hike over pine ridges with sweeping Mediterranean views, linking the beach, the ruins and the Chimaera.
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Learn About the Loggerheads
Visit the small turtle information point and look for marked, fenced nests along Çıralı beach. In hatching season, conservation volunteers sometimes help visitors watch the tiny turtles head for the sea.
🍽️
Eat Fresh Trout by the Water
Head up toward Ulupınar where streamside restaurants serve mountain trout and mezes under plane trees, or dine at a candle-lit garden table back in the village.
Worth seeing

Must-see sights near Olympos & Çıralı

All reachable on a half-day or full-day private Mercedes tour.

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Yanartaş (Chimaera)
The legendary eternal flames burning from the mountainside, one of the few natural fires of their kind on Earth and the mythical lair of the fire-breathing Chimaera.
🏛️
Ancient City of Olympos
Romantic Lycian and Roman ruins scattered through a riverside gorge, from carved sarcophagi to a temple gate, ending at the wild beach.
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Çıralı & Olympos Beach
A near-continuous protected shoreline shared by both villages, backed by mountains and famous for its turtle nests and unlit, peaceful nights.
🌲
Beydağları National Park
Pine-clad coastal mountains and clear coves protecting the whole area, crossed by the Lycian Way and home to the region's rich birdlife and flora.
Trip tricks

Travel tips for Olympos & Çıralı transfers

What we tell every guest before they fly in. Save these on your phone before landing.

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Bring a Torch & Good Shoes
The Chimaera path is rocky and dark in the evening, and the beach has no lighting at night to protect the turtles. A headlamp and proper footwear make a big difference.
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Carry Some Cash
The Olympos ruins and Yanartaş charge a small entry fee, and smaller pensions and beach cafes may prefer cash. ATMs are limited, so bring Turkish lira from Antalya or Kemer.
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Respect the Turtles
From May to October keep beach lights off at night, never disturb fenced nests, and avoid using flash near the shore. The whole village protects this nesting ground, and visitors are asked to help.
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Plan Your Arrival
The final 7 to 8 km from the D400 down into Çıralı and Olympos is a steep, winding mountain road. A private transfer with a driver who knows the bends is far less stressful than a self-drive, especially after dark.
FAQ

Olympos & Çıralı transfer · frequently asked

Quick answers about transfers, distance and what to expect on arrival.

How far is Olympos and Çıralı from Antalya Airport?

Çıralı is about 95 km from Antalya Airport (AYT) and Olympos a little further, sharing the same approach road. By private car the drive takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on traffic through Antalya and Kemer. The scenic D400 coastal route passes Kemer, Tekirova and Ulupınar before a winding descent into the villages.

What is the best way to get from AYT to Çıralı or Olympos?

A private airport transfer is the easiest option, taking you door to door in around 90 minutes without changes. Public buses run along the D400 but drop you at the highway turn-off, leaving you to arrange a shuttle or dolmuş for the last 7 to 8 km downhill into the village, which can be slow with luggage, especially in the evening.

Are Olympos and Çıralı the same place?

They are two neighbouring villages that share one long beach, separated only by the ancient Olympos ruins and a headland. Olympos is known for its backpacker treehouse lodges, while Çıralı is the quieter, more family-oriented side with garden bungalows. You can walk between them along the beach in about 20 minutes when the stream is low.

When can I see the turtles and the eternal flames?

Loggerhead turtles nest on Çıralı beach from May to October, with hatchlings typically emerging from July onward, best viewed with local conservation volunteers. The Chimaera flames burn year-round, 24 hours a day, but are most spectacular at dusk or after dark when they glow brightly against the hillside.

Can a transfer take me directly to my treehouse or beach lodge?

Yes. A private transfer can drop you right at your lodge in Olympos or your bungalow in Çıralı, including down the narrow village lanes that buses cannot reach. Just share your accommodation name when booking, since the two villages have separate access roads off the D400 and arriving at the wrong one means a long detour.

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Antalya Airport → Olympos & Çıralı
EUR65
No card required · Cash or card on arrival · Free cancellation up to 24 h
TÜRSAB licence D-12490 · €100,000 passenger insurance · Pay the driver on arrival
From65Private transfer to Olympos & Çıralı
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