Cappadocia Weekend Warrior

From Goreme we soon hit top class singletrack and ride a section of the 2007 Euro XC Cup course. Taking things slow, this is a great place to develop trail skills, and our guides will offer detailed and thorough tuition. We stay close to Goreme, enjoying some steep, smooth singletracks and through Swords Valley (Kiliclar). From there a scenic ridge climb ticks all the must have photoshoot boxes, before a technical descent brings us into Meskendir Valley. Here a fast flowing, often steep, trail descends through tunnels, canyons and steeply terraced gardens to a beautiful valley cafe where we can stop for drinks. Now climbing, we tackle the super-steep terraces of Rose Valley- stopping to draw breath and admire the phenomenal rock-cut “Church of Columns”. Crossing a grassy plateau brings us above Red Valley and onto a sheer sided rocky spur that affords a “hot air balloon” view to the valley below. We enjoy a delicious lunch in an off-grid eco-sensitive local restaurant and have time to chill on the sofas there as we digest.
In the afternoon, we ride an amazing half-pipe bowl trail down into another branch of Rose Valley, putting into practice the safe descending skills we learned earlier. We carry on to the historic small village of Cavusin and follow a challenging but hugely rewarding singletrack high above the village- through some unique and photogenic rock formations. Finally, we cross the valley plain to Love Valley, and enjoy an easy circuit amongst the “fairy chimneys” there. One final panoramic track brings us soon back to Goreme, where the ride ends.