Walking in Cappadocia

This seven-night escorted walking holiday with Explore Worldwide follows a clear route through the varied landscapes of Cappadocia. Starting in the honey-hued town of Göreme, you’ll explore nearby valleys featuring fairy chimneys and pigeon houses, culminating in a climb to Uchisar’s rock fortress, where the shapes of the volcanic terrain come into sharp relief.

Further afield, the week includes the scenic Ihlara Canyon, carved by a river and dotted with Byzantine churches carved out of rock walls. Along the way, the Mazi underground city provides a glimpse into early underground refuges, while Avanos introduces the pottery tradition that uses the distinctive red clay of the region. The final days wind through Pancarlik and Gömeda valleys before a visit to the Greek village of Mustafapasa with its Ottoman-era stone houses.

This is a measured pace of walks averaging between 7 and 12 kilometres, often returning to the same comfortable base each evening. There is scope to add a balloon flight at dawn for those who want another view of this storied landscape. The tour finishes back in Göreme without planned activities on the final day.

New to Turkey? Our Turkey guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.