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.
Book this tour
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
- Göreme
- Ürgüp
- Ihlara Valley
- 1 night in Kayseri (classic room)
- 6 nights in Ürgüp (classic room)
- All meals are included (including wine or beer at supper)
- Arrival and Departure from Kayseri airport
- Transfers and pick-ups/drop-offs from/to the main airport of arrival on the day of arrival/departure of the tour are included
- Medium level walking – you should be able to walk 10 kilometres without difficulty.
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival and overnight in Kayseri
Welcome at Kayseri airport and private transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Kayseri.
Day 2
Onward to Cappadocia
For those who have arrived the previous day, there is an opportunity for a lazy breakfast and then to visit some of the interesting historical monuments in the centre of Kayseri.
We then depart for the airport to rendezvous with those arriving on the morning of 26th April. Once gathered we drive to Cappadocia for lunch. After lunch there will be a short orientation tour before checking in to the hotel.
Welcome drink in the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Urgup.
Day 3
Red Valley & Rose Valley
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 a local lunch at the ruined town of Cavusin, we head to Pasabag for a short walk around the ‘fairy chimneys’ before finishing the day with the Zelve Open Air Museum and Devrent (Imagination Valley).
Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Ihlara Valley
Day 4
There is the chance of an optional hot-air balloon ride before breakfast. Then 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 picnic, 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
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 Goreme; we visit the Goreme 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 Cat Valley (3 hours – easy), one of the least visited yet most beautiful valleys of Cappadocia. We then head back to Open Palace in Gulsehir 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
see photo gallery of this tour
