If you wish to discover Turkey in depth, travel to Cappadocia is certainly a must. We suggest staying at least three nights there. The best times are March to June and September to November. There are a variety of activities you may join: Unique place for Hot Air Ballooning in Turkey is Cappadocia. For adventure, Horse Riding, Mountain Bike or Jeep safari, Cappadocia is selected as one of the best areas in Europe. In the evenings, you may either just enjoy your stay at your hotel or go in Sarihan Caravanserai near Avanos to see the whirling Dervishes of Mevlana, founder of Sufism in Anatolia (Turkey).If you are interested in any of the activities listed above, we may include that in one of the following suggested day trips. We highly recommend extending your stay in Cappadocia as we believe you will enjoy every minute of your time in such a unique area with its welcoming people. Cappadocia, which used to be known as Katpatuka (Land of Beautiful Horses) in old Persian, is a region in central Anatolia, 300 kilometers southeast of Ankara, the capital city of modern-day Turkey. Cappadocia is known for its unusual landscape, the result of the violent eruption of volcanoes, Mount Erciyes (3,917 meters) and Mount Hasan (3,268 meters), some 3 million years ago. Lava and volcanic dust and ashes covered the region, which eventually hardened into a thick layer of tuff. Over the years, water and wind eroded the soft and brittle volcanic surface, creating deep valleys and many different types of strange rock formations, such as rock cones and fairy chimneys. Archaeological evidence shows that Cappadocia was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic period (c. 2.5 million BCE –10,000 BCE), and continued to serve as home to the peoples of many different civilizations, including the Hittites, Greeks, and the Romans. Dwellings were dug into the rocks and provided shelter from the environment, defense against foreign invasions, and refuge from religious persecution. These dwellings interconnect, forming some two hundred to three hundred underground cities, equipped with elaborate air ventilation systems, water storage units, and in some cases, even stables and wineries. One of the most famous and well excavated is Kaymakli, where Christians hid from the pagan Roman invaders during the seventh century. Parts of the underground cities are still used by Cappadocia's present-day inhabitants. For example, underground canals are used to regulate water in the nearby farmland, and local produce, such as potatoes and citrus fruits, is stored in subterranean storage units. People still live in above-ground rock structures, some of which are even used as hotels and inns. Cappadocia is a popular tourist destination....
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 1
Meeting with your guide and drive for the full day excursion in the Cappadocia area.
The first stop will be Devrent Valley which is known as "Valley of Fairy Chimneys". Here you will see the best example of the fairy chimneys which are unhollowed and untouched.
The next stop will be Zelve Open Air Museum that is a monastery complex with various carved rock houses and churches, one of the most spectacular sites in Cappadocia.
Continue to Pasabag which is also named as "Monks' Valley" surrounded by vineyards and number of tuff cones that were carved in the upper section for better protection. Later drive to Avanos which is a charming town on the banks of the Kizilirmak River that gets its name from the clay that it deposits. This clay has provided Avanos with pottery for centuries and the town is still dominated by this industry.
Lunch break in Avanos and continue to Göreme Open Air Museum that is a monastery complex of rock churches and chapels covered with frescoes, one of the best known sites in Turkey. After drive through Esentepe which has a panoromic view of the valley and the villages.
The last stop of the tour will be Uchisar which is a small settlement next to a large triple rock formation and the citadel on the summit of this nearly 100 m tall rock.
End of the tour and transfer back to the hotel in Cappadocia or airport.
The Tour Includes entrance fees, the licensed tour guide, transportation, traditional lunch.
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 2
The tour will start off with a visit to Red Valley which was inhabited by former christian colony surrounded by orchards and vineyards filled with carved rock houses and fairy chimneys. Chance to hike in this beautiful valley.
Then continue to Rose Valley, enjoying the landscape no science fiction movie would dare to build. See acres of lunar landscapes filled with fairy chimneys, rock formations and churches formed from an unusual combination of lava, floods, rain and the wind creating deep valleys and fantastic sculptures. After visiting Rose Valley drive to Cavusin Village which was inhabited by Chrsitian communities. See chapels, churches and some rock houses that are still inhabited.
Lunch break and then visit to Pigeon Valley, an area named for hundreds of little windows carved into the rocks to attract nesting pigeons. Villagers wouldwould collect the droppings to use them for fertilizer.
Then drive to visit Kaymakli Underground City that is carved into tuff rocks. It has the necessary shelter conditions for temporary living. Four floors are illuminated and opened for a visit. As many as 2000 early christians hid in these caves in total darkness to escape the persecution of the Romans.
Later drive to Ortahisar Castle, a distingusihed view of the honeycombed rock in the centre of the town which gives a unique appaarance. There is a great harmony between the early carved rock settlement centre and the recent town centre because they both reflect a close cultural link with the surrounding landscape.
The last stop will be Mustafapasa Village. This village was inhabited by Greek Orthodox Christians until the population exchange between Turkey and Greece in 1924. There are several chapels and churches which are worth seeing.
End of the tour and transfer back to the hotel or airport.
The Tour Includes entrance fees, the licensed tour guide, transportation, traditional lunch.
