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Fairy chimneys
and antic sites |
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During thousands years, the landscape of Cappadocia,
covered with soft volcanic ash, underwent an intense
wind and hydraulic erosion which created one of the
strangest spectacles of the world and made monumental
peaks, fairy chimneys, capped pinnacles, cones and
fretted ravines and canyons in a lunar landscape. With
its unique geological formations, Cappadocia is
incontestably a phantasm of nature and almost another
planet. Cappadocia is not only a wonder of Nature. Man
lived there: In this wondrous and unusual landscape
sculpted by Nature you will discover sites of historical
and artistic interest.
The
shores of the Mediterranean Sea coast are some of the
most charming in Turkey. |
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On this
coast with a rich history, added to the amazing
spectacle of a sea with limpid water striking the abrupt
cliffs, you will discover the archaeological richness,
demonstration of more than 3000 years of history,
culture and mythology. Greek and Roman cities, which are
admirably preserved, with a Lycian necropolis, lost in
the vegetation, or immersed at the bottom of a turquoise
sea.
An easy excursion, accessible to everyone; discovery of
archaeological sites, with the privilege of visiting
those accessible only on foot and a sea-trip, around the
remains of the immersed city of Kekova; and, finally, a
truly enriching cultural exchange with the hospitable
and gracious people of the villages we cross. |
And, we will spare one and
half days for discovering the place which was
successively Constantinople, Byzance and Istanbul: the
richest and the most attractive city of the country. It
is a unique city, built embracing two continents -
Europe and Asia - and it preserves prestigious monuments
testifying to the richness of its history.
Judge it for yourself...
Itinerary 15 days :
Day 1 / Ankara:
Meet at the airport and transfer to hotel for overnight.
Dinner is free.
Days 2 to 4/ Cappadocia:
3 days of hiking in the most beautiful canyons and
valleys unique in the world. During our stay our
principal halts will be the valleys of Ihlara, Avcilar,
Akvadi, Pasabag, Pancarlik, Gulludere and Guvercinlik
which offered refuge to many civilisations. Rock
formations out of a land rise up before you at every
turn and entice you to look longer and wonder at their
creation. Mustafapasa, Zelve, cavusin, Goreme,
Ortahisar, Uchisar: the cave dwellings villages, which
were the centres of the development of Christianity. We
will visit churches and chapels decorated with bright
paintings and frescoes, ancient remains of exceptional
interest. Derinkuyu and Mazokoy are underground cities
extending in a labyrinth underground. We spend all
nights in hotels in Ankara and comfortable pensions in
Cappadocia.
Day 5 / Konya:
Transfer to Konya, the ancient Seljuk capital. Visit to
the Museum-Mausoleum of Mevlana the founder of the
Whirling Dervishes order. Overnight in hotel.
Days 6 to 12 / Mediterranean coast:
6 days of discovering of the unusual landscape of the
Lycian coast whose turquoise gulfs and bays the sea has
eroded. Visit the sites Phaselis, Pinara, Simena,
Kayakoy, Myra, Tlos, Telmessos and Caunos. Not only will
you marvel at the beauty of the Oludeniz lagoon, but our
sea trip will show you the vestiges of a blue tinged
sunken city, in the bluish lights of sea-beds around the
Kekova island. Overnight stops in hotels, pensions and
in villager-guesthouses. 2 / 3 h of trek per day.
Days 13 & 14 / Istanbul :
One and half days to discover this legendary city, old
Constantinople, set on 2 continents.
Day 15 / Home :
Transfer to the airport for return flight.
Favourable season: All the year.
Level: easy |
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