Ihara Canyon & Underground City
LOCATION:
Cappadocia, Turkey
DURATION:
9 hours 40 mins
DIFFICULTY:
MODERATE
WHAT WE SEE DURING THE HIKE:
In the Canyon where we will walk for 14 km
Cave houses
Lunar landscape of Cappadocia
Fairy Chimneys
Pigeon houses
Churches with frescoes
Selime cathedral
DURING THE HIKE YOU WILL PASS THROUGH:
42 km by vehicle to Derinkuyu.
Visit the Underground City.
52 km by vehicle to Ihlara Canyon.
Ihlara village,Bellisırma,Selime.
INCLUDED IN PRICE:
Pick up and drop off from your accommodation( By Vehicle)
Lunch at the restaurant
1.5 litres of water per person
1 glass of freshly squeezed juice (orange or pomegranate)
Small snack
Full days of hiking with an experienced guide
Hiking
€85
FOR
1-3 PEOPLE
€78
FOR
4-8 PEOPLE
DESCRIPTION:
UNDERGROUND CITY OF DERINKUYU
Caves might have been built initially in the soft volcanic rock of the Cappadocia region by the Phrygians in the 8th–7th centuries BC, according to the Turkish Department of Culture.
The underground city at Derinkuyu could be closed from the inside with large rolling stone doors. Each floor could be closed off separately.
The city could accommodate up to 20,000 people and had amenities found in other underground complexes across Cappadocia, such as wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and chapels. Unique to the Derinkuyu complex and located on the second floor is a spacious room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. It has been reported that this room was used as a religious school and the rooms to the left were studies.
The large 55-metre (180 ft) ventilation shaft appears to have been used as a well. The shaft provided water to both the villagers above and, if the outside world was inaccessible, to those in hiding.
In 1963, the tunnels were rediscovered after a resident found a mysterious room behind a wall in his home while renovating. Further digging revealed access to the tunnel network.
In 1969, the site was opened to visitors, with about half of the underground city currently accessible.
CANYON IHLARA
Ihlara village has, one of the more beautiful canyons of Cappadocia with its Melendiz River which halves the canyon. A place for cave house houses of the Byzantine period, the cave church, cave-dwelling, monastery of Selime. 6-7 hours of hiking.
We will visit the Bezirhane (linseed oil pool of wood-stated), cave houses and frescoed churches belonging to the Byzantines who lived in this valley, which began cave life at the end of the 6th century.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
Entrance fees to 2 sites are not included in the prices. (13+15 € =28 € per/p)