CAPPADOCCIA

To go by public transportation from Kemer is not a viable proposition as it would take a very long time. To drive in your own car will take about 8 hours and the bus will take around 12 hours. I would suggest a rented car if you are two person or more as it s faster and gives great flexibility and I judge it to be worth the premium cost of around 150 Euro.

The road goes to Akseki via Antalya. Its a flat boring landscape but after a couple of hours the road goes into the mountains as you head for Konya. The highest point on your way is 1852 meters so its a steep but very scenic route. Going down you use half as much petrol. Take this into account as you want to handle back your car with 1 liter in your tank.

There are several small villages in the area with small pensions or large hotels .My favorite village is Üçhisar and my favorite pension is Les Terrasses 00903842192792. It’s run by a French Turkish family and double room which actually has room for 4 persons cost 32 Euro a night. The 4 diner in French style cost 10 euros and a bottle of local wine is 7 Euro.

From the castle at the top of the village you can see the sunrise and have a glass of Raki in the morning or a bottle of wine from the local cooperative at sunset.

The wine coop has wine tasting and sells a good white wine for 120 YTL for a case of 12.

Uchisar is the highest village in the area and from the terrace outside your room you have a fantastic view. In the morning you are surrounded by balloons from 3 ballooning companies.. 

After breakfast the proprietor will take you on a two hour walk to the village of Göreme where he will deliver a dog to Lars a balloon company owner who will drive him and his group back to the hotel. This is a very nice way of starting the day and we really enjoyed it.

You can read about what to see in Kappadokya in your guide book. The musts are an underground city the outdoor museum. Both are very interesting but if you want to go to the 8th and lowest floor of the underground city its a bit of a struggle if you are 190 cm weight 115 kilos as the author. but its possible.

A balloon flight is also a fantastic experience but a costly one. Prices range from 150 to 210 euros and as all were fully booked on our visit last minute prices were hard to negotiate.

We took the grand tour with Kapadokya balloons 0090 (0) 384 271 24 42 in GOREME. Lars a Swedish and his wife who is English founded there company in Göreme 15 years ago and they are considered to be the best in the area. They took us on a one and a half hour trip into small valleys where we could literally pick flowers from the cliffs. Lars and his wife let their balloons slide next to each other in a fantastic dance. We landed long after us other balloons and were given certificates and champagne. A fantastic morning and great fun.

We stayed one night in GUMUS CAVE pension 0090 (0) 384 271 24 38 in GORME. It was nice and cool. Price is 50 YTL for a 4- bed-double room including breakfast.

Experiences from Hasan Kaçmaz from SY IBIS II

1. Day

* Just after “Manavgat” city there will be road junction to the inland to “İbradi  - Akseki” direction.

* “Akseki” road junction to “Seydişehir”

Konya

Aksaray

Nevşehir

Turn to Ihlara road

            Visit “IHLARA Valley” It will take two hours.  

Back to the main road

            Visit “Derin kuyu” underground city

            Drive to “Ürgüp” via “Nevşehir”

Derinkuyu to Ürgüp is 40 Km

Hotel İn Ürgüp

2. Day

Early in the morning visit churches and fairy chimneys in Ürgüp

Drive to Üçhisar

visit Open air museum

Lunch any restaurant

Visit “Kocabağ Wine producing company” and sellers KOCABAĞ Şaraphane & buy some bottles

Kocabağ Kalecik Karası Red - Kocabağ Öküzgözü Red. They may give you 20% discount if you tell them you are from Kemer Marina.????

Afternoon drive to AVANOS and visit ceramic shops. “GALİP” is a very special place.

Have a dinner at Avanos & test “testi kebabı”

3. Day

Balloon trip early in the morning. They will take you from your hotel at 04.30 in the morning.

Travel Agencies sell the tickets for 220 US$ but if you buy the ticket direct from the Balloon Company and if you ay cash, it goes down to 110 US$.

Morning will be cold, take a jacket.

By 07 :30 you will be landed and they will drive you back to your hotel for breakfast.

 Sinasos - Mustafa Paşa Church. The door is always closed and Tourist Office clerk has got the key if you can find him. 20 minutes fine to visit the church.

ZELVE valley. There are three sections and there are many churches with no Fresco. Most of them are not open to the visitors. You will need at least an hour to visit. Visit in the morning but don’t have a lunch at the restaurants at the entrance of ZELVE Valley. Go back to the city for a better place.

ÇAVUŞİN  Büyük Kuşluk Kilisesi is an interesting building. You will need half an hour to visit.  

Up but the view is great.

 Go up to Üçhisar Fortress and take your binocular with you. The steps are hard to climb

 Soğanlı is another settlement and interesting place to visit. Have a lunch & specialty is MENEMEN & Salad 

In the evening by 19 :00 go to KIZILÇUKUR to watch the sun down. Take a bottle of red wine and two glasses with you. It is on the way between Göreme – Ürgüp, 2km from the main road.