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TURKEY : HORSE RIDING TRAILS IN CAPPADOCIA...

Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking

ITINERARY

CAPPADOCIA "IN FULL" and visit of Istanbul - 13 days

Discover the unique sceneries of Cappadocia on horseback and explore the treasures of Istanbul, this is the program that we suggest for this 13 days trip.

Day 1: Kayseri - Avanos
Arrival at Kayseri airport and transfer to Avanos (app. 80 km) situated at 950 m on the banks of the Kizilirmak (the "Red river"). Dinner and night in a typical cappadocian guesthouse.

Day 2: Avanos - Devrent
The village of Avanos was one of the most important weaving centres of Cappadocia and still is a well known craft centre.
First meeting with the horses and our guide for the week. Première rencontre avec les chevaux et le guide qui vous accompagnera pendant cette randonnée. Time to test our horse and departure for the trail after lunch.
We follow the river "Kizilirmak" up to the village Sarihidir. We cross the river and on a path in the middle of vine- and orchyard we arrive at the caravanserai seldjoukide Sarihan dating from the XIII. century.
We follow the old silk route to the fairy chimneys of Devrent with their spectacular shapes.
Bivouac in the valley, next to a fountain. 3h riding.

Day 3: Devrent - Keslik
We leave in the direction of Pasabag, the monks valley, with its earth pillars then we continue to the rock of Cavusin stuffed with troglodyte dwelling. Further on, we will have a beautiful panoramic view on the valley of the roses (Güllüdere) and the red ravine (Kizilçukur). We arrive at the village of Ortahisar with its amazing rocky peak and will then, through the valley of Üzengi, arrive at the village of Mustafa Pasa with its beautiful sculptured, greek houses. Following the Damsa lake, we arrive at our bivouac in Keslik, near a spring. App. 7h on horseback.

Day 4: Keslik - Basdevrent
Through the fairy chimneys, we go up the valley to Taskinpasa (1150 m), where we admire the mosque and a "türbe" (funerary monument) from the seldjoukide era as well as ruins of a "medersa" (an ancient koranic school), with its beautiful door and a sculptured "mihrab" (a prayer niche in a mosque indicating the direction of Mekka).
We continue to climb to the Dambirca plateau, with magnificent views on our way up. Tonight we bivouac in Basdevrent.
5h in the saddle.

Day 5: Basdevrent - Soganli
This morning we start our ride crossing the troglodyte village of Güzelöz, and further on coming to the sheep barn of Zopun (1300m). Our path leads us downhill to the gorges of Tahtali, then through the small valley of Ballik with its numerous rock dovecotes. We finally reach Soganli, a small village built on the banks of a river and in the vicinities of which conceal a dozen rock churches :Dome church, Snake Church, Karabe Kilise with particularly well kept frescoes, among which the most ancient go back up to the 7th century.
3h riding.

Day 6: Soganli - Mount Hodul region
The ride continues over the Meselik plateau, along lake Akköy to the village of Keslik. From the Küçükhodul plateau, the volcano Erciyes Dagi comes in view, the ancien Mount Argee, dominating Kayseri from its 3917m. The mud and ashed of this volcan and of its twin "Hasan Dagi" formed the soft soil of Cappadocia with is spectacular erosion.
For the lunchbreak we arrive at the byzantine monastery of Erdemli that our guide makes us visit. Afterwards we discover the semi-troglodyte village of Hodulkavak.
Dinner and night at the foot of Mount Hodul, at 1800m altitude.
App. 7h on horseback.

Day 7: Mount Hodul region - Bozca
Today we pass through kermes oaks covered ground to arrive at Akçaören (1150m), a village with beautiful traditional houses. Through the village of Boyali we attain Aksalur (1450m), then, in the middle of the vineyards, we go down to the troglodyte village of Sofular. Night near the village of Bozca.
7h riding.

Day 8: Bozca - Kadibaglari
We join the ancient caravan route "Uzun Yol" (the long way), and cross the orchyards of Cördük before following the banks of the Kizilirmak. We cross the river on the bridge Seldjoukide of Tekgöz (13 century). Bivouac on the river bank.
5h riding.

Day 9: Kadibaglari - Bayramahacili
Over paths usually used by cattle, our ride continues in the direction of the recently abandoned village Yuvalli. Afterwards we arrive at the natural thermal springs of Bayramahacili where we swim in the bassin. Our camping tonight is nearby.
4h in the saddle.

Day 10: Bayramahacili - Avanos
Following our way in the middle of troglodyte houses and then following the river Göynük, we arrive at Ozkonak (1300m). After the picnic we visit the underground city with our guide and the Belha monastery, built in the 6th century. Our trail finishes with the ascent of Mount Idis (1700m) from where we have a magnificent view on the spectacular scenery of Cappadocia. Return ride to Avanos. Dinner and night in guesthouse.
App. 6h riding.

Day 11: Avanos - Istanbul
Free time in Avanos for a walk or some shopping.
Transfer to Kayseri airport and flight to Istanbul. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Dinner not included, you may want to discover one of the many typical restaurants around the hotel.

