Olympos & Chimera: Ancient Ruins, Treehouses & Eternal Flames
Olympos and Mount Chimera offer a unique combination of history, nature and mythic natural phenomena. This small region accommodates hikers, nature lovers, history buffs and regular beach goers.
Lycian Ruins & Pebble Beach
Olympos was a maritime trade city known for its harbor and sanctuary dedicated to Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire. Today, the ruins of the city lie scattered next to a mountain stream.
Exploring the Ruins
Olympos is like an archaeological jungle. The ruins are surrounded by dense vegetation but visitors can still explore rock cut Lycian sarcophagi and a Hellenistic theater. After a visit to the ruins, you can descend down to Olympos Beach.
Boutique Stays: Treehouses & Eco Lodges
One of the defining characteristics of Olympos is its relaxed, eco friendly accommodation culture. Due to environmental protection laws, there are no mega resorts in the valley. Not to say your stay here will be uncomfortable as the area has developed a world famous bohemian stay style utilizing:
- Treehouses & Wooden Cabins: Olympos is renowned for its treehouse camps and wooden bungalows, popular with backpackers and nature lovers.
- Cirali Eco Lodges: The neighboring village of Cirali offers upscale boutique eco lodges, family run pensions and quiet bungalows.
Visiting the Eternal Flames of Chimera
Just uphill from the coast is Mount Chimera, home to a rare geological marvel: methane gas seeping through rocky vents, igniting naturally upon contact with air to create perpetual flames.
The Myth of the Chimera
According to mythology, these fires mark the burial ground of the Chimera. It is a fire breathing monster featuring the body of a goat, the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent. According to the myth, it was slain by the hero Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus. Ancient sailors once used the fires as a natural lighthouse to navigate the coastline.
The natural fires of Chimera have burned on the mountain slope for thousands of years.
Practical Travel Tips:
- Hiking Chimera: The best time to visit Mount Chimera is at dusk or after sunset. This is a 30 minute uphill climb over uneven stone steps.
- What to Bring: Bring a sturdy flashlight or headlamp for the dark descent, comfortable walking shoes and at least one bottle of water (we suggest more).
- Transit: Located about 1.5 hours (80 km / 50 miles) southwest of Antalya. Dolmus buses run from Antalya main terminal to the Olympos junction on the main highway, where local shuttles take visitors down into the valley.
