Cappadocia trekking 8 days

Day 1. Meeet at Kayseri airport – transfer to Ihlara

Arrival Kayseri and then transfer to our hotel in Ihlara. Overnight Standard Hotel in Ihlara Konagi Hotel 2 nights.

Day 2. Walk in Ihlara Valley ( BLD )

In the morning we start our walk from Ihlara to Belisirma village. Ihlara valley in the spring and summer there are wild flowers everywhere together with isolated gardens that abound with fruit and vegetables all surrounded by the lunar landscape of the remote valleys. Many of the frescos in the rock-cut churches are in excellent condition. We will have our lunch in a restaurant and the continue our walk afterenon through Belisirma to Selime.Village at the beginning of the Ihlara valley. This canyon was created by the fractures and collapses of the cooling lava of basalt and and origin from the volcano Hasan. Overnight hotel. 4-5 hrs walk

Starting altitude (approx) Ihlara (1250m)

–          Highest point (approx) (1250m)

–          Ending altitude (approx) (1150m)

–          Type of terrain (eg whether walk is straight up a hill and down the other side or goes up and down with highest point near to the end of the day)

well beaten level trail with occasional short ups and downs.

• Walking time eg how much walking the client do in total (approx) in hours 5 hours. , around 13 km

Day 3. Drive to Goreme visit Kaymakli underground city, walk in Zemi Valley ( BLD )

we drive to Goreme via the Underground City at Kaymakli. After our visit we drive to Goreme where we will take an afternoon circular walk through Zemi valley.  The walk takes us through local farming areas and  follows a stream. The path is mostly downhill and will end at the hotel. In the evening and there may be the opportunity to have a Turkish bath. An invigorating scrub followed by a relaxing massage is perfect end to a day!

Overnight Hotel in Cappadocia 5 nights.

Starting altitude (approx)  Zemi (1200 m)

–          Highest point (approx) (1200 m)

–          Ending altitude (approx) (1050 m)

–          Type of terrain (eg whether walk is straight up a hill and down the other side or goes up and down with highest point near to the end of the day) well beaten trail with occasional wet streams.

–          Walking time eg how much walking the client do in total (approx) in hours (2.5 hours). Around 5-6 km

Day 4: Akvadi /Uchisar  visit Uchisar castle-  Guvercinlik ( BLD )

We trek thorough the Akvadi (white valley) eroded so perfectly by time, rain and wind during centuries. On our way following a seasonal river, many strange curious rock formations and fairy chimneys round us. If we are lucky we can also see some wild birds.(like hoopoe) and some wild animals(like fox). In 3h walk our way gets us up to Uchisar village where we have lunch break in a restaurant. Uchisar village is settled around a high promoter, which is called citadel. We visit it walking to the top where we have rewarding panoramic view on all the surrealist cappadoccia area.the lunch will be at house of Memories reataurant. In the afternoon we follow a path to the Guvercinlik (pigeon valley). The piginaries  are really very holy for Moslem people because of the Koran (holy book of Islam) and prophet Mohammed. Local people of the region use pigeon’s fertiliser for their vine fields. The path will take us to Goreme town. Overnight pension .5 h walk

Starting altitude (approx)  Akvadi (White Valley) (1050 m)

–          Highest point (approx) Uchisar Castle (1400 m)

–          Ending altitude (approx) Goreme (1050 m)

–          Type of terrain (eg whether walk is straight up a hill and down the other side or goes up and down with highest point near to the end of the day) well beaten trails first up to Uchisar Castle via Akvadi Valley (White Valley) and then down to Goreme via Pigeon Valley.

–          Walking time eg how much walking the client do in total (approx) in hours (5 hours) , around 12 km

 

Day 5. Walk through Gomede Valley to Mustafapasa ( BLD) – picnic on the lunch time.

After a short bus ride, we arrive in Kavak where we begin our day’s walk. As well as the landscape this region is also renowned for its wine as the fine volcanic soil is very fertile. Viticulture has been here since the Hittites, but it was the exiled Christians who really developed the vineyards and, for a while, wine was exported under the label of mineral water! Wine drinking is considered to be against the preaching of Islam, and much of the wine is now grown for export and for the non-Muslims (such as tourists!) in Turkey. Other produce from these fertile soils include walnuts, mulberries and a variety of fruit. Often the largest rock cones are used as depots for citrus and other fresh fruit. Picnic enroute. Our afternoon walk is through the Gomede Valley. 5-6 hrs walk

Starting altitude (approx) Kavak valley (1100 m)

–          Highest point (approx) Bahceli (1300 m)

–          Ending altitude (approx) Mustafapaşa (1150 m)

–          Type of terrain (eg whether walk is straight up a hill and down the other side or goes up and down with highest point near to the end of the day) frequently angulated farmland tracks and occasional well beaten trails.

–          Walking time eg how much walking the client do in total (approx) in hours (5-6 hours) , around 12 km

Day 6. Walk in Pancarlik and Kizilcukur valleys via Cavusin to Goreme (BLD)

We spend the morning walking through the little visited Pancarlik Valley and admiring the unusual formations. We continue onto Kizilcukur Valley. Sometimes known as the ‘red hole’, Kizilcukur is probably the hottest valley in the region. Hidden in its array of fairy chimneys is the Church with Grapes where there are frescoes depicting viticulture and fruit growing. The wine produced here now is very sweet and heavy. We reach the small village of Cavusin which lies on top of a collapsed section of an early Christian cave city. This was caused by a huge rockslide which, together with earthquakes and natural erosion, caused a split in the plateau. The atrium of the church at Cavusin has cascaded down, exposing some of the frescoes. 5 hrs walk

Starting altitude (approx) Morning: Pancarlık (1200 m), A. Noon: Red Valley (1100 m)

–          Highest point (approx) Morning Ortahisar (1250 m), A.noon (Red Hole 1200 m)

–          Ending altitude (approx) Morning Ortahisar (1250 m), A.noon Red Valley (1100 m)

–          do in total (approx) in hours (5 hours) , around 11 km

Day 7. Walk up Bozdag mountain – visit Goreme Open air Museum(BLD)

Today we explore the area around Cavusin. In the morning we have the opportunity to walk up Bozdag mountain (4 hours); the highest point in Cappadoccia for fine views over the area. In the afternoon we visit to the Goreme Open air Museum, a monastic complex of rock churches and chapels covered with frescoes, is one of the best-known site in the region. Most of the chapels date from the 10^th to 13^th centuries and many of them are built on  an inscribed cross-plan with a central cupola supported by four columns. The first settlements in the area were founded after the missionary journeys of St. Paul in the year AD 53. The soft rocks were hollowed out for different purposes. The museum also contains many of the rock churches

Starting altitude (approx) Çavuşin (1050 m)

–          Highest point (approx) Bozdag (1300 m)

–          Ending altitude (approx) Redhole (1200 m)

in total (approx) in hours (4-5 hours) , around 8-9 km

Day 8. Tour ends (B)

This morning transfer to the airport and tour  ends. (Included meals: B).

Tour conditions;