Cappadocia

After breakfast riders will be taken to the stables. The place is absolutely one of a kind, and we’ll have time to wander around and take it all in. Shortly afterwards, we’ll meet the horses and try to match them with riders. We’ll do an introductory warm-up ride to get to know them, and in the afternoon we’ll break for lunch. Towards evening, we’ll head out for about four hours in the saddle to take in the surreal rock formations from horseback for the first time. We’ll also ride out to Yılklı — a herd of wild horses. In the past, people who needed a horse but couldn’t afford to feed it through the winter would release their horses so they could fend for themselves. Over time, the horses bred naturally, formed herds, and today they live wild or semi-wild. We’ll catch the sunset on the way — and Cappadocia sunsets are genuinely stunning. After that, we’ll return to the stables and head for dinner. We’ll spend the night in tents, camping… on a rocky summit above the stables, with access to a bathroom at the ranch.

After breakfast at camp, we’ll set off. The first part of the trail takes us to Sword Valley, named after its sharp rock formations, as well as its ancient cave dwellings. Next, we’ll ride into Rose Valley, where the rocks change colour depending on the time of day. A bit further on, we’ll reach Red Valley, one of Cappadocia’s most famous spots. From there, we’ll head up towards Mount Ak and descend into Devrent Valley (the “Valley of Imagination”), where we’ll stop for lunch. The next stretch takes us through the area around the town of Karayazı, with a lovely panoramic view over the region. We’ll then drop down to the Red River and follow it for a while until we reach Love Valley, with its unusual rock pillars that tend to spark some rather naughty associations. For the night — depending on the weather — we’ll camp either in Love Valley or in Zemi Valley. There we’ll unsaddle the horses, set up camp, and in the evening we’ll sit down for the first of the fantastic camp dinners along the route.

It’s well worth getting up early to watch the sea of balloons drifting above our camp. The views are incredible and more than make up for the early start. After soaking it all in, we’ll have breakfast at camp, saddle up, and set off. We’ll start by riding through the scenic area around Büyük Harap. Around the middle of the day, we’ll ride into town and stop for a break and lunch right beneath the extraordinary stone fortress in Uçhisar. We’ll also climb up to the top to take in the panorama. Once we’re fed and rested, we’ll ride through town and on into Pigeon Valley. Its rock hollows and caves — including many dovecotes carved by human hands — are home to thousands of birds (not only pigeons). From there, the route takes us towards Mount Gemil and then down into the Kavak Valley. In the afternoon, we’ll reach the ancient Greek village of Babayan. We’ll have dinner at a local traditional restaurant, and spend the night in a charming, family-run cave hotel carved into the rock.

Today our horses get a well-earned rest, and we head out to see some of the region’s best highlights. We’ll go for a short walk among the surreal rock formations, which is a great chance to chat about the area, its landscape, and its history. We’ll visit one of the oldest churches in the region and an extraordinary open-air museum. We’ll stop for lunch along the way, then head to Avanos, home to a brilliant workshop producing traditional pottery. There’ll also be time for a bit of shopping. 🙂 In the late afternoon, we’ll return to Babayan for dinner and another night in the family-run rock hotel.

After breakfast in town, we’ll head to our horses and leave the Greek village behind. Our first stop today is the Pancarlık Church, which has been in use for 1,400 years. From there, the route takes us to the lovely Uzengi Valley, with its slightly “lunar” feel and huge dovecotes built into the rocks. Pigeon keeping in Cappadocia dates back to the 9th century, and their droppings are still used to this day. Next, we’ll ride on into the Gomeda Valley, best known for its remarkable rock-cut church. We’ll stop for lunch, then continue to the picturesque Greek town of Mustafapaşa. From there we’ll head towards Gölgölü Valley, another of the striking landscapes on our route. Soon after, we’ll reach Lake Damsa, where the camp crew will already be waiting for us. We’ll take care of the horses, rinse off the dust, sit down for dinner, and spend the night tenting.

We’ll start the day with breakfast at our lakeside camp. After the usual morning bustle, we’ll saddle up and set off. Today’s route takes us between charming villages, ancient churches, and historic monasteries that make up part of the region’s rich heritage. Our first destination is the village of Cemil, known for its stone houses and a historic Ottoman-era church. Next, we’ll head to the Keşlik monastic complex, tucked away among the rocks, where we’ll stop for a break. The next section of the trail takes us on towards the sleepy village of Yeşilöz and the beautifully situated town of Karain. On the outskirts of Karain, we’ll set up our final camp of the trip, enjoy a delicious dinner, and spend the night there.

After breakfast, we’ll head towards the hills of Karain and Avla. From there, we’ll ride on to the town of Ürgüp, whose old town is dotted with charming rock-cut houses and local shops. Next, we’ll enter Ortahisar Valley to take in yet more of Cappadocia’s extraordinary rock formations. We’ll reach the Hallaç Monastery, where we can go inside to see its remarkable frescoes. From there, we’ll turn towards Çiftlik, covering the final kilometres at a gallop. Once we arrive, we’ll thank our wonderful horses and say goodbye to them. We’ll freshen up at the hotel, then head to the ranch for our final farewell dinner.

It’s time to leave magical Cappadocia. Riders will be transferred to the airport for their flights.