Day 1:
Early morning flight from Istanbul to Nevsehir or Kayseri. Transfer by minivan
to Avanos and check in at hotel. Lunch in Avanos. Afternoon ride to get to know
horses. Dinner at hotel.
Day 2:
Ride from Avanos to Sarihidir, a tiny fishing village on the Red River, where
you'll stop for tea in a local cafe. Continue on to Sarihan, a beautifully restored
13th Century caravanseri, for lunch. In the afternoon ride amongst Cappadocia's
famed fairy chimneys to Zelve, Pasabagi and Çavusin, where the horses will overnight.
After leaving the horses, visit the Göreme Open Air Museum to see the awe-inspiring
painted churches built by exiled Christians during the Roman era. Dinner at hotel
in Avanos.
Day
3: Ride from Çavusin through the tranquil White Valley to Uçhisar.
Stop for lunch, then continue on to the villages of Kavak and Bahçeli for a tea
break. Finish the day in Ayvali, a quiet town in the midst of lush apricot groves,
where you'll overnight in a charming old hotel with a 12th Century church inside.
After freshening up, visit a carpet shop to see local weavers at work and learn
about this ancient craft tradition. Delicious organic dinner at hotel in Ayvali.
Day
4: Ride from Ayvali through Mustafapasa, an old Greek village, to Lake
Damsabaraji for a picnic lunch. If the weather is warm, you can take a dip with
the horses in the lake. After lunch return by a different route on a high plateau
to Ayvali where you'll spend one more night.
Day 5:
Ride from Ayvali to Ibrahimpasa, an old village boasting exquisite Greek architecture,
then on to Ortahisar for lunch. If you have the energy, you can climb to the top
of Ortahisar´s craggy rock fortress for a beautiful view. After lunch enjoy a
long, exhilarating ride through the Red and Rose Valleys on to Çavusin and Avanos.
Dinner at hotel in Avanos.
Day 6:
Ride from Avanos to Özkönak where you'll visit one of Cappadocia's largest underground
cities. Return over Ziyaretdagi Mountain to Avanos. Upon return, if you'd like,
you can visit a local pottery factory to enjoy the art form for which Avanos has
been well known since the time of the Hittites. Final dinner at hotel in Avanos.
Day
7: Transfer to airport in the morning for return flight to Istanbul.
