afternoon following the river down the Then we will continue to village SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS valley and exploring on your own. where check in at a small pension for overnight. - - For millions of years, the - – The village is well known mighty volcanoes of the Central for its magnificent underground city. It is Meals included: [B+L+D] Anatolian Plateau erupted and spayed the biggest one on the territory of their contents across the land that Anatolia and has all the usual amenities Day 3. IHLARA VALLEY – would become the cradle of civilization. found in other underground complexes, DERINKUYU – GÖREME Three thousand years of history await such as wine and oil presses, stables, After breakfast we will start our first the visitor to Cappadocia in the heart of cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and walking stage in the Ihlara Valley, along Anatolia. To the North lies the Black chapels. the Melendiz River. This 30 km long Sea, to the South the Taurus canyon had been dwelled through the Mountains, to the West the Salt Lake TOUR DESCRIPTION basalt rocks by the river. Thanks to the and to the East Mount Erciyes. availability of water this valley has a rich

Eruptions of lava from the now extinct flora and fauna. We will visit some of Erciyes in the distant past covered the Day 1. ANKARA the most beautiful orthodox Christian landscape with the soft “tufa” rock, Arrival in Ankara. The local guide meets churches (from 6-th and 12-th century) which the winds sculptured into tortuous us at the airport. Transport to the city with conserved frescoes on the rock valleys and pinnacles. Here, the early and accommodation in a hotel. faces of the valley. We will have lunch- Christians carved out the rock churches Meals included: none break in a small restaurant by the river and underground cities for which before we continue our walk through the Cappadocia is so famous. valley. The walking stage ends in -Goreme – This village makes its living Day 2. ANKARA – GUZELYURT – Selime village where we visit the Selime from agriculture and tourism. It is IHLARA VALLEY monastery into the caves. located in the middle of the national In the morning we will have a short stroll Drive to Göreme where we stay for the park. In the village, ancient or recent in the old city before visiting the famous the coming 4 nights in Cappadicia. houses can be found along with the and rich Anatolian Civilisations The walk today will be about 5 hrs, famous earth pillars (or fairy chimneys) Museum. This will provide us with the traveling – 1,5 hrs. that are still used as houses, opportunity to see the Ataturk Meals included: [B+L+D] warehouses, restaurants or stables. mausoleum, where is buried the -Ihlara Valley - The impressive gorge of founder of the Turkish Republic. Around Day 4. GÖREME – DERINKUYU – the valley is 16 km long and both sides noon we head on 4-hours transfer to CAT VALLEY - GOREME are lined with rock carved churches, Cappadocia via the huge salt lake Tuz In the morning we will drive to about 100 in all. You can discover those (Tuz Gölü). Arriving in Guzelyurt, we Derinkuyu to visit the incredible churches in a couple of hours but it's will see the most interesting sites as underground city (8 floors, going to 87 also very pleasant to spend an frescoed churches and cave dwellings. m. under the ground), carved way back PENGUIN TRAVEL Frederiksberg Allé 32, 1820 Copenhagen F, Denmark

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in the past as a shelter in times of siege Morning drive takes us to the trailhead TOUR -LEADER AND LOCAL and continuous raids. After continue to point at the beginning of the Akvadi GUIDES Cat valley, a least known hike for many (The White Valley). We walk along this people, a pleasant and easy hike valley with particularly slim fairy Along with you on the trip there will be carrying on for about 7 kms chimneys. At noon we arrive in Uchisar an English- /Scandinavian speaking approximately. We will have picnic in village to visit the high viewpoint known tour-leader, who will join the group in the valley. Late in the afternoon we will as “The fortress”. After the hike and the Ankara. The tour-leader’s mission is visit a Carpet cooperative established visit of the highest point of Cappadocia primarily to keep the group together and by villager women. There are we will have a transfer to Ankara where solve practical problems and issues that environmental, sociological, economic, we stay overnight. (walking time: 6 may arise during the trip. The group will and religious reasons for the hours) be accompanied also by our local widespread art of carpet weaving Meals included: [B] English-speaking guide who has among the Turkish people from Central thourough knowledge of the country

Asia to . The known oldest and the Anatolian region. The guide will Day 8. DEPARTURE woven carpet is found in Pazirik Kurgan inform us about the area's history and Transport to the airport for departure. in Mongolian steps dating back to 5th the sights of interest that we visit. Meals included: [B] century B.C. Transfer to Goreme. Meals included: [B+L+D] Tour type: GT ACCOMMODATION, MEALS &

LUGGAGE TRANSPORTATION Day 5. GOREME – ORTAHISAR - Difficulty grade: A/B GOREME The accommodation is based on full

