Walking in Cappadocia

Walking in Cappadocia is one of the great experiences of Turkey. Like no other landscape on earth, the terrain is filled with extraordinary volcanic shapes and chimneys in a kind of magical wonderland. As the day progresses, the shadows lengthen and the sun edges lower in the sky, the colours often erupt into a magnificent display of pinks and reds. It is a marvellous place too for photographers and bird-watchers (shrikes and kingfishers are common).

There are few peaks in Cappadocia and most of the walking is on a gentle gradient following river valleys and streams. Also, because there is very often at least some foliage around, shade is never too hard to come by. The walking is not strenuous and we typically cover distances of 5-10 kilometres, on a gentle gradient, per day. It is therefore suitable to travellers who like to keep active while they are holidaying, but may not want the full rigours of a full walking tour.

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Scheduled dates for Walking in Cappadocia

2025
5th Oct – 12th Oct 2025	£2150* Single person supplement: £250	Fully Booked

* price per person, based on 2 people sharing a room. Single supplement is applicable to single occupancy bookings. Prices do not include flights.

Tour Features

• Small group travel: maximum group size is 12 guests.
• Fixed departure dates
• Accompanied by a Tour manager throughout your journey
• Tour cost includes entrance fees to main sites/museums

Tour highlights:

• Göreme
• Ürgüp
• Ihlara Valley

Accommodation:

• 7 nights in Ürgüp (classic room)

Included meals:

• All meals are included (including wine or beer at supper)

Arrival and Departure:

• Arrival and Departure from Kayseri airport

Recommended flights:

• Sunday 5th October
  TK2016
  Depart: 13:05 Istanbul airport (IST)
  Arrive: 14:30 Kayseri Airport
• Sunday 12th October
  TK2011
  Depart: 08:45 Kayseri airport (IST)
  Arrive: 10:25 Istanbul Airport

Included transport:

• Transfers and pick-ups/drop-offs from/to the main airport of arrival on the day of arrival/departure of the tour are included

Activity level:

• Medium level walking – you should be able to walk 10 kilometres without difficulty.

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kayseri and transfer to Ürgüp

Welcome at Kayseri airport and private transfer to your hotel. Evening meal and overnight in Ürgüp.

Day 2

Red Valley, Rose Valley & Zelve open air museum

We begin discovering the beauties of Cappadocia by walking the Red and the Rose Valleys with their beautiful shades of reds, pinks and yellow volcanic formations (duration of hike 3,5 hours/moderate).

After lunch we head to Pasabag for a short walk around the ‘fairy chimneys’ before visiting the Zelve Open Air Museum and Devrent (Imagination Valley).

Dinner and overnight in Ürgüp.

Day 3

Love Valley

This morning we walk along Love Valley, with some more extraordinary rock formations.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Ihlara Valley

Day 4

We have an hour’s drive to the Ihlara Valley before beginning our 14km walk (duration of hike 6 hours/moderate) which will take us into this gorge along Peristrema (Melendiz Stream) accompanied by lots of dwellings and early Christian churches along the valley. After a light lunch, we end up by the Selime Cathedral with its amazing view of the surroundings. On the way home we visit one of the astonishing underground cities for which Cappadocia is justifiably famous. The astonishing labyrinths, sometimes extending as many as 6 floors below ground level, were used as places of refuge in times of attack from outside.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 5

Zemi Valley and Göreme open air museum

We start the day early and at an easy pace, walking the Zemi Valley (duration of hike 4-5 hours/semi-moderate) with its spectacular views of Cappadocia. After a local lunch in Göreme; we visit the Göreme Open Museum, another UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the best-preserved examples of 10th and 11th century Christian paintings in churches hewn out of the tufa rock. The rest of the day is at leisure with some optional visits recommended by your guide. There is a chance to see the Whirling Dervishes in the early evening, if you wish.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 6

Soganli Valley

We start with another drive down to the south of Cappadocia to visit Soganli Valley where we take a short walk around the old town in an area surrounded by table top mountains. We then head for Mustafapasa; via Sobessos, a late 4th century newly-excavated site and Keslik Monastery which was one of the earliest Christian missions before arriving in to Ayvali Village for our lunch. After lunch, we will head to trail of Gomeda Valley (duration of hike 4 1⁄2 hours/easy) that will take us to Ortahisar passing through more pigeon lofts and lots of formations along the little stream.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel

Day 7

Çat Valley

Another day off the beaten track – starting with Çat Valley (3 hours – easy), one of the least visited yet most beautiful valleys of Cappadocia. We then head back to Open Palace in Gulşehir which is another monastic settlement comes with a mushroom capped fairy chimneys – the only ones in the region. Finally, we visit St. John’s Church with its eye-catching and spectacular paintings dating back to 1212 before heading back to hotel for some rest before our last supper.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel

Day 8

Departure

Travel to the airport and departure