Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, Cappadocia is consistently chosen as the best place to ride a hot air balloon on our planet. Most rides go over Goreme National Park, which features the famous otherworldly fairy chimneys—caused by volcanic eruptions that scientists estimate took place between 14-60 million years ago.

What makes the hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia so special is the fact that fairy chimneys are not the only visual wonders to behold. Mushroom-shaped chimneys, cave castles, tabletop mountains, badlands, and amazing valleys all complement each other to form some of the most unusual and scenic landscapes in the planet which can all be observed in a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.

Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, Goreme National Park and Zelve are home to some of the most scenic landscapes on the planet with a history that dates back to the Paleolithic era. Cappadocia, also known as the land of fairytales, is famous for its fairy chimneys, badlands, tabletop mountains, and the unique landscape of valleys and unusual rock formations—caused by volcanic eruptions that scientists estimate took place between 14-60 million years ago.

According to historians, Cappadocia enjoyed a period of prosperity in the 10th and 11th centuries in which the fairy chimneys were carved out to form houses, churches, and monasteries, which can still be explored today. As magical as the surface is, Cappadocia is also home to one-of-a-kind underground cities like Kaymakli, built by early Christians during the Byzantine era to protect the inhabitants from persecution for their faith.

Beneath the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia lies an underground city network called Kaymakli. Built by early Christians during the Byzantine era, the city was the perfect hidden stronghold to protect the inhabitants from persecution for their faith. Amazingly, the city has a depth of about 40 meters and is believed to have eight floors, though only four of these floors became uncovered and accessible to the public in 1964.

In the 4th century, Christians in the Roman empire were facing religious persecution from the Romans. They found their haven in the cave houses, churches, and tunnels in the soft volcanic rock of the area. The Christians used the city all the way until the 14th century, and when the region fell to the Seljuk Turks, residents once again escaped to the safety of their underground cities. There are even records that the town was used until the early 20th century by the Cappadocian Greeks before being abandoned around the 1940s.

Cappadocia is home to scenic cycling routes and the unique landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage land offers different levels of off-road biking adventures for professionals or for families with kids. Ride on thrilling singletrack trails that are only the width of a bike to bring out your adventurous side, winding through roads while surrounded by towering rock structures and fairy chimneys.

Whiz through little-used dirt roads, grassy plains, and volcanic lands and view the remnants of the ancient residents who lived in the Cappadocian caves. Not only will you be able to stop and take photos but you will also be able to explore and discover things for yourself. Explore spectacular views and scenic trails, rides at sunrise under the hot air balloons, romantic sunset rides, and more. Our professional bike guide will always lead the way and riders can also stop by little chapels for short visits and breaks.

Home to beautiful hiking routes, Cappadocia is easily explored on foot and getting off the beaten path will help you to enjoy Cappadocia’s magnificent scenery away from the crowds. Many of the hikes in this area are quite short, and there are plenty of makeshift stalls to keep you fed and hydrated along the way. Hiking into the heart of the valley, the trails are very well marked and it is also the only way to reach some churches, valleys, or castles that are not otherwise accessible. Various towns and villages are also conveniently located near all the main hiking trails

Leave before sunrise to take advantage of cooler morning weather and witness the beautiful colors rising above the fairy chimneys. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you through the trail and tell magical stories about each section you are walking through. We’ll take you to locations like Goreme and Zelve National Parks, Red Valley, and Ihlara Valley (fairytale land), that boast landscapes so unique they are incomparable to any other part of the world.

It’s no surprise that Cappadocia is home to beautiful horseback riding routes—the name Cappadocia actually comes from the ancient Hittite word kaptpatuka which means “Land of Beautiful Horses”. For thousands of years, horses have been an integral part of the region’s history and bygone imagery depicts the ancient people tending to their horses. Cappadocian horse breeders were sought out by royalty and horses became a form of currency, as trades with the Romans for chariot races supported the Cappadocian economy.

Explore the landscapes on a native Anatolian or Arabic horse guided by a Turkish cowboy. Our guides will help you explore the region as you ride through beautiful valleys, over the badlands, through villages, and off-the-beaten paths. Make your way through the volcanic stone hills, passing several stunning fairy chimneys and churches along the way, and look out over breathtaking mountain vistas for as far as you can see. Naturally, sunrise and sunset horseback rides are gorgeous thanks to the scenic landscape.

The Avanos District of Nevşehir Province in the Cappadocia region is famous for its pottery, specifically its terracotta ceramics. Avanos craftsmanship has been honed over thousands of years, at times going by the names of Zuwinasa, Nenansa, and Venessa, and traces back to Hittite times (1800 BC). Today, pottery making continues in Cappadocia, following the ancient traditional ways.

The region’s red soil is the culprit behind the pervasiveness of pottery in Cappadocia. As erosion occurs in the Kızılırmak River delta, a red tuff layer is formed by the eruption of volcanoes, resulting in a red clay ideal for pottery making. This oily and soft clay soil collected from the Kızılırmak deposits turns into a masterpiece in the hands of the experts. Learn how to make pottery on a wheel, witness the process of drying, baking, and glazing the pots, and take home a piece of Turkish history assembled with your own two hands.

Cappadocia is the destination to source gorgeous creative ceramics and tiles, as well as other handicraft goods. The region is also particularly known for wine and because of the igneous make-up of its rocky terrain, Cappadocia is actually the ideal environment for growing bountiful vineyards. Because of this, the region has produced mouthwatering wines for centuries. Immerse yourself in the environment by sampling local produce while shopping in Cappadocia, with raisins, dried apricots, fruit leather (“pestil”), and pekmez (fruit syrup) being essential fruit offerings. For a sweet treat, try köftür, a sweet, sugar-free jelly.

Beyond pottery, the Avanos District is also famous for its gemstones and jewelry. You’ll discover an array of gemstones from all over the world including turquoise, lapis, emerald, onyx, and saffron, being merged with silver, resulting in incredibly unique jewelry pieces. In the markets, you can shop for all manner of Cappadocia-related souvenirs and though the region doesn’t specialize in them, you can also find Turkish rugs.

As one of the most scenic and photogenic regions in the entire world, Cappadocia is the perfect destination for photography tours that highlight the region’s unique landscape and picturesque qualities. From the iconic fairy chimneys to valleys filled with mushroom-like formations to the carved-rock abodes that inspired Tattoine, Luke Skywalker’s home in Star Wars, Cappadocia is filled with locations that would be any photographer’s dream to capture.

Our professional photographer guides on our photography tours can assist clients interested in taking pictures, taking you to some of the most iconic locations in all of Cappadocia to practice your photography skills. They can also show you the secret spots to photograph, helping you to capture the unique landscape in Cappadocia in areas that stray from the main tourist trail. In addition to tours for budding photographers, we also offer the services of professional photographers who can take scrapbook or Instagram-worthy pictures.