With its incredible landscapes, ancient rockcarved churches and underground cities, cave hotels, and activities like hotair ballooning and hiking, Turkey’s Cappadocia region offers visitors a oneofakind travel experience. Located in central Anatolia, the region attracts around a million visitors a year and is an increasingly popular destination for British tourists looking for an exciting and unique holiday.
Cappadocia’s striking, otherworldly landscapes are like no other place in the world, even featuring as a backdrop in a Star Wars film. Cappadocia is formed at the centre of a once volcanic region; millions of years ago two large volcanoes erupted with such force that in some places the once molten lava, or tufa, was up to 100m thick. Over time, wind and weather have sculpted the sensual curves of the Cappadocian landscape, forming the pinnacles and peaks now known as 'fairy chimneys'.
The area is also rich in culture and history: Cappadocia is home to the Goreme National Park region, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which was an official state during Roman times. This enchanting openair museum is home to just some of the hundreds of rock churches that were carved and painted with elaborate frescoes by the early Christian communities that settled in the area. The underground cities of Kaymakli and Derinkuyu—vast, multilevel systems of rooms and passageways where the region’s inhabitants hid in times of danger—are also not to be missed. About 100 km to the southwest, Ihlara Valley, a lush river valley whose cliff sides are dotted with more ancient churches, makes a perfect day trip from the centre of Cappadocia.
In recent years, Cappadocia has become one of Turkey’s top destinations for boutique hotels, many of which are cave hotels carved directly out of natural rock.
Alongside the rustic guest houses, many of the new boutique cave hotels can be quite luxurious, with stylish décor and even amenities like jacuzzis and satellite tv—offering guests all the modcons as well as a truly unique lodging experience.
And for those not wanting to stay in a cave hotel, many Ottomanera mansions in the region are also being restored and turned into boutique hotels and inns.
The area’s restaurant scene is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with various cuisines on offer in addition to the local specialties. Cappadocia is also said to be where winemaking first originated over 6000 years ago thanks to its fertile volcanic soil, and today some of the area’s wineries offer tastings and/or tours.
For many visitors, the highlight of a trip to Cappadocia is a ride in a hotair balloon, for which Cappadocia has become famous—the region’s spectacular scenery and calm weather make it one of the world’s most enjoyable and safest locations for ballooning. Other outdoor activities include hiking through scenic valleys like the Rose, Pigeon and Love Valleys, horseback riding, and bicycle tours, all of which can be done either with or without a guide.
Cappadocia is easily reached via the region’s two airports, Kayseri’s Erkilet International Airport and Nevsehir Airport. Once in Cappadocia, it’s easy to hire a car, join a daily tour, or take local transport to get around the area.
Whether one is looking for a romantic vacation spot or an active holiday for the whole family, Cappadocia’s unique blend of scenery, culture and adventure is certain to impress.
