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CAPPADOCIA
PRIVATE TOURS |
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OPEN PALACE (SUVASA) (1 DAY) - PRIVATE |
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Morning departure from your hotel in
Cappadocia. Visit Open Palace (Suvasa
-Gokcetoprak). with its strange mushroom
shaped rock formations. We will see an
interesting monastery complex and St. John's
church, adorned with beautiful frescoes, which
is carved inside the rock. Gulsehir - Visit
Karavezir Seyit Mehmet Pasa complex, which was
built in the 18th century. We will visit
Tatlarin Underground City with original rock
dwellings and church outside with well
preserved original frescoes, a statue of Zeus
from Hellenistic times, Roman ruins and a late
Hittite ruin with hieroglyphic inscriptions.
The town was a capital city in late Hittite
times. Return to your hotel in Cappadocia. |
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GUZELYURT AND NIGDE (1 DAY) - PRIVATE |
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9:00 depart from your hotel. Visit
Guzelyurt. The old name of this town was
Nazianzus. It was an important center for
early Christianity. St. Gregory, one of
the most famous of the early Cappadocian
patriarchs was bishop there in the 4th
century. Visit St. Gregory's' Church,
which is well-preserved and still in use
and walk in Monastery Valley with 23 rock
churches used by the early Byzantines.
Time permitting we will visit the ancient
'Red Church', which is free standing.
Lunch in local restaurant. We will
continue to Nigde and see beautiful
scenery while passing Gollu Mountain.
Photo stop for Hasan Mountain. Once a
volcano, which aided in forming the
volcanic plateau of Cappadocia. A short
break in Tepekoy Village, which was
another Bishopric in Roman times. We
continue to Tyana to see interesting Roman
ruins and aqueducts, which are well
preserved. Gumusler Monastery - a very
large and interesting rock complex in the
villages with breathtaking frescoes in a
good state of preservation. Underground
chambers and ancient cemetery. Return to
hotel in Cappadocia.
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HACIBEKTAS TOUR - THE MAGIC STONES (1 DAY) -
PRIVATE |
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9:00 departure from your hotel. Visit the
Hacibektas Museum. The entire dervish lodge or
'dergah' was converted into a museum in 1964.
Ucler and Lion fountains, the refectory and
baths, dormitory. Tomb of Haci Bektas and
other famous dervishes. (Pilgrims will
perambulate around the sarcophagus three times
and give supplication to Veli). The ancient
wishing tree and cylindrical stone, which is
traditionally embraced by visitors. There are
many fine examples of calligraphy such as that
of the Caliph Ali, which is written on gazelle
skin and a collection of censers, torches and
hand worked items. If available see
traditional semah dancing. Visit Cilehane
(Delikli Tas) where Haci Bektas Veli spent
forty days and nights alone in prayer to God.
A narrow entrance leads into the cave. Inside
there is an opening through which it is said
those who manage to pass will be pure of
heart. On to Bestaslar - these immense stones
standing alone are also associated with the
legends of Hacibektas. You can make a wish by
pressing a pebble to one of them and think
hard. If the pebble sticks, you will get your
wish. Return to hotel in Cappadocia. *Tours
may be organized for the Hacibektas festival
in August.
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BIRD PARADISE AND VILLAGE TOUR (1 DAY) -
PRIVATE |
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We start very early on this tour to catch a
glimpse of the 250 plus species of birds that
visit the Sultan Marshes Bird Paradise. This
tour includes a boat trip through the marshes,
and may include a visit to nearby Yay Golu
where flamingos may be seen at certain times
of the year. A scenic drive to the natural
Open Air Museum of Soganli Valley where we
will see unusual churches, carved out of conic
formations and the original pigeon houses
carved high in the steep canyon walls. After
lunch we will visit the extraordinary Keslik
Monastery, the beautiful frescoes of which are
hidden behind a thin layer of smoke.
Continuing on to the Old Greek town of
Mustafapasa (Sinasos) famous for its wonderful
architecture and monasteries. Here we will
enjoy tea and local hospitality in one of the
semi-restored hand painted early Greek homes
of the village and return to Cappadocia.
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KONYA TOUR (1 DAY) -
PRIVATE |
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Morning departure for
Konya. Konya was known as Iconium in Roman
times and was the capital of the Seljuk Turks
from the 12th to 13th centuries. Mevlana
Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi order known as
the Whirling Dervishes. We will visit the
Museum of Mevlana and the great Seljuk
monuments such as the Karatay Medrese and the
Ince Minareli Medrese. Return to your hotel in
Cappadocia. *Tours may be organized for the
Mevlana Festival in December.
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WALKING AND HIKING AROUND
CAPPADOCIA |
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We
organize
full and half-day walking and
hiking tours in Cappadocia where you can
discover the valleys and trails at your own
pace. Please contact us for available
programs.
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