Cappadocia Guided Walk

Land Tour

8 days

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Cappadocia Guided Walk
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  • Itinerary
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$AUD 274 per day

Departure: Kayseri, Turkey

For millions of years the volcans of the Central Anatolian Plateau erupted over the land to create the unique rock formations and fairy chimneys that characterise Cappadocia. Through the centuries, civilisations carved houses and churches within these rocky pillars and underground cities leaving a natural and historic legacy which continues to be a focal point for visitors to the region. Interspersed amongst these relics is a living culture of traditional villages, spectacular river valleys and rural settlements. On this guided tour you will follow a series of trails to reach the highlights of the region such as Mustafapasa, Ortahisar (or 'middle fortress') and Goreme, to name a few. This week long walking trip explores lunar landscapes and fascinating ancient sites.
About
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners. Breakfasts are Turkish style and will generally include cheese (feta), olives, eggs, cucumber, tomatoes, jam, honey, bread, tea or coffee, fruits. At lunch we often go to a local restaurant where a fixed menu generally includes soup or hot and cold appetisers with fresh baked bread, main course (usually kebab varieties), salad, and dessert (fruits or baklava). Other styles of lunch include dining at a family run restaurant to have Turkish Pide bread or Gozleme (a pancake with cheese or potatoes or spinach), or Turkish Ravioli. Dinner is a fixed menu; soup or hot and cold appetisers with fresh baked bread, main course (usually kebab varieties), salad, and dessert (fruits or baklava).
7 nights accommodation: 4 nights character-filled hotel, 3 nights comfortable pension on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities
Group arrival and departure transfer Kayseri airport and Cappadocia
Transfers as detailed in the itinerary
English speaking guide
Emergency hotline
Hightlights
Exploring the unique landscapes of Cappadocia
Visiting UNESCO world heritage sites, Goreme open air museum & Kaymakli underground city
Walking amongst the fairy chimneys and rocks of Uchisar
Zelve monastery valley, Ihlara valley and Selime monastery
Experiencing genuine cultural exchange with the local people

Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival Kayseri airport & transfer to your first hotel at Cavusin in Cappadocia
A meeting will be held in evening with your guide to introduce the trip, afterwards enjoy your first meal together as a group.
Transfer time: 1 hr, distance: 80 km/49mi (Kayseri airport to Cappadocia)
Day 2 - Circular walk around the Red & Rose Valleys (3-4hrs)
Setting out from Cavusin village today we hike to the Goreme open-air museum; one of the most beautiful valleys in Cappadocia. The Christian people at the heart of Cappadocia realized that the soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches and monasteries. These sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclastic period. The frescs inside the Goreme open-air museum are a unique artistic achievement from this period. In the afternoon continue to the Red valley, another beautiful valley in Cappadocia with spectacular formations and colours; full of old cave houses, complexes and hidden churches from the old Christian civilization. Although it is not definite, the common belief is that most of the churches and complexes carved out of the cliff face date back to the 8th and 9th centuries and its decorative reliefs and frescs added in the 10th and 11th centuries. In the late afternoon, we arrive our accommodation in Cavusin.
Walking distance: approx. 10-12km/6.2-7.4mi
Day 3 - Explore the Uzengi and Pancarlik Valleys and visit Ortahisar village (5hrs)
After breakfast we drive to the ruins of Gomeda, one of the oldest cave churches in Cappadocia dating from the iconoclastic period. From here we start our walk and explore the Uzengi and Pancarlik valleys. We will ramble on a plateau offering a magnificent view on the Uzengi valley then enter Pancarlik valley, with numerous cones and fairy chimneys decorating our way. We will also visit Kepez, Sarica & Pancarlik churches for their architectural interest. In the afternoon we arrive in Ortahisar village, famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named. After lunch in Ortahisar we travel via Ortahisar and continue our walk through a beautiful scenic valley with amazing geological formations towards Ibrahim pasha village, where the historical stone bridge and original Greek stone houses draw our attention. Here we take time to enjoy the authentic atmosphere and taste an original cup of Turkish tea or coffee. By vehicle we return to our accommodation in Cavusin.
Walking distance: (Gomeda to Ortahisar ia Pancarlik) 9km/5.59mi
Walking distance: (Ortahisar to Ibrahim pasha) 4km/2.48mi
Day 4 - Bozdag round Balkon route (4-5hrs)
We start our walk from our accommodation in Cavusin and up the Bozdag summit route. We proceed along the summit accompanied by views of Cappadocia. After crossing a few more small hills on the summit plateau, we reach the flagpole. After enjoying the magnificent view of the whole of Cappadocia, we start the descent to the Balkon route, which runs parallel to Bozdag and Red & Rose valley. Enjoying the view of the Rose Valley and Red Valley landscape we reach Cavusin. In the late afternoon we arrive to our accommodation.
Walking distance: approx. 10km/6.25mi
Day 5 - Drive to the Zemi Valley & visit Goreme, walk to Uchisar (6-7hrs)
Today we leave Cavusin and drive to entrance of Zemi valley. We start our walk in the green Zemi valley. among wind eroded volcanic rocks, beautiful rock formations, caves in cliffs and tall poplar trees. At the end of the valley there will be the opportunity to visit the El Nazar church and Goreme open air museum. The El Nazar church is carved from one piece of a rock, with nice frescs showing scenes in a chronological order. After lunch in Goreme we continue our walk through Pigeon valley with spectacular views of the natural cliffs and handmade caves and pass through a few tunnels carved into the rock. Our walk leads us directly to Uchisar village, where it is possible to visit the high viewpoint known as “the fortress”. Many rooms, hollowed into the rock, are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and passages. The top of the citadel provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area.
Walking distance: approx. 10-12km/6.2-7.4mi
Day 6 - Transfer to Ilhara, visit Kaymakli and Selime monastery (2-3hrs)
After breakfast we drive to Ihlara. En route we will visit the incredible underground city of Kaymakli, which opened to visitors in 1964. The city is approximately 65m deep, but only 5% of the city can be visited. It contains all the usual rooms found in an underground city: stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches and wineries, as well as a large room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling on the second floor which served as a missionary school and other study rooms. We will walk in the famous Ihlara valley, a 14km canyon with hundreds of rock- cut rooms and churches. This valley proved to be an ideal place for Monks to worship in seclusion, as well as provide a safe hideaway for people during times of invasion. There are numerous dwellings, some of which are connected by tunnels and corridors. The decorations in the churches date from the 6th to the 13th centuries. After lunch in Belisirma village we continue our walk to Selime where we visit the monastery, a complex of buildings on a steep mountain slope and a must-see in the region. In the late afternoon we drive back to our accommodation in Uchisar.
Walking distance: approx. 8km/5mi (Ihlara to Belisirma)
Transfer time: 1 hr, distance: 95km/59.4mi (Cappadocia to Ihlara via Kaymakli / one way)
Day 7 - Follow the old river bed of the Akvadi valley (2hrs), visit Saruhan caravanserai
After breakfast we walk through narrow and pictures streets of Uchisar village down to Akvadi, a famous valley following an old river bed, used today for vineyards. A special section at the end of the valley is worth seeing. At the end of the valley we meet with our vehicle and continue the day with a visit to Saruhan caravanserai, considered to have been built in 1238 and known as the last caravanserai to be built in the area. We conclude the day with a visit to Avanos, where the most famous historical feature, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kizilirmak has always been used. We will visit one of the pottery studios where you can try to shape your own. In the late afternoon we drive back to our accommodation in Uchisar.
Walking distance: approx. 6km/3.75mi
Day 8 - Transfer to airport at Kayseri, trip concludes
After breakfast there is a group transfer to Kayseri airport where the trip concludes.
Transfer time: 1 hr, distance: 80km/50mi (Cappadocia to Kayseri airport)
Location

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