5 NIGHTS \ 6 DAYS HIGHLIGHTS OF CAPPADOCIA

DAY 1 – WELCOME AT CAPPADOCIA AIRPORT AND PRIVATE TRANSFER TO YOUR HOTEL
Turkish Airlines, Istanbul (IST) to Kayseri (ASR): 18:10 – 1925
Overnight at: www.burcukayaotel.com.tr or similar boutique hotel for 5 nights on bed and
breakfast basis.

DAY 2 – HOT AIR BALLOON RIDING TOUR & PRIVATE CLASSIC CAPPADOCIA TOUR & SUNSET CAMEL
SAFARI
Early morning hot-air balloon (up 7 years old).
Experience begins by transfer of the passengers
to the headquarters with luxury minibuses. Our
passengers will have an open buffet – full
catered delicious breakfast and their check-in
will be made while the pilots are choosing a
good launch site according to the wind
directions. Once the launch site is selected, the
passengers will proceed to the launch site
where they will witness how the crew and the
pilot unload, assemble and inflate the balloon.
Following an introduction to the safety factors
of ballooning with your pilot, your amazing
experience will begin. The balloons will climb
approximately 300 meters (1000 feet) during
the flight. A panoramic and marvelous view will
greet the passengers while drifting above the valleys and between rock formations. Balloons move
by the wind and you will float wherever the wind takes you; so that each flight brings new and
memorable experiences. Each passenger is to dress according to the temperature. Flat shoes, hat,
sunglasses and of course camera is a must. The flight presents many photo opportunities and lifetime
memories to cherish. The flight will last approximately for 60 minutes. In keeping with ballooning
tradition, our passengers are treated to a champagne ceremony upon landing by our crew. The
passengers will receive a memento certificate. All our passengers are covered with insurance by
Eureko Insurance Company. After the flight our luxury minibuses will take you back to your hotel.
Your entire balloon adventure lasts about 180 minutes.
After second breakfast at your hotel meeting with your guide
and driver for start your next tour. The lunar landscape of
Cappadocia, starting with the rock formations beyond; visit
Devrent and Pasabag –three coned fairy chimneys” where
the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”. Lunch is
in Avanos, center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. In
the afternoon visit the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site
Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of
Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with
frescoes and paintings (10th & 13th century). Private
transfer to your Sunset Camel Safari (90 min.) then head
back your hotel.

DAY 3 – PRIVATE HIDDEN DWELINNGS OF CAPPADOCIA TOUR & WHIRLING DERVISHES CEREMONY
Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock
formations, is in the heart of Cappadocia but away
from the tourist crowd. Rock-Cut hermit churches
with frescoes and paintings fit with the Valley’s
meditative atmosphere, remained intact since the
beginning. Our lovely hike will start from a beautiful
panoramic point presenting us great light in the
morning for pictures. After the hike we give a
refreshment break in Cavusin village which will be
complemented
by a visit to the
ruins of Cavusin
Town. After
lunch, 20-minute drive will take us to the least visited
Underground city; Ozkonak which was discovered by a villager
while he was looking for the water disappearing from his
irrigation system in his field. Unlike other underground cities,
Ozkonak has different ventilation and security system. 3 of the 5
floors are open to visitors and believed to shelter many people
from persecution and loots. WHIRLING DERVISHES CEREMONY IN THE EVENING AT 18:30
Sufi whirling is a form of Sama or physically active meditation
which originated among Sufis, and which is still practiced by
the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a customary dance
performed within the Sema, or worship ceremony, through
which dervishes (also called semazens) aim to reach the source
of all perfection, or kamala. This is sought through abandoning
one’s nafs, egos or personal desires, by listening to the music,
focusing on God, and spinning one’s body in repetitive circles,
which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the
Solar System orbiting the sun. As explained by Sufis. In the
symbolism of the Sema ritual, the semazen’s camel’s hair hat
(sikke) represents the tombstone of the ego; his wide, white
skirt represents the ego’s shroud. By removing his black cloak,
he is spiritually reborn to the truth. At the beginning of the
Sema, by holding his arms crosswise, the semazen appears to
represent the number one, thus testifying to God’s unity.
While whirling, his arms are open: his right arm is directed to
the sky, ready to receive God’s beneficence; his left hand, upon which his eyes are fastened, is turned
toward the earth. The Semazen conveys God’s spiritual gift to those who are witnessing the Sema.
Revolving from right to left around the heart, The Semazen embraces all humanity with love.

DAY 4 – SALT LAKE & WONDERS OF CAPPADOCIA TOUR & TURKISH DINNER NIGHT SHOW
In the morning start the day visiting Salt Lake for
shooting amazing photos. Then head to Ihlara
Valley to walk in mysterious Ihlara Canyon, a
“mirage” in the Steps of Anatolia up to Belisırma
village, the ancient Peristrema: “Valley of the
Sky” along the Melendiz River. Rock-cut
churches, spread across a wild plantation,
surprise you with their successfully painted
representations from the Bible. Lunch in
Belisirma in a local restaurant by the river. Visit
to Guzelyurt Village old Karballa, witnessing the local village life, it’s history dates back 8500BC. And
a visit to Cami Church will complement your day before returning to your hotel.

DAY 5 – PRIVATE ANOTHER ANGLE OF CAPPADOCIA TOUR
In the morning, meeting with the lunar landscape
of Soganli Valley, which is truly is the last of the
line of villages in the valleys south of Urgup, and
the most traditional one. Its isolation meant it
was the ideal place for Byzantines to build
monasteries, which they inhabited until at least
the 1750’s. The locally made doll is the symbol of
the village. A local woman lost her baby and,
unable to cope emotionally, made a rag doll to
take its place. Later on, the women of the village
developed the art of making these dolls while
their men were out on the mountains grazing their animals. A Soganli
doll is a must for every doll collection. After a very local lunch at
Soganli, we drive towards Sinasos (Mustafapasa) an old Greek Village.
En route will have small photo breaks like at Roman necropolis,
Taskinpasa, a 900 years old
village that shows its Seljuk
roots in its Medrese (theological
school) and a mosque. Keslik
Monastery, which houses the
we ll-preserved 9th century
Chapel of St. Stephen, several refectories and the Archangel
Chapel; and Cemil Village, home to descendents of the village’s
earliest Orthodox Christians. Lastly before Mustafapasa, we will
visit one of the most interesting findings of the region new
excavation site Sobessos lat est layer stands from east Roman
period with mosaics a “first” in the region. We may get a short lecture from the head of excavations.

DAY 6- PRIVATE TRANSFER TO AIRPORT FOR YOUR FLIGHT BACK HOME VIA ISTANBUL
Turkish Airlines, Kayseri (ASR) to Istanbul (IST): 11:15 – 12:45 at noon
End of the services.