The violent eruptions of the volcanoes Erciyes (3916 m) and Hasan (3268 m) three million years ago, which covered the surrounding plateau with tuff, lava and volcanic ash, are at the origin of the strangest landscape on Earth. Undergoing erosion by wind and water, this plateau was shredded creating monumental rock formations such as rock cones, capped pinnacles and fretted ravines in colours ranging from warm red and gold to cool greens and greys. “Fairy chimneys” with flat stones on the top, cones with distorted shapes combining to perfect a more confusing surrealist decoration than any of the most delirious sculptors could design. In other places, are notched small valleys dug out of canyons at the bottom of which rivers curve, giving the appearance of a lunarscape.
Cappadocia is not only a wonder of Nature. Man lived there. In pyramids and cliffs openings give access to cave dwellings, rock-cut churches, monasteries and underground cities dug at the beginning of Christianity.
On this tour, we offer you a fantasy of nature and almost like another planet and to which no description can accurately do justice. One needs to feel its magic environment, its colours and its luminosity to appreciate another dimension…
Itinerary: one week
Day 1 / Ankara:
Meet and transfer to hotel for overnight.
Days 2 to 7 / Cappadocia:
6 days of hiking in the most beautiful secluded canyons and valleys unique in the world. During our stay our principal halts will be the valleys of Ihlara, Avcilar, Akvadi, Uzengi, Pasabag, Balkanderesi, Pancarlik, Gulludere and Guvercinlik, which offered refuge to many civilisations. Rock formations out of a land rise up before you at every turn and entice you to look longer and wonder at their creation. Mustafapasa, Zelve, Cavusin, Goreme, Ortahisar, Urgup, Uchisar, Ibrahimpasa: the cave dwellings villages, which were the centres of the development of Christianity. We will visit churches and chapels decorated with bright paintings and frescoes, ancient remains of exceptional interest. Derinkuyu and Mazokoy are underground cities extending in a labyrinth underground. We spend all nights in hotels in Ankara and comfortable pensions in Cappadocia.
Jour 8 / Ankara – Home:
Return home via Ankara airport.
Favourable Season: from April to October.
Level: Easy.
