Cappadocia is a fabulous place with a bizarre landscape, like an illustration for a children’s book. Here, entire cities are cut down in the rocks, temples are built underground, and dozens of balloons rise into the sky all year round. We asked people who are familiar with this place to tell about the intricacies of traveling to this land. The fact that it is necessary to do in Cappadocia, how much it costs in a balloon and what you do not need to save on, read in our article.
Where and how to get
Alena Fomina. Loves to travel
Cappadocia is a historical district of Turkey, located in the central part of the country and uniting several provinces: Aksaray, Neeshekhir, nowhere and Kaiseri. You can get here from any major city in the country in three ways:
- by plane – the closest airport is located in the city of Nechehir, the administrative center of Cappadocia;
- regular with a regular bus;
- on a rented car.
When to go
Ali. Guide to Cappadoca
Cappadocia is beautiful at any time of the year. If one of the main goals of your trip is a flight in a balloon, then it is best to come in the spring, when nature blooms, or in the fall, after the summer heat departs. In winter, snow sometimes falls out here and is windy, and due to adverse weather conditions, flights can be canceled.
Where to stop/where to live
In the territory of Cappadocia there are small villages: Neeshekhir, Urgyup, Gorem, etc.
It is better not to save on housing in the rocks and a mandatory attraction for this place – it is better not to save. We recommend that you choose a hotel with the numbers that are inside the surrounding rocks with your own terrace, in order to early or evening, drinking Turkish coffee with a baklava, observe hundreds of balloons, hanging daily over these places.
Hotels:
- Hotel 2* Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel in Urgup – accommodation from 3672 rubles/day;
- Hotel 3* The Cappadocia Hotel in Urgup – accommodation from 4163 rubles/day;
- Hotel 4* Perimasali Cave Hotel in Urgup – accommodation from 5483 rubles/day;
- Hotel 5* Hanedan Cave Suits in Nevchekhir – accommodation from 25293 rubles/day;
How much does it cost to rise in a balloon
Local tourist firms are engaged in the organization of flights on balloons. Due to the high popularity of excursions by air, the order is best made in advance, no later than 2-3 weeks before the estimated date. The cost of an hourly walk by air per person on average is from $ 160.
Where the best types/viewing platforms
The best species are opened from the village of Uchkhisar – to the panoramic platform of Gorem, many tourists who do not fly in a balloon rise. Visits are also worthy of the Valley of Love, the Valley of Monks and Sunset Point.
What else to see, except for balloons
Nora. Travel blogger
- Open -air museum
The museum is a monastery complex with churches and chapels built in the rocks in the I-II centuries. The first novices and builders of the temples were Christians who fled here from the authorities of the Roman Empire.
- Derinkuyu Yeraleti underground city)
Derinka-a multi-level underground city, built by local residents in the II-I century BC. e. It goes down to eight tiers, and holds up to 20,000 people with food stocks and livestock.
The construction is truly amazing: there are living rooms, ventilation mines, stables, kitchens, bakeries, presses for oil and grape juice, wine cellars, warehouses for weapons and food, churches and chapels.
According to one version, the ancient peoples did not live under the ground constantly, but the war, raids and persecution in those days were not at all uncommon, and in order to preserve their property and suffer from the invaders, they descended there in dangerous times, while destroying traces of their presence on Earth. According to another version, people lived underground constantly, reaching the surface only to cultivate the earth and grow crops.
- Kappadokia valleys
There are a lot of valleys in Cappadocia and they are all different from each other. We will talk about the most interesting.
Valley of imagination (it is a pink valley) – in this area there are many rocky formations, in the form of reminiscent of silhouettes of people, objects, animals. The cliffs are formed from a volcanic rock, which in the rays of the setting sun acquires a pink tint. Magic photos are obtained here.
Valley of Love – During a pedestrian walk, you can see finger -shaped stone pillars with a height of 20 to 40 meters, which effectively contrast with the rest of the landscape.
Valley of the monks (or Pashabag) – it is also called a valley of fairy -tale chimneys. There are one-, two- and even three-headed rock formations with mushroom-shaped caps.
- Scal castle Uchisar
The castle is located at the highest point of Cappadocia and is a whole mountain range with many rooms and transitions hollowed out in a rock, which opens an amazing view of the entire Cappadocia. The foot of the castle has a very authentic cafe @oasis_cafe_uchisar, where in the evening you can drink Turkish tea and meet the sunset.
- Canyon of Nielara
This is a picturesque and deep (up to 150 m) canyon, in which there are many ancient rock churches. A picturesque river flows along the entire canyon, birds are heard everywhere, and violent greens contrasts with red rocks.
- Salt Lake Ace
The bottom of the lake is completely covered with salt. In the part accessible to tourists, the depth is not more than 25 cm, and in the summer season the lake completely dries and on the surface you will only see the deposits of snow -white salt. Just like the famous Lake Solonchak Uyuni in Bolivia. Photos in any season will turn out amazing!
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