For so long as I can keep in mind, I’ve all the time wished to have the ability to fly. Generally these makes an attempt would fail miserably with me tumbling painfully in direction of the Earth, however on my first solo journey to Turkiye I used to be ready to try this efficiently and painlessly.
Flying By way of the Air with the Best of Ease
It was an early 5:00 am begin to our day in Cappadocia, however that was needed because the circumstances within the early morning are the most effective, I used to be instructed, for warm air balloon flights. This additionally meant that I’d be capable of watch the dawn whereas drifting over the gorgeous valleys and throughout the limitless skies, so I used to be capable of persuade my physique that waking up at 4:00 am was a great ache.
Watching the attendants put together their balloons within the subject and hearth up the large torches that introduced the balloons to life was superb! The solar had but to rise whereas they had been doing this, so the flames bursting out of the darkness had been one thing particular to behold.
After a number of security bulletins, and directions on how we might help a protected touchdown, the balloon started to elevate into the air. I used to be amazed at how easy the journey was, however that was doubtless as a result of ability of our pilot. I consider there have been over 100 balloons within the air that day, and I’m nonetheless amazed that they had been all capable of choreograph their actions in order that they didn’t collide with one another. The pilots had been continually in radio contact with one another and their floor crews to attain this delicate dance within the sky.
Whereas a sizzling air balloon journey could be cool wherever on this planet, I extremely suggest it in Cappadocia as a result of it’s unlikely that you just’ll ever discover one other place the place it is possible for you to to share the skies with this many different sizzling air balloons on the identical time. You’ll additionally by no means get higher images of the area’s well-known and iconic fairy chimneys.
You possibly can see video highlights of my flight on our Solo Traveler Instagram account.
Higher than Breakfast at Tiffany’s
As an alternative of our common buffet breakfast on the resort, our Exodus tour guides stunned us with a particular al fresco breakfast to have fun our profitable sizzling air balloon journey.
Our tables had been lined on a cliff overlooking a valley, set in opposition to an infinite, clear, blue sky. Hints of lavender would often be detected within the air, because it was rigorously planted between the tables. To say that we had been stunned to be served a superbly catered Turkish breakfast, on the fringe of a cliff, by a random valley in the course of Cappadocia is an understatement.
I’d by no means have been capable of finding this expertise by myself (I attempted with out success to seek out on-line the superb staff that hosted us for this distinctive breakfast), however that’s the advantage of having an skilled native information who can unlock these distinctive experiences.
The Secret Underground World Beneath Our Ft
As if the expertise of flying by means of the air, adopted by a breakfast that would have been impressed by an Albert Bierstadt panorama portray wasn’t sufficient of a magical expertise for my first solo journey to Turkiye, there was extra! Cappadocia can also be dwelling to many underground cave cities. We toured one of the vital well-known once we descended beneath the Earth’s floor and into the Kaymakli Underground Metropolis.
Whereas there are lots of of underground cities in Cappadocia, not all of them are open to the general public, and never many are as giant as this one. Development on this underground metropolis began within the seventh century BC and it housed as many as 5,000 individuals. The advanced has eight ranges, with solely 4 ranges at the moment open to guests, and extends 131 ft (40 meters) under floor.
This huge advanced consists of dwelling quarters, kitchens, storage rooms, stables, wineries, church buildings, air flow shafts, and extra. Early inhabitants carved out these subterranean complexes to guard themselves from invaders and marauding armies who swept throughout the plains of Anatolia.
As I used to be going by means of the labyrinth of tunnels on this underground metropolis, I used to be amazed on the ability and willpower it will need to have taken to dig by means of rock to create these rooms and tunnels with out the advantage of trendy instruments or electrical lighting.
I’ve by no means seen something prefer it, wherever. A phrase of warning to anybody visiting with mobility points: don’t descend greater than two ranges. Whereas the primary two ranges are comparatively straightforward to navigate, the third and fourth get tougher with tighter areas and lots of areas the place you can be crouched down for durations of time to squeeze by means of tunnels.
Unforgettable Lodging on My First Solo Journey to Turkiye
Lastly, I’ve one final unforgettable Cappadocia expertise to share and that was my resort room on the Yunak Evleri Cave Lodge. First, I’ll inform you that the resort and its rooms are created from caves discovered within the panorama. That in itself was actually cool, however I couldn’t put together myself for the jaw-dropping suite that I had throughout my keep. It was a three-level unit with two non-public balconies, my very own in-suite sizzling tub, a private hammam in my cavernous lavatory, and to high all of it off, I had my very own non-public dual-level cave on the finish of my higher balcony.
