Hi Andy, what a great post! What a fantastic way (for those of you fit enough!!) to explore the wonderful region of Cappadocia. I bet it was great - because an awful lot of the area is pretty flat - but then, no you do have the valleys!

Could you give us a more detailed description of sort of day by day - what place you ended up each evening, and basic route. It doesn;t sound as if you were camping -so where did you stay, and eat, if not being catered for by Mehmet's Dad. Also how many days did it take?

Any information you could give us would be great - I feel too many people just go for a couple of days and do the "obvious" tours - this really could be a great alternative!

Well, I don't remember all the specifics - for general route I suggest the itinerary at http://www.argeus.net/tours/MTB.html. The distances aren't entirely accurate (1st day was 15km, not 30km; 2nd day was 30km, not 45km - the rest seem about right). In the 8-day itinerary, there are 7 days of biking - Day 1 is just arrival and dinner. We opted to take a break on the 5th biking day primarily because the morning climb that day would almost surely have killed us :-) There was nothing "flat" about coming out of some of those valleys.

I remember 2 of 3 hotels: In Urgup (3 nights) was Assiana Cave Hotel, in Uchisar (2 nights) was Pension Uchisar, and in Guzelyurt was ??Sombody's (don't remember the name) Greek Hotel?? (2 nights)... all were nice.

We ate dinner in the hotels themselves and lunches in restaurants which I don't remember the name of. That said, we never had a bad meal.

It was a lot of fun - and a lot of work. Our guide said he gets all body and fitness types, and in some of the more challenging areas people have elected to ride in the jeep.

Thanks for the link Andy - it sure looks a very interesting schedule. I see the next tour is in September - I am assuming that they probably don't run it in the heat of the summer.

Thanks Andy, great report and I wholeheartedly agree - seems a much better way to see an area like this than buses. Just doesn't seem right to be sitting on a bus most of the time in an area like Cappadocia.

Very brave though, far too difficult for me - I've been wondering whether I ould cope with a full day on a horse, never mind eight on a bike!

Thanks Andy! great description! I love bike touring but shy away from ones that seem too vigorous.

So one does have the option of riding in the jeep? I can see the need on a 65 K day with climbs!

My husband and I are 54 yrs old, but active. Were there others our age or older?

Cheers! Carol

Yes, there is the option to ride in the jeep. There were only a couple of killer climbs, and one track that was very sandy for a couple KM. Then again, my killer climb may be your afternoon stroll :-) I think if you're reasonably fit, you will find the majority of the ride to be very pleasant - you'll sweat a bit (maybe quite a bit), but will enjoy rather than regret the memories :-)

One of the days we simply decided not to bike because the climb to start the morning was, in our opinion, outrageous. We spent the day, instead, wandering around the town, walking through the old ruins in the town, exploring nearby Monastery Valley, etc. This is the only bike tour I've done, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Will probably do more once my kids are older, and/or I can talk friends into another.

Regarding the demographics of the group, my group was only me and my friend (and the guide, Mehmet). That wasn't planned, or even desired, just the way it worked out. Mehmet told us, though, that he gets all ages (adults, not kids) and body/fitness types. In fact, he said the best rider he ever had on a tour was... I want to say 74, but don't remember now - let's just say enjoying retirement to the fullest. If you have questions you'd like to ask the guide I rode with - you can reach him at mehmet@argeus.com.tr.

Thanks again. Husband Joe and I prefer bike trips above all others.

I have biked in Holland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Canada, Croatia (X3!), San Juans of Washington State USA, and Hungary !!

If you need any advise on further bike trips, just ask!! :)

Carol