Cappadocia in central Turkey is an astonishing landscape of dramatic natural beauty. Over the centuries volcanic ash and rock erupted from Mt. Erciyes has been transformed by intense erosion into a haunting, surrealist region of thousands of cones, columns, canyons and ravines, ranging in color from desert reds and ochres to cool green and gray. It is without doubt a most remarkable place to explore by balloon. Our unique ability to fly slowly, just a few feet above the ground, allows you to observe these remarkable geologic formations in great detail. In addition, our frequent landings give you the opportunity to further examine this incredible landscape and visit with the friendly local residents of the six surrounding villages, who are not accustomed to seeing balloons. Between flights, private guides will escort you through the most interesting areas of this much-visited region.
The areas we will explore by balloon contain centuries of history, with dwellings known to have been hewn from the rocks as far back as 4,000 B.C. Incredibly wealthy with fertile land and trade links, early Cappadocians had a language and culture of their own and were occupied at different times by the Persians, Macedonians and Romans. Anatolia was first founded in this region by the Hattis, 2000 years before Christ, and various ruins remain in this area from the Hatti kingdom period. During the early times of Christianity, Jesus’s followers and apostles settled in this area to escape the soldiers of the Roman Empire. After being expelled from Jerusalem, St. Paul found refuge in Cappadocia and with his followers, established the first Christian colony in the region.
All kinds of artistic products are here from different civilizations, including monasteries and churches cut into the Cappadocian rock by early Christians from 4th to the 13th centuries. Approximately 1,000 still exist, of which 150 are richly decorated, containing some of the most extraordinary frescoes in the world. Dwellings for entire communities were carved out of the same rock. To protect themselves from the attacking hordes from the East in the 7th century, this strange troglodyte civilization of approximately 30,000 people descended underground, digging large city-like complexes 7 storeys deep. Erosion has exposed, in places, the rooms these people once called home.
Once likened to the “surface of the moon”, the atmosphere of Cappadocia is one of magic —an ethereal harmony of nature and the past non-existent elsewhere in the world.
Day One
Day Two
You will see rows of historical Yalis, the beautiful wooden waterside residences of the 19th century, as well as expensive modern villas, small fishing villages, ancient marble palaces, graceful 15th century Rumelihisar fortress, the two giant bridges connecting Europe to Asia and charming coves filled with fancy yachts. After our cruise, we’ll visit the most beautiful of all the imperial mosques in Istanbul, the 16th century mosque of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, and St. Sophia’s Basilica, built in the 6th century. Dinner at the Kervansaray Nightclub with a colorful traditional Turkish floor show including dancing girls.
Lunch will be at the Rami restaurant, followed by a tour of Topkapi Palace, the Imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. With over 6 million square feet and its palace population of over 10,000, it was truly a small city. It is the oldest and largest of the remaining palaces in the world with lavish gold, silver and jewel collections, a jeweled throne room and the remains of a 400-room harem pavilion. We’ll visit the Basilica cistern built in 532 with 236 Corinthian columns standing in 3 feet of water. It is a remarkably large underground reservoir. Our last stop will be the Grand Bazaar, with 65 streets,18 gates and 4000 shops all under one roof. “Farewell to Istanbul” dinner at the Korfez Restaurant on the Asian shore of the Bosphorous, arriving by private motor launch.
Day Four
Day Five
Later we visit a local carpet maker for a highly fascinating visit, watching the weaving of hand made rugs from cotton, wool and silk. Lunch will be in the remarkable rock valley of Uchisar, then a guided visit to the 7th century rock cave dwellings of this intriguing place and its preposterous towering rock fortress. Dinner will be in a fine restaurant in Urgup.
Day Six
Our spectacular dinner, arranged just for us in the Outdoor Musuem, is an elaborate catered affair by lantern-light. A private performance of Whirling Dervishes is a moving and mesmerizing experience.
Day Seven
Time for shopping in the colorful old markets of Urgup. Dinner this evening will be, with special permission, privately catered and served to us in the exotic hand-hewn rock chambers of the 10th century Christian church, Avnali.
