Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Guide

Located in the Anatolian part of Turkey, the Cappadocia region is famous for its showcase of the ancient civilizations from thousands of years ago that are seen in carved houses and churches within the earth pillars. These cave dwellings are constructed on the foot of the mountains by cutting through rocks and stones. These cave houses are fundamentally old houses that were carved by people who lived here ages ago and which served as living and work spaces as well as religious buildings such as monasteries and churches. Embark on a memorable journey to Cappadocia as part of your Turkey vacation package, immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of ancient civilizations and marveling at the remarkable cave dwellings carved into the earth pillars.It is said that about 30 million years ago there were three volcanic eruptions from the Erciyes, Hasan, and Melendiz Daðlari and the volcanic tufa that was accumulated led people from ancient times to build dwellings into them. These were very soft materials and thus building into them was easy. Moreover, they made for comfortable housing which was warm in winter, and cool in summer, and also served as a good hideout in wartimes. Today you can find several of these dwellings with murals from the Hittite Empire and the Neo-Hittite period. You can also witness some high standards of building techniques with several military tunnels as well as artistic features such as religious paintings on the walls.

Located in the Anatolian part of Turkey, the Cappadocia region is famous for its showcase of the ancient civilizations from thousands of years ago that are seen in carved houses and churches within the earth pillars. These cave dwellings are constructed on the foot of the mountains by cutting through rocks and stones. These cave houses are fundamentally old houses that were carved by people who lived here ages ago and which served as living and work spaces as well as religious buildings such as monasteries and churches. Embark on a memorable journey to Cappadocia as part of your Turkey vacation package, immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of ancient civilizations and marveling at the remarkable cave dwellings carved into the earth pillars.It is said that about 30 million years ago there were three volcanic eruptions from the Erciyes, Hasan, and Melendiz Daðlari and the volcanic tufa that was accumulated led people from ancient times to build dwellings into them. These were very soft materials and thus building into them was easy. Moreover, they made for comfortable housing which was warm in winter, and cool in summer, and also served as a good hideout in wartimes. Today you can find several of these dwellings with murals from the Hittite Empire and the Neo-Hittite period. You can also witness some high standards of building techniques with several military tunnels as well as artistic features such as religious paintings on the walls.

The famous Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia is best known for its hiking trail, a key highlight of any trip to Turkey. The trail can commence in either Uchisar Town or Goreme Town, taking you through thick forests of trees and several caves. As you descend into the valley, it also provides great views of the town and the Uchisar Castle. Additionally, you can spot a number of brilliant paintings on the walls of the caves that were created by the people who lived here during the Byzantine period.As is evident from its name, the Pigeon valley used to have a large number of pigeon holes built into the walls for the domestication of pigeons. They were not only used by the dwellers here for their meat and manure, but also for message delivery, and sacrifices. The trail is extremely picturesque with its ever changing landscape and cliffs and sudden stretches of dense greenery alongside others with bare treeless sections. Throughout the trail, you will be greeted with scattered cave dwellings as well as chimneys and earth pillars. At one end of the valley, you will find some cafes where you can relax and enjoy a refreshing bite before heading on.