A ride of good comfort, rare in Cappadocia where rides are often offered in camps or more rustic accommodations.
38.383962712572, 35.0670275
This progressive equestrian trail ride in Cappadocia is an invitation to discover the immense natural, historical and cultural wealth of the unique landscape of Cappadocia. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage, the Cappadocia region is the result of incredible volcanic eruptions and ancient human activity. You will explore a land with magnificent landscapes. From the ranch between Ortahisar and Ürgüp, depending on the version, the route will take you on a 6-day loop on horseback around "geological" Cappadocia. From the pleasant Cappadocia of the south to the spectacular valleys of the north, the unusual rocks, the green canyons, the highlands, the steppe, the vines and the orchards follow one another to form an astonishingly varied landscape. Along the way, work in the fields punctuates the seasons, the villages reflect the Anatolian way of life, and the troglodyte churches bear witness to the region's rich past. Our itinerary takes place entirely in the national park of Cappadocia. You will experience legendary Turkish hospitality in the typical Anatolian guesthouses or hotels that have been selected.
HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE IN CAPPADOCIA
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival. Arrival at Kayseri airport and transfer to the ranch (transfers are only included at set times!). You are met by our driver and transferred to your guesthouse in Ortahisar, where you have dinner with your guide.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight in Ortahisar
Day 2 (Monday): Avlak. You are driven to the ranch in the morning to meet your horse, and get acquainted with the riding equipment. You will have time to try your horse on a 1 km training course going around the farm.
The trail begins with a 1-hour ride through lush vegetation and along the stream of the Uzengi canyon. Very quickly, the first long canter brings you to Avlak Mountain, with a magnificent view of Cappadocia. Cantering on this high plateau brings us to lunchtime. Lunch is served on a table, in the heart of a green canyon, with the horses grazing around us. The afternoon is spent riding through a huge valley where the ghost village of Karain is located. After a few more canters, we arrive in Akköy village. The terrace of the hotel has a 180° view over the valley and the paddock is 100 m in front of the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Akköy
Day 3 (Tuesday): Keslik Monasteri. We start this day by cantering through fields of the high Anatolian plateau (1600 m above sea level): barley, wheat, oat and beans fields. We dismount in order to walk our horses (about 20 minutes) along a steep trail down to Damsa lake. Villagers cook lunch for us on a wood fire. Passing by and overlooking a valley of fairy chimneys, the afternoon scenery is made of bare hills surrounding the lake (in case of hot weather, you can swim in the lake with your horse). You canter along tracks of soft red clay leading you to the village of Ayvali through a hidden canyon, and stop for the night at your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Mustafapasa
Day 4 (Wednesday): Golgoli. In the morning, a quick start with a canter brings you to visit the underground village of Golgoli. Your sure-footed horse takes you off the beaten tracks along a scenic path through rock formations, vineyard and orchards, surrounded by table-mountains. Arrival in the center of the old Greek village of Mustafapasa and visit on horseback. You climb a scenic plateau where you have the opportunity to gallop your horse again. After a short ride, you arrive to your hotel in Ayvali.
(Depending on the season and weather forecast, lunch in Mustafapasa or next to the swimming pool in Ayvali)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Mustafapasa
Day 5 (Thursday): Ibrahimpasa. Leaving the hotel on horseback, you can enjoy a varied scenery of narrow tracks, small canyons, farmed land, and the wide- open spaces of Subasi, where shepherds lead their flock. You sneak your way along the lush, narrow canyon of a remote village, before galloping on large sandy tracks. Visit of a second and different type of underground village: “Kirkule”. A long canter leads us through vineyards and orchards and over rolling hills of white tuff to reach the fairy chimneys of Gomeda valley. Then more riding awaits you in the narrow corridors and arches of the canyon of Gumuslu. You ride uphill to reach a restaurant for lunch: “Babayan evi”. Very good and healthy local food. From this picturesque village, you start ascending the ‘twin hills' of Cappadocia to reach a panoramic viewpoint encompassing northern Cappadocia and the towering rock fortress of Uchisar. As you ride towards the village, you can admire the multicolored rock formations of the famous Pigeon Valley, and Uchisar’s picturesque fairy chimneys. Your reach your guesthouse on horseback and enjoy a drink on the terrace.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Uchisar
Day 6 (Friday): Valley of Roses. Optional hot-air balloon flight in the early morning. You sneak your way through the rock tunnels, arches and small woods of the spectacular, 4 km-long canyon called the Green Valley. You make a detour through the famous Love Valley and its gigantic phallic rock formations, then into the Sword Valley and Red Valley. With its citadels of red, pink and ochre rocks, and its beautiful troglodytic churches, this is Cappadocia’s most spectacular ensemble of geological formations. A cave café located in an ancient monastery welcomes you for lunch. In the afternoon, you keep exploring the Red and Rose Valleys, and then ride out into the fields, surrounded by the rocky hills of north Cappadocia. The winding paths of the Shepherd’s valley take you back with a long canter to your guesthouse in Uchisar, in time to admire north Cappadocia in the sunset light.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Uchisar
Day 7 (Saturday): Boz daha’ plateau. You enter another beautiful canyon called the White Valley (named this way because of the color of its rocks). You ride through stone labyrinths and lush vegetation, and pass the impressive fairy chimneys of yet another Love Valley ... Crossing the picturesque village of Cavusin, you dismount for a short walk to reach the plateau of Boz daha. You canter on the crest overlooking Red valley on one side and Devrent valley on the other, with its strangely shaped fairy chimneys on the other side. You enjoy more long canters through the maze of woody, sandy paths of the valley of Urgüp before reaching the valley of Pancarlik and its multicolored rock formations, gardens and orchards. You return to the ranch in the afternoon. After tea on our terrace, you have an option to be driven to the hammam in Urgüp for a relaxing steam bath and massage. Short transfer back to your guesthouse and farewell dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Ortahisar
Day 8 (Sunday): Departure. After breakfast, departure to Kayseri (or Nevsehir) airport for your flight back home.
