Walking in Cappadocia

Loved the daily walks that we did as we covered some fascinating history and saw a unique part of Turkey that's off the beaten track of the standard beach holidays that people do when they think of Turkey. The guide Ikut was one of the best guides I've seen, and I've done lots of this kind of trip. He was kind, attentive, diplomatic and very cheerful. The walking was pretty relaxed and we went at a slow pace and it was all quite easy. The main point of our walks was to see the beautiful landscapes and hidden, painted rock churches. The food was plentiful and delicious and we were well looked after. The only bad points are the hotel Ciner, which wasn't great (days without hot water, no bar to hang out in at night, and repetitive food at breakfast) but it was close to the town centre and adequate for our needs. Also the communication from Exodus prior to the trip wasn't good. But the locals in Goreme, including our guide, worked hard to look after us and it's a really beautiful part of Turkey to experience. The walking routes were dry, dusty and exposed so hats, sunglasses and water are recommended.

This was my first Exodus trip and I was very impressed with the whole holiday. The organisation was first class and I can't praise our Trip Leader enough. Nothing was too much trouble and everything was done with a smile. If anyone wants a first class holiday with mind blowing scenery then Cappadocia must come top of your list of treks.

This is a great trip and we had a lovely group. I travelled from the end of April to early May. The weather was great. Although rain and storms were forecasted while I was there, we had beautiful sunshine with some picturesque white clouds (look great on my pictures) and it was quite hot so make sure you take your sunscreen and a sunhat. Mornings were a bit chillier but not too cold and the weather warmed up quickly during the day. If you are considering the ballooning, take some warmer clothes too. The walks were lovely and all quite different. We saw some interesting rock formations on the way, not to mention the stunning landscapes. Some of the walks are flat while others are quite steep and slippery so good walking boots and walking poles come handy. Don't underestimate a moderate trip. Water from a big water container was provided on the bus as well as in the hotel. Make sure you have your own bottle so you can keep refilling it. If you have a hiking hydration bladder bag, that is the best to take. We also stopped at little local cafes during our walks. My favourite was the freshly squeezed orange and pomegranate juice (mixed). Make sure you try that! Our leader was a character, entertaining, knowledgeable and helpful. The locals are friendly. The hotel was 3 star, a bit tired but for only 10 minutes walk from the town so it was convenient, we could easily walk there for some souvenir shopping in our free time. All meals were included on my tour and the portions were generous... Lucky we did all that walking!! If you are considering doing this trip, I recommend budgeting in the balloon ride. It is such an amazing experience. I am afraid of heights and I was a bit worried but it is so relaxing up there with such a wonderful view that I even forgot about feeling scared.

This was an excellent and highly enjoyable holiday amidst a stunning landscape - featuring great walking, an informative and expert guide, lovely group of people, pleasant hotel and tasty food. Cappodocia is a relatively small area offering a wonderful variety of walks without involving too much travelling.

A very enjoyable holiday with not to harduous walks. You soon get used to the early morning calls provided by the call to morning prayer and low flying hot air balloons.

Based in one hotel with day excursions/walking trips. Amazing scenery. Love Cappadocia!!

A very enjoyable week in a unique area,local people were welcoming and all the food provided varied and tasty. Five of the walks were 5*, day 3 Kavac to Bahceli had to much road walking though the first rest stop and final village were worth visiting,manageable walks for first timers like ourselves.A good mixed group.The only small disappointment was the accommodation not as described,we stayed at Goreme, hotel Matiasos ,it was clean,good staff,good breakfast but no bar or public area to chill out, also bathroom to small to dry yourself with towel.

Probably a day too long - walks were not varied enough to support so many days. Guide was good. Evening food was fine, altho the menu was almost always the same. Picnic lunch one day was a nice variation. Green Hotel was not really up to 3 star standard, rooms were good size but were rather basic. Breakfasts at the hotel were very basic and not 3 star standard. Hotel staff were attentive and tried to help when asked for assistance. Bus was good and comfortable.

A great week of interesting walks through the various valleys of Cappadocia. Unique scenery and rock formations - a place not to be missed.

This was a very good trip. The landscapes of Cappadocia are truly otherworldly and like nothing I’ve ever seen. Our guide, Aykut, was very good. We had a group of 16 and while some found the walks more challenging than others, everyone seemed happy. Good pacing both on the walks and in the structure of each day. Some notes: - I am not the most surefooted walker but I was fine without hiking poles. There are some steep descents at the beginning of a few valleys but nothing very challenging after that. Some valleys are muddy so consider bringing a mud brush. - The food, though all fine, was not what I had hoped for. The lunches alternate between picnics/barbecues (which I preferred) and stops at enormous lunch buffets designed for big tour groups. There was more variety at the latter but the ambiance was not the local, authentic Turkish experience I had hoped for. Dinners alternate between restaurants and the hotel. The food consists almost invariably of cheese, bell peppers, sausage or kebabs, eggplant, mushrooms, lentil soup, and beans. While I appreciated the abundance of vegetables, everything was repetitive and a bit bland. - I didn’t take out any cash and regretted it. You need cash for some bathrooms and juice stands (try the orange and pomegranate mix). You don’t need cash for drinks at meals; they accepted cards at restaurants and in all the stores we went to. - The balloon ride was a highlight because of the views but the prices do seem to go up frequently. We were charged 300 euros, which is more than Exodus had indicated. There are 24 people crammed into a single balloon in compartments of 4 each. If you happen to arrive after the other people in your compartment, you may end up in the back with an obstructed view. The “champagne” afterward turned out to be some kind of sugary thing that looked like it would glow in the dark. - The valleys do tend to blur together a bit after day 2. If you skip a day I would recommend the one with Pancarlik Valley, Mastafapasa and Gomeda Valley. That day started with a 2-mile walk on very flat main road. - I would have felt safer if we had been given the guide’s phone number for emergencies. There is no cell service at some spots in the occasional valley but it seemed pretty good overall. - The hotel, while spacious and very clean, is obviously still working out a few kinks. Our wet towels were folded up instead of being left hanging to dry (or perhaps we were given new but not dry towels) and the breakfast buffet was seriously depleted by the time we got there if another group staying had been there earlier. The coffee was borderline undrinkable. The hotel is owned by the local company Exodus contracts (Sobek Travel) so I’m not sure how much motivation they have to improve. - And, though this is obviously beyond Exodus' control, my final note is that, to judge from the experience of our group, Turkish Airlines flights are rarely on time. Leave a lot of time for connecting flights. I was supposed to have six hours in Istanbul and it turned out to be more like an hour.