Day hike · Cappadocia
Ortahisar – İbrahimpaşa loop
Gardens, vines and a Greek stone village with its old bridge, then down a hidden valley to the rock of Ortahisar.
The route in numbers
- Distance
- 11.7 km
- Ascent
- 302 m
- Descent
- 279 m
- Walking time
- ≈ 3 h 30
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Altitude
- 1141–1342 m
- Route type
- Loop (back to the start)
Along the way
- Historic bridge and Greek houses of İbrahimpaşa
- Tea break in a still-farming village
- Balkandere valley and dovecotes
- Rock fortress of Ortahisar at the end
When to go
April–June and September–October; in winter, snow and slippery tuff.
Water and supplies
Fountains in the villages (Ortahisar, İbrahimpaşa); still carry your supply.
Things to watch for
- Narrow passage cut into the rock (small canyon)
- Short steep climb (20 m) on the orchard slope
This page describes the trail as our team walked it; it is not a substitute for a map, a guidebook or a qualified guide. Paths, waymarks, water sources and weather change, so check conditions locally before you set out and choose a day that suits your experience.
More hikes in Cappadocia
Our trips in Cappadocia
Our trips in this region:
- Trails of Cappadocia
- Cappadocia, Call of the Hidden Valleys
- Cappadocia – Istanbul
- Cappadocia & Taurus, from fairy chimneys to the Aladağlar
- Cappadocia & the Lycian Coast
Our self-guided trips include the MyAv road book.