Cappadocia Ride

Introduction
Cappadocia Turkey
This progressive riding trail, with nights spent in guesthouses, is an invitation to discover the immense natural, historical and cultural wealth of Cappadocia's unique landscape. A listed UNESCO World Heritage site, the Cappadocia regions is the result of incredible volcanic eruptions and  ancient human activity. In personal riding groups of no more than 8 people, you will spend 5 - 6 hours per day exploring on horseback through a land rich with wonder. Beginning from the ranch located between Ortahisar and Ürgüp, the itinerary  will take you on a 120 km tour around 'geological' Cappadocia, in 6 riding days. From the peasants' Cappadocia of the South to the most beautiful valleys of the North, a succession of fantastic rock formations, lush canyons, high plateaus, steppe-like landscapes, vineyards and orchards, compose a surprisingly varied route. The villages you will be introduced to will reflect the Anatolian way of life and the frescoed churches and many troglodytic treasures will testify to the stunning historical past of the area.  You will experience the legendary Turkish hospitality in the typical Anatolian guesthouses that we have selected for you to stay in along the way. You will visit the cave villages, a renovated caravanserai and ancient frescoed churches. Come discover the beauty of the rural way of life found here, where the oldest traditions still live on.

It is now possible to include a hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia's surreal landscape during the week. Flights take place on Thursday or Friday morning at sunrise.
 

Accomodation


Accommodations
These trails are all progressive rides where nights are spent at various locations.

Description
The traditional habitat of Cappadocia is mainly troglodyte: rooms are carved in the rock. Most of the hotels are beautifully restored old houses and offer cave rooms. Most people enjoy this amazing experience. But some guests have complained about the lack of windows and the rough (unfinished) walls in their bedrooms. Please let us know if you would have an issue with this type of accommodation.
The guesthouses are located in some of Cappadocia’s prettiest villages (Urgup, Ayvali & Uchisar). Most guesthouses offer internet access and a laundry service.
All nights are in double/twin room with ensuite toilets and shower.

Standard option - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1 & 2: Hotel in Urgup
Nights 3 & 4: Cave Hotel in Ayvali
Nights 5 & 6: Guesthouse in Uchisar
Night 7: Hotel in Urgup

Deluxe option - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1 & 2: Cave Hotel in Urgup
Nights 3 & 4: Cave Hotel in Ayvali
Nights 5 & 6: Guesthouse in Uchisar
Night 7: Cave Hotel in Urgup

Room Occupancy
Single room accommodations are possible depending on availability for some nights, depending on what program you choose. A single supplement fee applies for those nights if you are not willing to room with another rider.
If we are unable to find another rider to share the room with you, a single supplement fee applies.



Meals
All meals are included for this trip. 

A continental and Turkish breakfast option is available at the accommodations. 
A delicious picnic lunch featuring a local specialty is served while on the trail. However, on most days we can ride up to a local restaurant for lunch.  

When staying in a guesthouse, dinner vary everyday.

While camping, dinner is a traditional dish cooked on the wood fire, along with salad and fruits. Dinners are taken the Turkish way, on the floor, sitting on a carpet around a large round tray set in the communal tent or outside by the campfire. Dinner usually includes a starter, one or two main courses and dessert.

Tea, coffee and mineral water are included; wine, beer and soft drinks are available as an option, for an extra cost.

Dietary Restrictions
Vegetarian options are available upon request.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

This program includes 6 riding days with about 5 to 6 hours in the saddle each day except on Wednesday (3.5 hours). On average, we will cover 35 kilometers each day, on varied terrain. This route features a lot of technical canters with some long stretch (about 15 minutes). Some canters are on light down hills and rough terrain.

Physical Condition and Riding Ability
Riders must be able to tack up and mount their horse unassisted, and be confident on leading their horse on rough terrain and riding during group canters. Our horses are forward going and you must be able to stay in control during group canters. You must be able to stay in the saddle firmly during group canters, and be able to tack up your horse yourself. Before coming to Turkey, go for a few rides and get adequately fit in order to avoid muscular pain or irritations during the trail.
Participants must be fit enough to ride on long and technical canters and to walk uphill on difficult terrain. The circuit includes a few difficult ways where riders will be asked to dismount and lead their horse, sometimes up steep paths.
For the comfort of the group, riders who do not have an adequate riding level, body weight or physical condition may be refused access to the riding trails, and be offered a walking or minibus tours of Cappadocia instead, at an extra cost. So please, be aware of your capabilities! People unsure of their physical condition and riding level should opt for the Comfort Ride or Discovery Trail option.
You need to be fit enough to mount and dismount your horse, walk on long distance and be comfortable with water (river crossing).
A regular practice of a sport is highly recommended.

