While in Cappadocia there are several activities you can take part in to discover the region and get acquainted with local people and customs. This ancient volcanic region with its fascinating rock formations, rock carved churches and valleys is like a fairy tale land. Many walking tracks allow hikers to explore caves and rocks some of which look like mushrooms or chimneys. So in time people people called them “fairy chimneys”. The insides of these rocks have often been carved out to be used as storage depots, stables, churches and houses.
Interesting Visits
Pigeon Valley – Fairy Chimneys, Underground tunnels, Hiking to the small monastery church with pigeon nests,
Walking from Uchisar to Goreme. During this walk, other than ranges of fairy chimneys one can see stunning rock formations and deep canyons. There are two trails the one that goes from the right is for experienced hikers. After a while the trail splits into two. The one that goes to the right is more for adventure hikers. The walk to Goreme takes about half an hour.
Goreme Open Air Museum is another half an hour walk from here. This is a spectacular place with its early Christian churches carved in the rocks and decorated with colorful frescoes from the Bible and Old Testament. Early Christian nuns and monks who lived here were teaching Christianity to the illiterate locals by means of those artistic biblical frescoes.
Nature walks along the trails of Rose Valley takes at least an hour. Within this time frame one can see the church with columns. Extra time is needed to visit Grape Church and/or the church with the Cross. The trails are rather easy and one doesn’t need to use any hiking equipments unless he or she likes to visit caves up above the walls of the canyons.
The derelict troglodyte settlement of Zelve is now also an open air museum.
Similar churches carved for nuns and monks can be found in the Valley of Onions and Ihlara Valley. As for the underground cities they were carved out for mainly defense purposes. When the enemy was gone they were used for storage.
Other than the popular Derinkuyu Underground City, there are quite a few other underground cities in the area such as Mazi which is more like an Indiana Jones type of underground city. Kaymakli and Ozkonak are some of the other large underground cities in the area.
There are also quite a few medieval Caravan hotels in the area most of them were built in the Seljukian times.
Pasa bagi the so called Monks Valley has quite a few stunning mushroom type of rocks (fairy chimneys).
Sobesos discovered in 2002 near Sahinefendi village was probably a Roman garrison in the old Roman times.
Gomeda Valley offers probably the most silent walking tracks in the area. It is one of the off the beaten tracks located in a remote corner of the volcanic region. It is closeby an old Macedonian village named Sinassos.
Soganli Valley or Valley of Onions is also one of the highlights of the area. According to the studies there were originally 60 churches in this valley. St. Barbara, Sakli, Yılanlı, Kubbeli and Karabas churches are the most popular rock dug churches here.
Peristrema Valley or Ihlara Valley is a deep canyon with a Melendiz river flowing in the bottom. Formed by an earthquake which cracked the volcanic rock also offered a suitable place to hide for the early Christians and 15 churches were carved along the steep walls of the canyon. Most of those churches can be easily reached by a narrow trail. Agacalti, Purenli, Eskibaca, St. George, Yilanli, Kokar, Ala, Direkli, and Purenliseki churches can be seen. The hike usually takes about 3 hours. Belisirma village can be reached by follwing the trails following the river.
It is possible to see a dervish ritual in the area. These rituals are conducted in a mystical ambiances like a medieval Caravanserai. Dervishes whirl around themselves following the harmony of a traditional music.
Activities
Folk dances from different areas of Turkey can be watched in a magnificent rock carved hall while tasting Cappadocia wines. You will be invited by the dancer teams to dance with them.
Hot Air Balloon flights will generally start at the dawn time. Flying above a fairy tale land is certainly an interesting experience. “For once you have tasted flight you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return”, Leonardo Da Vinci.
Horses are available in the region for horseback riding.
Traditional Turkish bath called hamam as well as hot spa in the open air at the nearby hot springs can be experienced. Hamam or Turkish bath cleansing is a long tradition in Turkey. Perspiration, scrubbing, massage makes hamam a rejuvenating treat.
In Cappadocia young women can be seen weaving rugs on their looms. Some of those are used as dowry for the marriages. In autumn you may see women smashing grapes to make the grape molasse “Pekmez”. This a good source of iron with dark purple color. This popular drink is consumed in cold winter days as it provides good energy. Pumpkins are also cultivated in the area and pumpkin flesh is used to make a delicious dessert mixed with granulated coconuts and walnuts. The seeds of the pumpkins are baked in stone ovens for later consumption. Local people like to eat pumpkin seeds during long winter nights in their houses or in their nearby tea houses.
It is possible to take a guided tour with local guides. f you like to discover some areas off the beaten track, they can show you around. There are quite a few places which are not well known even by the locals. Ortahisar Pancarli Valley, the ancient town of Nevsehir and its Museum, Open Palace, St. John Church at Gulsehir, Urgup’s Ayvali Village and Cemil villages, Guzelyurt, Gumusler Monastery and Rose Valley’s Churches are some of those exemples.
We do provide Airport Transfers and have a Car Rental service. All the above activities can be arranged upon your request.