Turkey - Cappadocia Adventure Short Break

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from VL of High wycombe on 17/04/2024

International travelers are recommended to arrive in Turkey a day earlier. This trip would also make a great add on if already in Turkey. Short transfers every morning will take riders to where the horses were left on the evening before.

3-Day / 2-Night Itinerary:

Day 1
Avanos – Devrent – ​​Ortahisar Valley – Pancarlık Valley - Mustafapaşa: Departure from the hotel and meeting with the horses at the equestrian center. after allocating the horses, start the ride by following the banks of the Red River to ride through the fairy chimneys of Devrent, followed by the green and narrow valleys at the foot of Mount Bozdağ. Continue riding in the Ortahisar and Pancarlık Valleys to Mustafapaşa, an ancient Greek village with charming architecture. Overnight in the village Mustafapaşa. (6hrs riding)

Day 2
Damsa Lake – Keşlik Monastery – Golgoli - Mustafapaşa: Today's riding is a changing vista of scenery and diversity. This hike leads to a different part of Cappadocia. Across the plateaus and valleys, the route passes by fairy chimney formations of the Golgoli site. A trail leads to Keşlik Monastery where the group have lunch and then visit the cave monastery. Return to Mustafapaşa by a track on the cleft of high hills which dominates the entire valley. Night in Mustafapaşa. (6hrs Riding)

DAY 3 
Üzengidere – Gümüşlü Valley – Ortahisar – Red and Rose Valley - Avanos: An early departure this morning starts in the Üzengidere valley and a chance to get hoofs in the water! Continue riding through the Gümüşlü valley to the village of Ortahisar built at the foot of a rock fortress, eventually reaching the Meskendir valley, Red valley and Rose valley, with some of the most beautiful multi-colored formations in Cappadocia. Continue to the village of Avanos to conclude the ride. Transfer back to the airport. (Breakfast and lunch included. 6 hours of riding)

There is no riding on Saturdays. The riding part of the trip can be started on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday
 

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

There are 15 horses for the guests to choose from. They are all Anatolien horses, a Barb-Arabian cross. These are strong horses, with great stamina. They have a friendly nature, are well trained and have different temperaments, there will be a horse to fit all expectations and skills. They are sure-footed and used to the challenging terrain.

Saddles used on this trail are English trail saddles, larger and comfortable for long hours in the saddle. Each fitted with saddle bags to carry everything you need during the day.

Must be able to walk, trot and canter on a good horse and be comfortable spending 4-6 hours in the saddle (covering 30-50km daily). The pace is mostly walk, with opportunities for trots and canters each day (when possible). An adventurous nature and confidence riding over varied terrain would be beneficial.

Riders may help with grooming and saddling their horse if they wish, there will always be someone on site to help though.

Weight limit: 188lb (85 kg). Minimum age is 12.
Riders should bring their own helmets and chaps. There might be some helmets available to borrow on site.

The weight limit for this ride is 187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Hotel accommodation: standard double/twin rooms with private bathrooms. Comfortable beds, towels, shampoos, soap, WiFi etc. available. Hotels used on this trail are traditional architecture, old stone houses restored as hotels. Luxury hotel accommodation can be arranged for private groups on request.

Sample breakfast: Green olives, black olives, 2 kinds of cheeses, boiled eggs or omelette, jams, honey, butter, bread, fruits, tomatoes, cucumber, tea, coffee, fruit juices, milk.

Sample dinner: traditional dinner, different every evening (soup, main dish, rice or pasta, dessert or fruits).

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip.

When visiting Turkey, your passport should be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive and there should be a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps. You can find more detail about the requirements for entry into Turkey on the website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Passport and Visa requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country.

Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa.

In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Turkey.html

In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/turkiye

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

The climate is a continental climate with large temperature variations. In summer, hot during the day (25/35º), cool in the evening and at night (10/15º). The altitude (between 900 and 1800m) and the season determine the temperature. The weather is generally nice and dry but one can have occasional heat storms. Spring can be cooler and wetter – take this into account when preparing your equipment.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

British-issued prescriptions are not accepted in pharmacies in Turkey, although some medicines may be available over the counter. You should always bring any regular prescription drugs you may need with you.

