Trekking in Cappadocia

Trekking in Cappadocia Itinerary

Day 1 Transfer

You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to Göreme. Enjoy dinner and an overnight in Göreme.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Goreme
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Pigeon Valley to Love Valley

This moderate walk will show you the hidden valleys of the area with their vineyards and orchards of walnut, quince and apricot trees. Our walk starts at 9.00hrs. Start walking through the Pigeon valley. It is a great walk from Göreme along the valley floor to Uçhisar (4km). The valley is named for the many pigeon houses or dovecotes carved into the rocks and cliffs. Years ago, the pigeons were used as message carriers as well as food and their droppings were used as fertilizer. Afterwards, the path takes us to Uçhisar where you’ll visit the castle to enjoy spectacular views and have time to wander in the town before lunch. Lunch is in a local family-run restaurant in Uçhisar. The view of the valley is exquisite. They serve local Turkish food in traditional clay pots. You will taste several different delicious and famous Turkish dishes. After lunch, head for White valley characterized by its small fields, lush vegetation and strange rock formations. On the spot where you find the particularly beautiful fairy chimneys (Love Valley), you can enjoy a taste of the freshly pressed orange juice. After the break, your gentle path leads us back to Göreme.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Goreme
Distance: 9km, 4.5 hours, 120m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 Kavak Village to Gomeda Valley

This trip introduces you to the traditional villages of Cappadocia. Your morning transfer takes you to rural Kavak; a farming town where tourists do not normally tread. You’ll walk from here to Bahçeli where you have a cup of tea at the local tea house. From here, walk an undulating route to Ayvalı and stop for lunch in Aravan for an authentic, casual, delicious meal with friendly service.

This is the only place in the region that offers organic food. After lunch, walk through Gomeda valley.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gomeda valley
Distance: 12km, 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Gomeda Valley to Çavuşin

After breakfast, take a transfer to Gomeda valley where you have finished your walk the day before. Your morning walk through the Pancarlik valley takes you to Ortahisar, a quiet town with a Byzantine/Seljuck fortress. After a short wander in the town, you’ll be driven to Kızılçukur (Red valley) where you’ll walk in the afternoon. Finish our walk at Çavuşin.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Çavuşin
Distance: 13.5km, 4.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 Çavuşin to Rose Valley

After breakfast, start walking. This tour is an opportunity to break away from the classical trekking routes in the area; it’s for people who like heights. After a short wander in the village, ascend through the deserted houses to reach the little-known church of John the Baptist, with its unique paintings. Your path continues to the summit of Bozdağ Mountain where a panoramic view of the region awaits, including Uçhisar, Göreme, Çavuşin, Avanos, Ortahisar and Zelve open-air museum. With the spectacular views of Mount Erciyes in the background, follow a smooth path over the plateau and descend for lunch in a small family-run restaurant in Red valley. Visit the winery and the Grape church and start your afternoon walk in Rose Valley. On the way visiting the pigeon houses and the Cross Church.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Çavuşin
Distance: 11.5km, 5.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Derinkuyu Underground City to Selime Monastery

Today you’ll visit the only evergreen place in the whole of Cappadocia, Ihlara valley. But first, drive to Derinkuyu Underground City, one of the wonders of Cappadocia. The settlement was dug as deep as 5 layers below ground level and used for hiding for centuries. After seeing the underground city you’ll be driven to Ihlara town and start our walk in the valley.

This 13km hike is generally an easy walk, following the river at the bottom of the deep canyon, there are some short parts where you have to scramble on rocks. Willow and poplar trees will decorate your way with beautiful birds gliding by.
Walk about 3.5 hours and en-route visit several rock-cut churches carved out of the vertical canyon walls. Some are covered in really unique wall paintings. One great discovery was to find a rock-cut mosque next to one of the churches, both cut out of the rocks. It is the first example of a rock-cut mosque ever found.

After a late lunch, continue walking by the river down to Selime town, where the walk ends nearby Selime Monastery, another amazing structure cut out of the natural rock.
Overnight Location: Pension in Selime
Distance: 13km, 5.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Paşabağ to Avanos and the departure

Enjoy a light day today. You’ll start from the hotel and walk to one of the wonders of Cappadocia: Paşabağ. It is a short walk (1.5hrs) but for those who do not want to walk it is possible to transfer by minibus to Paşabağ and rejoin the group there.

Drive to Avanos, the second biggest town of Cappadocia, where the longest river of Turkey passes through. This Kızılırmak (Red River) was known in Antiquity by its' ancient name ‘Halys’. After enjoying lunch in Avanos you will learn that this town is famous for its' pottery art as well. Making pottery from the rich clay deposits of the river is in fact a cultural heritage that Cappadocia inherited from the Hittites.

Enjoy the free afternoon. In the afternoon you have an optional visit to a Turkish bath for relaxing and massage.

At the end of the day, you’ll be transferred to the airport.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 1.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch