New Tour

Cappadocia to the Mediterranean by Bicycle

Day 1: Meet in Kayseri

Welcome to Kayseri, the gateway to Cappadocia! Try to arrive as early as possible to explore this ancient crossroads, where Seljuk-era stonework and bustling bazaars are framed by the massive, snow-capped silhouette of Mount Erciyes. You can tick off the city’s historic sights in the afternoon before we meet for our trip briefing and a Turkish welcome dinner. Don’t miss the grand basalt walls of the Castle or the Hunat Hatun Complex, home to one of the region’s oldest mosques and madrasas. If you arrive today, we will pick you up from the airport.

Wyndham Grand Kayseri
Dinner

Day 2: Kayseri → Avanos → Mustafapaşa

It’s time to hit the road! This morning, a 45-minute transfer brings us to a medieval stone bridge arching over the Red River, Türkiye’s longest waterway. From here, our first ride alternates between the lush, farm-studded riverbanks and the dry, sun-drenched hills of the Anatolian plateau. After around 40 km, we stop to visit the lesser-known underground city of Özkonak, carved into the soft volcanic rocks by Early Christians; it features stables, wine cellars, and living quarters for thousands of people. Back on the bikes, a sweeping downhill leads us back to the river and into Avanos, the region's artisan heart. We’ll refuel with a traditional cave lunch before visiting a local workshop to witness Hittite-era pottery techniques, still using the river's red clay today. The rest of the afternoon is spent off the bikes to explore the iconic fairy chimneys of Monks Valley and the hauntingly beautiful rock-cut dwellings of the Zelve Open Air Museum. A final 30-minute transfer brings us to Mustafapaşa, where we spend the next three nights nestled among the village’s elegant façade of 19th-century Greek stone mansions.

Gul Konaklari
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 57km
+889m
-940m

Day 3: Mustafapaşa → Soğanlı Valley

At sunrise, you can partake in the quintessential experience of floating above Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys in a hot air balloon. Let us know in advance as pre-booking is required (the cost is not included in the tour price). Whether or not you opt for this aerial view, after breakfast we all jump on our bikes for a ground-level exploration of Cappadocia’s iconic landscapes! The first 15 km feature dirt trails to get us into the rugged backcountry, before we switch to a paved road heading south past Damsa Lake — a fertile area filled with vineyards and apricot orchards. At around 25 km, we stop to visit Keşlik Monastery, a fascinating time capsule of Christian monastic life in medieval Cappadocia. From here, a longer climb brings us up to the rocky high plateau, followed by a steady descent into the lush Soğanlı Valley. Here, we discover rock-hewn, Byzantine-era churches blending remarkably with the towering canyon walls and volcanic tuff formations. In the mid-afternoon, we transfer around 45 minutes back to Mustafapaşa, where the rest of the day is at your leisure and you can choose your own dinner.

Gul Konaklari
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 55km
+983m
-802m

Day 4: Mustafapaşa → Göreme → Red Valley Hike

The morning is spent in the saddle discovering more of the Cappadocian countryside rarely seen by tourists. Our route leads north to the town of Ürgüp from where we ride a 30 km loop on quiet, rural roads winding through small villages and past wide fields of potatoes, chickpeas, and pumpkins. We complement the riding with a stop for local tea and, back in Ürgüp, relieve our muscles with a traditional Turkish hammam (bathhouse) experience! Post-lunch, we head to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing an extraordinary collection of monastic cave churches renowned for their vibrant, 10th-century Byzantine frescoes and intricate rock-cut architecture. Later, we head into the Red Valley for a 5 km hike through a surreal landscape of crimson-hued rock ridges, reaching the viewpoint as the landscape begins to glow in the evening light. Before returning to the hotel, we round off the day with a memorable dinner at a village house where we are invited to join our hosts in preparing some tasty Anatolian soul food.

Gul Konaklari
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 53km
+719m
-801m

Day 5: Mustafapaşa → Derinkuyu → Konya

Today is a bike-free day as we turn our attention to Derinkuyu Underground City, the most extensive of its kind in all of Cappadocia. We leave early to beat the crowds and take our time exploring this masterpiece of human ingenuity — a labyrinth of chambers, tunnels, rolling stone doors, and ventilation shafts descending deep into the volcanic tuff. Spanning millennia, from the time of the ancient Phrygians to the Ottoman Empire, Derinkuyu served as a subterranean sanctuary whenever the world above turned tumultuous. After resurfacing, we drive 45 minutes to explore the Valley of Monasteries and enjoy lunch at a winery where wine is still fermented in traditional clay amphorae. We then stretch our legs at the Ihlara Canyon, hiking through the green oasis along the river framed by sheer, towering cliffs dotted with Byzantine rock-cut churches. From here we bid farewell to Cappadocia and drive around 2.5 hours southwest across the Anatolian plateau to the city of Konya where we spend the night. Dinner is on your own — try the Etli Ekmek, Konya’s legendary long flatbread topped with spiced minced meat!

