A Week in Cappadocia:
Suggested itinerary

DAY 1: Transfer from the airport of Kayseri or Nevsehir to Les Maisons de Cappadoce. Settle in.

DAY 2: Sleep in, enjoy a hearty breakfast on the terrace of your house, take in the view. Then, walking, discover the village of Uçhisar, and before sunset, climb the steps to the Citadel, where you can enjoy the sunset from the highest point in Cappadocia.

DAY 3: Accompanied by Mustapha, our guide, take a morning hike through the Valley of Pigeons. Then off to open-air museum of Goreme. After a late lunch, return to your house and relax in your garden or terrace.

DAY 4: Your rental car is delivered. Now you can visit the local markets, and in the afternoon, visit the sites of Cavusin, Zelve and Pasabag. Maybe pause and hike awhile in any of the grandiose fairy-rock landscapes that you'll pass through.

DAY 5: Early morning departure for the Valley of Soganli. Stop often en route to visit the Grecian villages of Mustafapasa, Cemil, Sahinefendi or any of the ancient churches and monestaries that you will discover along the way. There is a strong possibility that the local folk you meet will not let you leave before you've accepted a glass of tea, some dried apricots.

Lunch and walk in the Valley of Soganli (spectacular!), and on the way back, if you have the time, visit the underground city of Kaymakli.

DAY 6: Unless you decide to arise before dawn to take a warm-air balloon ride over Cappadocia, witness an amazing sunrise, today could just be a lazy day. Barbeque something on your terrace, negociate that kilim you had seen earlier at Faruk's or the pottery at Kerim's.

DAY 7: You haven't seen a tenth of what Cappadocia has to offer and you know you'll be back! Maybe the easiest way is to return to the Red Valley with Mustapha, follow him through the labyrinthe of hidden churches more than 2000 years old. Then climb up to the plateau and see your seventh Cappadocia sunset, one of the most beautiful you've ever seen.

Next time, you'll see the Green Valley, the Valley of Love, Ihlara Canyon, the ornithological park of Sultansazli. Probably find a day or two to trek the Taurus mountains, fish in the Kizilirmak, visit the potters of Avanos, a watch the whirling dervishes at the caravansérail de Sari Han.

Next time.