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| Leaving from the ranch (located between Urgup and Ortahisar), the itinerary takes you on a 120 km tour around 'geological Cappadocia' in 6 riding days. The guesthouse, hotel and bivouac trails use the same route.
From the peasants' Cappadocia of the south to the most beautiful valleys of the north, a succession of fantastic rock formations, lush canyons, high plateaux, steppe-like landscape, along with vineyards and orchards, compose a surprinsingly varied route. On the way, the villages reflect the anatolian way of life while frescoed churches and other troglodytic treasures testify of the rich past of the area.
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Details: > Riding level: intermediate and above > Max. 8 riders for 1 guide. If more than 8 riders, the group splits in 2. Groups meet for pic-nic and in the evening. > 5 - 6 hours on horseback each day except Wednesday: 4 hours riding in the morning. > 15 - 25 km each day, on varied terrain. > Pace: mostly walk, with trots and canters each day. > When the weather is hot, we may stop for a few hours at lunchtime. > Riders must be in good physical condition and wear good shoes. The circuit includes difficult passages where you will be asked to dismount and walk. > Your luggage is carried by the logistics vehicle. |
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Day 1
Our driver takes you to the ranch in the early morning to meet and choose your horse, and get acquainted with the riding equipment. The trail begins through the lush canyon of Uzengui, where abrupt rock walls shelter troglodytic citadels of dovecotes. After your first gallop on the sandy tracks through the vineyards, your reach the pic-nic spot in the natural rock circus of Taslik.
From there, a muleteer track carved in the rock leads you to the ancient village of Mustafapasa/Sinasos. You spend the afternoon riding through expanses of steppe-like bare lands surrounding Lake Damsa. In the evening, you reach the camp in the shady woods of the Valley of Cemece.
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Highlights: Valley of Uzengui Mustafapasa Time spent in the saddle: 4h30 Plain of Damsa Distance : 20 Km Valley of Cemece |
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Day 2
You ascend the Plateau of Avlak for a magnificent encompassing view of Cappadocia. In the background stands majestic Erciyes volcano. After a canter on the plateau's larger tracks, you arrive at the pic-nic spot overlooking Karlik valley.
After more trots and canters on the plateau and great views over the chain of the Taurus mountains, you ride down to the Valley of Cemil passing through orchards and vineyards to reach the camp next to an ancient troglodyte monastery, near the remote village of Cemilkoy.
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Highlights: Avlak Plateau Cemil Valley Panorama over Cappadocia and the Taurus
Time spent in the saddle: 5h30
Distance : 25 Km |
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Day 3
The morning includes four hours of riding; the afternoon is reserved for your leisure in Cappadocia's most picturesque villages.
You ride along the flank of the mountain to reach a vast rocky plateau overlooking the south of Cappadocia. The cliff-top view is beyond breathtaking. You descend into a lush valley planted with woods, where you stop for a morning break.You ride through the green countryside, crossing narrow streams, winding your way through gardens and small woods. Later, the land turns into wide open, bare spaces where shepherds lead their flock. After a last gallop on the steppe, you arrive at the camp, where lunch is cooking over the wood fire. In the early afternoon, you are transferred to your pension in Uchisar. You may spend the rest of the day visiting the village's troglodytic quarters or you may want to take a taxi to Goreme (3 km away) to visit the Open Air Museum or shop for souvenirs and local crafts. |
Highlights: Panorama over Cappadocia Valley of Ayvali Steppe of Bahceli Uchisar and Goreme Time spent in the saddle: 4h00 Distance : 15 Km |
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Day 4
You begin from the Valley of Sorkumlu; there are areas so narrow that they form a deep canyon with many out-of-the way treasures. We gallop on a long sandy path lined with orchards and gardens, still cultivated by the locals using horses or mules. In green field you stop, surrounded by walls of soft colourful rock, where the horses can rest and graze. After a pic-nic on the woodfire and a siesta at the foot of a pear tree, you continue over rolling hills of white tufa leading you up to a rock pinnacle embracing Cappadocia's most beautiful valleys. You sneak your way through the rocky labyrinths, tunels and arches of the splendid Green Valley in order to reach the campsite above it. You admire the valley's strangely shaped pink rock formations while sipping tea.
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Highlights: Valley of Sorkumlu Panorama over central Cappadocia Green Valley Time spent in the saddle: 5h30 Distance : 20 Km |
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Day 5
You walk through the paved streets of the charming village of Goreme and enter the Pigeon Valley - one of Cappadocia's most well-known - towards Uchisar. Your small, agile horses are able to move into the White Valley through a narrow path carved in the rock. You take a short break at the foot of the fancy fairy chimneys of the aptly named Love Valley... You reach the plateau again for a wild gallop and break for lunch in the shady woods of the Sheep Valley. Later, you canter on the large sandy tracks leading to the ancient village of Cavusin, where you take a tea break. A scenic path carved in the red rock of Mount Boztepe leads you to the famous rock formations of Pasabag. After a long canter across the plain of Avanos, you reach the troglodyte camp in Yeni Zelve. Here, you can watch the sun set above Devrent valley. |
Highlights:
Pigeon Valley White Valley Love Valley Cavusin Pasabag
Time spent in the saddle: 5h30
Distance : 25 Km |
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Day 6
You proceed through the forest of fairy chimneys in Devrent Valley. You dismount to ascend the Boz Tepe moutain in order to reach the mausoleum of local saint Alil Dede. From his resting place, you have a 360° view over Cappadocia. You descend through the maze of tracks and paths up the crests and down the canyons of the Red Valley and the Valley of the Roses. With their cidatels of red, pink and ocre rock, these are Cappadocia's most spectacular valleys. You stop for lunch at a small troglodytic cafe next to the Church of the Cross.
In the afternoon, you leave the tortuous paths behind you to take advantage of larger tracks for a long gallop. You cross the Valley of Pancarlik and you arrive at the ranch by mid-afternoon. After a farewell tea on the terrace, you are driven back to the pension in Ortahisar.
You have an option to be driven to the hamam in the nearby town of Urgup, or you can spend the last hours of the day visiting the small Museum of Anatolian Culture at Ortahisar's Museum Restaurant. Dinner and overnight at the pension. |
Highlights: Devrent Valley Boztepe Red Valley - Valley of the Roses Pancarlik Valley Time in the saddle: 5h30 Distance : 25 Km |
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