The Magic of Cappadocia

Day 1

Take an early flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Upon arrival to Cappadocia, your guide will meet you at the airport to take you to Cappadocia (1 hour drive approx) and you will start your full day tour of Cappadocia starting with a visit to Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy-chimneys. Drive to Paşabağ (Monk's Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. Continue to the town of Avanos. In the afternoon visit a beautiful open air museum at Göreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Lastly, before returning to your hotel visit the natural castles at Uçhisar. Return back to the cave style hotel and overnight in Cappadocia. Meal plan: B, L

Devrent Valley is home to the famous Fairy Chimneys near Goreme and is known as the imaginary valley or animal valley due to the animal shapes in rocks. While Fairy chimneys can be found in much of Cappadocia, these are the best formed and most densely clustered. The volcanic rock of this area has allowed erosion to form these chimneys as well as other landforms such as caves, clefts and folds in the rock, making this breathtaking landscape unique. A thick layer of tuff (consolidated volcanic ash) is covered by a thinner layer of basalt which is more resistant to erosion than the underlying rock. Cracks in the basalt enable erosion of the underlying rock. These fairy chimneys were formed where the resistant rock remains protecting the underlying rock directly beneath it from erosion. The mineral-rich volcanic soil is excellent for growing fruit and vegetables, making Cappadocia a rich agricultural region. It has always been one of Anatolia's prime grape-growing areas, and still boasts many productive vineyards and wineries. The Bible's New Testament tells of Cappadocia, but in fact this part of central Anatolia has been important since Hittite times, long before the time of Jesus.

Pasabag is so called because of its earth pillars in the middle of a vineyard. Pacha means "General" and bag means vineyard in Turkish. These are also fairy chimneys but are different shapes from those in Devrent Valley. The town of Avanos is set on the banks of the Kizilirmak, (Red River). This river is the longest in Turkey and supplies the clay for pottery for which Avanos is so well known. Pottery has been produced in the Avanos area for centuries and some of the techniques still used date back to Hittite times (around 2000 BC). The Goreme Open-Air Museum has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984 and resembles a vast monastic complex of monasteries each with its own fantastic church. These churches are the finest of the rock-cut churches, with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings). Uchisar is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia, and is home to the most spectacular natural castles. The top of the Uchisar Castle provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area with Mount Erciyes in the distance. Many hollowed out rooms in the castle rock are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and passages. Most of the rooms, located on the north side of the castle are in use as pigeon houses (dovecuts) today.

Day 2

Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley, and explore the famous rock-cut churches. Hike 5 km through the Güllüdere valley. Then visit Çavuşin village. This village is famous for the houses and churches of the Christian clergymen. After lunch drive to the beautiful Pigeon valley. In the afternoon visit Kaymaklı underground city, where early Christians lived in fear of their faith being discovered. On the way back visit the natural castles at Ortahisar. Return back to the hotel and overnight in Cappadocia. Meal plan: B, L

The Red Valley and Güllüdere Vadisi (Rose Valley) are two spectacular valleys in the Cappadocia regions, each with varying types of rock formations and colour. The hidden rock-cut cave churches, with beautiful frescoes and paintings are intriguing. Pigeon valley is also spectacular and its name comes from the pigeon-cotes carved on its walls. The village of Old Cavusin was abandoned several decades ago due to avalanches. The current village of Cavusin is located on the road and is the typical authentic village. Old Cavusin, with its rock-cut dwellings and stone houses is home to the oldest church in Cappadocia.

There are 36 underground cities in Cappadocia and the widest one is Kaymakli underground city. These troglodyte cave-cities were excavated as early as Hittite times, and expanded over the centuries as various pillaging armies crossed Central Anatolia in search of captives and plunder. The Kaymakli Underground City has low, narrow and sloping passages and consists of 8 floors below ground, although only four of them are open to the public today. The number of the storage rooms in such a small area supports the idea that a great number of people resided here. Archaeologists think that this could have been up to three thousand five hundred people. As well as chapels, stables and storage, an efficient man-made system of air shafts provided ventilation even at the deepest levels of the underground cities so they were able to survive there for lengths of time when necessary. The people of Kaymakli village have constructed their houses above nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city. The inhabitants of the region still use the most convenient places in the tunnels as cellars, storage areas and stables, which they access through their courtyards.

Ortahisar is another Cappadocian village dominated by a fortress-like rock rising above winding roads. The 90m high natural fortress in Ortahisar has partly crumbled away revealing some of its interior. Today it has been restored and the peak is accessible by a staircase. The Ortahisar Castle offers a magnificent panorama over the fairy chimneys of Hallacdere and the snowy peak of Mt. Erciyes.

Day 3

After breakfast transfer back to Kayseri airport for flight back to Istanbul. Meal plan: B