Day 12: Istanbul
Free visit of the town: St. Sophie, Blue Mosque, Big Bazar, Topkapi Palace, Bosphorus...
Meals not included, night at the hotel.

Day 13: Istanbul - return flight
Transfer to the airport and return flight to your country.

LANDSCAPES OF ANATOLIA, BIVOUAC VERSION - AROUND GUZELYURT - 1 week

In this unusual part in the West of Cappadocia, far from mass tourism, we will cross villages living out of time. Our ride will lead us through Monastery Valley and into the heart of canyons from which walls shelter rock churches adorned with Byzantine frescoes. The discovery of a traditional lifestyle, exceptional hospitality and a complete change of scenery.
This trail is scheduled from mid-May to end of September.


Day 1: Europe - Güzelyurt
Flight to Kayseri via Istanbul. Kayseri is the ancient Caesarea, roman capital of Cappadocia under the Tiber. Welcome and transfer by bus to Güzelyurt (app. 2h30 drive). Dinner and night either at hotel Karballa, a former greek monastery transformed into a hotel or in a traditional anatolian guesthouse fully modernized and refurbished.

Day 2: Güzelyurt - Sivrihisar
First encounter with the horses and the guide. In the morning, assessment of the riding level and time to get used to the horse. We leave for a 2 hours ride around the village. After lunch, that we take at the hotel, departure for the trail ride. We take off for the magnificent valley of monasteries and will later arrive in the former greek village of Sivrihisar, situated at the foot of an ancient citadel. Visit of the Red Church (VI century), located in a beautiful natural cirque. Bivouac next to a spring.
5h00 on horseback.

Day 3: Sivrihisar - Yenipinar
After breakfast, we continue our ride in a large area discovering the traditional villages of Cardak and Kitreli. A shepherd's path takes us to a place calle Egrikuyu, next to the village of Yenipinar where we build our bivouac for the night.
5h30 riding.

Day 4: Sarniç plateau - Ihlara village
Today, we cross the plateau of Sarnic which notably offers an open view on the volcano Hasan peaking in 3268 metres. After the picnic in Mokissos, the impressive city of Justinien, we go to the village of Ihlara. By a path following a canyon of the same name, we arrive by the river Melendiz near the village, where we install our camp for night.
5h30 in the saddle.

Day 5: Ihlara Canyon - Celtek
This morning, we get back into the saddle and follow the cliffs of the canyon of Ilhara, before diving into this spectacular canyon up to the rupestral village of Belisirma (1250m). We follow the Melendiz river across orchards up to the village of Selime,a beautiful rupestral monastic unit surrounded by fairy chimneys. Then we set off for Uzunkaya and through the field climb up to the exceptional site of Celtek from where we have a splendid view on the Hasan volcano. Bivouac.
5h30 on horseback.

Day 6: Celtek - Alanyurt
Through a landscape of steppes we continue to the villages of Kizilkaya, Demirci and Alanyurt with their old houses.These villages are endowed with beautiful sculptured front walls(pediments). We pass by the valley of Borasan with its fairy chimneys towards the locality Akkaya. We spend the night in a rupestral Byzantine monastery in ruin.
5h riding.

Day 7: Alanyurt - Güzelyurt
We ride towards the village of Mandama, then in the valley of Nar and on the Maydan plateau. Back to Güzelyurt by the valley passing by sheep herds and their sheperds. Night at hotel Karballa or in a village guest house.
5h30 in the saddle.

Day 8 : Güzelyurt - Kayseri - return flight
Depending on your flight schedule, free time and then transfer to Kayseri (2h30 drive) and return flight.

CAPPADOCIA EXPRESS, GUESTHOUSE VERSION - Around AVANOS - 1 week

In the heart of Anatolia, Cappadocia offers fantastical scenery in springtime and automn with coulours ranging from pink to ochre and green. We invite you to discover this lush setting of fairy chimneys and rock peaks at the pace of your horse.
This trail is scheduled in April, May and October, when temperatures are more comfortable in this region than in the North of Cappadocia.
The same riding program is also proposed in the "comfort" version either in a high standard hotel or in a typical ottoman guesthouse : Charming Cappadocia

Day 1: Europe - Kayseri
Arrival at Kayseri airport (via Istanbul). Reception at the airport and transfer to Avanos in Cappadocia by mini-bus (app. 1h drive). Dinner and night in a guesthouse, a pleasant group of old, restored houses, built around a central court. Comfortable rooms with private bath rooms.

Day 2: Avanos - Cavusin
After trying our horses in a corral, we start the trail from Avanos to the village of Sarihidir. We follow the longest river of Turkey, the Kizilirmak, up to the caravanserai seldjoukide Sarihan, dating from the XIII. century. We follow the old silk route towards the valley of Devrent with its spectacular shapes. Night in a guesthouse in Cavusin.
6h ride.

