Snowshoe Dreams in Aladaglar: A Winter Odyssey

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival at Kayseri airport & transfer to Aladaglar Mountains

  Meet at the Kayseri airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to stunning Aladaglar mountain range, home to the highest peaks of the Taurus, famous for its gorgeous lakes, sheer rock walls, deeply cut valleys and canyons.

  Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our staff with tea, coffee and cookies. Your overnight accommodation is already prepared and you can directly move into your rooms, whilst your cook is making final touches for your first evening meal in the mountains.

  Transfer time: 2 h; transfer distance: 145 km; (Kayseri airport to Aladaglar Mountains)

  ON: in the Aladaglar national park at the mountain hut/or village pension

  Meals:   - / - / D

• DAY 2

  Emli valley to Siyirmalik & Eznevit plateau

  After breakfast, a short transfer takes us to Emli valley where we start our walk through a beautiful forested area towards Siyirmalik valley. After reaching the end of the valley, with beautiful views to Parmakkaya (finger rock), we will take time to have a break within beautiful mountain scenery surrounding us. Depending on snow conditions and time there will be the option to climb up to Eznevit plateau (2.540m) and walk from there back to Cukurbag village.  Or we will return on the same way back to the Emli valley where our vehicle is waiting for us and we drive back to our overnight accommodation.  

  Walking time: 5 - 6 h; walking distance: 11 km; ascent/descent: 300m (Emli valley to Siyirmalik and back)

  Walking time: 6 - 7 h; walking distance: 14 km; ascent: 700m; descent: 900m; (Optional route: Emli valley to Cukurbag via Siyirmalik & Eznevit plateau)

  ON: in the Aladaglar national park at the mountain hut/or village pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 3

  Arpalik plateau & Cimbar canyon

  Next to Demirkazik village we start our today’s walk and climb up to Arpalik plateau, a campsite inhabited by semi-nomadic families during summertime and with beautiful panoramic views to the Demirkazik Mountain (3.756m). From here we enter into Cimbar canyon with its 15 to 100 m wide and hundreds of meters high walls. The canyon leads us directly down to Demirkazik village where our vehicle is waiting for us. Depending on time it is also possible to visit a local Turkish teahouse and taste a cup of hot ‘cay’ on the way back to our overnight accommodation.        

  Walking time: 5 - 6 h; walking distance: 9 km; ascent/descent: 550m (Arpalik plateau & Cimbar canyon)

  ON: in the Aladaglar national park at the mountain hut/or village pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Via Pinarbasi to Maden gorge

  After breakfast we start our walk next to Pinarbasi village. A very easy and gentle ascent permits us to Maden Gorge area where we follow old roads, used and built by chrome and iron miners in earlier times. The area is also famous for its ibexes, a species of wild mountain goat with long, curved horns, known as the undisputed master of terrifying heights, which come here during winter time because of the areas richness of food and vegetation. On our way back we walk through an old river bed leading us back to Pinarbasi village where our vehicle is waiting for us. On our way back we take time for a break at the village’s local tea house and taste here a cup of traditional Turkish tea, known as cay.

  Walking time: 5 - 6 h; walking distance: 9 km; ascent/descent: 550m (Pinarbasi & Maden gorge)      

  ON: in the Aladaglar national park at the mountain hut/or village pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Via Derinkuyu underground city to Cappadocia

  After breakfast we leave Aladaglar mountain area and drive to Cappadocia; on route take time to visit incredible underground city of Derinkuyu, opened to visitors in 1965. The city is approximately 85m deep, but only 10 % can be visited, and contains all of the usual rooms found in an underground city, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches and wineries. Apart from these, a large room with a barrel vaulted ceiling on the second floor served as a missionary school, the rooms to the left used as study rooms. In Cappadocia, after check in at our overnight accommodation and some time to refresh, we first head out to visit Goreme village, designated as an important tourist destination; a "center" for all tourism in Cappadocia. Afterwards we drive to Urgup too, one of the most important places in Cappadocia, known for its famous wines and pleasant cafes. In Urgup and Goreme we take time to relax a while and to taste a traditional cup of Turkish tea before we explore the centers of these famous cities (villages), with their small shops and pleasant cafes, on our own way.

