Capadocia Tour
Capadocia Tour
TOUR IRINERARY
Cappadocia Discovering on Foot
Duration of Tour : 7 days
Duration of Trek : 5 days
Walking Grade : B/C
Best Season : All year around
Group Size : Minimum 5; maximum 14 persons
Accommodation
Hotel : 6 nights
With this itinerary you have chance to see all interesting sightseeing areas and fantastic valleys of Cappadocia to explore landscape and uniqe formations.The walks are very easy and short walks like as 1,5 – 3 hours combining with sightseeing points
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Tour Itinerary: 7 Days
Day 1: Kayseri – Ihlara
Meet at the Kayseri airport and transfer to Ihlara (Selime). One (one way) organized Group Transfer (-/-/D)
2 Nights in Ihlara (Selime) at the Hotel – or similar
Transfer time: 2- 2,5 h; Transfer distance: 149 km
Day 2: Ihlara – Ihlara Valley & Selime Monastery
Today we start walking in the Ihlara Valley, a 14 km long 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 and place of defense for people during times of invasion. There are numerous dwellings, some of which are connected by tunnels and corridors. We will see the most known churches and walk in the george by a small river. After having Lunch in Belisirma village we drive to Selime to visit the Selime Monastery. A visit to this complex of buildings on a steep mountain slope is a must see in the region. Afterwards we return to our Hotel. (B/L)
Walking time: 5 h; Walking Distance: 7 km /14 (it is option to walk half of or whole valley)
Day 3: Guzelyurt – Derinkuyu Underground City – Cappadocia Pasabaglari & Monastery of Zelve – Monks Valley
After breakfast we drive in Guzelyurt town. Guzelyurt has an important place in the history of Christianity in Cappadocia and Gregory of Nazianzus lived in the area. There was a Christian (Greek) community in the area right up until the population exchange of 1924. After visiting Guzelyurt we drive to central Cappadocia but on the way we visit the incredible underground city of Derinkuyu, carved way back in the past as a shelter in times of siege and continuous raids, a huge hidden city under the plains of Central Anatolia, with 8 stories and the word “Swiss Cheese” is the best way to explain this structure. After seeing Derinkuyu we carry on to Cappadocia and there first we visit Paşabağları. Pasabaglari fairy chimneys are unique and feature bizarre large toadstool like caps which protect the rest of the chimney from erosion. The area was formerly a monastic retreat and used to be known as monk’s valley and features a rock cut church dedicated to St Simeon. Then we pass to Zelve Valleys which once was a village settlement. Zelve does not have the rich frescoes of Goreme, but spread out over three valleys, of which two are connected by a tunnel, the monastery is still rich in its own beauty. The area was inhabited until 1952, when the last inhabitants moved to the new town Yeni Zelve, 2 km away. In 1967 Zelve was turned into an open-air museum. (B/L)
Day 4: Goreme open air Museum – Meskendir Valley – Red & Rose Valley – Avanos
In the Early Morning before Sunrise it is optional to go on a Hot Air Balloon Flight. Cappadocia is awarded as one of the world’s best balloon flight areas and it is one of the best ways to discover the unique landscapes of this impressive wonder of nature from the sky.
After having breakfast in the hotel and some time to refresh after balloon flight we will explore one of the most interesting open air museum because of the frich rescos of the churches in Cappadocia. The Christian people at the heart of the Cappadocia realized that the soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches and monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art from the post iconoclastic period. The frescoes inside the Goreme Open Air Museum are a unique artistic achievement from this period. After visiting the Goreme open air Museum we will walk in Meskendir Valley. We follow the path which is full with old cave houses and complexes from the old Christian civilization. From the Meskendir Valley we cross over to the Red Valley, the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia with its spectacular formations and colours. In Red Valley it is possible to visit some hidden churches like the Uzumlu church (Grape church /Hidden Church), After walking through the Red and Rose valleys we will arrive in Cavusin, where our vehicle is waiting for us. Cavusin is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia Area; a small village made up of rock cut dwellings and elegantly carved stone houses.
Afterwards we drive to Avanos. The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery; it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites and Roman times, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kizilirmak River has always been used. We will take time to visit one of the Pottery studios and you will try to shape by your own. (B/L/D)
Day 5: – Love or Akvadi (White Valley) – Uchisar Citadel – Pigeon Valley
After breakfast we drive to the trailhead point at the beginning of the Love valley (or the White Valley). We will walk along this valley following an old river bed, used today for vineyards. Especially a special section at the beginning of the valley is worth seeing. At noon we will arrive in Uchisar village to visit the high viewpoint known as “Uçhisar fortress”. Many rooms hollowed out 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. We will have lunch in Uçhisar town and afterwards we continue our walk and enter into the one of the famous valley with is pigeon wholes and nests in the rock cut rooms. Pigeon valley ends in Goreme town and we drive back to our Hotel. In the early evening it is optional possible to try a traditional Turkish bath, better known as Hamam. The Hamam combines the functionality and the structural elements of its predecessors in Anatolia, the Roman thermal and Eastern Roman baths. However, the Turkish bath has improved style and functionality that emerged as annex buildings of mosques or as re-use of the Eastern Roman baths. (B/L/D)
Day 6: Cappadocia – Mustafapasa & Aios Vasilios church – Ortahisar – Urgup
Today we go out to explore Mustafapasa and Ürgüp towns. Mustafapasa was inhabited by Greek orthodox families until the beginning of the 20th Century. The houses dating back to the End of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, display fine examples of stonework. Afterwards we continue to Urgup. Urgup is one of the most important centres in Cappadocia. Urgup was a bishopric of the rock cut churches and monasteries found in the villages, valleys and towns around Urgup. In the 11th century Urgup was an important citadel connection with Nigde and Konya, which were important towns of Seljuks. Today Urgup is known for its famous wines and cafes. In Urgup we will take time to relax. The late afternoon is free to explore Urgup with its small shops and pleasant cafes on your own way. (B/L/D)
Day 7: Cappadocia – Kayseri – UK
Transfer to the Kayseri airport and fly to UK. One (one way) organized Group Transfer (B/-/-)
Transfer time: 1 h; Transfer distance: 75 km
(B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner)
Price Includes
– All transfers and transportations with private A/C vehicle to the places mentioned above
One (one way) organized Group transfer from/to Kayseri airport (days 1/7)
– All Hotel accommodations, Half Board (BB) service, rooms on twin share base
Important: HB Dinner Service available until 21:00h
– English speaking Guide
– 6 x Breakfast, 5 x Lunches
– 18% VAT
Price Excludes
– All International and Domestic Flights
– Travel insurance
– Extra Transports and transfers other than that stated in the Itinerary
– Dinners
– All kind of Soft and Alcoholic drinks, Bottled Water, Tea & Coffee
– All kind of personal expenses
– All kind of Entrance fees for historical and natural sites
– All kind of optional activities (Balloon flight, Turkish Night, Turkish bath etc. etc.)
– Meals other than stated in the Itinerary
– Extra Nights
– Personal Equipment
– Tips
Necessary Equipment:
– Trekking Shoes (advisable:, good profiled (Vibram)(Medium walks), water-repellent (Gore-Tex))
– Walking Dresses (Wind Stopper, water-repellent)
– Daily Backpack (minimum 25 L Volume)
– Walking Sticks
– Sun protection cream
– Sun Glasses
– Hat (Cap
