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Just try and imagine a 40 km wide, giant meringue formed between 2 and 10 millions years ago by a couple of hallucinatory volcanoes on the Anatolian plateau.
This riding trail, with nights spent in guesthouses, is an invitation to
discover the natural, historical and cultural wealth of Cappadocia's unique
landscape, a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. In groups of no more than 8
people, you will spend 5-6 hours per day riding through a land rich with plant
and animal life. You will visit cave villages, a renovated caravanserai and
ancient frescoed churches. Discover a rural way of life where old traditions are
still alive, and you will experience the legendary Turkish hospitality in the
typical Anatolian guesthouses that we have selected for you.
 IT-TKIR01
Rates: All inclusive accommodations in guesthouse, meals, 6 riding days
8 days/7 nights $ 1,145
Single: +$220
-- based on €730 / 140
.. in
superior guesthouses $1,725
€1,100
2008 Dates:
04/06-04/13
04/20-04/27 05/04-05/11
05/18-05/25
06/01-06/08 06/15-06/22
07/13-07/20
07/27-08/03 08/10-08/17
08/24-08/31 09/07-09/14
09/21-09/28
10/05-10/12 10/19-10/26
10/26-11/02
availability & reservation
Meeting: Ortahisar
Airport: Kayseri
Transfer:
Included from Kayseri at 8 PM. Drop off in time for
9:40 AM flight to Istambul
Level:
Intermediate
Riders must be in good
physical condition. The circuit includes difficult passages where you will be
asked to dismount and walk.
Tack:
McLellean (hackamores)
Horses:
Cross-Arabian (small sized, vivacious yet easy going mares)
Pace: Walk
with opportunities for trots and canters; 5 to 6 hrs per day
Min/Max:
2-14 riders - riding groups not bigger than 8
per guide.
Note:
If you like camping -- many of the dates are
available with 4 nights camping ~$975
Single fee to be paid locally - it is waived
if you are willing to share.
Accompanying non-riders are welcome to join on this trail.
With their own guide and driver, they will explore Cappadocia's volcanic
wonderland on foot, and join the riders in the evening at the guesthouse.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1 Sunday: Evening arrival and transfer to the
guesthouse. Dinner with your guide and overnight.
Day 2 Monday: “Lake Damsa”
You will be driven to the ranch in the early morning to meet and choose your
horse, and get acquainted with the riding equipment. The trail begins with the
ascension of a narrow path along the crests overlooking the Valley of Uzengui,
where abrupt rock walls shelter stone citadels. We pass the ancient Greek
village of Mustafapasa/Sinasos, then ride through an expanse of land closely
resembling the Mongolian steppes. After a picnic in the woods of Lake Damsa, we
follow the banks along the turquoise water, galloping on the white sand tracks
leading to the remote village of Cemil.
Guesthouse trail: you are transferred to your
pension in Akköy for dinner.
Superior guesthouse trail: you are transferred to
your hotel in Ürgüp for dinner.
Time spent in the saddle:
5h
Distance: 20 Km
Day 3 Tuesday: “Savage Cappadocia”
You ride through the village of Karlik, passing by
tombs carved out of the mountain by the Romans. You
sneak your way through the lush vegetation of the
valley, before ascending a narrow path along the
crests. Reaching the foot of Mount Hodül, you cross
the remote village of Aciviran. After a canter on
the sandy tracks, you stop for lunch by a sheepfold,
where you have views over Ercyies volcano and the
chain of the Taurus Mountains beyond the Anatolian
plain. After more trots and canters on the Avlak
plateau, you reach the cliff overlooking the valley
of Damsa. As the sun is slowly setting, you ride
down the valley through orchards, vineyards and
small woods and you reach the camp next to Keşlik
troglodyte monastery, nearby the village of Cemil.
Guesthouse trail: you are transferred to your
pension in Mustafapaşa for dinner.
Luxury Guesthouse Trail: you are transferred to your
hotel in Mustafapaşa for dinner.
Time spent in the saddle: 5.5h
Distance :
40 Km
Day 4 Wednesday: “Bucolic Cappadocia”
This day comprises 3:30
hours riding in the morning. Afternoon is at leisure
in Cappadocia's most picturesque villages.
Following a track left by the muleteers on the flank
of the mountain, you reach a vast rocky plateau
overlooking the south of Cappadocia. From the top of
the cliff, the view is breathtaking. You descent
through a lush valley planted with woods, where you
stop for a morning break. You ride through the green
countryside, crossing narrow streams, winding your
way through gardens and orchards. Later, the land
turns into wide open, bare spaces where shepherds
lead their flock, aided by the impressive native
Turkish Kangal dogs. After a last gallop on the
steppe, you arrive at the camp, where lunch is
cooking on the wood fire. In the early afternoon,
you are transferred to your guesthouse in the
village of Uchisar, near Göreme. The rest of the day
is at leisure.
