Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a dreamy slice of central Turkey dotted with`fairy chimneys', and has a history every bit as remarkable as its landscape. Volcanic eruptions created this surreal moonscape; the lava flows formed tough rock, which wind and rain sculpted into sinuous valleys with curvy cliff faces and pointy fairy chimneys. Cappadocians chiseled homes in the soft rock, paving the way for cave-dwelling hippies and today`s boutique fairy-chimney hotels.
1. Hot Air Balloon: This is by far the most popular of the things to do in Cappadocia and for good reason. Apparently more balloon trips are made here than anywhere else in the world. The landscape is crazy and the view from above is a great way to see it.
2. Goreme Open Air Museum: One of the Turkey`s Unesco World Heritage Sites,the Goreme Open-Air Museum is an essential stop on any Cappadocian itinerary and deserves a two-hour visit. First an important Byzantine monastic settlement that housed some 20 monks, then a pilgrimage site from the 17th century, this splendid cluster of monastic Byzantine artistry with its rock-cut churches, chapels and monasteries is 1 km uphill from Goreme`s center.
3. A Walk Around The Valleys: You can either hike, mountain bike, horse ride or scooter through the valleys from Goreme that naturally exhibit the different rock formations that are particular to this place, mushrooms, columns and cones. It is like walking though a nature phenomenon museum. If you are into photography, there will be plenty of great shots waiting for you to take.
4. Ihlara Valley: Ihlara Valley, near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz is a canyon with a depth of approximately 100m and was formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. It begins it Ihlara village and end with Selima Monastery at Selime village after making 26 bends along 14 kilometres.