Selçuk Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Konya → Beyşehir

We start the day with a walking tour of Konya’s historic core. Front stage and centre is Alaaddin Keykubad Mosque, built during the golden age of the Seljuk Empire in the 12th and 13th centuries AD. We also peek into a nearby food bazaar to stimulate our senses before heading into the mausoleum of Rumi, a highly revered medieval Islamic poet who draws millions to his turquoise-domed tomb. But we won’t linger around for too long because today we’re back in the saddle for a big ride! Following a 30-minute transfer from Konya, we begin cycling on quiet country roads that reveal vast, rolling vistas of the Anatolian plateau, filled with golden wheat fields. We take a steady pace, conquer a couple of climbs, and stop for refreshments in rustic villages. Our ride concludes at Eflatun Pinar, a 3,300-year-old stone monument built by the Hittites at the source of a natural spring. From here, it is a short transfer to Beyşehir, a lesser-visited city sitting on the shores of Türkiye’s largest freshwater lake. The evening is free to stroll the lakeside promenade and follow your nose to an independent dinner at one of the many local eateries in town.

Ali Bilir Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 85km
+916m
-1048m

Day 7: Beyşehir → Taurus Mountains

We begin the day with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Eşrefoğlu Mosque, the largest wooden-columned mosque in the Islamic world and a true marvel of Seljuk-era craftsmanship. A 30-minute transfer then takes us south where we hop on the bikes, officially leaving the Anatolian Plateau behind as we ride into the Western Taurus Mountains, characterised by craggy limestone ridges and deep, forested valleys. The first 45 km are relatively gentle, leading us to lunch in the quaint mountain village of Cevizli nestled amidst walnut groves. From here we have a long and winding descent through a wilderness of dense pine forests into the valley of the Manavgat River. By 65 km we join a provincial road coiling up the other side of the valley for 7 km with an average gradient of 8%. A final few km of level terrain allows us to catch our breath as we roll into the highland village of Ormana. We spend the night in one of the area’s signature 'button houses' — cosy manors built out of stone and wood without the use of mortar. For dinner, we treat ourselves to specialities of the Taurus Mountains, such as slow-cooked goat tandoor and artisanal local cheeses.

Ormana Active Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 75km
+1463m
-1872m

Day 8: Taurus Mountains → Side

We start cycling directly from the hotel, drifting past the towering walls of Altınbeşik Cave National Park. Home to Türkiye’s largest underground lake, we have an early stop to enter this hidden world of caverns and crystal-clear water by inflatable boat. Back on the bikes, we gear up for a 10 km climb to the top of a pass with fabulous views over the raw natural beauty of the Taurus Mountains. A glorious 28 km descent then takes us down the southern slopes of the range, dropping from over 1,000 metres to near sea level, signalling our approach to the Mediterranean Coast. We finish our ride with a relaxing lunch near the Manavgat Waterfall before a 25-minute transfer into the bustling coastal city of Side. With roots deep in antiquity, we enjoy a walking tour of Side’s monumental ruins, including the well-preserved Roman theatre and the iconic Temple of Apollo. Dinner tonight is on your own with plenty of wonderful restaurants to choose from along the waterfront.

Nomad Boutique Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 56km
+1003m
-1976m

Day 9: Side → Aspendos Ride

Our final day is dedicated to the fascinating history and beautiful countryside of the Antalya region. A short transfer out of Side brings us to an ancient stone bridge vaulting over the gushing Köprüçay River, from where we ride north past citrus fields, tomato greenhouses, and the remnants of Roman aqueducts. Flat at first, a mild, gradual climb then leads to the Zeytintaş Cave at around 25 km, where we stop to admire the needle-thin crystals hanging from the ceiling. A swift descent brings us back into the farm-covered valley for a final stretch along the river to our lunch spot. Before returning to Side, we visit the legendary Aspendos Theatre, one of the best-preserved Roman theatres of the ancient world. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax before we reconvene for a celebratory farewell dinner in the old town of Side.

Nomad Boutique Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 51km
+593m
-582m

Day 10: Side → Antalya Departure

Our tour has come to an end, but feel free to extend your stay in Türkiye and explore even more of what this captivating country has to offer. In the morning, we organize a group transfer to Antalya, the gateway to the Turkish Riviera for those looking to hit more beaches and home to a well-connected international airport (AYT) for those flying out. It takes around one hour from Side to Antalya.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.