Snow Shoeing in Cappadocia

Initial region Cappadocia

Duration 8 Days

Language English

Price € 1.775 _{/ person}

• Cappadocia Region and its unique landscape
• Taurus Mountains 
• Kaymaklı Underground City
• Snowshoeing adventure

WINTER EXPLORE CAPPODOCIA & TAURUS WITH SNOW SHOEING

Day 1 : Kayseri - Goreme

Meet at the airport and transfer to Göreme. Overnight at hotel in Goreme. (1.30 hrs drive)

Day 2 : Zindanönü Valley, Cavusin, Paşabağ Fairy Chimnyes, Avanos

After a morning class learning and fitting the snowshoes, we will go out first discovering Zindanönü Valley onto Cavusin Village. One of the biggest in the region, St John The Baptist Church is a part of the massive rock-cut monastery complex in Cavusin. Perched atop a hill side, it is also offering great views over the area. Next, we will have a short transfer to Avanos town. Avanos has long been an important pottery center in Anatolia thanks to the abundance of red and white clay along the banks of the Red River (Kizilirmak), the widest in Turkey with 1000 mile length. After lunch in this pleasant town we will visit Pasabag Fairy Chimneys. These natural wonders are considered to be the best in the entire region with their colossal sizes. The are in general had also been an ecclesiastical center for the early christian hermits. 5 hours walking  (12 km) (B)

Day 3 : Göreme View Point, Zemi Valley and Rose Valley

Today we start walking with Goreme View Point (Aydın Kırağı). The town under out feet will offer incredible views of a still ongoing troglodyte life in the caves. The view point connects to a scenic walk in Zemi Valley. Agriculture in Cappadocia region is an essential part of life. Apricot and apple orchards are all over the place. Locals also own vineyards that support the tasty Grape Molasses and local wine. In fact, the wine had been invented in this part of the world under the name “wino”. We shall then walk up the Uchisar Citadel, the highest point in the region with the most wonderful vista. Following lunch in a local restaurant, we have a quick transfer to reach the Red Hole and walk the Rose Valley amongst the network of paths that connects local farmlands. We may also visit some of the rock-cut churches that pepper the area before we head back to hotel. 5 hours walking (13 km) (B)

Day 4 : Cappadocia, Kaymaklı Underground City, Taurus Mountains

In the morning, we will walk Kiliclar Valley. Perfectly eroded over time, this fascinating landscape presents curious rock formations and fairy tale chimneys that wouldn't look out of place in a Dali painting. Afterwards, we will do a must before leaving the region, Goreme (Korama) Open Air Museum. This former christian monastery is a renowned Unesco World Heritage sight. The widespread setting of Korama Monastery boasts some of the finest painted cave churches in the region. From the early period to around 1000-1200 AD, Byzantine Orthodox monks carved places of worship in the soft volcanic stone and decorated them with beautifully elaborate frescoes, many of which are still very much intact to this day. We then drive onto the underground city of Kaymakli, another UNESCO sight. It had been built by the early Hittite peoples of Anatolia before the Christians inhabited it to avoid the Roman persecution. This fascinating construction is an elaborate underground complex of tunnels and caves rooms that features everything from living space and communal kitchen, to stables, churches and storage rooms. It is then going to be the time to get to the Central Taurus Mountains, locally known as The Aladag (2 hours drive). Demirkazık village is right at the skirts of the dramatic elevations. We will stay in Demirkazik village within the following three nights that offers a great opportunity to contact with hospitable local people. 2 hours walking (7 km) (B D)

Day 5 : Walk to Arpalık Plateau

The day is to enjoy the spectacular scenery of Mount Demirkazık (3756 m), the highest in the range and its formidable west face. We aim reaching Barley (Arpalık) Plateau (2300 m). The walking will end back in Demirkazik Village. Overnight in Demirkazık. 6 hrs walking. Before we finish the day the energetic can also visit the dramatic natural wonder Cimbar Canyon for a short elective hike. Ascent=700m, Descend=700 m. 5 Hours walking (8 km) (B,L,D)

Day 6 : Emli Valley and Aksampınarı Pasture

The walk today will take us through the spectacular Emli Valley with the views of its stunning rock walls, peaks, valleys and natural conifer forest and then we will aim reaching up to the higher pastures of Aksampinarı Plateau (2200 m). Enjoying the spectacular sight of 700 foot tall Finger Rock (Parmakkaya) spire and the rather dramatic Tranga tower we will walk back to our point of start. The narrow entrance of Kazıklıali Canyon seen enroute is another future in the area offering a great photo oppurtunity. Firs and junipers are among the trees comprising the vast forest. We will also see a wide variety of wild shrubs dotting the slopes here and there. The valley is a also matchless landscape for the nearby villagers dealing with animal husbandry. Overnight at village house. Ascent: 600 meters  Descent: 600 meters 6 hours walking (12 km). (B,L,D)

Day 7 : Totari Canyon and Maden Valley

Another bus or jeep transfer brings us to the premises of Pinarbasi Village situated at the foot of the mountains. Wearing our snowshoes we will walk towards Totari Canyon. The canyon boasts wide open but damatic shear walls forming a contrast to flats behind. The northern part of the Aladag is a wild life reserve aiming at protecting many important species including but not limited to Anatolian Ground Squirrel, Wild Mountain Goats, Long Legged Buzzard, Caspian Snowcock and Golden Eagle. Then we will reach Maden (Mine) Valley surrounded with some of the highest peaks of the region. After lunch, we drive onto Kayseri (2.5 hours drive). We will have an optional city walk among the historical assets of this highly historic settlement. Today's modern city of Kayseri is where Anatolia had started its history thanks to the introduction of cuneiform writing by the Assyrian Trade colonies around 2000 B.C. It also possesses a significant chronology from Romans through Seljukid Turks who flourished the city as a regional capital with some of the finest examples of early Turkish architecture in Anatolia. Ascent = 300 m  Descend = 300 m.  3 hours walking (10 km).  (B,L)

Day 8 : Kayseri – Home

Tour ends. Transfer to the airport and fly home. (B)

•     All transfers and transportation
•     Bilingual English speaking Guide
•     Hotels with breakfast in Cappadocia
•     Guest house in Taurus mountains 
•     Entrance fees for museum and historical sites
•     Snow shoes
•     All meals on Taurus mountains and picnic snacks

•          Insurance
•          All drinks, personnel expenses
•          International and Domestic flights
•          Meals in Cappadocia