Today we go for a ramble on a plateau board (breakfast, lunch & dinner, 5 offering a magnificent view over the days) and bed and breakfast (breakfast, Best period for travelling: September Uzengi Valley. Then we enter Pancarlik 2 days). Throughout the journey we will – October Valley to see the numerous cones and stay overnight in small family owned pensions built in a traditional style with fairy chimneys decorating our path and CLIMATE also visit the Kepez and Sarica en-suite facilities. In Ankara we stay in churches, famous for their architectural 3-stars hotel. Luggage transportation is The Anatolian plateau has a typical significance. Following our pathway we included throughout the whole trip. A continental climate, very warm in arrive in Ortahisar village, where we can small rucksack for carrying personal summer and quite cold in winter. It is taste local Turkish meals. We hike up to items during the day-walks is necessary quite dry and rainfalls are not common. Ortahisar fortress (a volcanic ash peak) (20-35 l). It is possible to skip some of Temperatures could vary between 25 oC during summer, and could fall and enjoy incomparable view over the the walks and to take the bus with the and 35 down to 5-8oC during late autumn. Cappadocian Valley. After walking luggage instead. across Avcilar Valley, we return to Meals: please, note that included meals Goreme. (walking time: 5 hours) are indicated in the itinerary above and Meals included: [B+L+D] are shown on the day they are provided (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner); BB = breakfast; FB=full board. Day 6. GOREME – ZELVE – RED VALLEY – GOREME BOOKING A SINGLE ROOM After breakfast we are transferred to Zelve, an old cave dwelling village All our tours are based on double transformed today in open-air museum. occupancy, meaning that the standard The first walk for the day include hiking cost is based either on individual MONEY AND PERSONAL EXPENSES travelers sharing accommodation with a through the typical fairy chimneys of You will need some extra money to member of the same sex, or people Pasabaglari. After visiting Cavusin cover meals, drinks, entrance fees etc., who book together sharing church we enjoy a picnic lunch nearby. which are not included in the tour price. accommodation. However, if you travel In the afternoon we enter the Red Additional money for souvenirs and alone and no room partner can be Valley with its formations and colours, personal expenses should also be arranged, or you do not want one, you that look even redder at sunset time. considered. That is why it is always should be prepared to pay single room Then we head toward Avanos town, necessary to have Turkish money in supplement (according to the price list where we visit some traditional craft cash. workshops. In Avanos we have the for the particular tour). The payments in Turkey are usually chance to relax in an authentic Turkish made in "YTL", which is the official Bath. Overnight in Goreme. (walking EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING currency. Euros and USD are largely time: 6 hours). No compulsory items are required. If accepted. The exchange rate with EU Meals included: [B+L+D] you are a regular hiker you may already and USD is quite changing sometimes, have most of the clothing and but approximately it is: YTL: EU -1.6:1; Day 7. GOREME – UCHISAR - equipment you will need. YTL: USD - 1, 3 -1. Credit Cards could ANKARA be used primarily in some shops and restaurants in the biggest cities. Usually PENGUIN TRAVEL Frederiksberg Allé 32, 1820 Copenhagen F, Denmark

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it is marked on their front doors if Credit In Turkey the two-pin sockets are Cards are accepted. Cash Points standard. Voltage is 220 w/50Hz. If you (ATMs) are more frequent (again in the come from the U.S. or UK you need to biggest towns only!). Traveler's purchase an adapter. cheques take quite a lot of time to handle and not each bank deals with them (in many cases it takes even few days since their deposition in the bank!). Thus they are not PRACTICAL INFORMATION recommended! Although it is safe to travel in Turkey it VISA may happen that one looses a passport Danish, Finish, Icelandic and Swedish or needs to contact the embassy. This citizens can stay up to 90 days without can be done on one of the following a visa. Norwegian citizens gets 30 days addresses (for tourists from visa upon entry into Turkey. Your Scandinavia). passport should be valid at least 6 m after you leave the country and contain Sveriges ambassad i Ankara no less than 2 unused pages. Besöksadress Sveriges Ambassad VACCINATIONS Katip Celebi Sokak 7 No special vaccinations are needed. If Kavaklidere, Ankara you have any doubts it is always better to check with your personal doctor well Telefon: +90 (312) 455 41 00 in advance. Fax: +90 (312) 455 41 20 E-post: TRAVEL INSURANCE [email protected] As Turkey is not a member of EU it is e not covered by the EU card. It is Danmarks ambassade therefore recommended that you check Mahatma Gandhi Caddesi 74 your own insurances and complement 06700 Gazi Osman Pasa, Ankara these if necessary. Telefon +90 (312) 446 6141 TICKETS Telefax +90 (312) 447 2498 You will get your travel documents: E-mail [email protected] flight tickets, vouchers etc sent to you by E-mail about 10 days before GENERAL REMARKS scheduled departure. Due to unforeseen reasons small changes in the order of the day-to-day TIMEZONES programme might occur. This is to be Turkey is 1 time zone ahead of Central decided on the spot by the guide. Europe (Paris, Rome, Stockholm): CET + 1h

SECURITY, THEFT etc. Travelling in Turkey is normally safe, particularly outside the biggest cities, You should, however, be always careful about your belongings and valuables and not leave any items unattended.

DRINKING WATER We recommend during the whole trip drinking of bottled mineral water (or boiled water, such as tea / coffee), which can be bought cheaply in any shops.

ELECTRICITY

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