Cappadocia/Göreme

Cappadocia has a continental climate- often with a significant temperature difference between day and night. The region has perfect riding conditions from May to October though the high summer of July and August may be too hot for some. Enclosed on both along the northern and southern coasts by mountain ranges, the area receives relatively little rain throughout the year but in spring and autumn rain and colder weather is always possible. Spring is the time where the region gets most of its rainfall but this normally comes in short intervals, and don't last long. Summer is between June and August and is generally very hot, with daytime temperatures can rise up to 40 degrees Celsius. Autumn starts in September and ends in November, and (like spring) is the high season for biking and hiking. Winter lasts from December to February, with an average temperature of minus 2 degrees Celsius. Cappadocia in the snow is a wonderful experience!

_Seasonal rainfall and temperature overview_

Cappadocia is built on the remains of volcanic eruptions from more than 60 million years ago, shaped by the wind and rain, forming one of nature's most spectacular masterpieces. Strange rock formations look something like cake icing (or interlocking fingers) and towering rock stacks known as "fairy chimneys" reach up to the sky. Settled throughout time by Hittite, Persian, Romans, Byzantine and Ottoman civilisations, many of these caves are still decorated with icons and wall paintings from the early Christian times.

The Cappadocian region has been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Early Bronze Age, it came under the influence of Assyrian civilisation through extensive trade, and it was during this period that writing was introduced. The origin of the name "Cappadocia" (pronounced Kapadokia in Turkish) remains uncertain. Many sources suggest that it derives from the Old Persian "Katpatuka", meaning "Land of Beautiful Horses", referring to the region's long tradition of horse breeding. The earliest known record of the name appears in inscriptions of the Persian Achaemenid kings in the early sixth century BC, when Anatolia was part of their empire.

Central Anatolia was once largely covered by great lakes, which eventually dried up; present-day Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake) is a remnant of this ancient landscape. Human settlement in Cappadocia dates back to Neolithic "New Stone Age" and Chalcolithic "Copper Age" cultures, spanning roughly 9,000–5,000 years ago. Obsidian tools and Mother Goddess figurines survive from these ancient societies. The Hittite kingdom ruled the region from around 1800 to 1200 BC, after which the Persians took control of Anatolia around 550 BC. Cappadocia later became a refuge for early Christians. Particularly during the Byzantine Empire, from the 4th -11th centuries, Christianity flourished throughout the region, leaving behind the remarkable rock-hewn churches and monasteries that can still be seen today.

Because of its location, Cappadocia was an extremely important and strategic region. Major trade routes (including the famous Silk Road) crossed it from east to west and north to south. This constant movement of people and goods created a complex mixture of cultural and historical influences. Cappadocia's resources and strategic position made it a tempting prize, and the region was frequently invaded, raided and looted. To protect themselves from these threats, local inhabitants increasingly made use of the region's caves and caverns, whose concealed entrances could be easily defended. As people sometimes needed to remain underground for extended periods, these troglodytic dwellings developed into vast subterranean complexes containing wells, food stores, wineries, places of worship and living quarters. Some may predate the Christian era.

Over the centuries, numerous civilisations and ethnic groups shaped Cappadocia's cultural history. Under Seljuk and Ottoman rule, Christians were generally treated with tolerance, and Greek- and Turkish-speaking Anatolians lived alongside one another for centuries. This changed dramatically after the First World War and the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. The population exchange between Greece and Turkey resulted in the resettlement of Greek-speaking Orthodox Christians from Anatolia to Greece, while Mustafa Kemal Atatürk introduced sweeping reforms that transformed the newly established Turkish Republic. Cappadocia subsequently lost much of its importance within Anatolia, and its rich history was largely forgotten. It was not until the early 20th century that the region's extraordinary rock-hewn churches attracted renewed attention, following their rediscovery by the French priest Guillaume de Jerphanion in 1907.

The Zelve museum is great- you can just follow along the path and read the posted signs (or listen to your tour guide) as you look at absolutely amazing networks of cave houses in the surrounding landscape.

Avanos is a centre of high-quality ceramics decoration and a visit to an atelier makes a wonderful excursion, even if you are only window-shopping. We can hook you up with the best designers, and organise a trip to their workshop so you can see how the art is made. You can even create your own pottery works here.

The tradition of the communal bath ("hamam" in Turkish) was born generations ago, adopted from Romans and Byzantines and then perfected by the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks. Göreme's hamam isn't the cheapest but it's one of the best. To help you relax after your daily biking adventures in Cappadocia, professional masseurs offer a variety of services in addition to the bathing ritual.