Fast Trail in Cappadocia - Horseriding Turkey

The fast trail in guesthouses

Leaving from the ranch between Urgup and Ortahisar, in the heart of the national park, the progressive trail takes you on a 6-day tour around Cappadocia. From the peasants' Cappadocia of the south to the most beautiful valleys of the north, a succession of fantastic rock formations, lush canyons, high plateaux, steppe-like landscape, along with vineyards and orchards, compose a surprinsingly varied route. On the way, the villages reflect the Anatolian way of life while frescoed churches and other troglodytic treasures testify of the rich past of the area. Our itinerary takes place entirely within the national park.

It is now possible to include during the week a hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia's surreal landscape at sunrise, as well as a Turkish bath experience (steam bath and massage at Urgup's traditional hamam at the end of the week).

Accommodation is in charming guesthouses in Cappadocia's prettiest villages, in front of which your horses are spending the night (see dates and details below).

The guesthouse trail is for fit, 'active' and autonomous riders. The circuit includes difficult passages where you will be asked to get off your horse and lead it, sometimes up steep paths. The effort is rewarded by stunning views, but a good physical condition is essential.
Tradition and comfort on this guesthouse formula.

Detailed itinerary : The description below is an example of a trail we often do, but for a reason like the weather forecast or a safety reason, the guide can chose to change the itinerary of the trail at the last moment.

Sunday
Arrival at Kayseri airport. You are met by your chauffeur and transferred in 50 mn to your guesthouse

in Ortahisar, where you have dinner with your guide.

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 one-hour riding 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 encompassing view of Cappadocia. The rocky hills could provide the perfect background to a Western movie... Cantering on this high plateau brings us to lunch time. Olives, humous, vegetables, different cheeses, black bread, traditional yoghurt dish, Turkish black tea are served on a table, in the heart of a green tiny canyon, with the horses grazing around.

The afternoon is spent riding through a huge valley where the ghost village of Karain takes place. A few more canters let us arrive to Akköy village. The horses are tied just under the hotel, and the group can enjoy a drink looking at them. The terrace of the hotel has an 180° view on the valley and the paddock is 100 m in front of the hotel.

Tuesday : Keslik Monasteri

We start this day by cantering through fields of the high Anatolian plateau (1600 m high) : barley, wheat, oat and beans fields. We dismount for 20 minutes of a steep single trail down to Damsa lake.

Villagers cook lunch for us on a woodfire.

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 at your hotel.

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)

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”.

Long canter leads us through vineyards and orchards and over rolling hills of white tuffa to reach the fairy chimneys of Gomeda valley, then more fun riding awaits you in the narrow corridors and arches of the canyon of Gumuslu. You ride uphill to reach one of our best restaurants 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 multicoloured rock formations of the famous Pigeon Valley, and Uchisar’s picturesque fairy chimneys. Your reach your panoramic guesthouse on horseback and enjoy a drink on the terrace

Friday : Valley of Roses

Optional hot-air balloon flight in the early morning: travel with the wind over Cappadocia’s magical landscape at sunrise.

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 ocre rock, and its beautiful troglodytic churches, this is Cappadocia’s most spectacular ensemble of geological formations.

A cave cafe located in an ancient monastery welcomes you for lunch. In the afternoon, you keep exploring the Red and Rose Valleys, 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.

Saturday : Boz daha’ plateau

You enter another beautiful canyon called the White Valley, after the colour of its rock. 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 multicoloured 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 hamam in Urgüp for a relaxing steam bath and massage. Short transfer back to your guesthouse and farewell dinner.

Sunday :
After breakfast, departure to Kayseri (or Nevsehir) airport for your flight to Istanbul.

Conditions

- Riding level: confident to advanced riders
- Group size: maximum 8 riders for 1 guide
- 35 kilometres each day, stopping at a different location every evening
- Pace: walk, with lots of opportunities for long canters
- Full board: lunch is taken in restaurants
- Riders' weight on the progressive trail is limited at 85 kg (on riding clothes). 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 our horses .
- A good physical condition is essential
- Local transport & logistics vehicle for your luggage
- Balloon flight and Turkish bath in option

- Dates 2021 :

April 4 – 11 : 1375 € , April 11 – 18 : 1375 € , April 25 – May 02 : 1550 € , May 02 – 09 : 1700 € , May 16 – 23 : 1700 €, August 22 – 29 : 1375 € , September 05 – 12 : 1700 € , September 19 – 26 : 1700 € , October 10 – 17 : 1700 €

Description

Depending on availability, guesthouses are located in Urgup, Ayvali and Uchisar.
You will stay in picturesque, comfortable hotels located in ancient stone houses or in renovated cave houses, typical of the local architecture.
You will have the time to visit Cappadocia's nicest villages and experience the legendary Turkish hospitality and the Anatolian way of life.

2 kind of accommodations are available:
- one standard
- one luxury (+400 €)
Rider can choose between these 2 options.
Hotels are very close to each other. Dinners will be taken all together, but not the breakfast.

2 types :

- IN STANDARD ROOM :

7 nights in double/twin room in guesthouses. Nights 1, 6 in the town of Urgup; nights 2,3 in Ayvali, nights 4 and 5 in a panoramic hotel in Uchisar.

- Night 1, 2 & 7 : Suban Hotel or similar
- Nights 3 & 4: Dilek Tepesi Hotel or similar
- Night 5 & 6: Kilim Pension or similar

- IN LUXURY ROOMS :

7 nights in double/twin room in superior boutique hotels (stone houses, cave houses). Nights 1, 6 in the town of Urgup; nights 2,3 in superior boutique hotel in Ayvali, nights 4 and 5 in a panoramic hotel in Uchisar.

- Night 1, 2 & 7 : Selcuklu Evi or similar
- Nights 3 & 4: Gamirasu Hotel or similar
- Night 5 & 6: Kilim Pension or similar

Food and accomodation:

- 7 nights in double/twin room with ensuite toilets and shower. Single room supplement (full week): 250€ (Standard) / 370€ (Luxury)
- Most guesthouses offer internet access and a laundry service.
- Lunch is taken in different restaurants and snacks, you will taste local specialities.
- Dinner and breakfast are taken at the hotels. Hotels serve Anatolian cuisine for dinner comprising a starter, one or two courses and a dessert. Vegetarian menu on request. Tea, coffee and mineral water are included.
- Cappadocia wine, local alcoholic drinks, beer and soft drinks are available as an option.
- Your luggage will be transfered by our logistics vehicle. You should pack several, lighter bags rather than one large, heavy suitcase.

Online booking:

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Contact us:

Kapadokya Ranch Turizm Ticaret Limited Sirketi
Bahceli Evleri Mah. N°29
50650 Ortahisar - Urgup - Turkey
Vergi : 497 043 4300 Tel: (0090) 534 342 71 71
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