Tack
The riding equipment includes standard bits and pelhams as well as McClellan light trailing saddles and saddles made by ourselves. These are fitted with two saddlebags for you to carry the picnic and personal belongings for the day.



Horses
Our stable is composed of forward-going Arab, and cross-Arab horses who will surprise you with their robustness and their agility. They are 1,50 m tall on average - the ideal size for trailing on tortuous paths! All our horses are responsive, well balanced and respectful of the rider and they are extremely sure-footed.
We have put a lot of time and investment into the quality of our horses. Since 2015 more than half of our cavalry has been renewed with pure Arabian endurance horses. Most of our horses have qualifed in national endurance races.
We have invested in a horse walker and in an arena in order to continue to offer riders well trained horses.
Our horses live together as a herd and all spend their days outside grazing in our fields when not on the trail.
Horses are assigned according to riding levels and riders' preferences, but the size and the weight of the rider are also important criteria.
Our team will groom and prepare the horses, so no participation is required by the rider.
 
Weight Restriction
Riders cannot be over 85kg. We will weigh riders on arrival and those over will not be able to participate in the riding program.

Guide
We will provide 1 guide for every 4 riders.

Travel Insurance
You must have appropriate travel insurance to take part in our trails. Make sure your policy covers horse-riding activities abroad. Your insurance details will be requested on arrival.

Itinerary



Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

The description below is an example of program. However, because of the weather or for safety reasons, the guide can choose to change the itinerary of the trail at any time.

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival
Arrival at Kayseri airport and transfer to the ranch (transfers are only included at set times!). You are met by our driver and transferred to your hotel in Urgup, where you have dinner with your guide.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Urgup

Day 2 (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 1-hour ride through lush vegetation and along the stream of the Uzengi canyon. Villagers cook lunch for you on the wood fire, at the foot of troglodytic citadels of dovecotes carved out the abrupt rock walls.
After lunch, you will ride in the stream of Uzengi, very quickly, the first long canter brings you to Avlak mountain, with a magnificent view of Cappadocia. We then ride through a huge valley until we reach the ghost village of Karain. A shuttle bus will drive you back to Urgup where you will spend a second night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Urgup

Day 3 (Tuesday): Keslik Monastery
We start this day by cantering through fields of the high Anatolian plateau (1600 m above sea level). We dismount in order to walk our horses (about 20 minutes) along a steep trail down to Damsa lake. Villagers cook lunch for us on a wood fire near the Keslik Monastery. 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 for the night at your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Ayvali

Day 4 (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)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Ayvali

Day 5 (Thursday): Uchisar
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”. A long canter leads us through vineyards and orchards and over rolling hills of white tuff to reach the fairy chimneys of Gomeda valley. Then more riding awaits you in the narrow corridors and arches of the canyon of Gumuslu. You ride uphill to reach a restaurant 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 multicolored rock formations of the famous Pigeon Valley, and Uchisar’s picturesque fairy chimneys. Your reach your guesthouse on horseback and enjoy a drink on the terrace.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Guesthouse in Uchisar

Day 6 (Friday): Valley of Roses
Optional hot-air balloon flight in the early morning.
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 ochre rocks, and its beautiful troglodytic churches, this is Cappadocia’s most spectacular ensemble of geological formations. A cave café located in an ancient monastery welcomes you for lunch. In the afternoon, you keep exploring the Red and Rose Valleys, and 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.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Guesthouse in Uchisar

Day 7 (Saturday): Boz daha’ plateau
You enter another beautiful canyon called the White Valley (named this way because of the color of its rocks). 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 multicolored 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 hammam in Urgüp for a relaxing steam bath and massage. Short transfer back to your guesthouse and farewell dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Urgup

Day 8 (Sunday): Departure
After breakfast, departure to Kayseri (or Nevsehir) airport for your flight back home.
Meals included: Breakfast


Non Riders
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. It is best to have a car in order to do some sightseeing while the rest of the group explores on horseback.

For those interested in experiencing the hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia's surreal landscape at sunrise it can be arranged. The cost varies depending on season and type of ride, from 150 to 220 Euro plus 10% tax -- paid locally in cash or credit card. The price includes:
- pick-up from hotel around 04:00h
- deluxe flight (1 hour, up to 16 passengers)
- return to hotel before breakfast
Note that if the weather does not permit for the balloon flight the operator will advise at the last minute, often after the pick-up.

Rates and Dates for Cappadocia Ride

Dates Note: Additional tour dates possible, please inquire about availability

Other Info
Meeting: Ortahisar
Airport: Kayseri
Transfer: Kayseri Airport

Climate:
                                        Mustafapaşa area