Oriental Kaleidoscope

Flight to Kayseri. Reception at the airport and transfer to Cappadocia (1h30 drive), we arrive at the village of Çavusin installed at the foot of a cliff. Depending on the time of arrival, our stage starts towards Pasabagi ("Pasha's vineyard") where we can see the most typical examples of Cappadocian fairy chimneys as well as the various geological layers that make up the cliff. Overnight in a pension. Between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 walking.
Transfer: by vehicle, around 1 hour.

In the morning start of the hike from the village of Mustafapacha to the Gömede valley. Passing through the Pancarlik valley, we reach the village of Ortahisar dominated by its famous fortress. After lunch we leave our bikes and start our hike in the Kizilçukur valley (Red valley) which is named after its beautiful red and pink colours. Here you will see the fairy-tale result of millions of years of wind and rain erosion on a soft volcanic rock. Peaks, valleys, penitents and fairy chimneys alternate harmoniously. Man's ingenuity has added a special touch, through the need to integrate into this lunar landscape: troglodytic dwellings in large numbers and churches.
Between 4 hours 30 and 5 hours of walking. Overnight in a pension.

Walk to the village of Uçhisar through the White Valley. It is a wide valley dominated by enormous fairy chimneys where the tufa is a beautiful white colour sometimes stained with sulphur. Formerly densely populated, the troglodytic dwellings of the valley now serve as sheds or stables; these hamlets of coiffed damsels whose old doors and windows sculpted in the tufa open onto rooms that are now deserted. Visit the fortress (a mass of volcanic tuff) erected on a rocky promontory that dominates almost all the valleys of Cappadocia. After a picnic in the shade of the fruit trees, we continue our discovery of the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia. Then in the afternoon we continue our hike in the Güvercinlik valley (valley of the pigeons), which leads us to the famous village of Avcilar.

Dinner and overnight in a pension. Between 4 hours 30 and 5 hours of walking.

In the morning, departure by bus to the Ihlara Valley. On the way, visit the underground town of Kaymakli, which is dug 8 floors deep and 55m high. Then we arrive in Ihlara. Walk in this wonderful canyon, which has offered refuge to different civilizations for thousands of years. We follow the river Melendiz and visit troglodytic dwellings and rock churches dating from the 6th to the 12th century whose frescoes are still intact. We continue our walk in the valley rich in vegetation. Through willow and poplar plantations we reach the village of Belisirma. Transfer by minibus to the village of Güzelyurt where we will spend the night. Between 3 hours and 3 hours 30 walking. Night in a pension.
Transfer: by car, between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Early enough to do the whole day's programme, we drive west with the sun on our backs. We drive through Aksaray, an endless steppe which catches us. Steppe, like in Mongolia, Iran, Siberia ! Is it monotonous? No of course, it is, on the contrary, the opportunity to discover the immensity of this country ! On the way, visit of a 13th century caravanserai (From Sultan Hani). Visit of Konya before leaving to spend the night on the shores of Lake Beyshehir. Overnight in a boarding house.

Transfer: Vehicle, between 4 and 4.30 am.

We leave this enchanting place to head south and the Mediterranean. Lunch on the way in the Taurus (altitude restaurant) before arriving in view of the Mediterranean. At the Köprü Canyon, comfortable riverside accommodation. Overnight in a pension.

Transfer: Vehicle, between 4 hours.

We go up by minibus to the mountain village of Selge (1000m). We enter a world of fantastic looks. Selge was an important Roman town at the beginning of our era, very populated. But apart from the theatre, it was devastated by many earthquakes. We go up to the theatre, but at its foot to the south, we can see the remains of the stadium, the ancient agora, the Roman baths, and the ancient temple of Zeus. Some fragments of walls and some sarcophagi complete our discoveries. We set off on foot towards the Bosburun massif. Behind us, to the south, the Mediterranean, and all around, the valleys with wooded massifs. Our minibus is waiting for us in Altincukur to take us to our riverside accommodation.

Between 5 hours and 5.5 hours walking, altitude difference + 600 metres. Night in a pension.

Transfer: Vehicle, between 30 minutes and 1 hour.

Transfer to Çamyuva where we will have lunch. In the afternoon we take time to visit the remains and then walk to Tekirova. We take the coastal path which allows us to swim in some beautiful creeks throughout the hike. At the end of the afternoon, transfer to Cirali for dinner and overnight stay.

Between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 of walking, height difference + 50 / - 50 meters. Overnight in pension.

Transfer: Vehicle, 1 hour.

We take a wild path in the mountains to Chimaera: natural gas fumes spontaneously ignite on contact with the air. We enter the Olympos site and visit the remains (necropolises, theatre, baths, temples, warehouses...) of this ancient port which survived from the pre-Hellenistic period until the Arab-Islamic invasions. Most of the remains are in the shade of a forest of fragrant laurel trees. After the visit, return to our accommodation in Cirali. Between 3 hours and 3 hours 30 of walking, altitude difference + 200 / - 300 meters. Night in a pension.

Transfer: Vehicle, between 30 minutes.

After breakfast, transfer to Kapakli village. On the road, we make a stop at the town of Demre to visit the magnificent site of the ancient city of Myra: necropolis dug into the cliff, remarkable Roman theatre with astonishing masks... We start our hike towards the beautiful village of Kale, passing by two isolated creeks where swimming is possible. Arrival at the small port of Kale, only accessible by sea or, like us, on foot! Flower-filled houses, feet in the water and numerous Lycian sarcophagi, some of which are submerged, make up the charm of this small port. Short transfer to the hotel in Uçagiz where we stay for two nights by the sea, opposite the island of Kekova.

Between 3 hours and 4 hours of walking, difference in altitude + 30 / - 200 meters. Night in a pension.

After our breakfast, we meet up with our sea kayaks in Uçagiz to tour the bay of Kekova. We will pass through the village of Simena, visit the sunken city and the cove of Tersane. Then back to the village of Ucagiz. 4 hours of kayaking. Overnight in a pension.

Transfer to Antalya and flight to Istanbul. Self-guided tour.
Overnight in a *** hotel.
Transfer: Vehicle, 30 mnt.

Free visit of Istanbul, the opportunity to discover its many treasures: Saint Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Egyptian market...
Overnight in a *** hotel.

Transfer to Istanbul airport and return flight.