Waking Up in a Fairytale: A Journey Through Cappadocia

Located in Central Anatolia in Türkiye, Cappadocia is a semi-arid region known for its dramatic landscapes and deep-rooted history. Shaped by centuries of volcanic activity into cones, valleys, and caves, this part of the country feels like a scene from a fairytale. I often looked at pictures and reels of its breathtaking landscapes and the iconic hot-air balloon rides, dreaming of experiencing it myself. Finally, last year, we planned a family trip to Türkiye and decided to explore the magical land of Cappadocia.

A Stay Like No Other: Inside a Cave Hotel

Cappadocia is famous for its cave hotels, which date back to centuries of human habitation in the region. In modern times, many of these ancient dwellings have been transformed into hotels, offering visitors a truly unique experience.

We checked into our hotel, Cappadocia Cave Rooms, in Göreme, excited to finally stay in a real cave hotel. Our room was small but cozy, with naturally cool cave walls that added to the charm. The room, the delicious breakfast served each morning, and the presence of adorable cats all came together to make our stay truly memorable.

The Iconic Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia

One evening, we went to Lover’s Hill, which was a short, 15-minute hike from our hotel.  The hill is surrounded by stunning panoramic views – on one side, you get an aerial view of the entire town of Göreme, and on the other side, you see the Love Valley, which is famous for its unique rock formations, called ‘fairy chimneys’. The Lover’s Hill is a popular sunrise and sunset spot, attracting more people in the mornings, who want to watch the hot air balloons soaring above.

As we wandered around the hilltop, we took in the natural beauty that surrounded us. The view of Love Valley, with its whimsical fairy chimneys, was absolutely breathtaking — so enchanting, it felt like we had stepped into a real-life fairytale.

The Hot Air Balloon Experience

The thing we looked forward to the most during this trip was the hot-air balloon ride. When we arrived in Cappadocia, we found out that all balloon rides had been cancelled that morning due to strong winds. Since ours was scheduled for the next day, we were a bit worried. Thankfully, by evening, the balloon company confirmed our flight, and we were thrilled for the adventure ahead. We were picked up from our hotel at 4:30 a.m. and taken to the take-off site. As the crew prepared the balloon, we stood watching other balloons take off — a truly magical sight! It was 5 degrees Celsius and bundled up in layers, we eagerly waited for our turn.

Once the balloon was ready, the crew helped us climb in. The pilot gave us safety instructions, and soon we began to soar! Floating above the fairy chimneys was nothing short of magical. Because rides had been cancelled the day before, there were even more balloons in the sky that morning. The colourful balloons drifting across the sunrise-lit sky created a breathtaking view. As we glided past the cave hotels, we saw people waving up at us, taking pictures, and enjoying the moment just as much as we were.

After about an hour in the sky, we touched down gently. The crew handed us our flight certificates, and we celebrated the experience with non-alcoholic champagne! If you ever plan to visit Cappadocia, the hot-air balloon ride is an absolute must.

From Underground Cities to Open-Air Wonders

Since many popular tourist spots in Cappadocia are located far from one another, the best way to explore the region is by joining a guided tour. Tour companies here offer two main types of tours: the Red Tour, which covers the northern part of Cappadocia, and the Green Tour, which focuses on the southern region.

After finishing our hot-air balloon ride, we joined the Red Tour to explore the northern part of Cappadocia. The tour began with a visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum—a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to a complex of over 300 rock-cut churches, chapels, and monasteries. Our next stop was Paşabağı, also known as Monks Valley. The name comes from the monks who once lived in the caves and carved churches and monasteries into the fairy chimneys. Like the Göreme Open Air Museum, Paşabağı is also home to several historic religious structures.

Next, we visited the Zelve Open Air Museum, where three valleys filled with cave dwellings and churches converge. These valleys were inhabited until 1952, when they were deemed unsafe and the villagers were relocated a few kilometres away. We walked through the valley, exploring the cave rooms and admiring the stunning terrain. After that, we headed to Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley. This valley is famous for its unusual rock formations that resemble animals and various objects—hence the name.

The final stop was Uchisar Castle, one of Cappadocia’s most iconic landmarks—and my favourite part of the Red Tour. Unlike a traditional castle, Uchisar is a massive rock-cut structure. While we didn’t climb to the top, we explored the caves at ground level. Some of these caves have lookout windows that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

The next day, we decided to do the Green Tour. This tour began with Pigeon Valley, named after the countless man-made pigeon houses carved into the volcanic rock. These nests, created centuries ago, still host many species of pigeons today.

Next, we visited Ihlara Valley, a 15 km gorge formed by ancient volcanic activity. The valley is home to around 50 rock-carved churches and numerous other structures. We hiked down into the gorge just in time for lunch, where we enjoyed local delicacies by the flowing stream, accompanied by the company of a few curious cats hoping for a bite.

The best part of the tour was the final destination: Derinkuyu, an ancient multi-level underground city that extends approximately 85 metres deep. It was used extensively as a refuge during the Arab-Byzantine wars. Derinkuyu is the largest excavated underground city in Türkiye and once sheltered up to 20,000 people along with their livestock and food supplies. We explored its narrow, low-ceilinged hallways, forced to move single file, crouched over, as we made our way through the maze-like corridors. Claustrophobia started to set in—it made us truly wonder what life must have been like for those who once lived underground for weeks or even months at a time.

A Sunset to Remember

On our last evening, we returned to Lover’s Hill. This time, we wandered to the quieter side of the hill, where there was no one else, and we had the entire view to ourselves. After a leisurely stroll, we settled down, taking in the peaceful atmosphere. Out of nowhere, a cute little dog appeared—with the biggest smile—and instantly warmed our hearts.

Soon, the sky began to change colours, blending soft hues of orange and pink, while the town below lit up with twinkling lights. We had front-row seats to the dreamiest view imaginable. As we watched the sun set over Cappadocia, I felt a deep sense of calm and contentment. It was the perfect end to a truly magical trip.