(suitable in summer)

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Day  1: Arrival

You’ll be expected for dinner in Avanos, in Cappadocia. Overnight in a comfortably restored traditional Anatolian house.

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Day 2: Avanos - Ozkonak

First contact with the horses and try outs to choose your horse. We’ll gently climb up Mount Idis (1700m) above the village where we’ll enjoy a wonderful view of the spectacular landscapes of Cappadocia. Our campsite will be close to the village of Özkonak.

3 hours of riding..

Day 3: Ozkonak - Bayramhaci

We’ll visit the underground city of Özkonak that served as a shelter in case of danger with its impressive galleries and tunnels. Round stones were used as sliding doors to shut out the enemy on which you could pour boiling oil.  Having ridden along the river Göynük and amongst semi-cave houses, we’ll reach the natural thermal springs of Bayramahaci. You’ll enjoy a wonderful swim in an outdoor pool. We’ll camp nearby. 6 hours of riding.

 

Day 4: Bayramhaci- Devrent

We descend down to the longest river of Turkey, the Red River, Kizilirmak. We’ll cross the river to the village of Sarihidir and, surrounded by vineyards and orchards, on to the lake Damsa and the dam of Bayramhacili. We’ll follow the ancient Silk Road and arrive at Sarihan, a 13th century Seljuk caravanserai. We’ll pass through the fairy chimney valley of Devrent with its spectacular formations and we’ll camp in the valley.

6 hours in the saddle.

Day 5: Devrent - Keslik

We’ll go through Pasabag, the Monks’ Valley, with its amazing fairy chimneys with several “hats” to the cliff of Cavusin riddled with cave dwellings. Further along, we’ll enjoy a stunning panoramic view over the valley of Roses (Güllüdere) and the Red Ravine (Kizilcukur). We’ll ride on to the village of Ortahisar with its impressive rocky peak, then to the village of Mustafa Pasa whose Greek houses have beautiful carvings. We continue through Üzengi valley and after crossing the village of Cemil, we ride through a canyon landscape to arrive at our camping site, next to a source, in Keslik, a cave monastery.

6 hours in the saddle.

Day 6: Keslik - Derbentbasi

In the village of Taskinpasa (1150m) we’ll admire a mosque and a türbe (tomb) of the Seljuk period and the ruins of a madrasa (former Koranic school) with a fine portal and a sculpted mihrab (prayer niche in a mosque). We’ll climb up to the plateau of Dambirca for stunning views of the region. Overnight in the valley of Derbentbasi.

5h of riding.

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Day 7: Derbentbasi - Soganli

We’ll pass the sheep fold of Zopun and then climb gently to the Tahtali gorge. We’ll finally arrive at Soganli, a small village, which is an open air museum. After lunch, we’ll visit Soganli, home to a dozen rock churches: Church of the Dome, Church of the Serpent, Karabas Kilise with particularly well preserved frescos, the oldest dating back to the 7th century. Overnight in a village home.

3 hours on horseback.

Day 8: Soganli - Erdemli

The trail continues with Meselik plateau, the lake and the village of Akköy. On the Küçükhodul plateau, the view of the volcano Erciyes Dagi, with its 3917m of altitude, is breathtaking. Today, our goal is the Byzantine monastery of Erdemli that we’ll explore hundreds of caves. Dinner and overnight at the foot of Mount Hodul, at an altitude of 1400m.

5 hours of riding.

Day 9: Erdemli - Sarigol
We’ll ride at an altitude of 1000m across the dried out lake of Sultansazligi, allowing us an opportunity for long gallops with the volcano as a backdrop ... Along the slopes of the volcano, we’ll reach the semi-nomadic village of Eski Şeyhşaban at an 1700m altitude with some ancient ruins and a large stone Roman pool.

Our next stop is the yellow lake, Sarigöl at an altitude of 2450m where with a bit of little luck, we might see some wild horses that come to drink at the lake. All along our route, we have breathtaking landscapes on the flanks of the volcano of Mt Erciyes (3916 m) where snow  remains on its peak until the summer. Overnight near the lake.

About 6 hours in the saddle.

Day 10: Sarigol - Kiziloren

We’ll cross the semi-nomadic camps with their herds of goats and sheep to the pasture of the tribe of Asiret and Töre, then  to Armutluk at an altitude 1650 m. We’ll descend to an altitude of 1450 m to the village of Kizilören. Lunch in a village home.

3 hours of riding. End of our riding tour.

1:30 Transfer by vehicle to return to Avanos. Free afternoon to visit the potters of the village or the museum of antique carpets of Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 11: Avanos - Istanbul
Following your flight schedule, transfer to the airport and regular flight to Istanbul.  Transfer to your hotel.

Overnight with breakfast.

Day 12: Istanbul
Visit of the city on your own: St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, the Bosphorus. (Group and private tours are available). Overnight with breakfast.

Day 13: Istanbul - return flight
Transfer to the airport and return flight to your country.

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Duration: 13 days

Rates: 3600 € per person

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Departure dates possible upon request.

Minimum 5 people. 

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It is possible to extend your stay in Istanbul upon request.

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The given program is an indication of a possible itinerary. It may change according to technical, security or weather imperatives. Only Kirkit’s guide can make the necessary decisions.

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(Note:  Maximum weight - 85 kg) 

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The price includes:

• A horse and saddle for riding

• Saddlebags, half-chaps and helmets are provided

• The services of an English or French speaking guide

• A minibus to carry your luggage from campsite to campsite

• Meals and accommodation during the riding tour from dinner day 1 to breakfast day 11 (picnics for lunch and hot meals prepared at the campsite in the evenings)

• Tents, floor mats, plates, bowls and cutlery.  (You must bring your own sleeping bag.)

• 2 transfers in Istanbul

• 2 nights of hotel in Istanbul with breakfast

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The price does not include:

• International and domestic flights

• Entrance fees 

• Drinks and personal expenses

• Lunches and dinners in Istanbul

• Insurance

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