The tour begins with a visit to the “Underground City” of Kaymakli, where early Christians lived in fear and faith. The “City” was originally carved out as eight floors connected by nearly 100 tunnels; today, four of the floors can be visited. In wartime, about 5,000 people took refuge here. The tunnels are still used as storage areas, stables, and cellars, and comprise one of the most remarkable of Cappadocia’s underground settlements.

Afterwards, you proceed to the spectacular Soganli Valley to visit its Open Air Museum. The museum is situated in a wild, natural setting near a typical Cappadocian village that has rock-cut churches adorned with centuries-old frescoes. Surrounded by “table top” mountains, the valley has been continuously inhabited since the earliest days of the Christian era. Its churches date from the 9th to the 13th centuries, and some contain inscriptions giving the exact dates of construction. This has provided scholars with valuable clues to help date other churches in Cappadocia.

After lunch, we continue to Sahin efendi (Sobesos), a recently discovered archaeological site from which mosaics and ancient houses have been excavated. Then it’s on to Keslik Monastery, near Cemil, whose frescoes are obscured behind a very thin layer of smoke, and can only be seen by torch light. The tour ends with a visit to Mustafapasa (Sinasos), an old Greek town whose houses are excellent examples of the architecture of late Greek settlements.

SPECIAL NOTES

This tour is also available on a private and group basis (information and prices on request). There are no restrictions on the arrival and departure times for private tours; however, participants on regular tours whose flights arrive after 8:30AM will miss the earliest scheduled attractions (no refunds are given for missed visits due to late flight arrivals).

Tour participants must be able to walk approximately one (1) mile over rough, uneven surfaces. Comfortable shoes, a hat and plenty of sunscreen are recommended as shade is limited. The order of the itinerary may vary to avoid congestion at certain attractions.