Walking the Ancient Trails of Cappadocia - Premium Adventure

Expert Named Leaders

Extraordinary Stays

Nature First Adventures

Award-winning Adventures

Premium

9 Days from

CAD 5,145

Incl. taxes Excl. flights

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Premium Adventures, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Premium Adventures, Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

TTF

Explore the unique landscapes and cultures of Cappadocia on foot – from an extraordinary cave hotel

The rock towers, caves and cultural history of Cappadocia are best discovered on foot. Following ancient volcanic eruptions, the region was covered with a blanket of soft ‘tufa’ rock that is easily eroded by wind and water. It has been inhabited for millennia, with many civilisations carving cave dwellings and churches into the towers and hillsides. In recent times, local entrepreneurs have used the same principle to create incredible, unique hotels, one of which is a highlight of our experience. Our programme of walks and activities will show you the best of the area, plus lesser-known routes and experiences. This trip is recommended to those who like exploring in style, and don’t settle with the ordinary.

Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here

Highlights

Experience a six-night stay at the fabulous Yunak Evleri cave hotel in the heart of Cappadocia
Enjoy a unique programme of walks and activities to discover the history, valleys, rock towers and cave dwellings of the region
Grab the chance to take a hot-air balloon ride over the fairytale Cappadocia landscape
Discover historic Istanbul, from centrally located hotels

Key Information

Eight nights in premium hotels in central locations
Five days leisurely/moderate walking
Travel by internal flights and air-conditioned minibus
Option to travel by train to your adventure

Countries visited: Turkey

What's Included

Eight breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners
Premium accommodation throughout
Full programme of activities as shown in the itinerary
Tipping for all hotel, drivers and local staff
Named tour leader, chosen for their expertise and great customer feedback
Internal flights between Istanbul and Kayseri
Free group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

Balloon ride. Pre-booked, but paid locally
Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations
Tip for the leader

5 Days of Premium Adventures

Pace:

This is a leisurely/moderate walking holiday and is run at a relaxed pace

Day 3

5 km / 3.1 miles

Day 4

4 km / 2.5 miles

Day 5

5 km / 3.1 miles

Day 6

4 km / 2.5 miles

Day 7

4 km / 2.5 miles

People, Places & Planet

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
Participation on the calligraphy course enables the school to generate funds to continue supporting the retention of this ancient skill in the community.
Participation in the cooking experience gives a direct benefit to the local economy and enables the hosts and guests to better understand one another’s cultures.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
Take the train: Consider taking the train to this trip. Not only will it significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your holiday vs. flying, it also extends your adventure! Read more about which train journeys we can book, or how to book your own, here.

Itinerary

Welcome to Turkey. Today you arrive in Istanbul, one of the most important and inspiringly beautiful cities in the world. We have no activities scheduled for today, so you are free to arrive anytime.

Premium accommodation: Piya Sport Hotel, Istanbul (four-star)

We start our Turkish experience with a calligraphy lesson, where we learn the secrets of creating rich patterns on handmade marble paper and experience the sensuous flow of Ottoman calligraphy in the company of our highly skilled artist-craftsperson. Participation enables the school to generate the funds to continue supporting the retention of this ancient skill.

For lunch, we have arranged a fabulous introduction to Turkish food, with a meal of Ottoman cuisine at the centrally located Matbah restaurant, which also has excellent views of Istanbul. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our 1hr 15min flight to Kayseri.