  Optional activity: Goreme open air museum

  In the late afternoon it is possible to visit Goreme open air museum, one of the most beautiful valleys in Cappadocia. The Christian people at the heart of the Cappadocia realized that the soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches and monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art from the post iconoclastic period. The frescoes inside the Goreme open air museum are a unique artistic achievement from this period.

  Transfer time: 2 h; transfer distance: 125 km (Aladaglar Mountains to Cappadocia via Derinkuyu)

  ON: in Cappadocia at hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 6

  World heritage Cappadocia

  In the morning we start today’s first activity and walk out to explore some of the most beautiful valleys in Cappadocia. We start the day with a hike through Meskendir & red valley area, one of the most beautiful valleys in Cappadocia with spectacular formations and colours, full with old cave houses, complexes and hidden churches from the old Christian civilization. Although it is not definite, the common believe is that most of the churches and complexes carved out of the cliff face date back to the 8^th and 9^th centuries and its decorative reliefs and frescoes added in the 10^th and 11^th centuries. In the afternoon we arrive in Cavusin village, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia area; a small village made up of rock cut dwellings and elegantly carved stone houses. From here a walking path, close to beautiful rock formations and with magnificent views, permits us directly to nearby Pasabaglari (monk) valley. Here the fairy chimneys are unique and feature bizarre large toadstool like caps which protect the rest of the chimney from erosion. The area was formerly a monastic retreat and used to be known as monk’s valley and features a rock cut church dedicated to St Simeon. Close to Pasabaglari we also visit Zelve monastery valley, where once Christians moved during the Persian and Arab invasions and the region, though recently uninhabited, became an important settlement and religious area. Spreading out over three valleys, of which two are connected by a tunnel, the amazing cave town is famous for its honeycombed dwellings, religious and secular chambers. The monastery is rich in its own beauty; main decorations are high relief crosses representative of the Iconoclastic doctrine. We conclude the day with a visit to Avanos, where the most famous historical feature, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery. It is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used. We will take time to visit one of the pottery studios and you will try to shape by your own.

  Walking time: 4 h; walking distance: 9 km; ascent: 82m; descent: 134m; (Meskendir valley & red valley)

  Walking time: 2 h; walking distance: 4 km; ascent: 60m; descent: 70m; (Cavusin – Pasabaglari - Zelve)

  ON: in Cappadocia at hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 7

  World heritage Cappadocia

  We continue our fascinating tour through Cappadocia, our hike starts at Akvadi, a famous valley following an old river bed, used today for vineyards. Especially a special section at the beginning of the valley is worth seeing. After passing through the valley we arrive in Uchisar village where we walk through narrow and pictures streets of the village up to the high viewpoint known as “the fortress”. Many rooms hollowed out into the rock, are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and passages. The top of the citadel provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. The last part of our hike leads us to Zemi valley, a green valley with wind eroded volcanic rocks, beautiful rock formations, caves in cliffs and tall poplar trees. At the end of the valley there will be the opportunity to visit the El Nazar church, carved from one piece of a rock in a ‘T’ shape, with nice frescoes showing scenes which follow each other in chronological order.

  Optional activity: Turkish bath (Hamam)

  In the afternoon it is possible to visit a traditional Turkish bath, better known as Hamam, combines the functionality and the structural elements of its predecessors in Anatolia, the Roman thermal and eastern Roman baths. In Turkish culture it stands for far more than getting a leisurely bath, it is a special place of relaxation designed to regenerate body and mind.

  Walking time: 2 h; walking distance: 6 km; ascent: 280m; descent: 0m; (Akvadi valley)     

  Walking time: 2 h; walking distance: 5 km; ascent: 0m; descent: 270m; (Zemi valley)

  ON: in Cappadocia at hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 8

  Trip concludes at Kayseri airport

  After breakfast; transfer to Kayseri airport where the trip concludes.           

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 80 km; (Cappadocia - Kayseri)

  Meals:   B / - / -