Chimaera flames and Olympos by jeep from Kemer is an evening trip to a dark mountainside where flames burn straight out of the rock. Before that there’s free time by the sea at Olympos, and the evening ends with dinner by the mountain springs of Ulupınar.
We pick up guests from hotels in Beldibi, Kemer, Göynük, Tekirova, Çamyuva and Kiriş.
Book your seat online with no prepayment — you pay the driver on the day of the tour.
Chimaera flames and Olympos by jeep from Kemer at a glance
- Hotel pickup: 16:00–17:00
- Back at your hotel: 22:00–23:00
- Main stops: a viewpoint at about 800 m, Olympos, Mount Chimaera / Yanartaş, Ulupınar
- Entrance tickets (optional): Mount Chimaera — €10, the ancient city of Olympos — €10 (paid in Turkish lira only)
- Payment: cash to the driver ($, €, ₺)
Tour programme
- 16:00–17:00 | Hotel pickup
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
- Setting off towards Olympos and the Chimaera
The jeeps leave the resort streets behind and head for the mountains. By this time the heat of the day is usually easing.
- Jeep ride on mountain roads
Along the way you get views of the coast and the pine forests.
- Viewpoint at about 800 metres
You can get out of the jeep, take photos and look down at the sea.
- Free time around Olympos
You can stroll along the shore and take photos. Entry to the ancient city of Olympos is optional: €10, paid in Turkish lira only.
- Beach and an optional swim
Swimming is up to you: you can go into the sea or just rest on the shore.
- Mount Chimaera / Yanartaş
Here flames come straight out of the rocks: natural gas rises through cracks in the stone and ignites. A stone path with steps leads up to the flames; entry is optional and costs €10.
- Dinner at Ulupınar
Dinner is included in the price; drinks are extra. Tables are usually set on platforms right over the water.
- 22:00–23:00 | Back to your hotel
After dinner the group heads back by jeep. The arrival time depends on where your hotel is, on traffic and on the group’s pace.
Chimaera flames and Olympos by jeep from Kemer: how does the tour work?
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 16:00 and 17:00. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
Into the mountains by jeep, through the pine forests
After leaving the hotel, the jeeps turn off the resort streets onto mountain roads. Pine forests line the route, and through the gaps in the trees you can see the coast.
By evening the heat has usually eased, so the ride is pleasant. With the wind, the mountain air and the new views, the beach and the hotel soon feel far away as the evening route to Olympos and the Chimaera flames begins.
The coast from a viewpoint at about 800 metres
On the way, the group stops at a viewpoint.
You can get out of the jeep and photograph the sea from above. The coastline lies below you, mountain slopes stretch all around, and the air is noticeably fresher. It’s a good spot for your first photos and a short break before the route continues.
Free time by the sea at Olympos, with no beach ticket needed
Next you reach the Olympos area, where there’s time to relax on the shore.
You can walk along the shore, sit by the water, take photos or go for a swim. After the jeep ride it’s a welcome rest before the climb to Yanartaş.
The ancient city of Olympos is close by. The entrance ticket isn’t included in the price: if you’d like to see the ruins, you can pay on the spot (€10, Turkish lira only). If not, simply spend the time by the sea. The beach lies in front of the ancient city, and you don’t need a ticket for it.
Up a stone path to the Chimaera flames at dusk
The main stop on the route is Mount Chimaera, also known as Yanartaş. Here tongues of flame burst from the cracks between the rocks: natural gas rises from underground and catches fire in the open air.
A stone path with steps leads up to the flames. The climb is moderately difficult and the path is uneven, so comfortable shoes are a good idea. We don’t recommend the climb for older guests or anyone with knee problems. If you’d rather not go up, you can wait for the group at the bottom, by the ticket office, where the surrounding woodland is a comfortable place to rest.
At dusk the flames are at their most striking: as the sky darkens and the mountainside goes quiet, the fire stands out among the rocks.
The myth behind the flames: Bellerophon and the Chimaera
The mountain takes its name from the Greek myth of the Chimaera, a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and a snake for a tail. The Chimaera was ravaging the land of Lycia, and the Lycian king sent the hero Bellerophon to destroy it. Riding the winged horse Pegasus, Bellerophon struck the monster down from the air, and legend has it that the Chimaera ended up underground. Its fiery breath is said to have been breaking through the rocks ever since: these are the flames of Yanartaş.
Today science puts the flames down to natural gas. But in the evening, on the mountainside, with fire burning right among the stones, it’s easy to see why this place has inspired myths for centuries.
Dinner included, by the mountain springs of Ulupınar
From Yanartaş the route continues to Ulupınar, a quiet spot by mountain springs with restaurants and trout farms. Guests usually dine here at tables on platforms just above the water.
Dinner, included in the tour price, comes after the walk and the climb to the flames. With the sound of the water and the cool evening air, it’s a quiet way to end the route.
Back to your hotel by jeep after dinner
After dinner the group gets back into the jeeps and heads for Kemer and the other resort areas.
