Landing at Kayseri Airport, gateway to the fascinating region of Cappadocia, you will be met on arrival and transferred by shared shuttle to Uchisar, where you can settle in to your welcoming hotel base for the next three nights.

Situated on the edge of the Goreme National Park, the village of Uchisar is dominated by the natural rock hill, used as a fortress over millennia. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may have the opportunity today to pay a visit to the top of the castle from where you can gain panoramic views over the valley, a fitting first taste of the unique landscapes of this fascinating region of Turkey.

This day is a great introduction to Cappadocia, with the chance to enjoy some of the region’s iconic landscapes and discover the small but well-known town of Goreme, nestled in the heart of the UNESCO-Listed National Park.

Setting off on foot from Uchisar this morning, you will descend into Pigeon Valley, named for the pigeon lofts or ‘houses’ as they are known locally – you will see many excellent examples of pigeon houses on your hikes. Arriving to Goreme, set amid honey-coloured cliffs and tuff cones, you have the opportunity to take your lunch here where there are many options available, and soak in the sights of this remarkable village with its juxtaposition of heritage with development. The Goreme Open-Air Museum is a must-see, however you may prefer to visit this World Heritage Site tomorrow, when you have a shorter walk and therefore more time to spend at this fascinating site.

Continuing your walk out of the town, you will hike through the White Valley and explore one of Goreme’s two Love Valleys, before ascending to exit the valley and return to Uchisar.

Your hike today will start again on foot from your hotel, this time to explore the lesser-visited Zemi Valley. Surrounded by high mountains, this shady valley offers you the chance to admire the colourful structures of the tufa erosions at close proximity.

Today’s trail through this lush valley feels more adventurous and intrepid, taking you over a mix of terrain, clambering over rocks, ducking under trees and through occasionally wet streambeds on the valley floor; before the trail ends at the outskirts of Goreme. Here you can spend the rest of the afternoon at the fascinating Open-Air Museum, delving into the Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries hewn from the rock and admiring the ancient frescoes. The otherworldly landscapes here will be sure to captivate you. When you are ready to finish your visit, you can either take the bus or a taxi from Goreme back to Uchisar, or you may choose to return on foot via Pigeon Valley, retracing your steps from the day before.

After breakfast, you will be collected for the transfer to Selime, from where today’s hike through the Ihlara Gorge begins. In medieval times, this area was a hive of monastic activity, but in more recent times it receives comparatively fewer visitors. Most visitors to the area are on day tours from Goreme, with only a short amount of time to visit a small section of the canyon, but you will have the opportunity to hike this spectacular gorge trail in its entirety. Before setting off on your walk, you might like to explore the Selime Cathedral, an astonishing blend of human troglodyte habitation and worship with the organic forms of natural erosion.

The trail through the canyon follows the Melendiz River, framed by rugged cliffs and lush greenery. Contained within the valley are numerous rock-hewn churches and buildings, far too many to visit them all, but you will have the chance to visit some of the more accessible sites which are well worth the short diversions. Emerging from the canyon into the old village of Ilhara, you will stay the night here in a simple hotel and enjoy the warm hospitality of your hosts.

Your driver will pick you up after breakfast to take you to Derinkuyu, one of the best underground cities of Cappadocia. This ancient subterranean city, dating back millennia to the time of the Phrygians in Anatolia, comprises of a staggering multi-level network of tunnels that burrow to 85m below the surface level. Please note there are narrow passages in the underground city of Derinkuyu that may make it unsuitable for those with claustrophobia. You will have the opportunity to explore the underground labyrinths before continuing on your way to the village of Kavak, the starting point of today’s walk. There are some simple shops in Kavak and depending on the season, there may be a café or restaurant open for refreshments in Ayvali, but it may be a good idea to purchase your lunch supplies before leaving Ihlara.

Following a predominantly downhill course, views of sandy lunar landscapes and distant peaks accompany you on your walk today, along with the unique tufa formations and fairy chimneys ubiquitous to the region. After passing through the village of Ayvali, you can descend to the Gomeda Valley to explore its churches and ruins, before continuing on your way to Mustafapasa. The village of Mustafapasa is steeped in history; once home to a large community of wealthy Greek merchants, whose prosperous trade in Constantinople (Istanbul) enabled them to build grand mansions in their home village. Enjoy a Turkish coffee in the town square and languidly watch the world go by. There are several options available in the village for your dinner this evening, before you settle in for the night in one of the stone-carved hotels famed in this area.

Leaving Mustafapasa on foot this morning, your route will drop into the valleys of Gomeda and Uzgeni for a short while before tracking north through farmland to the village of Ortahisar. This old farming village, whose name is derived from the Turkish “middle castle”, is dominated by the rock castle known locally as Sivrikaya, some 90m high, and of strategic importance in Byzantine times. You might like to stop for a refreshment break in this village, at the convenient mid-point of your route. Continuing on your way, the trail follows the edge of the Meskendir valley then passes the Sword Valley with its numerous tufa pinnacles, before you reach the familiar village of Goreme and your home for the next two evenings.

A short transfer this morning takes you to Pasabag, where you will catch sight of the distinctive mushroom-like fairy chimneys here with their dark brown tops and tapered bases, and the notable triple-headed fairy chimney. Your walk today will initially follow an old wagon track to the outskirts of Cavusin, before ascending up and over the flat top of the mesa-like Bozdağ mountain. From this elevated position, you will gain incredible views over the Rose and Red Valleys. As you descend from Bozdağ with panoramic views of the strange lunar landscapes ahead of you, the trail winds down into Rose Valley. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to explore the Column Church (‘Kolonlu Kilise’ or ‘Direkli Kilise’), so-called for the four tall pillars found in the large nave. Navigating your way around the seemingly endless fairy chimneys, hidden caves and tufa erosions in varying shades of white, cream, red and pink, you will return to Goreme. Tonight, tuck into a hearty meal and reflect on the wonders of the landscapes you have discovered this week, and perhaps raise a toast with a celebratory glass of locally produced wine or raki.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and drink in the views of the enchanting Cappadocian landscape. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport by shared shuttle, in time for the check in of your departure flight.