CAPPADOCIA RIDE

JUNE 17^th THROUGH JUNE 30^th 2011

TRIP COST

JUNE 17th Day 1:
Riders will be met upon their arrival in Nevsehir and transferred to Avanos, the handicraft center of Cappadocia. After check-in at the hotel, we will visit the stables for lunch, become acquainted with the horses and take a three hour ride into the hills along the Kizilirmak River (Red River). Dinner and overnight in Avanos.

JUNE 18TH DAY 2: 
Enjoy a leisurely morning at the hotel or walk around the scenic town of Avanos. For those interested in a discovering the health benefits of Turkish baths, we can organize a 1-2 hour treatment for USD 30-40. At noon we will travel from the hotel to Akhal Tekhe Ranch for an authentic lunch. We will depart, on horseback, to Sarihan Caravanserai, a beautiful 13th century traveler's lodge on the Silk Road, where we will have tea and spend some time with the Sufis, who'll perform their Whirling Dervish Ceremony. After the performance, we will ride to our campsite to enjoy a wonderful sunset dinner overlooking the Gucin Valley from our tented encampment located at the base of ancient cave dwellings in the fishing village of Sarihidir.

JUNE 19TH DAY 3:
Our day starts early as we prepare to hold our first dental camp in the town of Saridir . While general medical care is available in Turkey, the lack of dental care is clearly apparent. We will help set up and manage a small dental camp and provide dental screenings and treatments. After lunch at our campsite we will set off on a 4-hour ride along the Kizilirmik River until we reach Mount Ziyaret. From here we will have views of Erciyes, the 13,000 ft high volcano and the vineyards below. We then descend to the town of Bayramhaci, where we will overnight at our tented encampment.

JUNE 20TH DAY 4:
The beautiful ancient village of Bayramhaci, settled in 1570, is located on a hilltop overlooking the Akvadi (White Valley). Riders will ride through a stunning valley cross a river and to start their climb to Bayramhaci. Along the way we will stop for a scenic lunch overlooking the valley. After our arrival, riders are invited to take a dip and relax in the well-known healing hot spring of Bayramhaci.

JUNE 21ST DAY 5:
We will host our second dental camp in Bayramhaci during the morning. After lunch, we will ride to a local school where we will meet with students and staff and distribute educational materials. We will overnight at our tented encampment in Bayramhaci.

JUNE 22nd DAY 6:
Ride from Bayramhaci to Sofular. The village of Sofular was founded in the 11th century. It is a typical Anatolian village where people still live a traditional life and the local farmers still occupy cave houses. We will have lunch along the ride, then have dinner at our Sofular tented encampment.

JUNE 23RD DAY 7:
We will help set up and manage the Sofular Dental Camp and provide dental screenings and treatments for local residents. Riders will lunch at the Camp then head to a local school for another educational program. Dine amongst the landscape and stars at our Sofular tented encampment.

JUNE 24TH DAY 8: 
Morning ride from Sofular to Karain past vineyards and a scenic climb to Mount Topuz. We'll descend to the village of Boyaliköy and then onto Karain. The village of Karain has many cave dwellings and we will see wonderful fairy chimneys as we ride. We will have dinner at our Karain tented encampment.

JUNE 25TH DAY 9:
We will begin our day helping with the Karain Dental Camp, followed by a ride in the afternoon and return for dinner at our Karain tented encampment.

JUNE 26TH DAY 10: 
We will ride from Karain along an ancient cart-horse track until we reach the village of Karliköy. Our ride will take us through a high plateau with magnificent views of canyons and the volcanic landscape. We will descend down to Taskinpasa and its 13th Century Selcuk School, a theological college. Keslik, one of the biggest Christian monastic centers in Cappadocia, has several churches carved into the rock. Here were housed the largest community of monks in Asia Minor. We will dine and be entertained by local dancers and musicians.

JUNE 27TH DAY 11: 
For those who are interested, the morning will begin with a Hot Air Balloon trip over Cappadocia (please note that the Hot Air balloon flight is dependent on clear and calm weather. We will do our best to reschedule the flight in case of adverse weather). Enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast overlooking the Valley of Ucicar, then visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. We will lunch in Goreme then dine at our Keylsik Tented Encampment.

JUNE 28TH DAY 12: 
Morning ride from Keyslik to the old Greek village of Cemilköy. From there we will ride to Lake Damsabaraji for lunch. If the weather is warm enough we will swim the horses in the lake. Post lunch ride to Ayvali, a quiet town in the midst of lush apricot groves, then ride to Kavak. We will travel to a local school where we will deliver supplies, then dine and camp for the night in our Kavak Tented Encampment.

JUNE 29TH DAY 13: 
Morning ride through the beautiful Pigeon Valley, where pigeons have been roosting in the walls for thousands of years. Lunch at our Campsite, followed by a ride through the hills to Ushisar. This area is renowned for its natural citadels and panoramic views of the area and through the White Valley with its fairy chimneys. We will arrive at Avanos and the Akhal-Teke Ranch where we will have dinner. We will overnight at the Hotel Canella.

JUNE 30TH DAY 14:
Depart Hotel Canella and transfer to the airport at Nevsehir for return flights to Istanbul.

THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.

Travel Requirements

What is included in the price of the trip?

• Inland transfers to and from the arrival airport in Nevsehir, Turkey on the start date of the ride.
• Lodging, board and Equestrian services. Tour cost is per person, based on double occupancy.
• We do have limited availability for single occupancy, with a supplemental fee.
• All meals starting from breakfast on day 2 of the trip and ending at breakfast on the last day of the trip.
• Taxes and gratuities, excluding all taxes at overseas airports.
• All scheduled entertainment or activities.
• All fees with regard to the humanitarian aspect of the trip.

What is NOT included in the price of the trip?

• Airfare to and from Istanbul and Nevsehir, Turkey.
• All unscheduled excursions to markets or other places such sites that are not on the scheduled itinerary.
• Snacks, beverages and incidentals other than meals provided.  This includes additional soft drinks or alcoholic beverages you may wish to purchase when we are in camp.