Cappadocia & the Lycian Coast — 13-day trek — Aventures Anatoliennes

From Kayseri to Antalya: Cappadocia's volcanic valleys, underground cities, Silk Road caravanserais and the Lycian Way along the Mediterranean. 13-day guided trek, moderate grade.

This journey offers a complete immersion between Cappadocia and the Lycian coast, two iconic regions of Turkey shaped by volcanism, history and great civilisations. Designed as a progressive, accessible walking itinerary, the trip harmoniously combines spectacular volcanic valleys, cave villages, major cultural sites and quieter trails away from the busiest areas. Day after day the landscapes change with great variety: green valleys, canyons carved by erosion, surprisingly shaped fairy chimneys, then the turquoise Mediterranean shores and the ancient remains of Lycia. The trip provides a natu…

13 days · Level 3/5

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1: France – Kayseri — Arrival at Kayseri airport and welcome by our local team, at the foot of Mount Erciyes. Depending on arrival time, a first look at the historic districts of the city, where Seljuk medreses, caravanserais and lively baza…
  2. Day 2: Ürgüp – Uzengi – Gomeda – Sinasos — Drive to Ürgüp, the start of the walking programme. The hike begins in the green Uzengi valley, among orchards, crops and dovecotes carved into the rock, then continues into the wild Gomeda valley, a preserved natural l…
  3. Day 3: Mazı – Keşlik – Golgoli – Sinasos — Discovery of the Mazı underground city, one of the most impressive in Cappadocia, whose galleries carved into the volcanic tuff reveal an ingenious system of living and protection. We continue to the rock-cut monastery…
  4. Day 4: Göreme – Uçhisar – White Valley – Çavuşin — The hike starts in the Görkün area and crosses iconic volcanic landscapes to Göreme, the historic heart of Cappadocia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trail then climbs gradually to Uçhisar, the region's highest po…
  5. Day 5: Zelve – Paşabağ – Rose and Red Valleys — The morning is devoted to the Zelve cave site, a former rock village now abandoned: dwellings, churches and natural galleries carved into the rock. The hike then heads towards Paşabağ, famous for its impressive fairy ch…
  6. Day 6: Ihlara Valley – Sultanhanı – Konya — Morning transfer to the spectacular Ihlara valley, one of the most impressive volcanic canyons in Cappadocia. The hike follows the Melendiz river along the bottom of the gorge, in a cool, green atmosphere. High tuff cli…
  7. Day 7: Konya – Antalya — The day begins with a visit to the Mevlânâ mausoleum, a high place of Sufism and a major spiritual centre of Anatolia. We then drive south across the plains of central Anatolia. The landscape changes as we approach the…
  8. Day 8: Kaleiçi – Ulupınar – Yanartaş — Visit of Kaleiçi, the historic centre of Antalya, with its cobbled lanes, Ottoman houses and old monuments. Drive to Ulupınar, known for its lush natural setting. The hike begins through pine forests and rocky trails le…
  9. Day 9: Ulupınar – Maden Koyu – Çıralı — Coastal hiking on the Lycian Way, one of the finest trails in the Mediterranean basin. The path winds above the sea with spectacular views of cliffs and turquoise waters, alternating pine forests, maquis and rocky secti…
  10. Day 10: Aperlae – Kekova Bay – Üçağız — Morning departure for a hike to the ancient city of Aperlae, a remote Lycian port that was an important centre for producing the famous purple dye; the remains of workshops can still be seen. Around midday, boarding a p…
  11. Day 11: Kılınçlı – Aperlae – Üçağız — Short transfer to the start of the hike at Kılınçlı. The trail follows ancient Lycian paths overlooking the sea, alternating rocky sections, small valleys and panoramic ridges. Arrival at the ruins of Aperlae, a former…
  12. Day 12: Arykanda – Termessos – Antalya — Discovery of the ancient site of Arykanda, a spectacular city built on a mountainside with remarkably preserved terraces. Continue to Termessos, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Turkey, set high in the…
  13. Day 13: Departure — Transfer to the airport for the return flight.

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