Oriental Kaleidoscope

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Kayseri - Cappadocia

  

  Flight to Kayseri. Welcome at the airport and transfer to Cappadocia (1h30 drive). We arrive at the village of Çavusin, located at the foot of a cliff. Depending on the arrival time, our stage begins towards Pasabagi (“Pacha’s vineyards”), where you can see the most typical examples of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, as well as the various geological layers that make up the cliff. Overnight in a guesthouse. Between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 minutes of walking. Transfer: vehicle, about 1 hour.

• day 2

  Mustafa Pacha - Gomede Valley - Kizilçukur

  

  In the morning, departure for the hike from the village of Mustafapacha to the Gömede valley. Passing through the Pancarlik valley, we arrive at the village of Ortahisar, dominated by its famous fortress. After lunch, we leave our bike and begin our hike in the Kizilçukur valley (Red valley), which owes its name to its beautiful red and pink colors. Here you will see the magical result of millions of years of erosion by wind and rain on soft volcanic rock. Peaks, valleys, pinnacles, and fairy chimneys alternate harmoniously here. Human ingenuity has added a special touch, out of the need to blend into this lunar landscape: numerous troglodyte dwellings and churches. Between 4 hours 30 and 5 hours of walking. Night in a guesthouse.

• day 3

  Vallée Blanche - Uçhisar - Pigeon Valley

  

  Walk to the village of Uçhisar through the White Valley. It is a vast valley dominated by enormous fairy chimneys, where the tuff is a beautiful white, sometimes stained with sulfur. Once very populated, the troglodyte dwellings of the valley now serve as sheds or stables; these hamlets of capped maidens, whose old doors and windows carved into the tuff open onto rooms that are now deserted. Visit of the fortress (mass of volcanic tuff) standing on a rocky promontory that overlooks almost all the valleys of Cappadocia. After a picnic in the shade of fruit trees, we continue to discover the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia. Then, in the afternoon, we continue our hike in the Güvercinlik Valley (Valley of the Pigeon Houses), which leads us to the famous village of Avcilar. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. Between 4 hours 30 and 5 hours of walking.

• day 4

  Ihlara Valley - typical village of Güzelyurt

  

  In the morning, departure by bus towards the Ihlara Valley. On the way, visit to the underground city of Kaymakli, dug over 8 levels at a depth of 55 m. Then, we arrive at Ihlara. Walk in this wonderful canyon, which provided refuge to different civilizations for millennia. We follow the Melendiz river and visit troglodyte dwellings as well as rock churches dating from the 6th to the 12th century, whose frescoes are still intact. We continue our walk in the valley, rich in vegetation. It is through the willow and poplar plantations that we reach the village of Belisirma. Transfer by minibus to the village of Güzelyurt, where we will spend the night. Between 3 hours and 3 hours 30 minutes of walking. Night in a guesthouse. Transfer: vehicle, between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours.

• day 5

  Konya - Lake Beyşehir

  

  Early enough to do the whole day's program, we drive west, the sun at our backs. We cross Aksaray, an endless steppe that engulfs us. The steppe, just like in Mongolia, Iran, Siberia...! Is it monotonous? No, of course not, on the contrary, it's an opportunity to discover the immensity of this country! On the way, visit to a 13th-century caravanserai (De Sultan Hani). Visit of Konya before heading to spend the night by Lake Beyshehir. Overnight in a guesthouse. Transfer: Vehicle, between 4 hours and 4 hours 30 minutes.

• day 6

  Beyşehir - Köprülü Canyon

  

  We leave this enchanting place to head south towards the Mediterranean. Lunch en route in the Taurus mountains (mountain restaurant) before arriving in view of the Mediterranean. At Köprü Canyon, comfortable accommodation by the river. Overnight in a guesthouse. Transfer: vehicle, about 4 hours.

• day 7

  Selge - Gökçukur - Kuşça - Altınçukur

  

  We go up by minibus to the mountain village of Selge (1000 m). We enter a world with a fantastic appearance. Selge was an important Roman city at the beginning of our era, very populated. But, apart from the theater, the whole site was devastated by numerous earthquakes. We climb up to the theater and can still make out, at its southern foot, the remains of the stadium, the ancient agora, the Roman baths, and the old temple of Zeus. A few fragments of walls and some sarcophagi complete our discoveries. We set off on foot towards the Bosburun massif. Behind us, to the south, the Mediterranean, and all around, valleys with wooded massifs. Our minibus awaits us at Altincukur to take us to our accommodation by the riverside. Between 5 hours and 5 hours 30 minutes of walking, elevation gain +600 meters. Night in a guesthouse. Transfer: vehicle, between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

• day 8

  Çamyuva - Tekirova

  

  Transfer to Çamyuva where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, we take the time to visit the ruins, then walk to Tekirova. We follow the coastal path, which allows us to enjoy some swims in beautiful coves along the hike. At the end of the afternoon, transfer to Cirali for dinner and overnight stay. Between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 minutes of walking, elevation gain +50 / -50 meters. Overnight in a guesthouse. Transfer: vehicle, 1h.

• day 9

  Chimaera - Çıralı and visit to Olympos

  

  We take a wild trail in the mountains to Chimaera: natural gas emissions ignite spontaneously upon contact with air. We enter the Olympos site and visit the remains (necropolises, theater, baths, temples, warehouses...) of this ancient port that survived from the pre-Hellenistic period until the Arab-Islamic invasions. Most of the remains are found in the shade of a forest of fragrant laurels. After the visit, return to our accommodation in Cirali. Between 3 hours and 3 hours 30 minutes of walking, elevation gain +200 / -300 meters. Night in a guesthouse. Transfer: vehicle, about 30 minutes.

• day 10

  Kapaklı - Kale - Uçağiz

  

  After breakfast, transfer to the village of Kapakli. On the way, we make a stop in the town of Demre to visit the magnificent site of the ancient city of Myra: necropolis carved into the cliff, remarkable Roman theater with astonishing masks… We begin our hike towards the beautiful village of Kale, passing by two isolated coves where swimming is possible. Arrival at the small port of Kale, accessible only by sea or, like us, on foot! Flower-filled houses with their feet in the water, and numerous Lycian sarcophagi, some of which are submerged, make up all the charm of this little port. Short transfer to the hotel in Uçagiz where we stay two nights by the sea, facing the island of Kekova. Between 3 and 4 hours of walking, elevation gain +30 / -200 meters. Night in a guesthouse.

• day 11

  Aperlae - Kekova - Yörük Ramazan - Üçağız

  

  After our breakfast, we meet up with our sea kayaks in Uçagiz, to tour the bay of Kekova. We will pass through the village of Simena, visit the sunken city and the Tersane cove. Then, return to the village of Uçagiz. 4h of kayaking. Night in a guesthouse.

• day 12

  Antalya - Istanbul

  

  Transfer to Antalya and flight to Istanbul. Free visit. Night in *** hotel. Transfer: vehicle, 30 min.

• day 13

  Istanbul

  Free visit of Istanbul, the opportunity to discover its many treasures: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Egyptian market... Night in a *** hotel.

• day 14

  Return flight

  

  Transfer to Istanbul airport and return flight.