Outdoor Activities in Cappadocia

Written by Viator, September 2012

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience, Good Views / Viewpoint, Horse Riding, Tip - What to See & Do, Walking/Hiking, Town / City

Cappadocia is a place where you’ll want to spend all your time outdoors – it is such a spectacular landscape you’ll want to see it from every angle.

Hot air ballooning is very popular and looking down on those craggy cliffs, deep valleys, red rivers and jutting fairy chimneys, you’ll probably want to do it a second time.

The Kızılırmak, or Red River, which runs through Avanos is Turkey’s longest river and you can go canoeing or take the full plunge and head off for a few days of rafting along this distinctively red silt river.

Walking, hiking and bike-riding are also popular as there is so much to see around every cliff and bend. 328 ft (100 m) deep Ihlara Valley is one of the most popular places to hike with its cave churches, trees and winding route. Pigeon Valley is also popular for its many fairy chimneys, once pigeon rooks.

Cappadocia is known as The Land of Beautiful Horses and to go a little further out of town and see the landscape as the local people have for centuries, head out on horseback into the further away Swords Valley, Meskendir Valley, Rose Valley and Love Valley and ride amongst the orchards and vineyards. If you feel more adventurous head into the landscape on a camel!

Keep in mind that during the summer months, Cappadocia gets very hot so plan activities for early morning or later in the day. During the hottest hours perhaps you can explore the underground cities, visit a winery or sip tea under the trees of the Ihlara Valley.

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All Outdoor Activities in Cappadocia Reviews

Reply by Viator, September 2012
Doing what: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride

The staff were friendly and accommodating. The balloon pilot was fun, but professional, working hard to engage with all of the passengers during the course of the hour-long flight. The pilot went out of his way to provide a variety of different aerial perspectives, including close approaches to rock formations. The post-landing champagne celebration and medals were a great touch.

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Reply by Viator, September 2012
Doing what: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride

Amazing hot air balloon ride! Cappadocia's landscape is really stunning from above and was absolutely gorgeous from our hot air balloon. We took a million photos because everything looked so beautiful at sunrise. Definitely worth it, there was a nice breakfast snack before we left and a champagne toast when we landed. These guys really knew their business and the whole event was really efficient and super safe. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Cappadocia.

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Reply by Viator, September 2012
Doing what: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride

I absolutely loved this experience, and is definitely on my top 2 together with the helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon! If you go to Turkey, you can´t miss a balloon ride in Cappadocia. It was amazing being suspended in the air on the balloon, and felt so peaceful and like being on a dream. The views from the balloon were incredible, being able to see the amazing rock formations, the beautiful sceneries and the other hundreds of balloons in the air. Definitely recommend it!

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