Distance : 15 Km
What to do and see during the
afternoon:
- Visit Uchisar'troglodytic quarters and fortress
- Visit Göreme and shop for local crafts
- Visit the painted churches at Göreme's Open Air
Museum
- Göreme, at a 3 km distance from Uchisar, is
Cappadocia's tourist centre with its craft and
souvenir shops, its cafes, bars and restaurants.
From Uchisar, you can either walk the main road or
take a taxi (the guesthouse can arrange it for you).
The Open Air Museum is located 1 km away from the
village centre, on the road to Ürgüp. The entrance
door closes at 17:30 but the Museum itself closes at
19:00. Entrance is 15 YTL.
At the guesthouse, dinner will be served at 9 PM
(Superior Guesthouse Trail : same program using a
hotel in Uchisar)
Day 5 Thursday: "The famous valleys"
You begin from the Valley
of Sorkumlu; there are areas so narrow that they
form a deep canyon with many out-of-the way
treasures. You gallop on a long sandy path lined
with orchards and gardens, still cultivated by the
locals using horses or mules. In green field you
stop, surrounded by walls of soft colourful rock,
where the horses can rest and graze. After a picnic
on the wood fire and a siesta at the foot of a pear
tree, you continue over rolling hills of white tufa
leading you up to a rock pinnacle embracing
Cappadocia's most beautiful valleys.You sneak your
way through the rocky labyrinths, tunnels and arches
of the splendid Green Valley in order to reach the
campsite above it. You admire the valley's strangely
shaped pink rock formations while sipping tea.
Guesthouse trail: you are transferred to your
pension in Göreme for dinner.
Luxury Guesthouse Trail: you are transferred to your
hotel in Göreme for dinner.
Time spent in the
saddle: 5h
Distance: 20 km
Day 6 Friday: “Kizilirmak”
You walk through the
paved streets of the charming village of Goreme and
enter the Pigeon Valley - one of Cappadocia's most
well-known - towards Uchisar. Your small, agile
horses are able to move into the White Valley
through a narrow path carved in the rock. You take a
short break at the foot of the fancy fairy chimneys
of the aptly named Love Valley... You reach the
plateau again for a wild gallop and break for lunch
in the shady woods of the Sheep Valley.
Later, you canter on the large sandy tracks leading
to the ancient troglodytic village of çavuşin, where
you stop for tea. A scenic path carved in the red
rock of Mount Boztepe leads you to the famous rock
formations of Paşabaği. After a long canter across
the plain of Avanos, you reach the troglodyte camp
in Yeni Zelve. Here, you can watch the sun set above
Devrent Valley while sipping tea.
Guesthouse trail : you are transferred to your
pension in Göreme for dinner.
Luxury Guesthouse Trail: you are transferred to your
hotel in Göreme for dinner.
Time spent in the saddle: 5h30
Distance : 25 Km
Day 7 Saturday : “The Red Valley”
You ride along the crests
overlooking the forest of fairy chimneys in Devrent
Valley. You dismount to ascend Mount Boz Tepe in
order to reach the mausoleum of local saint Alil
Dede. From his resting place, you have a 360° view
over Cappadocia. You descend through the maze of
tracks and paths up the crests and down the canyons
of the Red Valley. With its citadels of red, pink
and ocre rock, this is Cappadocia's most spectacular
valley. A secret passage leads to a vast nave carved
in the rock: here is the Church of the Cross, where
you stop for lunch at a small troglodytic café.
In the afternoon, you leave the tortuous paths
behind you to take advantage of larger tracks for a
long gallop. You cross the Valley of Pancarlik and
you arrive at the ranch by mid-afternoon. After a
farewell tea on the terrace, you are driven to your
pension in Ortahisar.
You have an option to be driven to the hamam in the
nearby town of Ürgüp (entrance: 7,5 YTL / 15 YTL
with the massage), or you can spend the last hours
of the day visiting Ortahisar and its small Museum
of Anatolian Tradition at the Museum Restaurant
(entrance: 5 YTL). Dinner at the pension with your
guide.
Luxury Guesthouse : you are driven to your hotel in
Ürgüp. You have an option to go to the hamam
(entrance: 7,5 YTL / 15 YTL with the massage), or
you can spend the last hours of the day visiting
Ürgüp and shopping for local crafts and souvenirs.
Dinner at the hotel with your guide.
Time spent in the saddle:
5.5h
Distance : 25 Km
Day 8: Early breakfast and transfer to the airport.
Horses, tack
and guides:
The stable is composed of cross-arab mares generally
8-9 years old. They are small (1,50 m on average -
the ideal size for trailing ! ), but they will
surprise you with their friendliness, their
robustness and their agility. Horses are distributed
according to riding levels and riders' preferences,
but the size and weight of the rider are also
important criteria. Riders's weight limit : 90 kg.
For riders exceeding this weight, please enquire
before booking.
Riding is English style. The riding equipment
comprises MacLellan light trailing saddles, and
hackamores. Saddles are fitted with 2 saddle-bags
for you to carry personal belongings for the day.
The guides are French natives who speak fluent
English and Turkish.
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