Photo: Benh LIEU SONG ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
Tuff, valleys and dawn balloons.
Cappadocia is a plateau at 1,000–1,300 m of volcanic-tuff valleys, cave churches and ‘fairy chimneys’, where the Salomon Cappadocia Ultra-Trail is run in mid October. Little vertical, but plenty of runnable terrain: sandy trails, short steep gullies and narrow canyons. A camp for speed and volume before winter — with dawns beneath the hot-air balloons.
- A dawn run through the Rose and Red valleys
- The Ihlara valley: 14 km of river canyon
- Sections of the Cappadocia Ultra-Trail course between Ürgüp and Göreme
- Nights in a cave hotel
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · 8 km, 250 m of climbing
Arrival in Göreme
Transfer from Kayseri (about an hour). An evening warm-up through Pigeon Valley to Uçhisar and back; introductions and the week’s plan.
Overnight: Cave hotel in Göreme - DAY 2 · 16 km, 500 m of climbing
Dawn in the Rose Valley
A 6:30 start as the balloons lift: the Rose and Red valleys to Çavuşin, then Love Valley. Sandy trails, short steep rises and intervals on the gentler stretches.
Overnight: Cave hotel in Göreme - DAY 3 · 18 km, 400 m of climbing
Ihlara
Drive to the Ihlara valley (an hour and a half). Fourteen kilometres along the canyon floor from Ihlara to Selime past cave churches, then the climb to the Selime monastery.
Overnight: Cave hotel in Göreme - DAY 4 · 7 km, easy
Recovery and hamam
An easy run, a stability session and a hamam after lunch. Free time in Göreme or the Open-Air Museum.
Overnight: Cave hotel in Göreme - DAY 5 · 30 km, 900 m of climbing
The long run on the CUT course
From Ürgüp along the Cappadocia Ultra-Trail course via Ortahisar, the Meskendir valley and the Rose Valley into Göreme. Fast terrain and pacing work over 30 km.
Overnight: Cave hotel in Göreme - DAY 6 · 5 km, easy
Cool-down and departure
A sunrise run to the viewpoint above Göreme, breakfast and a debrief. Airport transfer.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Five nights in a cave hotel in Göreme
Breakfasts and three dinners
Coaching with Ivan
A local guide in the valleys and Ihlara
Minivan for all days
Transfer from Kayseri or Nevşehir airport
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Lunches and free dinners
A balloon flight (from €200)
Cappadocia Ultra-Trail entry fee
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
Weekly volume of 35 km and a little trail experience are enough. Ivan focuses on tempo work: the terrain lets you run fast almost all week.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- Trail shoes already tested in training
- A running vest, soft flasks and rain protection
- Layers for changing weather and familiar trail food
- Poles, if suitable for the route and you know how to use them
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.