• Cappadocia - The region of Cappadocia is located in the middle of a once-active volcanic area of central Anatolia. Millions of years ago three of its mountains - Erciyes, Hasandağ and Güllüdağ - were active volcanoes; indeed this activity persisted intermittently at least into the Neolithic period according to the prehistoric paintings.

The volcanic eruptions were so strong that in some places the lava was up to 150m in thickness. Over many millions of years, volcanoes, wind, rain and ice sculpted the region which we now know as Cappadocia. As the landscape was eroded, basalt stones remained and formed conical structures with some reaching as high as 45m.

The local people referred to these unique rock formations “fairy chimneys”, a name that has endured throughout the ages. If nature was the first artist to arrange the decor, it was Anatolian man who carved the rock and built houses, churches and over 250 underground cities out of it over the centuries.

• Private transportation
• Carbonated beverages
• On-board WiFi
• Bottled water
• Lunch
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Surcharges on fuel
• Parking fees

• Gratuities

We’ll start our trip by heading to the Ihlara Valley, formed from the volcanic remains of Mt. Hasan. We’ll take a hike through the valley, along the lovely Melendiz River, before moving on to Selime to discover the cavernous fortress and churches situated on a steep hillside, surrounded by whimsical chimney formations. We’ll halt at Yaprakhisar village for a photo session. Later in the day, we’ll tour the Derinkuyu Underground Village, where Christian communities sought refuge and established homes furnished with stables, cellars, storerooms, dining halls, churches, and wineries. We’ll wrap up the day with a return to your hotel.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.