Violent eruptions of the volcanoes Erciyes Dag and Hasan Dag
three million years ago covered the surrounding plateau with tuff.
From this brittle rock, the wind and rain have eroded Cappadocia's
spectacular, surrealist landscape of rock cones, capped pinnacles
and fretted ravines, in colours ranging from warm reds and golds
to cool greens and greys. Cappadocia is one of those rare regions
in the world where the works of man blend unobtrusively into the
landscape. Dwellings are known to have been hewn from the rock
as far back as 400 B.C., when Xenophon mentioned them in his Anabasis.
During Byzantine times chapels and monasteries were hollowed out
of the rock, and their ochre toned frescoes harmonise naturally
with the surrounding landscape. Even today, troglodyte dwellings
in rock cones and village houses of volcanic tuff merge, attuned
with the landscape. The most interesting sites of the region include
the rock chapels of Goreme, the troglodyte village of Avcilar,
the red coned monastic complex of Zelve.the villages of Ortahisar
and Uchisar clustered around rock pinnacles, the canyon of Ihlara
and the underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Istanbul.
Arrive late in the afternoon. Meet and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: Istanbul-Ankara-Cappadocia.
Transfer to the airport and fly to Ankara. City tour of Ankara,
visiting Citadel, Hittite Museum, Mausoleum of Ataturk. Depart
for Cappadocia by coach (about a four hour drive), passing by
Tuz Golü (The Great Salt Lake). Arrive in Aksaray. Dinner
and overnight.
Day 3: Sultan Han.
In the morning from Aksaray we pedal to Sultan Han (40km) to
visit the 13th century Seljuk Caravanserai; One of the best preserved
and largest caravanserai in Turkey. It is also a typical example
of Seljuk architecture.
Day 4: Ihlara Valley.
Today we cycle to the Ihlara Valley (Perystrama), a canyon 14km
long on the lower slopes of the volcanic Hasan and Melendiz Mountains.
We will hike in the canyon and visit Byzantine churches hollowed
in sheer rock cliffs.
Day 5: Nevsehir.
We drive to Nevsehir (75km), the province center of the Cappadocia
region. En route, we visit another caravanserai from the Seljuks,
Agzikarahan.
Day 6: Uchisar.
Today we will cycle to Uchisar (Castle), passing through a fascinating
valley. From the top of the castle there is a spectacular panoramic
view of Cappadocia. Afternoon visit to Urgüp.
Day 7: Goreme.
Cycling to Goreme Valley to visit the Complex of monasteries
and churches dating from the 9th to the 12th century. Afternoon
visit to Ibrahimpasa, a village with traditional houses.
Day 8: Cavusin-Zelve.
We continue cycling north to Avanos, a small town by the side
of the Kizilirmak (Red River). We will tour the village and its
local crafts; pottery and carpet weaving shops. In the afternoon,
we will visit fairy chimneys and cave houses of Zelve, and also
the rock churches of Cavusin.
Day 9: Soganli.
Our cycling tour today will take us to Sinassos (6km), an old
Greek village. Here we will visit interesting churches with original
frescoes. In the afternoon we will continue cycling to Soganli
Valley and visit some other churches and monasteries.
Day 10: Derinkuyu-Kaymakli.
Cycle from Derinkuyu(l0km) to visit the remarkable underground
cities of the early Christians. Overnight in Nigde.
Day 11: Kayseri.
We will visit the cave houses in Akkoy and then cycle to Mt.
Erciyes(3916m) through the Anatolian Highland. We will then drive
by bus to Kayseri(Ancient Caesarea).
Day 12: Kayseri -Istanbul.
City tour of Kayseri, visiting the Huant Hatun Mosque, Citadel
and the archeological Museum. Afternoon transfer to the airport
and fly to Istanbul.
Day 13: Istanbul.
City tour, visiting Blue Mosque, St.Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace
and Grand Bazaar.
Day 14: Istanbul.
Departure for Bosporus. Visit to Sadberk Hanim Museum. Return
to city and visit to Chora Museum.
Day 15: Istanbul.
Transfer to airport and fly home.
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