These rides are ideal for the adventurous rider: discover the beauty of wild Cappadocia, the traditional Turkish way of life and camp under the stars next to the horses.

Black Mountains Trail:
From Cappadocia to the Taurus Mountains, past the bird paradise of Lake Sultansazli. An incredible route that combines different landscapes: Cappadocia, the wetlands of Sultansazli, the high mountains of Karagol (2080 m high lake) and the beautiful gorge of Kazikli with a final camp in this Emli-valley famous for hiking.

Ihlara Trail:
From Ranch in Guzelyurt, the trail takes you through the south of Cappadocia. From rural Cappadocia to the most beautiful valleys, the trail is a succession of fantastic rock formations, lush gorges, plateaus, steppe-like landscapes, vineyards and orchards. Under the gaze of Mount Hassan, the villages reflect the Anatolian way of life, while frescoed churches and other cave dwellings bear witness to the region's rich past. 

(Not 2026) Orienteering ride Cappadocia:
A unique combination of a spectacular trail ride, an orientation ride and an endurance ride. Embark on an exciting adventure through a breathtaking landscape. You will test your skills on the cross-country trail at Riding centre Four teams of riders then compete against each other in the first part, with one team receiving a treasure. Fun and action are guaranteed in this mixture of orienteering, hide-and-seek, endurance, mountain trails and treasure hunt. The winner is not the fastest team, but the smartest team that has the treasure at the end. A short endurance ride is planned as the grand finale, where the Arabs can prove their sure-footedness at a fast pace.

Itinerary

Black Mountains Trail

Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir airport. Transfer to your hotel in Urgup.

Day 2: Avanos - Golgoli
You to ride the whole day with a lunch break at the Red valley. The impressive tuff rock gives you the feeling of being on another planet. Your spirit of adventure is immediately awakened and you look forward to the coming days in Cappadocia.

Day 3: Golgoli - Soganli
The quietly situated Soganli-valley is known for its cave churches from a bygone era. The historical significance of this place cannot be overlooked. 

Day 4: Erdemli - Sultansazli Lake
You to ride from Erdemli to Sultansazli-lake and take a lunch break in Kume evleri. Today's accommodation is in a comfortable guesthouse.

Day 5: Sultansazli - Black Mountain
The Sultansazli National Park is known for its rich birdlife. In contrast to the dryness of the first few days, you now move through a species-rich landscape towards the Black Mountain.

Day 6: Black lake
The volcanic landscape of Cappadocia offers new surprises every day. Today your destination is: the Black lake.

Day 7: Kazikli Gorge
Today you leave the mountains and head downhill to ride You take a long lunch break at creek. Today's camp is located in the Kazikli Gorge.

Day 8: Emli-valley
On the last day of riding, you will explore the Emli-valley, before ending the tour on the Ranch You spend the last night in an inn.

Day 9: Departure
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Kayseri airport (journey time: 2 hours).

Ihlara Trail

Day 1: Arrival
Arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir airport. Transfer to your hotel in Avanos.

Day 2: High Church - Monastery Valley - Çardak
You leave the hotel and drive to Güzelyurt, where you meet the horses at the riding center. You take a short warm-up ride to the high church, which is located on a hill and offers a wonderful view of the old town of Karballa and the mountain Hassan. You then continue through the monastery valley to your campsite in Çardak. (Riding time: approx. 4 hours)

Day 3: Çardak Village - Kitreli - Yenipinar - Eghrikuyu
On your second day of riding, you follow the Melendiz mountain trail, passing Kitreli and a historic Greek village called Ilemi at the corner of Melendiz. Then you cross Yenipinar, where the shepherds used to bring their sheep to drink, and finally reach your camp in Eghrikuyu on the edge of the Hassan (3268 m). (Riding time: approx. 5 hours).

Day 4: Plateau of Sarnich - Mokyssos - Ihlara
You leave the mountain Hassan and to ride continue past the water cisterns in Sarnich to Mokyssos (now known as Helvadere). From the 6th century onwards, this was a Roman military base that controlled the passage from Anatolia to Jerusalem. Here you will have your picnic to tighten and then continue to Ihlara to ride. This canyon is 14 km long and was once inhabited by Christians who had to hide from persecution. You set up camp on the banks of the river in Ihlara. (Riding time: approx. 5 hours).

Day 5: Ihlara - Selime Monastery - Uzunkaya - Çeltek
Today you reach the Ihlara Gorge via village Belisirma and to ride along the Melendiz River. Parts of this impressive gorge are 150 to 200 meters deep. You reach the Selime Monastery, which is probably the largest monastery village in the whole of Cappadocia. Afterwards to ride you continue to Uzunkaya and Çeltek, where you will spend the night today. (Riding time: approx. 5 hours)

Day 6: Çeltek - Kizilkaya - Asıklıhöyük - Akyamaç
Today you will continue along the historical route and visit Aşıklıhöyük, one of the first urban settlements in the world, which was founded 10,000 years ago. Afterwards to ride you will continue to Akyamaç, a village, where you will set up camp. (Riding time: approx. 5 hours) 

Day 7: Akyamaç - Sivrihisar - Red Church - Guzelyurt
On the last day of riding, you return to Ranch You to ride through the old Greek village Akyamaç and on to Sivrihisar. You pass the Red Church (a Christian Orthodox church from the 7th century) and end your ride on the Ranch in Guzelyurt, where you say goodbye to your horse. (Riding time: approx. 5 hours). Transfer by minibus to your hotel in Avanos. 

Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir

(Not 2026) Orienteering ride Cappadocia 

Day 1: Arrival at Kayseri airport. The participants will be taken to the hotel in Sazgligii and will meet the riding guides there. Detailed tour briefing and division of the teams. 

Day 2: You start the day on a rocky plateau with fields and tall grass, overlooked by the Erciyes volcano and its snow-covered peak. You have to decide on a route, go around the hill Hodul daha or descend into the Damsa-valley The most challenging landscapes are the most appreciated. Camp in the green and peaceful Karlik-valley. Dinner around a huge campfire. Approx. 6 hours at saddle. 

Day 3: Now that your team has grown together and you can assess the opposing teams, this day promises to be a challenging competition. If you miss the entrance to a valley, your leadership position will be challenged. There are cave villages and rock churches to find along the way. If you keep the eyes open, you will collect points. Late lunch in the restaurant by the pool. Later in the day, the landscape turns into a steppe landscape where the sheep graze under the eyes of their guardians, the giant Kangal dogs. After a final gallop, you reach the Subasi camp.

Day 4: Vineyards, apricot trees, gorges and remote villages; the labyrinth of Cappadocia's valleys won't make it easy for you to find your bearings and arrive on time. Will you opt for a sporty or an easy route? You to ride now pass through the most spectacular part of the region: Zemi, the valley of pigeons, the valley of love and the white valley. Spectacular camp high above the red valley. 

Day 5: You wake up in the early hours of the morning to the sound of hot-air balloons flying directly over the camp. The day begins with a long gallop across the Bozdaha plateau with views of the colorful valleys of Göreme, Cavusin, Uchisar and Urgup. Arrival at valley in Uzengui. Camp for the next two nights in the surroundings of Ranch.

Day 6: Today you collect points for your team by completing a course in varied terrain (doorway, deep hanging branches, ford). You present your horse at the vet check for the race the next day and receive information about the organization of the endurance ride. Possibility to visit the open-air museum in Göreme or go shopping in Urgup. Campfire in the evening.

Day 7: Endurance ride over 40 km. The minimum speed is 10km/h. The maximum speed is 15km/h. The finishing rank takes into account the heart rate of the horse. Overnight stay at the hotel in Urgup Overnight stay at the hotel. A racy end to your adventure! 

Day 8: Departure: After breakfast, drive to Kayseri airport.

For reasons such as the weather or for safety reasons, the guide may decide to change the routes at short notice. 

Accomodation
Black Mountains:
Accommodation is in comfortable camps, with guest house accommodation available in the middle of the week. At the end of each day, you reach a different location on horseback, where the camp is set up in the middle of nature with a wonderful view. 3 nights in hotels or guesthouses: The arrival and departure days as well as the fourth day are spent in comfortable guest houses in double or triple rooms with private bathrooms.
4 nights in the camp (double tipi tents with single mattresses) The camp has a large communal tent, as used by the last nomadic families in the country, as well as chairs and tables for meals. Dinner is eaten in the communal tent or outside by the fire. The camp also has toilets, a shower tent with a bucket and a gas stove for heating water.

Ihlara Trail:
1st and last night in the hotel in Avanos, a picturesque, comfortable hotel in old stone houses, which are typical of the local architecture. Other 5 nights in camp/tents (igloo tent).

(Not 2026) Orienteering ride Cappadocia: 
First and last night in a hotel, further nights in a comfortable camp (see above, Black Mountains). 

Necessary equipment: Sleeping bag, towels, flashlight, power bank (to charge your electronic devices), mosquito repellent, an extra pair of shoes and some small waterproof bags for river crossings.
Your luggage will be transported by the logistics vehicle. You should pack several light bags instead of one large, heavy suitcase.

Saddle & Tack: English saddles and bridles, partly Pelham. Comfortable trail riding saddles, saddle bags are provided.

Experience: Only for very experienced rider with several years of trail experience and a good level of fitness (also on foot, as some of the routes require guiding in difficult terrain). A good physical condition is required.
Pace: mainly walk, with opportunities to trot and canter every day. Rider weight max. 85 kg.

All rider take care of their own horse, you groom and tack up your horse during the ride.

Horses: Arabians and Arabian mixes: reliable, willing to go, persistent and well-trained. Arabian horses are particularly sensitive and eager to go and therefore require riders with a firm saddle and a certain amount of empathy.

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