Goreme - The Cave Town and the "Fairy Chimney" Valley, Goreme, Turkey

Cappadocia is one of the most popular regions of Turkey. The famous all over the world, weird rock formations shaped like mushrooms, pillars and even animals are scattered across the area. Clear weather conditions, crisp even in the late months of fall/autumn allow not only to hike among the most extraordinary valleys but also to enjoy the famous hot air balloon flight, which, although quite expensive, is a one of a kind event that everyone should experience at least once. I visited Goreme in November and I think it was a perfect time. The town was cozy and sleepy, I felt as if I was somewhere at the end of the world and although it is so popular I barely saw any other tourists. Moreover, the leaves that had just turned bright yellow created an excellent contrast with the rock formations making it all look even more eerie and extraordinary.

The easiest way to reach Goreme is to arrive by air. The nearest airports are located in the towns of Kayseri and Nevsehir. There are a few daily flights from Istanbul to both of them - flight time is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Kayseri is around 80 km (50 miles - 1 hour 20 min drive) away from Goreme and Neveshir Airport - 40 km (25 miles). There are no public buses, so if you don't intend to rent a car, you must inquire about the transfer at your hotel. There is also a shuttle service which might be the cheapest option, but you have to pre-book it here. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).