Walking in Cappadocia

Our trip starts today in Goreme - this honey-hued town will be our base for the week as we explore the impressive landscapes of Cappadocia. Cappadocia is world-renowned for its unique geological formations and a history stretching back to the Hittites (2000 BC). Our tour leader plans to meet us in the hotel reception at 7.30pm for those that wish, there'll be the chance to go out for dinner. Due to the number of later arrivals, we will hold the welcome meeting on the morning of day two. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Goreme at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Kayseri Airport (ASR), which is around a one-hour and fifteen-minute drive away. Should you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Our hotel for the week is the recently renovated Zemi Hotel, located near the centre of Goreme. The hotel sits within a stone's throw of the Open Air Museum and offers a perfect vantage point to watch the sunrise balloon ascent. It also features spa facilities and a seasonal outdoor pool (normally open May to early October), ideal for relaxing in after a day out walking.

After breakfast our tour leader will hold a welcome meeting. Our first full walking day is a great introduction to Cappadocia's iconic landscapes. Our first full walking day is a great introduction to Cappadocia's iconic landscapes. We set off through the town of Goreme before connecting to White Valley and one of Goreme's two Love Valleys, followed by an ascent out of White Valley and up to Uchisar, a town based around the fortress carved into a massive fairy chimney (also known as a 'Hoodoo'). Lunch is included today, we'll get to sample regional specialities prepared by local women as part of a community-led development initiative. This afternoon we'll make a descent into Pigeon Valley, named for its pigeon lofts or houses as they're known locally, returning on foot to our hotel midafternoon. Today's 11.5 kilometre/7.25 mile walk is expected to take around five to six hours with a total ascent of 350 metres/1,150 feet.

If you're interested in the optional sunrise balloon trip, we recommend booking it for your second morning in Cappadocia. This gives you plenty of time to rebook in case of cancellation due to poor weather. Please see the optional excursions details for more information. Our first visit of the day is to the Goreme Open Air Museum, located next door to our hotel, to see its famous rock-cut churches and frescoes. Next, we'll trek up a narrow valley from the museum to the site of the Aynali church, which was both a place of worship and place of defence. It's worth noting that we've left this as optional as the building has extremely narrow passages that might not be suitable for those with claustrophobia. From here we enter the rarely walked Meskendir Valley and descend to the town of Cavusin. We'll take the bus down to the town of Avanos, on the banks of the Kizilirmak River (the 'Red River' and the longest in Turkey). The river is the source of fine clay, used to make the pottery that the town is famous for. You'll have the chance to visit one of the potteries as well as the underground workshops to see how the river's red clay is transformed into art pieces - it's like a true Aladdin's cave! Today's 7 kilometre/4.5 mile walk is expected to take around two to three hours with a total ascent of 180 metres/590 feet.

After breakfast this morning, we take a short five minute transfer back to 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. We'll then ascend Bozdag Table Mountain for views of the surrounding area from Cappadocia's highest point at 1,300 metres/4,265 feet above sea level. The summit offers a balloon's eye view of the colourful rock strata below and the distant volcanic peak of Mt Erciyes. After descending, we'll visit the Uzumlu church and take in the views over Red Valley (Kizilcukur). Meaning 'red-pit' Kizilcukur is possibly the most colourful valley in the region. Finally we'll enter the Rose Valley, visiting the stunning Column church (also known as the White church) before ending our walk back in Goreme. Today's 10 kilometre/6.2 mile walk is expected to take around five hours with a total ascent of 450 metres/1,475 feet.

Today, we transfer to the citadel of Uchisar, a massive fairy chimney that has served as a refuge for centuries. These remarkable structures are formed as a result of a larea of harder rock like basalt protecting the soft tufa underneath it so as the erosion process occurs, it leaves the boulder delicately perched on top of the slender pillar. We'll also visit Uchisar 'Castle' built into this huge turret of rock blessed with commanding views of the entire region. Visiting the castle in the clear morning light we'll have the best photo opportunities. Our hike then follows a ridge before a steep descent into the deep, shaded Zemi Valley. As the valley widens, we'll come upon the beautiful El Nazar Church and the Gorkundere Valley, famous for its distinctively shaped rock formations. This evening, we'll have a wine tasting in the hotel garden, with a selection of some of Cappadocia's fine wines, a many millennium-old tradition, the vines are fertilised with the guamo from the dovecots. Today's 9 kilometre/5.6 mile walk is expected to take around four hours with a total ascent of 120 metres/400 feet.

Today's walk is slightly further afield in the Ihlara Valley, located a 90-minute drive from Goreme. We'll also visit the fascinating Mazi Underground City, a subterranean settlement carved into soft volcanic tuff that served as a refuge for early Christians. Carved by the Melendiz River, Ihlara Valley is a breathtaking 14-kilometer canyon reaching depths of 120 meters. This lush, river-fed oasis features a vibrant microclimate of walnut and pistachio trees. Along its winding length, explorers discover hundreds of ancient Byzantine rock-cut churches and dwellings, culminating at the monumental Selime Monastery. Today's 11.5 kilometre/7.15 mile walk is expected to take around five hours with a total ascent of 350 metres/1,150 feet.

Today's scenic trek begins in the shadow of Ortahisar's monolithic rock citadel, descending through the vibrant Pancarlik Valley, where the 11th-century Pancarlik Church stands - famous for its exceptionally well-preserved green-toned frescoes. Along this route, we'll also explore the Kepez Church, a fascinating rock-cut site featuring unique geometric decorations and ancient murals. Next, we descend into the enchanting Gömeda Valley. Often called "Little Ihlara," this valley offers a serene trail alongside a trickling stream, flanked by multi-story pigeon houses and mysterious cave dwellings carved into white tuff cliffs. After exploring these cooling tunnels and historic sanctuaries, a short transfer brings us to Mustafapasa, a historic Greek village renowned for its elaborate stone masonry and the Saint Nicholas Monastery. Following a leisurely exploration of the village's Ottoman-era mansions, we'll take a final transfer back to the heart of Göreme, completing a perfect day of nature and history. Today's 11 kilometre/7 mile walk is expected to take around five hours with a total ascent of 260 metres/850 feet.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Goreme at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Kayseri Airport (ASR) which is around a one-hour and fifteen-minute drive from the hotel.