Main Info
Hiking in Cappadocia
Hiking in Cappadocia is a journey through one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth. Around three million years ago, the violent eruptions of Mount Erciyes (3916 m) and Mount Hasan (3268 m) blanketed the surrounding plateau with tuff, lava, and volcanic ash. Over time, wind and water carved this terrain into a wonderland of rock cones, capped pinnacles, and winding ravines in striking hues—from warm reds and golds to cool greens and greys. The iconic “fairy chimneys,” with their mushroom-like tops and fantastical shapes, create a dreamlike scene more imaginative than any sculptor could conceive. In other parts of the region, narrow valleys and canyons snake through the rock, forming a landscape that feels otherworldly. Hiking in Cappadocia allows you to step into this mesmerizing natural art gallery.
But Cappadocia is more than just a geological marvel—it’s a place rich in human history. Ancient cave dwellings, rock-cut churches, monasteries, and vast underground cities reflect centuries of life carved into the stone, dating back to the early days of Christianity. During our unforgettable hiking tour, you’ll not only walk among these wonders but also have opportunities for biking, horseback riding, and even hot air ballooning, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of this magical land.
Join us for Hiking in Cappadocia and experience a landscape so unique, no words or photos can truly capture its essence. You must feel its colors, light, and energy to understand its beauty. This is more than a hike—it’s a walk through time, mystery, and imagination. Don’t miss your chance to discover the fairy-tale world of Cappadocia.
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Itinerary
Download BrochureMeet with our Samistal Travel team in hotel in Ankara. Dinner is free. Night in hotel. ****
Depart in the morning after 4 h drive to Cappadocia area through the Anatolian plateau, via the salt lake (Tuz Gölü). Before arriving in the heart of Cappadocia, we have a stop to visit to the Agzikarahan Seljuk caravanserai from the 12th century. The caravans travelling on the Silk-Road used this as guest-hotel. The masonry is an example showing the Seljuk art. Then our minibus drives us to Derinkuyu for visiting the incredible underground city (8 floors, going down to 57 m under the ground). After this visit, we drive to Mustafapaşa charming city, which was inhabited by Orthodox Greek, until 1923. At this date Turkey and Greece signed the Lausanne Treaty, concerning exchange of population between the 2 countries. Today, you can recognise Greek masonry on the face of old houses. Cheek in pension for overnight.
After breakfast in the pension, our minibus drives us to the trailhead point of our walk. We walk down to the Tahtali, one of most typical of Cappadocia. Millions years ago tuff, a soft stone comprised of lava, ash and mud have been thrown out to place by volcanoes. The erosion made this unnatural work; rock formations out of a fantasy land rise up before you at every turn and entice you to look longer and wonder at their creation…
Then through small valleys and plateaux we go down to the valley of Uzengi bordered with a high cliff of white tuff where are thousands of pigeon houses. Our pathway takes us into the Pancarlik valley. It is a fantastic landscape, a tumble of waves with pastels colours, patchwork of vineyards and small gardens in terraces. We are in front of Sarica and Kepez churches, carved in the heart a fairy chimney. They are interesting for their architecture. Drive back to Mustafapaşa village.
Transfer to Zelve and visit, an old cave-dwellings-village, today used as an open-air museum. It was inhabited until 1950, but the government moved the population because of erosion. Walk to Paşabağ valley (also called Priest valley). We walk on the Cliffside dominating the most famous fairy chimneys of Cappadocia: some are getting destroyed, whereas some others have still three "heads"... We cross Çavuşin village village, one of the first Christian settlement. We visit here the old church dedicated to St the Baptispte, where you can still recognise the fresco of Salome dancing for Herodes. Afterward we continue onto Kızılçukur (Red Valley), this valley is certainly the most beautiful in Cappadocia with its formations and red colours: during millions years ago, rain and wind worked together to erode the soft volcanic rock; you will see here that the result is really fairy. Small valleys, cones, peaks and fairy chimneys alternate harmoniously on our way. Because he needed to become integrated into this extraordinary landscape, man built into this, cave dwellings, frescoed churches. We will visit some of them en-route. Night in Göreme.
We walkin the Göreme-valley, which will get us to the Pigeon valley (called so because of the numerous "pigeon houses" built in the 18th century). After Lunch-breach in Uçhisar village visit the high viewpoint known as "fortress": this offers a splendid view all over Cappadocia. In the afternoon we walk in the Akvadi valley following an old river (today dry), with fruits gardens and vineyards. In this valley, the fairy chimneys are particularly slim.Overnight in pesion in Göreme.
Drive (1hour 15) to Ihlara area where.Walk in the Ihlara valley, along the Melendiz with the rhythm of birds’ songs. This valley is particularly rich with flora due to presence of water. We will see here cave dwellings and rock-cut churches from the Christian period. We visit certainly ones of the most beautiful orthodox churches (from 6th and 12th century) with good conserved frescoes on the rock faces of the valley. We arrive in Belisırma village where we have lunch-break at the bank of the river. Then drive to Ankara (4 hours). Install to hotel for the night.
Breakfast and END OF SERVICE.
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