Itinerary
- Day 1
Goreme
You'll arrive in Goreme, the honey-colored village nestled in Cappadocia's unique landscape. Kayseri Airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away if you're arranging a transfer. Your tour leader meets you at the hotel at 6pm for a welcome briefing, so you'll have time to settle in after your journey. Dinner's optional this evening, leaving you free to rest or explore on your own.
Optional Activities
- Dinner in Goreme (optional, not included)
Landmarks/POIs Goreme - Day 2
Cavusin - Bozdag Table Mountain - Avanos
After a short drive, you'll start hiking in Red Valley, passing the Church with Grapes and its ancient frescoes from centuries past. From there, Cavusin village appears, sitting above a collapsed early Christian cave city. You'll then climb Bozdag Table Mountain (1,300m) for views across the region from Cappadocia's highest point. The day finishes in Avanos where you'll see a pottery demonstration and have time walking around this riverside town. This 12km hike takes 5-6 hours with 250m ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike in Kizilcukur (Red) Valley
- Visit Church with Grapes
- Visit Cavusin village
- Ascend Bozdag Table Mountain
- Pottery demonstration in Avanos
Optional Activities
- Sunrise hot air balloon trip (recommended to book for this morning; see optional excursions for details)
Landmarks/POIs Kizilcukur (Red) Valley Church with Grapes Cavusin Bozdag Table Mountain Avanos - Day 3
Kaymakli Underground City
You'll travel 90 minutes to Ihlara Valley for a river trail hike passing through Belisirma and Selime villages. The narrow, steep-sided valley has rock-cut churches with 9th-century frescoes still visible on the walls. After the hike, you'll explore Kaymakli Underground City, one of Cappadocia's largest troglodyte settlements with eight levels and nearly 100 tunnels connecting different chambers. Four levels are open for visiting, containing stables, churches, and storage areas. This 13km hike takes around 5 hours with 100m descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike in Ihlara Valley
- Visit rock-cut churches in Ihlara Valley
- Visit Kaymakli Underground City (four open public levels)
Landmarks/POIs Ihlara Valley Belisirma Selime Kaymakli Underground City - Day 4
Aciksaray - Uchisar
This mid-week day offers a shorter optional walk starting at Cat Town, passing historic dovecotes and valleys with hawthorn and rosehip bushes before reaching Aciksaray ruins (10th-11th century Byzantine site with cave houses, churches, and a monastery). The 7km walk takes 2-3 hours with 350m descent. Afternoon is yours in Goreme, then you'll travel to Uchisar for dinner prepared by local women through a community development program.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Regional food at Uchisar prepared by local women as part of a local community initiative supported by the municipality)
Included Activities
- Optional guided walk from Cat Town to Aciksaray ruins
- Visit Aciksaray Byzantine ruins
Optional Activities
- Relax in Goreme instead of the morning walk
Landmarks/POIs Cat Town Aciksaray ruins Uchisar - Day 5
Uchisar - Pigeon Valley - Goreme Open Air Museum
You'll walk through White Valley exploring the geological landscape shaped by volcanic activity 10 million years ago. The hike continues to Uchisar, known for its fairy chimneys, where you'll visit the castle on a rocky outcrop for panoramic views. Later, you'll head along Pigeon Valley back toward Goreme, stopping at a traditional Turkish tea shop to learn preparing Turkish tea or coffee. Then comes the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO site with Byzantine rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries. This 15km walk takes around 5 hours with 350m ascent and descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk in Akvadi (White) Valley
- Visit Uchisar 'Castle'
- Guided walk along Pigeon Valley
- Turkish tea or coffee preparation experience at traditional tea shop
- Visit Goreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage site)
Landmarks/POIs Akvadi (White) Valley Uchisar Pigeon Valley Goreme Open Air Museum - Day 6
Mustafapasa - Ortahisar
You'll travel to Gomeda Valley, historically important for viticulture dating back to the Hittites and later developed by exiled Christians. The hike goes through ruins of the old Greek village Mustafapasa, exploring its abandoned structures and stopping for lunch there. After eating, you'll continue hiking to Ortahisar village. This 14km walk takes 5-6 hours with 400m total ascent and descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Gomeda Valley
- Explore ruins of old Greek village of Mustafapasa
- Hike to Ortahisar village
Landmarks/POIs Gomeda Valley Mustafapasa Ortahisar - Day 7
Kiliclar (Swords) Valley - Meskindir Valley
Your final walk is a circular route from the hotel through Zemi Valley, Swords Valley, and Meskindir Valley, ending back in Goreme. The path gradually descends through apple and grape orchards along the Zemi Valley section. This 12km walk takes around 5 hours with 250m total ascent and descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided circular hike from hotel through Zemi Valley
- Walk through Kiliclar (Swords) Valley
- Walk through Meskindir Valley back to Goreme
Landmarks/POIs Zemi Valley Kiliclar (Swords) Valley Meskindir Valley - Day 8
Depart Goreme
You'll depart Goreme whenever your schedule allows. If your flight's later in the day, luggage storage is available at the hotel. Kayseri Airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away if you need an airport transfer arranged.