Day Eight
Day Nine
Day Ten
NOTE: Each lunch in Cappadocia will be served in a different and truly spectacular setting, among strange and wonderfully exotic rock formations and ruined cave dwellings of the early Christians. Our delicious mid-day meals are totally private, catered affairs served in our very unique “movable cafe” of tables, chairs, giant umbrellas, Turkish carpets and charcoal grills. Each interesting setting was selected by Buddy Bombard many years ago, after much exploration by jeep and on foot.
Our trip meets and begins at 7:00 p.m. at the 5-Star Ciragan Palace Hotel, formerly the palace of Sultans and our home for 3 nights in Istanbul. Welcome reception and meet Sahli, our wonderful Trip Director who will be with us throughout our stay in Turkey. Elegant dinner party in our lovely hotel.
After breakfast we’ll visit Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans, stretching for 600 yards along the Bosphorus. With 362 rooms and 22 salons, it is noted for its extensive interior decoration in gold, major collection of European antiques, priceless paintings, four and a half ton crystal chandelier and major harem. Then we’ll board our privately chartered 90 foot yacht, the Sureyya, for a lavish luncheon cruise on the Bosphorous, sailing close to the European and the Asian shores.
Day Three
Morning visit to the Golden Horn, the harbor around which Istanbul was built with streets of colorful old wooden houses and churches from Byzantine times. We’ll visit the Spice Bazaar, the 5th century Roman aqueduct, the site of the famous Hippodrome where gladiators fought and chariots raced, and the Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, built in 1616 and renowned for its 22,000 blue Iznik tiles.
Istanbul to Cappadocia-Fly to Ankara by plane and visit the outstanding Museum of Anatolian Civilization to better understand the strangely beautiful region we are about to visit. Proceed to Cappadocia by private coach and check into 4-star Dedeman Hotel for 6 nights. Dinner will be in the hotel’s private, penthouse dining room.
After breakfast, a mid-morning balloon adventure through the extraordinary landscape of Cappadocia. Then our guide will take us to The Open Air Museum in Goreme with its 16 frescoed monastic churches, dating from the 3rd to the 10th centuries, carved into the rock.
Mid-morning balloon adventure in Cappadocia. Visit a ceramic workshop in the caves of Avanos to see how fine quality pieces are designed and produced. Lunch will be among the amazing rock formations of White Valley, called “Fairy Chimneys”, followed by a guided visit into the ancient underground city of Kaymakli. Dug during the 7th and 8th centuries, it is a maze of tunnels and dwelling chambers for approximately 5,000 people and their animals. It descends 7 storeys underground!
Mid-morning balloon adventure in spectacular Cappadocia, followed by a guided visit to the National Park of Zelve and the ruined cave dwellings of approximately 8,000 early Christians. Lunch in the visually spectacular setting of the ancient hand hewn cave church called Gomede.
Mid-morning balloon adventure across Cappadocia followed by a guided visit to the town of Ortahisar and its remarkable 10-storey tall rock fortress. Lunch will be out among the most unlikely eroded rock formations of Pasabag followed by a leisurely stroll through this wonderland of shapes. You’ll really want your camera for this one. Dinner will be on the terrace of the attractive restaurant, the Ataman, overlooking the strange and fascinating erosion formations of Goreme.
Mid-morning balloon adventure and our last exploration of this compelling landscape. Our final lunch in Cappadocia will be in a pretty green glade under the enormous and complex ruined cliff dwelling village of Cavusin. After lunch we’ll depart by luxury coach for Ankara where we will check-in to the Ankara Hilton for overnight and to celebrate our memorable trip with a farewell dinner and graduation ceremony.
Our tour ends this morning after breakfast with a plane flight from Ankara to Istanbul, arriving in time to connect with your own ongoing travel arrangements.
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Ten Days / Nine Nights
2007 Departure
$ 15,686 per person, based on double occupancy |
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To check availability or receive additional information on Buddy Bombard Vacations, drop us a note, or call.... 800-777-7739 |
reprinted with permission of the Bombard Society
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