Meals included: Breakfast
* Indicative itinerary, may be changed if necessary.
MEETING:
Kayseri Airport. Free transfer between 8am and 10pm. The schedule depends on the arrival times of other participants: contact us.
(Flights Paris-Istanbul, then Istanbul-Kayseri, see: Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Onur air, Marmara, etc ...)
DEPARTURE:
Free transfer to the airport from Kayseri Airport after breakfast around 7:30 am (departure of the plane generally around 9:40 am).
FLIGHTS:
Flights are not included in our prices because it is generally more interesting to book your flights yourself, an inclusive flights package is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best rates or to offer you a trip including transport on request: free service.
RIDING LEVEL & Physical condition :
Intermediate to confirmed. Riders must be able to tack up and mount their horse unassisted, and be confident on leading their horse on rough terrain and riding during group canters on forward-going horses.
The riders will lead there horse only on very few rough passages where they need to dismount from the horse ; and for a short walk in the morning before getting in the saddle.
Maximum weight : Riders upper 85 kg, could book with extra charge, for the loan of a second horse. This option is only on demand, it will depend of the horse riding level of the rider and the availability of horses .
RYTHM:
5 and half days, 5 h on back of the horse each day. 28 km per day on average, on varied terrain.
Pace is walk, with canters every day. Sometimes long canter.
GROUPS:
Maximum 8 riders for 1 local guide, speaking English & French.
HORSES:
Anatolian and Arab mares of an ideal size for hiking on steep paths (1.45 m to 1.55 m). Enduring and good in their head, they are respectful of their rider and let themselves be saddled and groomed without problem. They will surprise you with their sure footing and liveliness.
SADDLERY:
The horses are ridden in hackamore and the saddlery is made up of lightweight McClellan type trekking saddles. Each saddle is equipped with 2 saddlebags.
PARTICIPATION :
Riders are expected to tack up/untack their horse, water it (at the fountain), and help feed it in the evening.
ACCOMMODATION:
The guesthouses used are located in the villages of Urgup, Ayvali and Uchisar. You will stay in picturesque, comfortable guesthouses located in ancient stone houses or in renovated cave houses, typical of the local architecture. A luxury option is now available on request (+400€) for even more comfort.
All nights are in double/twin room with ensuite toilets and shower. Accommodations offer internet access and a laundry service.
MEALS:
On the ride, you stop for lunch at restaurants or village inns offering local specialties. Dinner (Anatolian specialties) and breakfast (Turkish and continental) are taken at the guest houses. Dinners usually include a starter, one or two courses, and a dessert. Vegetarian menu on request. Alcoholic beverages (Cappadocia wine, beer) available as an option. Tea and coffee are offered. Other drinks are payable locally.
2021 PRICE / PER PERSON:
Shared bedrooms - Low season (4-18April, June, August): 1375 €
Shared bedrooms - High season (May, September, October): 1700 €
Single bedroom supplement - standard accommodation: 245 €
Luxury hotels: 400€
Single bedroom supplement - standard accommodation: 370 €
Balloon flight option: 270 €
Booking fee: 15 €
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
The equipped horse rental, the guide, accommodation, meals (except 1 lunch in an inn), Beverages other than water, tea and coffee at meal times, transfers during the ride, transfers from / to the airport at the times indicated , The financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, drinks excluding meals, any visits (Hot air balloon flight and Turkish baths -hammam- optional), tips, travel. It is more interesting to book your ticket, a transport package included is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best rates or to offer you a transport trip included on request.
CLIMATE:
|
Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Average High Temperature (°F) |
38 |
44 |
53 |
63 |
71 |
80 |
87 |
88 |
78 |
66 |
53 |
41 |
|
Average Low Temperature (°F) |
22 |
25 |
33 |
39 |
48 |
54 |
59 |
60 |
50 |
42 |
32 |
25 |
|
Average High Temperature (°C) |
4 |
7 |
12 |
17 |
22 |
27 |
30 |
31 |
26 |
19 |
12 |
5 |
|
Average Low Temperature (°C) |
-6 |
-4 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
12 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
0 |
-4 |
Source: NOAA
Cappadocia has a semi-arid, continental climate, with 29 days of rain per year on average.
If you suffer in the heat, avoid the hottest weeks of the year which are from mid-July to end of August.
March: Cold weather, last frost after winter.
April: The sun is back, nature has woken up. Nights remain cold.
May: Sunny weather but may turn stormy at short notice.
June: Vegetation is lush, fields are covered with flowers, the horses are at the top of their form, the kids are still at school ...
July: Beautiful weather. Highly recommended.
August: Very sunny weather, and hot (35°). Siesta is a must after lunch. Bring your hat and sunglasses.
September: Very nice, Indian-summery weather. The trees bear fruits.
October: Beautiful light, great colors. Days are cooler and nights are cold again.
November: Rain is back. May be frosty at night. For the most adventurous riders only.
This trip is not running in January, February and December as temperatures are too cold and snow can make the trails dangerous.