Cappadocia is one of the most beautiful and fascinating regions of Turkey with an amazing landscape full of weird and wonderful rock formations, created by volcanic activity and then erosion. Our Cappadocia Family Adventure begins in the exciting city of Istanbul, where east meets west, and where souks and bazaars burst with interesting goods. On our walking tour of Istanbul City, we cover Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Subterranean Cisterns, the Hippodrome and St Sophia, before a short flight leads us towards Urgup, in the heart of Cappadocia. From here we trek for four days amongst beautiful valleys, and traditional villages and stay in local pensions. We return to Urgup for two nights, to explore on foot the surrounding area, full of cave dwellings, fairy chimneys, pinnacles and rock cones. We will discover some of the local craftsmen trades, and there may also be time for some fun bartering in the local shops, before we fly back to Istanbul where our adventure ends.

Istanbul - Urgup.  This morning there will be a walking tour of Istanbul, exploring the historic sites of what used to be Constantinople. The tour will include the Sultanahmet, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Subterranean Cistern and St Sophia. 

Topkapi Palace was the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the mid 15th to early 19th Century. It was the centre of the empire for nearly four centuries, and gives a good insight into the life of the Sultans and their many wives. It is thought that the foudations may date back to 1460. It was from this vast complex of buildings that the mighty Ottoman Empire was organized. Today it is a huge museum containing ceremonial robes in silk and gold thread, Japanese and Chinese porcelain, European clocks, miniature paintings depicting Ottoman courtly life and one of the largest jewellery collections in the world. Highlights of the jewellery collection include one of the world’s largest diamonds, the spoon makers’ diamond, and the Topkapi dagger with three enormous emeralds in the handle. Please note that entry to the Harem in Topkapi Palace is not included.

We also viist the Blue Mosque: built between 1609 and 1616 by Mehmet Aga, the Blue Mosque is the unique mosque in the world with six minarets. More than 20,000 Iznik tiles cover its interior, and the murals on the walls are inscribed with verses from the Koran.

Also on the tour, the Subterranean Cistern. The gigantic cisterns contained the vast water supply that allowed Constantinople to withstand so many long sieges. Here the many columns are reflected in the water while classical music plays quietly.

At the Hippodrome we will see the remains of the great sports stadium where chariot races were held in Roman and Byzantine times. Here we will also see an Egyptian obelisk, a giant needle of stone carved for the Pharaoh Tutmoses III around 1500 BC and brought to Constantinople by the Byzantine emperor Theodisius in AD 390.

St Sophia (Agia Sophia) which was built by the emperor Justinian between 532 and 537 AD. It was the largest church in the Christian world for nearly 1,000 years. Today it is a museum featuring many beautiful Christian mosaics.

After our tour, we transfer to the airport of Istanbul and our domestic flight for Nevsehir or Kayseri. On arrival we transfer from Kayseri or Nevsehir airport to our hotel in Urgup.   (B,L,D)

Cappadocia Trek.  Today we have another full day exploring this fascinating and beautiful area.

We depart on foot to the valleys amidst the beautiful and changing colours of Cappadocia and the valleys of Gulludere, Kizilcukur, Zindanonu. We visit the monastery of Hallacdere and picnic nearby. We arrive at the village of Ortahisar and continue by a large road which leads us to the mineral water springs of Uzengi and to the ancient Greek village of Mustafapasa. This village is composed of houses with carved fronts. 

6 hours walking day.  (B,L,D)

Urgup.  We depart on foot to the troglodytes of Aktepe along roads surounded by vines and continue in the direction of the animal forms of the Devrent Valley.

We picnic around Zelve. Zelve has the most intensive chimney rocks formed in the volcanic tufas. The chimneys have sharpened ends and large trunks. There are many settlement places in the volcanic tufas which were used for hiding by the first Christians trying to escape from the Roman soldiers. There are many abbeys and churches in these areas. 

We visit the ancient troglodyte city, inhabited until 1955, and then continue by a road with a view of the fairiy chimneys with the three heads of Pasabag. Finally we arrive at the troglodyte cliff of Cavusin, and watch for the sunset on the surroundings, before transfering to our hotel in Urgup.

5 hours 30 walking day.  (B,L,D)

Hotel Asur

Ibni Kemal,

Caddesi No: 34

Sirkeci

Istanbul, 34410  

Turkey

Tel:  +90 212 513 35 86/87

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm on DAY ONE of your tour. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In addition the Tour Leader will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting.

Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:

1. Passport.

2. Vaccination Certificate.

3. Travel Voucher.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Turkey however we do advise that you are up-to-date with your tetanus and polio vaccines. You may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information.

We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.

- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.

- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour guide and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

Turkey, like the rest of the world, is no stranger to theft. You must exercise extreme care with wallets, cameras and other valuables especially in towns or busy tourist areas. We advise that you make copies of your passport, credit cards, airline tickets and your insurance policy and that you keep a careful note of both used and unused traveller’s cheque numbers.

At times when you are unable to store your valuables in safety deposit boxes in hotels we recommend that you carry some sort of money belt or hidden pouch for safekeeping of valuable items.

We recommend an average of US$20-30 per day. This of course depends on your own spending habits, the number of optional excursions you wish to take and the amount of additional snacks, souvenirs and drinks you wish to buy along the way. Be aware that some places are more expensive than others and your expenses will vary enormously.

· US dollars cash is more widely accepted than pounds sterling.  Euros are also increasingly accepted in Turkey.

· Carry most of your money in Traveller’s cheques - small denominations are preferable.

· It is often a good idea to have a small amount of the currency of the country you are visiting prior to arrival. This will cover you for any initial expenses at or from the airport.

· Credit cards are accepted in the larger cities. You can also get money from ATMs. Do not however depend on using your credit card as your major source of funds.

· Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

How much should I take?

A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards Travellers Cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Turkey is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Remember that time is not quite so valuable to the Turks and often tasks that should take five minutes can take an hour. Be patient and consider it as all part of the Turkish experience.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. It will always be clean, comfortable and of a good standard. Accommodation is generally in superior tourist class hotels (3 star and above), but we also use more basic pensions on this tour whilst trekking.

In Turkey tipping is a way of life and very much expected. For many tipping is a means of supplementing their wage and is a normal part of payment for goods and services. Be sure to keep small denomination notes or coins on you to avoid embarrassment. Sales and service taxes are imposed in some restaurants and bars.

Bargaining is also expected and in all souq’s and bazaars prices are inflated to accommodate such a practice. Rule of thumb is to cut the offer in half and work upwards. This can sometimes be hard work but so not let yourself be intimidated by stallholders, you can always say no and walk away.

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com