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Cappadocia and the Taurus Mountains
Cappadocia and the Taurus Mountains. While Turkey is famous for its stunning coastlines and rich cultural heritage, it remains an underrated gem for trekking enthusiasts. While mountains like Mt. Ararat in the east gain attention, central and western Turkey hide mountain ranges of immense natural beauty, offering unforgettable trekking experiences. Among these, the Taurus Mountains stand out as a strikingly diverse and rugged landscape that invites exploration.
The Ala Dag peaks, part of the eastern Taurus range, are the highest and most concentrated group within this vast mountain system. Spanning under 750 square kilometers, the terrain may seem compact, but its complexity of mountains, valleys, and cliffs makes it feel like a much larger expanse. The region is dominated by sheer limestone formations, which give rise to dramatic, jagged silhouettes softened by lush forests to the south and east. This blend of harsh rock and rich vegetation makes the area a haven for wildlife and botanists, with spring and early summer, particularly in July, bringing an explosion of flowers and vibrant plant life.
Cappadocia, a short drive away, offers another dimension to this trekking adventure. Its unique, lunar-like landscape, shaped from volcanic tufa rock, provides some of the world’s most intriguing walking experiences. The region is dotted with ancient troglodyte villages and cave dwellings, where history comes alive as you explore on foot. Early civilizations carved homes, churches, and entire cities into the soft rock. Notable sites like Zelve and Uchisar showcase dramatic cave dwellings, while the Goreme Open-Air Museum reveals intricate frescoes in churches, preserved since Byzantine times.
Cappadocia’s underground cities are some of the most captivating historical treasures. Derinkuyu, the largest of these, stretches over seven levels deep and extends for 14 kilometers.
This remarkable subterranean city once served as a refuge from invaders, with tunnels, rooms, and ventilation shafts designed for survival. The deeper you go, the more you uncover about the ancient civilizations that called these caves home.
This trek through the Taurus Mountains and Cappadocia blends natural beauty with ancient history, offering one of the most fascinating and rewarding walking experiences on Earth.
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Itinerary
Meet at the airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel ****
We will depart by road for Cappadocia, about 4 hours drive. On the way we'll pass the Great Salt Lake of “Tuz Gölü” and stop to see the 13th century Seljuk caravanserai of Agzıkarahan. Afternoon arriving at the beginning of the Ihlara canyon, in Selime village. Here we’ll have opportunity to discover some ancient cave dwellings, before staring our 2 hours walk to Belisırma village. We’ll spend our first night in Ihlara area. Overnight at pension.BLD.
The Ihlara valley, due to its morphological formation, has proved to be a potential seclusion and worship area for monks and priests and to highdeaway and defence area for people. During our 4 hours walking, we'll have opportunity to visit several churches with good conserved frescoes. Our lunch-breach is in Ihlara village. In the afternoon we join our bus and drive to the centre of Cappadocia . Overnight at pension.BLD
We trek through the Akvadi (White valley) eroded so perfectly by time, rain and wind during centuries. Lunch-break in a restaurant in Uçhisar village and visit of the densely settled citadel. A great panoramic view of the surrealist area is available from the top. Walking in the pigeon valley, we descend to Göreme village, where the fairy chimneys go hand in hand with houses. Overnight at pension.
In the morning hike to Zindanönü valley. Then through vineyards and tree gardens, our way brings us to Ortahisar village. Lunch-break in a typical restaurant and walk to Kiziçukur valley to see the surreal rock formations and the magnificent work of the erosion on a red tuff. Some churches will be seen from the Christian period. Overnight at pension.. BLD. 5 h.
We meet our minibus, to drive directly to the second range of the Taurus: the Aladağlar. On arrival in Pınarbaşı Village 1600 m, the trailhead village we have a lunch in a guesthouse. Then trek to our firs camp site in Pınarbaşı. 2h 30 trekking time. Overnight at camp with all meals. Ascent: 400 m - Descent: 900 m. BLD.
We begin trekking to the Yıldız lake at 2800m., part of the Aladağlar range. Our way passes several still cool mountain lakes and three will be chance for a refreshing (bracing) swim later in the afternoon. After picnique we climbe to Teke kalesi pass ( 3200m.) where we will have very nice wiews on to Yedigöller plateau (Seven lakes) at 3000m. While we are here we expect to meet a family of friendly nomads who inhabit this plateau during the summer months and whose black goat-hair tents are usually pitched close to our camp. We may be invited to join them for some traditional «ayran » , a refreshing yoghurt based drink. Overnight at camp with all meals. Ascent : 450m. Desent : 200m. BLD.
We start trekking moderately until Çelikbuyduran pass ( 3450m). You may take the opportunity to ascend mount Embler ( 3723m). This is a non technical 1 hours climbing from the pass. The view at the top however, offer a magnificent reward with a vista towards the southern face of Mount Demirkazık, Bolkar range, Mt. Hasan and Mt. Erciyes. Then we descend into the Yalakderesi trail, a narrow canyon with water spring. Arrive to Tülü base camp for overnight with all meals. 5 hours trekking time. Camp at 2000m. Ascent : 723m. Descent : 1723 m. BLD.
İn the morning we gradually ascend up to the hight pastures of Eznevit Yayla (2450m). Depending on the time of year, we may encounter the semi nomads of this area grazing their flocks. After lunch we gradually descend to the Sıyırmalık valley and then through a fragant pine forest join our camp in Emli valley at 1900m. 5 / 6 hours trekking time. Overnight at camp with all meals. Ascent : 450m. Descent :550m. BLD.
After breakfast, we trek up to the Alaca Yayla (2400m) passing trough the Mangırcı valley. After 3 hours trekking we arrive to Alca Plateau. On the warm-up trail we may see some semi nomads coming from different villages of the area then picnic will be here. After the lunc we continue to descent to our camp from the Olukseki valley. 5 / 6 hours trekking time. Ascent / Descent : 500m. BLD.
Trekking in the range into direction of Elekgölü village where our tents are pitched. We go over a pass and walk along a stream. We arrive to the village where take a lunch in the tea house and we will have opportunity to discover their life and the hospitablty. After lunch we go down to Ecemiş river to have svimming opportunity. We will arrive to our camp site to pass through fruit gardens. This camp will be also our last camp site in Taurus mountain. Overnight at camp with all meals. BLD.
In the morning drive to Kayseri airport and fly to Istanbul. Transfer to Hotel and afternoon free. Overnight hotel BB
A full day to take in all the sight of what was the capital of the civilised world. We visit the Topkapi palace, the Blue Mosque, chapel of St Sophia. Stroll in the world's biggest covered market then spend the Afternoon shopping or visiting sites of interest at your leisure. Overnight at hotel *** . BB
Transfer to Airport, fly home. BB