I don’t know what I did in a earlier life to deserve this, however I cherished each second of my keep in what I nicknamed “Wayne Manor” (it’s a Batman reference should you’re confused). It was truly fairly applicable as I did really feel like I used to be within the Bat Cave. If solely my actual life had been this cool!
There isn’t a option to visually current this room in photos and do it justice, so it’s best to take a look at the video I product of the Bat Cave on the Solo Traveler Instagram web page.
My Turkish Water Combat
I used to be lucky sufficient to spend a number of additional days in Istanbul after the official tour ended. For a kind of days, Exodus Travels was beneficiant sufficient to rearrange a personal tour for me of among the metropolis’s palaces, museums, and different vital landmarks that I hadn’t already seen.
Among the many day’s actions was a Turkish tub or hammam expertise. I had heard about this exercise, as it’s a very conventional and historic ritual that has been loved by Sultans and the Turkish individuals for hundreds of years. I used to be a bit hesitant, however my adventurous aspect is all the time as much as strive one thing new. I instructed myself it might most likely be like a day on the spa. I’ve been to spas earlier than, however no spa day that I’ve ever encountered got here near getting ready me for this expertise.
The Hurrem Sultan Hamami has been round since 1556 and for individuals who aren’t conversant in a Turkish hammam expertise, it’s a steam tub that’s accompanied by aggressive exfoliation, some therapeutic massage and chiropractic changes, and many rinsing.
Some discover the expertise enjoyable; I discovered it to be a deep scrub mixed with a water battle, as I used to be continually splashed with alternating cold and hot water. However no matter your expertise, in the long run you’ll emerge a bit lighter as your therapist could have scrubbed off a couple of pound of useless pores and skin out of your physique. Or, not less than it appeared like a couple of pound of pores and skin. I had no thought I had that a lot useless pores and skin to offer! I’ll say that my pores and skin has by no means been that easy in my complete life, and I left the therapy feeling like a dolphin!
I nonetheless haven’t determined how I really feel about my Turkish tub journey, however whether or not it is your first solo journey to Turkiye otherwise you’ve been there earlier than, I do assume that everybody ought to have an genuine hammam expertise not less than as soon as of their lifetime. I promise it’ll be essentially the most memorable spa day ever!
For many who are questioning, at my institution I used to be given disposable shorts to put on, and I used to be instructed that they’ve disposable bikinis for girls. I consider at most locations, towels are used for men and women to take care of your modesty. As everybody round me was in numerous states of undress throughout my time there, I do not need images from my go to to the hammam, however you could find some stunning pictures of it on their Instagram web page.
Tasty Ideas for Your First Solo Journey to Turkiye
Listed below are some remaining suggestions for a enjoyable time in Turkiye:
- Eat all the things you see, particularly if it has the phrase kebab in it.
- All the time have your eyes in your meals when eating open air, until you’re aspiring to share your meals with one of many many stray cats within the neighborhood.
- Honey is integrated in lots of Turkish dishes, however I additionally suggest attempting it by itself because the native flowers within the space give the native honey a really distinct and scrumptious taste. Honey is usually served with the comb, so a straightforward option to strive it by itself is to simply break off a bit, pop it in your mouth, and luxuriate in it like a stick of chewing gum. Notice: don’t swallow the wax.
- Don’t simply eat in a typical restaurant surroundings. Immerse your self within the vitality of town by eating at an institution with a makeshift out of doors desk, in the course of a bustling pedestrian sidewalk, simply inches away from oncoming visitors.
- For a enjoyable expertise that’s the exact opposite of what you had with the grand mosques and palaces in Istanbul, go to the Balat neighborhood to see what some name essentially the most colourful space of town, and what I assume must be essentially the most hipster space in all of Turkiye. What do I imply by that? Let’s simply say that the one vegan restaurant I noticed within the nation was in Balat.
- Followers of the late Anthony Bourdain ought to make time to go to his favourite kebab store, Dürümzade in Istanbul, which appeared in an episode of No Reservations.
- For extra suggestions to your first solo journey to Turkiye, be sure you learn, Exploring Turkiye Solo on a Group Tour: Fascinating & Lovely.
Thanks to Exodus Travels for sponsoring my journey on their Strolling the Historic Trails of Cappadocia – Premium Journey. All experiences and impressions are my very own, and Solo Traveler maintains full editorial management over all content material.
Final up to date: eleventh October, 2022