You’ll be back at your hotel between about 22:00 and 23:00. The exact time depends on where your hotel is, on traffic and on the group’s pace.
Chimaera flames and Olympos by jeep from Kemer gives you an evening away from the hotel that combines the sea, mountain views, the Yanartaş flames and dinner at Ulupınar in one trip.
Book your seat online with no prepayment. You pay the driver on the day of the tour.
Video of our Chimaera tour
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What is included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Jeep ride along the tour route
- Dinner at Ulupınar
- Insurance
- A guide throughout the tour
What is not included
- Entrance ticket to Mount Chimaera / Yanartaş — optional, €10
- Entrance ticket to the ancient city of Olympos — optional, €10 (paid in Turkish lira only)
- Drinks during the tour
- Personal expenses: photos, souvenirs and other purchases
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes for the climb to the Chimaera flames
- Swimwear, if you’d like a swim at Olympos
- Towel
- Drinking water for the drive and the walk
- Phone or camera
- Cash for entrance tickets (Turkish lira for Olympos) and personal expenses
- A light jumper or cardigan for the evening
- Sunscreen and sunglasses, if you like
Distance to the Chimaera
- Beldibi to the Chimaera: 70 km, about 1 hour 10 minutes
- Göynük to the Chimaera: 65 km, about 1 hour 5 minutes
- Kemer to the Chimaera: 55 km, about 55 minutes
- Kiriş to the Chimaera: 55 km, about 55 minutes
- Çamyuva to the Chimaera: 50 km, about 50 minutes
- Tekirova to the Chimaera: 40 km, about 40 minutes
Distances and travel times are based on Google Maps and are intended as a guide. The actual journey time depends on traffic and on how long it takes to pick up guests from other hotels.
Discounts
- Book at least 7 days in advance — 4% off
- Book at least 30 days in advance — 5% off
- $1 off for each person in your booking who follows our Instagram (@goldwaytravel)
- Discounts can’t be combined: choose either the early booking discount or the follower discount, whichever saves you more
FAQ: Chimaera flames and Olympos by jeep from Kemer
How much does the Chimaera flames and Olympos by jeep from Kemer tour cost?
Adults and children from 4: $30; children 0–3 free. The price includes the jeep ride, dinner at Ulupınar, a guide and hotel transfer.
How do I book the Chimaera flames and Olympos by jeep from Kemer tour?
Choose the date and the number of adults and children in the “Online Booking” form; the total is worked out automatically. In the form that opens, enter your full name, hotel, WhatsApp number and email, then send it. No prepayment: you pay the driver on the day of the tour. Once your booking is confirmed, we send you an e-ticket with the exact pickup time via WhatsApp or Telegram. For step-by-step instructions with pictures, see
“How to book a tour”.
Who is this tour best suited to?
It’s a good choice if you’d like a proper evening out of the hotel without a demanding full-day trip. You start with time by the sea around Olympos, then climb to the Chimaera flames, and finish with dinner out in nature, by the mountain springs of Ulupınar.
Will a small child get their own seat?
Children from 0 to 3 years travel free on an adult’s lap and don’t get a seat of their own.
Is the climb to the Chimaera flames difficult?
The climb is moderately difficult: an uneven stone path with steps leads up to the flames. We advise older guests and anyone with knee problems not to make the climb. If you’d rather not go up, you can wait for the group at the bottom, in the wooded area by the ticket office.
Can I skip the ancient city of Olympos?
Yes, visiting the ancient city is optional. Entry is paid separately and costs €10, paid in Turkish lira only. If you’d rather not see the ruins, you can stay by the sea, take a walk, relax or simply enjoy your free time before the drive to the Chimaera.
Is there time for a swim?
Yes, there’s free time around Olympos. If you like, you can go for a swim or just relax by the water.
Why are there flames on Mount Chimaera?
Natural gas escapes through cracks in the rock and burns at the surface, which is why tongues of flame appear among the stones at Yanartaş. The flames burn during the day too, but at dusk, when we arrive, they stand out far more clearly on the darkening slope.
Is dinner included in the price?
Yes, dinner at Ulupınar is included in the tour price. It’s usually served on platforms right over the water. Drinks with dinner and personal expenses are extra.
What time does the tour start?
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 16:00 and 17:00. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
What time will we be back at the hotel?
Guests are usually back at their hotels between 22:00 and 23:00. The time depends on where your hotel is, on traffic and on the group’s pace.
What will we see on the tour?
Olympos is a relaxed stop by the sea. You can take a walk, take photos, swim if you like or visit the ancient city for an extra fee.
On Mount Chimaera, also known as Yanartaş, you’ll see natural flames burning among the rocks. They look especially striking in the evening, when the slope darkens, the mountains fall silent and live flames burn between the stones.
The tour ends with dinner at Ulupınar, known for its mountain springs, restaurants and trout farms. After the climb to the Chimaera, it’s a pleasant place to sit back, listen to the springs and enjoy a relaxed dinner by the water.
