Project Description

Three millions years ago Violent eruptions of Mount Erciyes (3916m) and Mount Hasan (3300m) covered the surrounding plateau of Cappadocia with tuff, a soft stone comprised of lava, ash and mud. The wind and rain have eroded this brittle rock and created a surrealist landscape of rock cones, capped pinnacles and fretted ravines, in colours that range from warm reds and golds to cool greens and greys. Goreme is one of those rare regions in the world where the works of man blend into the natural surrounding.

During Byzantine times chapels and monasteries were hollowed out of the rock, their ochre-toned frescoes reflecting the hues of the surrounding landscape. Even today troglodyte dwellings in rock cones and village houses of volcanic tufa merge harmoniously into the landscape. Cappadocia is also natural wonders and unique area in the world with its history. We bike, exploring the surreal landforms of the Goreme valleys and enjoying the colourful blaze. Following ancient pathways we visit the strange rock cut churches and monasteries carved from the soft volcanic tuff.

Day 1 : Kayseri
Meet the group at the airport and transfer to Ihlara. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2 : Ihlara
After breakfast arrive to Ihlara area – Dogantarla village over Ihlara valley, we will first contact with our bicycles. We begin the bike from Dogantarla village village to Selime village by following the asphalt road. Arrive to selime village at the beginning of Ihlara valley that we will visit a churches dotted with rock cut churches 6/7 century, was once the favorite retreat of Byzantine monks. Dinner and overnight at hotel. About 15 km bike asphalt road.

Day 3 : Ihlara – Kaymakli Underground City – Mustafapasa
In the morning we will first after visit small village Belisırma in the bottom of valley some more rock cut churchues 8/9th century by walk. This valley was formed by primeval earthquakes and river is now a quiet stream. We will be transfered to Kaymakli village, here we visit the fascinating
underground city of Kaymakli. All underground cities used by Christian of the seventh century, who were fleeing from persecution. After visit Kaymakli we begin our bike tour from Mazı village Asphalt road to direction of Mustafapasa small village. During our trip we will cross two small typical tradationel Turkish village Yenice and Ayvalı village that some old house exist still in this village is from ancient grec time. Arrive to Mustafapasa village where we spend the night, called old Greec gost village Sinasos. Overnight at hotel (24 km cycling).

Day 4 : Mustafapasa – Goreme
In the morning we bike first Damsa lake. This is actually damm. Over the hill descent from farm tractor road to lake about 5 km and return to Sinasos village from another asphalt road about 5 km with some little ascent untill beginning of Pancarlik valley then Here we join again tractor farm road bike some little up but mostly flat platue, visit Kepez churches here about 6 km tractor road this section secenarry siplendid with its around tuff rock formation. Arriving to Ortahisar village where we will visit the citadel of the town. On all the surrealist Cappadoccia area. Lateafternoon we continue to Goreme village about 6 km bike over the asphalt and some farm road. Arrive to Goreme village and overnight at hotel.

Day 5 : Kavak – ibrahimpasa – Uchisar – Goreme
In the morning we transfer Kavak village 15 munites by bus. Here end of this small village we begin our bike trip . Today road is easy usully descent out of one or two small section. Bike through babayan platue to ibrahimpasa village 12 km bike . Here we will visit ibrahimpasa village an old Greek village, where until the turn of century Orthodox Anatolian Greek communities lived. We will have some tea in Local cafe. Then short transfer to Uchisar village where we will have lunch and visit citadel. Panoramic view of the Cappadocian region will be visible. Afternoon we will
bike over the Akvadi (white valley from Farm Tractor road 11 km down to Goreme. En-route we will stop for some beautifull secenarry to see different fairy chimneys exist in down valley. Arrive to Goreme and overnight at hotel (Total cycling 23 km).

Day 6 : Goreme – Cavusin – Pasabagları – Avanos – Sarıhıdır Village – Goreme
We go on the our biking tour from bottom side of Kizilcukur valley direction of Cavusin village, Kızılcukur valley sometimes known as the ‘red hole’ Kizilcukur is probably the hottest valley in region. Hidden in its array of fairy chimneys is visiting Cavusin village which lies on top
of a collapsed section of early Christian cave city. Arrive to pasabag after stop for to see secenarry we continue bike to Avonos town. We will stop for lunch here. This town is famous with pottery and hand craft at the corner of Kizilirmak (red –river). After lunch we will contuniue bike to Sarıhıdır village from Farm Tractor road at the corner of red river here secenarry is splendid this road is used also for horse drivers (about 10km). Here we join our whicle for short transfer to Goreme village. Overnight hotel. (Total cycling about 26 km).

Day 7 : Kızılcukur – Urgup  
After a short bus ride our last day with our bicycles will be in Red valley panorama down to Urgup town about 8 km from farm tractor road between the apricot and grap gardens inside fairy chimneys, As well as the landscape this region is also renowned for its wine as the fine volcanic soil is very fertile. Arrive Urgup we have some free hours to make some shopping in this town. Dinner and overnight hotel.

Day 8 : Home
Transfer to Kayseri airport and fly home.

Grade : II
Limit : 6 – 16 persons
Season : April to November