The tour starts at 9.30 from our office after a cup of morning coffee or tea and finishes at about 5 pm. In summer, when it is hot, the tour is in two parts, from 9.30 to about 1 pm and from 4.30 pm to about 7.30 pm. We pick you up from your hotel in Göreme at 9.15-9.20 or 9:00 from Ürgüp or Uçhisar.
You begin the tour by hiking down through Meskendir valley to Red and Rose valleys where you can see different natural rock formations, as well as man-made ones, in the form of rock-cut churches with their magnificent murals. You also visit three churches, the Meskendir Kilise, the Kolonlu Kilise (Church with columns) and Haclı Kilise (Church with a cross).
After a short stop above Rose valley you continue walking along Red valley to Çavuşin. There you are picked up and taken to Göreme for lunch in a local house.
After lunch you expolre the old village of Çavuşin and visit the oldest and biggest church in Cappadocia, St John the Baptist church.
From Çavuşin you continue walking through picturesque vineyards to Paşabağ where highly remarkable mushroom-shaped rock formations can be seen, in the middle of a vineyard, hence the name of the place which means 'Pasha’s vineyard'. 'Pasha' means 'general', a military rank, in Turkish. This sight is also called Monks' Valley. The name has come from some high tuff stone columns which stand apart, looking like monks.
The total distance covered is about 12 km of relatively easy hiking. As it involves a lot of going up and down the hills, wearing comfortable walking shoes with a good grip is essential. On request we can supply you with trekking poles.
*At the end of your long journey you will enjoy a complementary Turkish Bath (Hamam) where you will relax in a sauna and a full body massage. |
