Day 1: The day begins in the quaint village of Çavuşin, where your guide will fill you in on the history of Cappadocia, namely the extraordinary landscape. Then you will use your morning energy in a laid back one-hour hike through the Rose Valley, where you will have plenty of time to get up close and personal with “fairy chimneys”, bizarre rock formations that make the Cappadocian landscape unique. Rambling by orchards and vineyards will add to the experience. The next stop will be the Göreme Open-Air Museum, world-famous due to being listed by the UNESCO as a world heritage site for both its natural and cultural properties. The rock-cut churches along with other chambers on the site were used as a monastic complex in early Orthodox Christianity. Your guide will explain the iconographical meanings of the astounding frescoes painted onto the walls of these 10th – 13th century cave churches, which represent scenes from mostly the New Testament. For lunch you will head to a traditional restaurant in the petite town of Ortahisar, settled around a “rock fortress,” where you will get to taste the famous local specialty called “testi kebabı” (pottery kebab). Several photo stops with fine vantage points, including Ürgüp's “Three Graces,” Devrent's animal-shaped formations, and the mushroom-resembling “chimneys” as well as St. Simeon's cell at Paşabağı, also known as the Monks Valley, will follow. The first day ends in Avanos, an ancient picturesque town by the Kızılırmak (Red River or Halys as the ancient historian Herodotus calles it) renowned across the country for its multimillennial tradition of ceramics-making: a pottery demonstration on a kick-wheel is a must-see, and a hands-on experience is a must-try.
Day 2: The first stop in the morning will be at Kaymaklı, where one of the two largest underground cities of Cappadocia is located. You’re going to be astonished by what ancient people contrived to save themselves from invasions and take shelter as you descend into the heart of the earth. Next will be an invigorating hike through the Ihlara Canyon: the setting in the 150-meter-deep gorge honeycombed with rock-cut churches and monk cells featuring impressive biblical depictions is so tranquil that you will desire to linger; the atmosphere will charm you as you ramble by the Melendiz Brook. Just as you begin feeling hungry and perhaps somewhat tired, a feast-like lunch will be ready for you in Belisırma above the stream. After lunch you will proceed to the Selime Monastery, an imposing rock-hewn edifice dating to early Christianity. A final stop will conclude the tour at the 13th-century Ağzıkarahan caravanserai located on the legendary Silk Road, where you will marvel at the elaborate masonry of one of the most splendid examples of the Seljuk period architecture.
• Transportation, including pick up from and drop off at your hotel, in a luxury A/C vehicle with a driver
• Licensed, English-speaking guide
• Lunch
• All entrance & parking fees
• All taxes
• Complimentary drinks at our office
For cancellation up to 3 days, a full refund will be given. For cancellation up to 1 days, 50% refund will be given.