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 3
You will be picked up from your hotel or airport and start your excursion with a visit to Derinkuyu Underground City. There are 8 floors of tunnels open to the visitors and this is enough to have an idea of the sensation of living in a labyrinth like this. The ventilation shafts, storages, stables, sleeping chambers makes a complete environment. Being different from Kaymakli, there is a missionery school, a confession room, baptism pool which draws the attention of the visitors.
After visiting Derinkuyu, continue to Ihlara Valley, a beautiful gorge 16km long, both sides are lined with rock carved churches. It has a unique picturesque value along the canyon. The valley reaches to the cave villages of Ihlara and Selime on both ends.
Lunch break in Belisirma Village then drive back to Urgup. On the way stop by Selime Village to take a look at the so called "Above Ground City", rock houses carved in the upper parts of the rocks which makes it quite difficult to access from the ground.
Our last stop will be Agzikarahan Caravanserail This building is constructed along the ancient trade routes by Seljuk Turks. This place of trade and commerce was designed to intimidate foreign merchants.
After visiting Agzikarahan drive back to your hotel or airport.
The Tour Includes entrance fees, the licensed tour guide, transportation, traditional lunch.
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 1
Meeting with your guide and drive for the full day excursion in the Cappadocia area.
The first stop will be Devrent Valley which is known as "Valley of Fairy Chimneys". Here you will see the best example of the fairy chimneys which are unhollowed and untouched.
The next stop will be Zelve Open Air Museum that is a monastery complex with various carved rock houses and churches, one of the most spectacular sites in Cappadocia.
Continue to Pasabag which is also named as "Monks' Valley" surrounded by vineyards and number of tuff cones that were carved in the upper section for better protection. Later drive to Avanos which is a charming town on the banks of the Kizilirmak River that gets its name from the clay that it deposits. This clay has provided Avanos with pottery for centuries and the town is still dominated by this industry.
Lunch break in Avanos and continue to Göreme Open Air Museum that is a monastery complex of rock churches and chapels covered with frescoes, one of the best known sites in Turkey. After drive through Esentepe which has a panoromic view of the valley and the villages.
The last stop of the tour will be Uchisar which is a small settlement next to a large triple rock formation and the citadel on the summit of this nearly 100 m tall rock.
End of the tour and transfer back to the hotel in Cappadocia or airport.
The Tour Includes entrance fees, the licensed tour guide, transportation, traditional lunch.
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 2
The tour will start off with a visit to Red Valley which was inhabited by former christian colony surrounded by orchards and vineyards filled with carved rock houses and fairy chimneys. Chance to hike in this beautiful valley.
Then continue to Rose Valley, enjoying the landscape no science fiction movie would dare to build. See acres of lunar landscapes filled with fairy chimneys, rock formations and churches formed from an unusual combination of lava, floods, rain and the wind creating deep valleys and fantastic sculptures. After visiting Rose Valley drive to Cavusin Village which was inhabited by Chrsitian communities. See chapels, churches and some rock houses that are still inhabited.
Lunch break and then visit to Pigeon Valley, an area named for hundreds of little windows carved into the rocks to attract nesting pigeons. Villagers wouldwould collect the droppings to use them for fertilizer.
Then drive to visit Kaymakli Underground City that is carved into tuff rocks. It has the necessary shelter conditions for temporary living. Four floors are illuminated and opened for a visit. As many as 2000 early christians hid in these caves in total darkness to escape the persecution of the Romans.
Later drive to Ortahisar Castle, a distingusihed view of the honeycombed rock in the centre of the town which gives a unique appaarance. There is a great harmony between the early carved rock settlement centre and the recent town centre because they both reflect a close cultural link with the surrounding landscape.
The last stop will be Mustafapasa Village. This village was inhabited by Greek Orthodox Christians until the population exchange between Turkey and Greece in 1924. There are several chapels and churches which are worth seeing.
End of the tour and transfer back to the hotel or airport.
The Tour Includes entrance fees, the licensed tour guide, transportation, traditional lunch.
CAPPADOCIA TOUR 3
You will be picked up from your hotel or airport and start your excursion with a visit to Derinkuyu Underground City. There are 8 floors of tunnels open to the visitors and this is enough to have an idea of the sensation of living in a labyrinth like this. The ventilation shafts, storages, stables, sleeping chambers makes a complete environment. Being different from Kaymakli, there is a missionery school, a confession room, baptism pool which draws the attention of the visitors.
After visiting Derinkuyu, continue to Ihlara Valley, a beautiful gorge 16km long, both sides are lined with rock carved churches. It has a unique picturesque value along the canyon. The valley reaches to the cave villages of Ihlara and Selime on both ends.
Lunch break in Belisirma Village then drive back to Urgup. On the way stop by Selime Village to take a look at the so called "Above Ground City", rock houses carved in the upper parts of the rocks which makes it quite difficult to access from the ground.
Our last stop will be Agzikarahan Caravanserail This building is constructed along the ancient trade routes by Seljuk Turks. This place of trade and commerce was designed to intimidate foreign merchants.
After visiting Agzikarahan drive back to your hotel or airport.
The Tour Includes entrance fees, the licensed tour guide, transportation, traditional lunch.