As a precaution against Avian Influenza it is recommended that you avoid being in close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds, and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked


Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Turkey and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

In Turkey the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.

WiFi is available in every hotel accommodation. Phone signal is good on most parts of the trail except for when riding in deep valleys.

- 1 large travel bag or duffel bag which will be transported by the assistance vehicle, suitcases can be used if preferred.
- 1 small backpack (20 l) will be very useful for air travel or in town, but not for on horseback where we have saddle bags

- Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted and well ventilated riding helmet of the current standard which is PAS015 or BSEN1384 (one can be provided)
- Riding gloves & Jodhpurs (jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers, jeans may rub and can also be quite hot)
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended, (avoid shoes that are too wide because of the stirrups)
- Half Chaps - help prevent the stirrup leathers rubbing against your legs
- Sand Shoes
- Cotton tracksuit or comfortable large pants with large elastic bands under the feet so as to avoid the pants from riding up your legs
- T-shirts
- Sweat shirt
- Long sleeve shirt (against sunburns)
- Warm jumper
- Wind jacket
- Rain cape
- Light pair of long pants
- Scarf for dust
- Shoes for rest periods (gym shoes ideal)
- Cap or sun hat
- Shorts
- Swimming costume
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- First aid kit and medicines.

For tours in spring or autumn, bring warmer clothes and a coat.
Because of the heat, avoid wearing synthetic clothes and underwear, tight jeans or pants with thick seams and boots.

2025: Available on request between 1 April - 14 June and 28th Aug - 31 Oct except during weeks with the full week trails running.

2025: Available on request between 1 April - 14 June and 28th Aug - 31 Oct except during weeks with the full week trails running.

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The Cappadocia region of Turkey is the most popular location in the world for hot air ballooning. As this a popular 'bucket list' item, it recommended to book in advance. Your hosts recommend a sunrise flight! In the evening you could attend a Whirling Dervishes Ceremony, a sacred spiritual ritual that has been performed for a close to 800 years. It has become a cultural symbol of this incredibly diverse land of Turkey and is truly a special performance to witness.

The most interesting wildlife you might be able to see in this area are buzzards and other kinds of birds, tortoises and foxes.

This south eastern European country is in south western Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria. It has a total area of 780,580 sq km. It has borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq and Syria. And has a 8,333 km coastline. The temperature is hot and dry in the summer with mild, wet winters. The terrain is mostly mountainous with narrow coastal plains and high central plateaus. The elevation varies from sea level to the highest point at Mount Ararat 5,166m. Norther Turkey can be prone to earthquakes.

Cappadocia occupies the centre of Turkey, the region between the Black Sea in the north and the Taurus Mountains, between the capital Ankara and the city of Malatya to the east. Famous for its spectacular natural rock formations and valleys, Goreme National Park, as it is known today, is strewn with underground cities, stone chapels, monasteries and dwellings that were hewn out of the weirdly eroded volcanic rock from as long ago as 400 BC.

Thousands of years of wind and rain erosion on a landscape of soft volcanic stone topped with hardened larva caps has created a fascinating landscape of rock cones and pinnacles that are known as ‘fairy chimneys’. The greatest concentration of fairy chimneys can be found within the triangle formed by the three main towns of the region, Avanos, Urgup and the main transport hub of Nevsehir.

Outside the triangle to the south are the remarkable underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, where layers of tunnels and an intricate system of caves hid generations of settlers and sheltered early Christians fleeing persecution. The Ilhara Canyon is another religious hideaway with more than 100 painted churches and about 4,000 dwellings carved into the rock walls or concealed within the cliffs; its river bed and lush vegetation stand in stark contrast to the dusty, seemingly barren land above.

Cave dwellings, ancient monasteries and painted chapels are well camouflaged, with entranceways that are barely noticeable among a landscape of perforated cliff walls and rock fissures. Houses of volcanic stone blend unobtrusively into the natural surroundings, pigmented in natural shades of ochre and yellow, to pinks, greys and greens, and many people still inhabit the cones and chimney formations. In tourist towns such as Goreme, delightful little hotels and pensions are built partially into the rock or are housed within a rock cone and offer cave-style rooms.