Background
The Lycian Way is a well-known long-distance walking route running for hundreds of kilometres along the Mediterranean coast from Fethiye, in Muğla Province, towards Antalya. Walkers from many countries follow it each year. The area around Faralya, Kabak Bay and Butterfly Valley is among its most visited stretches, but cliffs, steep slopes and dense woodland make the terrain demanding.
X.W., a 30-year-old Chinese tourist, was on holiday in Turkey in summer 2025 and was walking the Lycian Way.
What happened
According to relatives, X.W. was last heard from around 25 August 2025; the last trace was a photograph he shared while walking between Kabak Bay and Butterfly Valley. Unable to reach him, relatives called the 112 emergency line on 4 September 2025 to report him missing.
The gendarmerie search-and-rescue team in Fethiye began the search and on 5 September asked Muğla AFAD for support. The next morning AFAD, gendarmerie and volunteer teams searched the area.
Investigation
On 6 September 2025, X.W.'s body was found on a steep, wooded slope that is hard to reach. Gendarmerie search-and-rescue crews and units from the Muğla Commando Brigade worked together to reach him. The body was taken to the Fethiye State Hospital morgue.
When the news was reported, the cause of death had not yet been established and the inquiry was continuing. Public information mentions no suspect, and no final cause of death has been announced.
Where it stands today
The case brought renewed attention to waymarking, communication and emergency access on long-distance trails. Mobile coverage can be patchy along parts of the route, so downloading offline maps, telling someone your itinerary and knowing the national emergency number, 112, matter. This page is written in memory of X.W. and to raise awareness that may help prevent similar losses.