Cappadocia to the Mediterranean

Türkiye is literally layered with history, civilisations built one atop the other leaving unmistakable marks on the Anatolian peninsula. Instead of turning pages in a history book, this 10-day adventure turns corners on a bike from the heart of ancient Cappadocia to the Turkish Riviera on the Mediterranean coast.

The tour spends four days cycling, exploring and dining in Cappadocia's iconic region of otherworldly "fairy chimneys", filled with rock-cut churches and underground cities, venturing beyond the must-sees of Göreme and Derinkuyu into rugged countryside most tourists only see from a hot air balloon. By Day 5, riders reach Konya, a historic city with a proud Islamic heritage where the call to prayer from countless mosques blends into a heady atmosphere.

Riding across the vast, open Anatolian Plateau, the route stops at a 3,000-year-old Hittite stone monument before arriving on the shores of Lake Beyşehir. On Day 7, the terrain changes dramatically as riders climb into the rocky peaks and forested wilderness of the Taurus Mountains, spending the night in a traditional "button house" nestled in the highlands.

Descending gloriously to the coastal plains, the tour bases itself near the ancient port city of Side for the final two nights, riding past and exploring Roman temples, theatres and aqueducts. The tour ends with a transfer to Antalya, the gateway to the Turquoise Coast, for an unforgettable and storied ride across the ages in Türkiye.

Highlights:

Explore Cappadocia's underground cities, fairy chimneys and rock-cut Byzantine churches Visit the UNESCO-listed cave churches of Göreme and vast Derinkuyu Underground City Ride the Anatolian Plateau to a 3,300-year-old Hittite stone monument at Eflatun Pınar Climb and descend through the Western Taurus Mountains, overnighting in a traditional "button house" Enjoy a 28km descent from the mountains to the Mediterranean coast Explore Roman ruins at Aspendos Theatre and the ancient port city of Side

Surface and terrain:
Around 90% paved (tarmac and older chip-seal roads, sometimes bumpy or coarse), 10% hard-packed gravel and dirt tracks. Terrain is hilly to mountainous, especially through the Taurus Mountains (Days 7–8, 1,000m+ gain each). Average climbing is 904m/day.

Weather:
Best season is May–late June and September–October; July–August is too hot for cycling (around 40°C). Days are warm, nights cool in Cappadocia during the shoulder seasons. Sun cream is essential; rain is possible, especially at higher elevations.

Suitable for:
Rated "Active" difficulty. Suited to riders with reasonable fitness wanting to build stamina and climbing strength; described as a good intermediate-level tour. Daily distances and climbing are fairly consistent (50–60km, 600–1,000m gain), with two tougher mountain days (75–85km, 1,000–1,500m gain). Group size 4–16, minimum age 18.