Regional Cappadocia Tour
Meet at our Office or pick you up hotel. Transfer to; Çavuşin, visit monastery and St Baptist Church, famous with it’s unique wallpainting Salome’s dance. Pasabag, famous with it’s multi headed fairy chimneys, where has been the jail of St. Simeon who raged against the monastery life rules of Cappadocia. Zelve Open Air Museum, where villagers lived until 1967. Has three valleys with cave houses and churches, which gives the chance to see the change at monastery life from primitive to modern. Explore caves via tunnels, pass through the trans valley tunnel of Zelve. Avanos, the second biggest town of Cappadocia, where the longest river of Turkey passes through, Kızılırmak (Red River or with its ancient name ‘Halys’). Have lunch in a local family restaurant. Avanos is famous with pottery art, which is in fact the cultural heritage from Hittites to Cappadocia.
Hidden Churches of Cappadocia
This tour offers you the chance to explore the hidden beauties of Cappadocia. Climb out of town from the Middle Earth Office at 08.30 and pass over the Rock Top Cliff, down to El-Nazar Church, then again up another cliff to the Hidden Church. Until recently, it was impossible to reach this well-hidden church, but newly-built stairs give us access. After walking in the secret valley behind the Goreme open air museum, according to the season, we will enjoy the taste the fresh fruits on the trees, typically walnut, mulberry, cherry, apple, pear, quince, bitter almond, grapes and plums.
After this delicious break, we reach the Mirror Church, known for its symmetric rooms, and descend to the hidden crypt, before a cup of apple tea in the garden of the church. From here, we walk to Ortahisar, climb up to the castle and then have lunch (4 hrs including breaks). After lunch, we walk 3 kms on tarmac to reach the Kizilcukur valley and visit the Grape Church and the winery. We walk down to Cavusin via long tunnels cut through solid rock, and the walk ends in Cavusin. Transfer to Goreme
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Cappadocia, with its fantastic landscape and favorable weather conditions, is one of the most interesting places for hot air ballooning, according to many balloon pilots. There are several companies offering balloon rides. Our choice and recommendation as Middle Earth is, Cappadocia Balloons. The flights are very early in the morning so they are easy to fit into an itinerary.
Soğanlı Valey-Kaymaklı(underground city)
We explore the less known part of Cappadocia; Soğanlı valley. On the way to Soğanlı we visit the town Mustafapaşa known as Sinasos before the population exchange between Turkey and Greece at 1924. You will feel like in the past when wondering in the streets of the town. The scenery of Soğanlı is a combination of traditional village life and old Christian monasteries. The wall paintings in Soganlı Churches are unique in the area. Lunch in a restored old house. Afternoon program is Kaymaklı underground city. The amazing underground city was made by carving into solid rock into the ground. It consists of 5 levels. The deepest level is 30 meters under the ground. It is one of the wonders of Cappadocia and largest in the other forty of them.