Day 3: Cavusin - Cemil
Through the scenery of fairy chimney, we ride in the valleys of Güllüdere, Kizilcukur and Meskendir. In the distance we can admire the amazing peak of the Ortahisar. Riding through gardens and vineyards, we arrive in Cemil, where we spent the night in a guesthouse.
6-7h on horseback.

Day 4: Cemil- Karain
Today, once again the setting is "supernatural", as we continue our route through fairy chimneys up to the village of Taskinpasa. We then go towards Mount Hodul through cereal fields and arrive in the village of Karain. Night in a guesthouse.
6h riding.

Day 5: Karain - Bozca
Winding our way through the gardens of Boyali, we now climb to the plateau of Topuz and arrive in Sofular. From there a trail leads us to Bozca. Night in a guesthouse.
6h in the saddle.

Day 6: Bozca- Bayramhacili
We cross the river over the bridge of Tekgoz this morning. Our horses then take us to the hot water spring of Bayramhacili, for one of the highlights of this week: an unforgettable bath in 35°C warm water! Dinner and night in a guesthouse.
6-7h ride.

Day 7: Bayramhacili - Avanos
In the middle of troglodyte dwellings, then following the river Göynük, we arrive in Ozkonak. This place is mainly known for it "underground city" and the monastery of Belha, dating from the VI. century. After the visit we ascent Mount Idis (1700m) from where we have a magnificent view on the spectacular scenery of Cappadocia. Return ride to Avanos. Dinner and night in guesthouse.
App. 6h on horseback.

Day 8 : Avanos - Kayseri - return flight
Depending on your flight schedule, free time and then transfer to Kayseri (app. 1h drive) and return flight.

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

If you wish to extend your trip after the trail ride, we propose a three nights BB extension in a 3* hotel situated in the historical city centre and including transfers from/to the airport.

From 140 € per person, in double room.

HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL

Tack
Saddles are turkish, covered with sheep skin for more comfort.
There are also some english saddles available if you feel more at ease with classical tack.

Horses
35 barb-arabs.

Required riding level
The horses are vivid with stamina. The rider needs to be confident at all paces (walk, trot, canter) and be able to stay in the saddle for 5 to 7 hours per day. At some difficult passages it might be necessary to get off and lead the horse.

Riders are kindly requested to help brushing and saddle the horses as well as taking down the camp.

YOUR GUIDES

Guiding
Qualified local guide, who perfectly knows the region and the horses. A logistic team helps for the cooking, setting of the camps, ...
The itineraries are indicated as a rough guideline. Depending on weather conditions, riding level of the group or security constraints they can be modified by the guide at any moment if.

Equipment
Saddle bags or holsters are supplied.

Logistic
The logistic vehicle brings the luggage every night, so there is only very few things to carry on the horses. A cook will do his best to serve good quality, traditional turkish food.

ACCOMMODATION

Accomodation

On the 2-weeks trail : Hotel in Istanbul (nights 11 and 12), guest houses in Avanos (nights 2 and 10), bivouac the other nights.

1-week trail bivouac - Güzelyurt : Hotel or guest house in Güzelyurt (2 nights) and bivouacs (5 nights, watering places are available every night).

1-week trail guesthouses Avanos : Hotel or guesthouse in Avanos on the first and the last night, the other nights you will sleep in guest houses at the inhabitants (in one or two rooms, on camping matresses directly on the ground).

DATES AND RATES

Small group supplement: 90 €
This supplement is applied in order to grant departures from 2 riders and is refunded if there are more than 3 bookings.

Option : single room (nights in hotel or guesthouses only) :
+ 40 € for one week trails (nights 1 & 7).
+ 110 € for the 13 days trail (nights 1,10,11 & 12)

Single option is not mandatory if you are willing to share your room with another person of the same gender.

RATE INCLUDING

RATE NOT INCLUDING

- beverages (except water).
- meals and entry fees in Istanbul on the 13 days trail.
- any other service.
- Travel and repatriation Insurance - More information.

BOOKING - INFORMATION

Contact Anne, the specialist for this destination

PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

COUNTRY

LENGTH

Cappadocia "in full": 13 days / 12 nights / 9 days on horsebackl

Cappadocia Express - 1 week : 8 days / 7 nights / 6 days on horseback

LANGUAGE

GROUP SIZE

ACCESS

Arrival airport is Kayseri in Cappadocia, Turkey.

Exceptional transfer from Ankara can be organized (supplement)

CLIMATE

Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.

Vaccines-Health
None vaccine is mandatory, however the tetanus and the typhoid vaccines are recommended. A collective first-aid kit is provided, but each participant will have to allow an individual little first-aid kit according to his habits and tolerance concerning certain medicines.
It is necessary to be up to date concerning your usual vaccinations, in particular for the tetanus vaccine. Remember that a repatriation travel insurrance is compulsory.

These informations are given for French citizens for information purpose only. For citizens of other countries, please ask your embassy. You must hold identity and sanitary elements necessary for the entrance in the visited country.

REFERENCE :

CH62_ turquie