The Cappadocia region of delightfully whimsical rock formations and surreal panoramas flushed in a palette of rose, pink and beige will enchant you with breathtaking views throughout the day. The landscape of the region owes its splendor to the geology of Mount Erciyes (Argaeus), an extinct volcano rising to 3,916 meters above sea level, which you will be able to see in the distance as you are touring, weather permitting. Over the millennia, the various strata of volcanic ash compressed to form a bed of soft tufa stone across the region, which was then subject to continuous and perpetual erosion, shaping the tufa deposits into fantastic valleys, pyramids and cones, referred to locally as ‘fairy chimneys’. The tufa is easily chipped away and inhabitants of the region have been carving out and dwelling in caves for centuries. The entire region is now a warren of underground cities, caves dwellings, cave churches and chambers. Early trade colonies were established here by the Assyrians as long ago as the 20th century BC and Heroditus mentions Cappadocia in the 5th century BC. Christianity came early to the region when St. Phillip, and a few years later, St. Paul passed through and preached in Caesarea (now Kayseri). The early Christians appreciated the sublime beauty of the region while the harsh climate and difficult terrain must have been conducive to their ascetic lifestyle. Formal Christian communities were established beginning in the mid 4th century when St. Basil founded a monastery in Cappadocia and drafted his rules of monastic life. When the Arabs invaded Asia Minor in the 7th and 8th centuries, Cappadocia remained relatively undisturbed by the conflicts; perhaps due to the fact that the monks and local Christians went underground, literally, excavating the underground cities and richly frescoed cave churches which are open for exploration.
Devrent and Monk's Valleys, Avanos, Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle
You will be picked up from your Istanbul hotel in the early morning and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival in Kayseri, you will be met at the airport and transferred to Urgup/Cappadocia where you will join a small group for your full day tour of Cappadocia's northern region.
Your tour will begin by making a stop to take in the landscape of Devrent Valley after which you will view the striking fairy chimneys and other rock formations in the Monk’s Valley, where you will also see a chapel dedicated to the well known reclusive monk, St. Simeon as well as some small cave habitations that were carved and used by monks one thousand years ago. In Avanos, an artistic center that dates to Hittite occupation some 3500 years ago, you will have the opportunity to witness potters at their wheels. The red clay found at the Kizilirmak River, along the banks of which the village is located, has been used since the times of the Hittites to make functional and ornamental pottery. After a lunch break, you will move on to visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum where you will marvel at the numerous cave churches and monasteries with their richly frescoed walls painted by Orthodox Monks around 1000-1200 AD. See also the Uchisar Castle. Situated at the highest point in Cappadocia and providing superb panoramic vistas, it is a large rock formation full of interconnected rooms, stairs, tunnels and passages that have been carved from the tufa. Scattered throughout the immediate surroundings are several Roman tombs also cut from the tufa.
After the tour, at about 17:30, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Urgup. (L)
DAY 2- SOUTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)
Kaymakli Underground City, Cavusin, Red Valley, Ortahisar Castle
Today you will begin with a visit to the remarkable underground city of Kaymakli, which was occupied during the period of early Christianity when the local population went underground for protection. When the Arabs invaded Asia Minor in the 7th and 8th centuries, Cappadocia remained relatively undisturbed by the conflicts; perhaps due to the fact that the monks and local Christians went underground, literally, excavating the subterranean cities and richly frescoed cave churches which you can explore today. Kaymakli is one of many such complexes that have been discovered in the region. Wind through the network of tunnels and chambers as you descend several levels underground. The tour will then visit Cavusin, an old Christian village, where you will see a triple apse church and the Monastery of St. John the Baptist. The day's touring includes lunch and an easy grade, three kilometer hike through the Red Gulludere Valley, inaccessible by automobile and providing absolutely breathtaking scenery. Walk among the fantastic rock formations and along the way discover hidden frescoed cave churches. Before tour's end, visit the natural landmark of Ortahisar Castle and enjoy the panoramic view of fairy chimneys and the generally fantastic landscape.
After the tour, at about 17:30, you will have a bit of time to relax before you will be transferred to the Kayseri Airport for your flight to Istanbul. As you exit baggage claim upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be met by a True Blue representative for transfer to your Istanbul hotel. This transfer marks the end of services for this tour. (B,L)
Please make note of the following:
