Goreme Epic Singletrack

From Goreme we warm up with some easy trails through Swords Valley before hitting a scenic ridge climb with stunning photo opportunities to Goreme and the “fairy chimneys” below. A technical descent into Meskendir Valley descends through tunnels, canyons and steeply terraced rock gardens. After a fresh orange juice we tackle the super-steep climbs of Rose Valley- stopping to draw breath and admire the “Church of Columns”. Crossing a grassy plateau brings us to a sheer sided rocky spur above Red Valley and nearby here we stop for a tea break in an off-grid eco-sensitive local cafe. A climb to the Panoramic Viewpoint brings us to the The Balkon: great trail riding through boulder strewn and deeply eroded gullies reminiscent of Zion, Utah, and Red Bull’s Rampage. We descend to the small village of Cavusin and relax over a great restaurant lunch there.
After lunch we head across the plains, soon arriving at the base of Love Valley, and began an awesome singletrack ascent up through the incredibly phallic “fairy chimneys” there. The climb gets steeper and more challenging towards the top, and from our vantage point just below Uchisar village we’re launched straight into it again, this time in Pigeon Valley. After another technical ascent we reach the final part of the route- an epic descent through the forested trails of Zemi- where there are drops, jumps and limbo-style tunnel obstacles… Finally a fast run out through the rutted rocks of Gorkundere (Euro XC Cup course) brings us right back to Goreme in time for a well earned beer. A tougher day than the modest km’s suggest, but world-class trail riding in every respect.