Sprawled out over the eastern heartlands of Turkey, the region of Cappadocia rises in an endless sea of needle-like bluffs, dusty valleys and alien landscapes, all carved from this rugged backcountry by millions of years of metamorphic attrition. It’s long figured as one of the country’s most fascinating natural attractions; a place where volcanic ridge hiking trails carve their way past deep-cut gorges and subterranean cityscapes dating from ancient times.
Many a Cappadocia tourist guide will recommend first-time visitors take one of the ubiquitous balloon rides above the region, which offer a dramatic bird’s eye portrait of the fairy chimneys, and moonscape like landscapes that form Cappadocia’s heart. And then head for the open-air complexes at Goreme or the underground towns of Gaziemir or Derinkuyu, to wander amidst the hive-like tunnels of the old Median Empire.
Cappadocia fields an impressive array of modern hotels, many now occupying the old cave complexes and hillsides that once housed the local troglodytes, verily heightening the experience of this unique terrain. Then there’s the food; the steaming bowls of testi kebap, the spicy meat and bean platters, and the revered red and white wines from the greater region, all earthy and authentic in the extreme.