Night 1
Hotel in Soğanlı
A comfortable hotel with modern amenities.
Spend 7-days exploring some of Turkey’s most beautiful landscapes on this guided tour
This one-week tour is designed for those who would like to enjoy both the beauty of the Lycian Way and the mysticism of Cappadocia. Cappadocia is a volcanic land and the erosion of the “tuff” (volcanic ash) that is abundant in the area has shaped the region. It has since become a refuge for the early Christians escaping Roman persecution. Rich and varied cultural traditions continue to exist in the area, kept alive by the villagers even today. Walking possibilities are endless in the valleys full of cave dwellings and surreal rock formations. Turkey's first long-distance route, the Lycian Way links ancient Roman roads and Ottoman caravan routes with mule trails and forestry tracks in a 509km walk along the spectacular Turquoise Coast. This route passes through the ruins of many ancient Lycian cities and visits the most worthwhile spots on the coast.
Meet at Kayseri Airport Airport and drive to a beautiful corner of Cappadocia; Soğanlı valley. Soğanlı valley is not a much-visited area and will give you an idea about the typical Turkish village life. Christian monasteries located on the skirts of hills are unique for their wall paintings among all Cappadocian churches. Driving along the table-top volcanic mountains you’ll arrive at the town of Mustafapaşa (old Sinasos), an ancient Greek town with spectacular houses: very fine examples of late ethnic settlements and architecture. Lunch is in a restored village house with traditional Turkish hospitality.
This tour is an opportunity to break away from the classical trekking routes in the area; it’s for people who like heights. This is one of our favourite day tours as it provides many great views and interesting learning opportunities about the churches carved within the caves. There are only two ways to get a whole view of Cappadocia, either to fly with a hot-air balloon or to do the trekking up to Bozdağ Moutain (1300m).
This morning you’ll depart for Cavusin Village. After a short wander in the village, ascend through the deserted houses to reach the little-known church of John the Baptist, with its unique paintings. Your path continues to the summit of Bozdağ Mountain where a panoramic view of the region awaits, including Uçhisar, Göreme, Cavusin, Avanos, Ortahisar and the Zelve open-air museum. With the spectacular views of Mount Erciyes, follow a smooth path over the plateau and descend for lunch in a small family-run restaurant in the Red valley. You’ll visit the winery and the Grape church and start our afternoon walk in Rose Valley. Afterwards, visit the pigeon houses and the Cross Church en route to the end of your walk-in Göreme.
You’ll have a long day today, full of adventure! Your first stop is at one of the underground cities, one of the true wonders of Cappadocia. The settlement was dug as deep as 5 layers below ground level and was used for hiding for many centuries. You will experience being underground, feel what it was like to live in a city on the earth; saving people from dangers, starvation, cold and enemies.
Then you’ll have a 1-hour drive to get to Ihlara Valley, a 13km long gorge cut into the volcanic rock. After a short tea break, walk about 3.5 hours on a route to visit some rock-cut churches. The walls in the valley are carved with churches and some have unique paintings inside. It is generally an easy walk, following the river. Willow and poplar trees will decorate your way with the beautiful birds gliding around. After a late lunch, visit a rock-cut mosque and a church next to each other. Continue walking by the river down to Selime town, and the walk ends nearby Selime Monastery. After visiting the monastery, drive to a volcanic crater lake and stop for a quick swim (seasonal opportunity).
Today is spent exploring the well-known sites of the Cappadocia region. The Open-Air Museum of Göreme was a very important monastic settlement in the early Christian ages and has several churches hollowed out of the rocks and painted with wall paintings. Paşabağ is one of the most beautiful corners of the region with hermitages hollowed out of the volcanic tufa.
Looking at the rock formations in Devrent Valley is like looking at the clouds. They seem to take the shape of whatever you imagine about them. Lunch is in a local restaurant in the town of Avanos which has been a pottery-producing center since ancient times.
In the afternoon you’ll have an optional visit to a Turkish bath for a relaxing massage. Transfer to Kayseri airport for a flight to Antalya.
The hotel is located in the historical center of Kaleiçi in Antalya. Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant.
Transfer to Yayla Kuzdere where you’ll start with a steady climb up a stream bed to the pastures of Çukur Yayla, just below Mount Olympos (Tahtalı Dağı). You’ll climb the pass from here (1850m).
Then descend via a mule path to the village of Beycik ( 900m) where you’ll meet the transfer vehicle that takes you to our pension in Çıralı. Dinner and overnight in a pension in Çıralı.
After breakfast, take an optional exploration of the ruins of ancient Olympos (total appr. 6km along the beach). After lunch, enjoy free time until dinner. You can swim and lie on the beach or do other activities as desired, such s sea kayaking. After dinner take a short night walk to admire the eternal burning flames of Chimaera (natural gas coming from the bowels of the earth in the location called Yanartaş) in the dark.
Dinner and overnight in a pension in Çıralı.
Start directly from the pension in Çıralı and walk through the ancient city of Olympos and up Musa Dağ (650m). After having a picnic lunch near an old hut you’ll descend through the forest, past deserted farmhouses to reach the beautiful bay of Adrasan.
The trek ends on day 7 with a transfer to Antalya airport.
This guided tour in Cappadocia is run as a private tour with a guide for your group only and the pricing depends on the size of your group.
Prices below are per person:
This tour is based in hotels, as well as one night in a cave hotel while in Cappadocia. Hotels on this trip offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Rooms may have fireplaces or access to amenities such as hot tubs, steam rooms, or private decks to lounge on.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible (please enquire about the pricing). Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
A comfortable hotel with modern amenities.
Enjoy this pleasant stay in Goreme where you’ll be immersed in local culture and enjoy great amenities.
Enjoy the ancient wonders of Selime with this comfortable hotel as your base for exploring.
Enjoy this ideal base for exploring Antalya at this comfortable hotel.
A cozy pension in Çıralı.
6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners are included.
Accommodations for 6 nights are included. Accommodations before and after the tour are not included.
This tour includes airport pick up and drop-off as well as luggage transfers. This tour doesn’t include any local or international flights and you will be hiking between your overnight locations yourself.
How hard is the Cappadocia and Lycian Way Walking Tour?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. The trails are not technical, but you should be able to hike up to 16km daily with a significant elevation gain.
Do I need a visa to travel to Turkey?
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Are meals included on the Cappadocia and Lycian Way Walking Tour?
6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners are included.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your Travel Insurance.
How do I get to Cappadocia to start this tour?
Fly into Kayseri Airport, from where you will be picked up.
Is the Cappadocia and Lycian Way Walking Tour in English?
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
Where does the Cappadocia and Lycian Way Walking Tour end?
The tour ends in Antalya, where you will be transferred to an airport for your flight.
Do I need special vaccines to travel to Turkey?
Check with your family doctor.
Are there any travel restrictions for Turkey?
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
When is the best time to travel to Turkey for this tour?
The best time to travel to Turkey for this hike is between April and November, however, the late summer months tend to get very hot.
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I’ve been using 10Adventures route guides for a while, but had never booked a tour. My wife and I booked a self-guided hike in Greece and were so impressed with how we were able navigate the route without a guide with the detailed and easy to follow itinerary. We enjoy travelling independently, and 10Adventures made that happen.
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I'm not a big fan of traveling because of my fear of flying, but my girlfriend convinced me to go on the Aurora Borealis Tour in the Yukon. I will never forget the mesmerizing northern lights. Such a romantic (and cold) getaway. I would highly recommend it.
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We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. The trails are not technical, but you should be able to hike up to 16km daily with a significant elevation gain.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
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