Cave Churches: Ihlara Valley

“Ihlara Valley, is a 14 kilometer long canyon with a depth of approximately 100 meters is strewn with about one hundred churches and believed to have once been home to about eighty thousand people. There are 4 entrances to Ihlara valley. The first one is at the start of the valley in Ihlara Village. The second one opens to the 4th kilometer of the valley and it is the most popular entrance. It has more than 300 steps down to the valley. The third entrance is Belisirma village which allows you to enter the valley by driving. It is located at the 7th kilometer, and has restaurants by Melendiz River to have lunch. Most of the guided tours end their walking here after lunch. The last entrance is the end of the valley at the Selime Monastery. The best part of the valley is the first 7 kilometers from Ihlara Village until Belisirma Village where you can see most of the churches and natural beauty. 

Gazientep

Gazientep is a shopper's paradise with plenty of bargains to be made. Haggling over prices is part of the fun and is expected at this large covered bazaar. Known for the best tasting baklava and pistachio nuts be sure to same some while you're there and you can ensure your popularity by bringing some back to the office with you. There's also a zoo, castle, and a mosaic museum in Gazientep. In our opinion, it's the best of all the mosaic museums in the area.

Entrance Fees - 5 TL for Archeological Museum. Bring plenty of Turkish Lira for shopping.

Getting There - About 3 hours from Incirlik. In the Yellow Zone: Only trips with Outdoor Recreation and ITT allowed. This is a favorite destination for the “U ... Drive” program.

Physical Difficulty - Easy. Stroller friendly.

Cave Churches: Monastery Valley

Nestled in the quaint mountain village of Güzelyurt, is Monastery Valley on the far western edge of Cappadocia.  Filled with cave churches and with it’s own underground city that runs under the main street, this is a place where “the lifestyle is still very traditional and timeless,” according to the Karbella Hotel guest information.

Monastery Valley is in the heart of Güzelyurt, and walking distance from the Karbella Hotel. Hike at your own pace along the 4.5 kilometer long valley strewn with about 50 rock churches and monasteries from the Byzantine period. The Greek cave houses are a typical example of Cappadocian architecture from the beginning of the 20th century. At the end of the valley, you can climb up towards the village of Sivrihisar and from there, walk onto to Red Church set in impressive surroundings.

Monastery of Analepsis (Ascension)

Just outside the city, perched on a rocky outcrop over the village lake, the The High Church and the Monastery of Analepsis (Ascension), Yüksek Kilise, dates from the 19th century. This site is also thought to have been an important Neolithic site from the 4th or 3rd millennium B. C. because of the great amount of prehistoric tolls and obsidian found at the foot of the monastery. There is superb view of the village, the lake and Hasan Volcano which is 3268 meters high (10,721 feet.)

Costs - 5 TL Entrance Fee

Getting There - About 3.5 hours from Incirlik. Outdoor Rec rents GPS and has trips to this area.

Physical Difficulty - VARIES. Varies from cobblestone walks, to climbing hilly and rocky terrain.

Bring a flash light.

Cappadocia: Göreme Open Air Museum

“One of Turkey’s World Heritage sites, the Göreme Open Air Museum is an essential stop on any Cappadocian itinerary and deserves a two-hour visit.” says the Lonely Planet website.  The open air museum is a collection of cave churches carved out by early Christians in the first century B.C.  Bring a flash light as it is often dark inside.  Photos are not allowed inside the church caves. Depending on the crowds, two hours may not be enough time to see all the churches.

Costs - 15 TL Entrance Fee

Getting There - About 3.5 hours from Incirlik. Outdoor Rec has GPS and trips to Cappadocia.

Physical Difficulty - MEDIUM. Mostly flat land but hilly and climbing stairs to access caves.  Stroller friendly.

Antioch (aka Antakya, Hatay)

It was here that St. Peter was selected as the leader and “first bishop” of the church and the term “Christian” was first used to describe adherents to the new religion, who were proselytized from both the large Jewish community and the even larger number of Gentiles.

Church photos by Fatma Yoksuloglu.

Entrance Fees: 5 TL each for St. Paul’s Church and the Antioch Mosiac Museum

Getting There:  About 3 hours from Incirlik.  In the Yellow Zone: Only trips with Outdoor Recreation and ITT allowed. Antioch is a favorite destination for the “U ... Drive” program.

Physical Difficulty: Easy.  Stroller friendly.

Tarsus: St. Paul's Well, Daniel's Cave and Cleopatra's Gate

Take a sip of water from St. Paul's Well, a Roman era stone well, built on the site of St. Paul's birthplace. See the cave where the prophet Daniel faced the lions and stand under the arch where a young Cleopatra first met Mark Anthony.

Entrance Fees: 5 TL for Roman Road and 5 TL for St. Paul's Well

Getting There:  About 1 hour from Incirlik.  Outdoor Rec has rents GPS and has trips to this location.  
Cleopatra’s Gate N 36° 54' 47.28"   E034° 53' 31.43"

Roman Road  N 36° 55' 3.33"  E034° 53' 34.21"
St. Paul's Well  N 36°55’30” E034°53’51”

Waterfall N 36°55’59”  E034°53’55”   
Physical Difficulty: Easy.  Flat stone streets and sidewalks.  Stroller friendly.

Kanlidivine

The orange colored ruins of Papylos Church at Kanlidivine make a striking contrast against the bright blue Turkish skies.  Built during the Byzantine Empire, the intricate carved reliefs are still visible and the arches are a fun experiment in photographic composition. The drive here is a simple straight shot from Incirlik on the autoban.  

You can go on your own, or explore these ruins on a trip with Outdoor Recreation where we visit this site's temple to Zeus plus the other, larger, site at Uzuncaburc.  

Entrance Fee: 5 TL

Getting There:  About 2 hours from Incirlik.

N 36°58.188'  E035°03.094'

Physical Difficulty: Medium. Loose rocky footing.