South of Kemer, the Taurus mountains rise straight out of the sea. In one day you can stand on the summit of Mount Tahtalı, walk through the ruins of Olympos to the beach and watch the Chimaera flames flicker on a hillside at dusk. Autumn and spring are the best seasons: clear air for the views, comfortable temperatures for walking, and no summer queues.
Tahtalı cable car: from the sea to 2,365 m
The Olympos cable car starts in the pine forest above Tekirova and climbs to the summit of Tahtalı, about 2,365 m high, in roughly ten minutes. From the top you look down on the whole coastline from Antalya to Kemer and Phaselis, and on clear days far inland. The summit has a café and viewing terraces. Tickets are bought at the lower station or online; operating hours and prices change with the season.
When to go and what to wear
- October and November: clear air and the best visibility of the year, with mild weather at sea level.
- December to March: snow on the summit is common - a striking view over a green coast, but dress for winter at the top.
- April and May: snow on the peak and flowers on the lower slopes, often in the same view.
- At any time of year it is 10-15 °C colder at the top than at the beach. Bring a jacket, even in October.
- The cable car stops in strong wind or storms, so keep the day flexible and check before you set off.
Olympos: ruins in a river valley
The ancient Lycian city of Olympos lies in a narrow, wooded valley that ends at a pebble beach. Tombs, a theatre, a bath house and a Byzantine church are scattered among laurel and fig trees along a stream. The walk from the entrance to the beach takes about twenty minutes. The site is part of a protected area and charges an entrance fee; Museum Pass holders enter free.
Çıralı and the Chimaera flames
Across the beach from Olympos is Çıralı, a quiet village of orchards and small guesthouses along a long beach where loggerhead turtles nest. Above it, on the slope of Yanartaş, natural gas seeps from the rock and has burned for thousands of years - the ancient Chimaera of Greek legend. A stepped path of about 20-30 minutes leads up to the flames. They are most impressive at dusk, so bring a torch for the way down.
Planning the day
| Stop | From Kemer | Allow |
|---|---|---|
| Tahtalı cable car (lower station) | about 30 minutes | 1.5-2 hours |
| Olympos ruins and beach | about 50 minutes | 2 hours |
| Çıralı and the Chimaera | about 50 minutes | 1.5 hours, ideally at dusk |
Drive times are approximate. A good order is the cable car in the morning when the air is clearest, Olympos and lunch in Çıralı in the afternoon, and the Chimaera at sunset. From Antalya city, add about an hour each way.
Getting there
Kemer is about 50 km from Antalya Airport and Tekirova about 75 km, along the coast road. Public buses do not reach the cable car station or the Chimaera easily, which is why many visitors go with a driver. We run private transfers from the airport to Kemer, Tekirova and Kumluca at a fixed price per vehicle, and can quote a day with a driver for the cable car, Olympos and Çıralı on request.