Lycian Way
 

I will hike a portion of the Lycian Way in southwestern Turkey. Would anyone know the correct pronunciation of "Lycian"? Also, do the Turkish people call this trail "Lycian", or is a different label used locally?

It is pronounced "Lick-ya" in Turkish. and Lycian trail will be "Lick-ya yo-lou".

Do not forget that the regular person will not know these terms. In case of advice, you should ask tourism related places and people.

There will me more people to assist from the Western direction. It will also be easier and with more antique cities, closer to each other if you start from Fethiye area, rather than Antalya.

I should also remind you that you should have a glass or two of "Likya" wine after each day's walk.

Define correct.

It SHOULD be "Likian" (the state was 'Lukia' in classical Greek, and the modern convention is to pronounce Greek upsilons as if they were 'i's, and Greek kappas as 'k's).

"Should" gets you nowhere. Since the Middle Ages, most classical scholars have called the ancient state Lishya, though it almost certainly was locally called Lookia. But most English-speakers these days pronounce the footpath Likian.

It's all like asking the correct pronunciation of tomato. For what it's worth, I've found little value in knowing how modern Lykians pronounce it: most often the easiest thing is to ask in English "where's the path to Fethiye?" But "Likya Yolu" (as it's formally known in Turkish) is pronounced as if there were a dot over the i.

FAR more important than knowing the Turkish is fully appreciating the conventions for waymarking. This path can get VERY remote, and waymarking is often tricky to spot, and trickier still to understand. This is a British-style path: a right of way across almost unmarked land, with tiny stripes painted on rocks at key points. It's not a groomed trail with written signs

One explanation is at www.lycianway.com/MainContent/waymarking.html. Don't underestimate the importance of real familiarity and practice with the system before starting a serious walk.

Thanks for the help. I had been mis-pronouncing "Lycian" as "Leye-see-uhn". I also purchased a book devoted entirely to the Lycian Way, and the author provides details for each portion of the trail. I'm only doing a few day hikes near Fethiye, nothing serious. I'll definitely keep a close eye on those trail markings.