Cappadocia and Secret Valleys Tour, Türkiye departing from Quebec

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The “Cappadoce et vallées secrètes” tour at a glance

Cappadoce et vallées secrètes (Cappadocia and Secret Valleys) is an 8-day, 7-night Club Med Discovery tour of Turkey in the Cultural Treasures theme. It starts and ends in Antalya, taking in the ancient site of Aphrodisias, the white travertine pools of Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Konya and its whirling dervish museum, then three full days in Cappadocia, with an underground city, valley walks and the rock churches of Göreme. The last leg crosses Ankara before a domestic flight back to Antalya. You stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, including three nights in a charming cave hotel. The package includes full board with water, soft drinks, beer or wine and coffee at meals, air-conditioned transport, the Ankara–Antalya flight, sightseeing and a French-speaking local guide.

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What do the first four days of the tour look like?

On the first evening, you settle in at the Khan 4* in Antalya. The next day, the road runs 350 km to Pamukkale, with a stop at Aphrodisias, an ancient city on the UNESCO list, famous for its stadium and sculptures. At the end of the day, you swim in the thermal pool of the Adempira Thermal 5*. On day 3, you walk through Hierapolis above the white limestone terraces, then drive 440 km to Konya to visit the Mevlana museum, linked to the whirling dervishes. On day 4, you stop at the Sultanhanı caravanserai, where Silk Road caravans once slept, before a walk of about 1 hour 30 minutes in Pigeon Valley.

And what do you do in Cappadocia, then on the way back?

On day 5, you go down into the underground city of Mazı, dug into the soft tuff, then picnic in the Soğanlı valley, far from the big coaches, before seeing the fairy chimneys. On day 6, a 2-hour walk crosses the Rose Valley, whose walls glow at sunset, then you visit the villages of Çavuşin and Avanos and the painted churches of Göreme. On day 7, you drive 280 km to Ankara for the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Atatürk's mausoleum, and a flight takes the group back to Antalya in the evening. Day 8 leaves free time before departure.

What are the highlights of this tour of Turkey?

Three images come back when our travellers talk about this tour. The first is Pamukkale: warm water running over the white pools, and an evening swim in a natural thermal pool. The second is the valleys of Cappadocia explored on foot, where the rock turns pink and ochre and the dovecotes carved into the cliffs recall the farmers of old. The third is the underground city of Mazı, quieter than its neighbours, where you understand how whole villages once hid below ground. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, with its Hittite pieces, then gives meaning to everything you have seen.

Which hotels do you stay in during the tour?

The hotels are chosen for their location and character. In Antalya, the Khan 4* is the starting point. In Pamukkale, the Adempira Thermal 5* has its thermal water pools. In Konya, you stay at the Bayır Diamond 5*. In Cappadocia, the group spends three nights at Utopia Cave, a charming cave hotel where the rooms are carved into the rock. Those three nights in one place are precious in the middle of the tour: you unpack, you have breakfast on the terrace, and at sunrise you often see the hot-air balloons rising over the valleys.

What is included in the price of the tour?

The package includes accommodation, full board with water, soft drinks, beer or wine and coffee at meals, air-conditioned transport, the Ankara–Antalya domestic flight on day 7, all visits and entrance fees on the programme, the French-speaking local guide, luggage handling and taxes. International transport, transfers between the airport and the hotel, drinks outside meals, tips and travel insurance are extra. Your advisor adds the flights and transfers to your file, so you reach the Khan without hunting for a taxi.

Who guides the group and how many travellers are there?

A French-speaking local guide travels with the group for the whole tour. They know the Hittite, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk history layered along this route, and they also know where to buy a rug without spending your whole day on it. Club Med Discovery tours travel in small groups, with departures guaranteed from the first booking, so there is no risk of cancellation for lack of participants. The pace is brisk, with legs of 225 to 440 km, designed for curious, active travellers who enjoy walking an hour or two on valley trails.

When should you go to Cappadocia and how do you get there from Quebec?

Spring and fall bring mild days on the Anatolian plateau, ideal for walking the valleys. Summer is hot and dry, with long evenings, and winter can dust the fairy chimneys with snow, a sight of its own. Your advisor tells you which departures are available. For Antalya, you fly from Montreal with a connection, often in Istanbul. If you want to see the city before the tour, the Escapade à Istanbul fits in easily: four days at the foot of the Blue Mosque, then a short flight to the coast.

What travel documents do you need for Turkey?

You need a Canadian passport valid for the entire trip, with a margin of a few months. Entry requirements can change: your advisor checks the requirements at the time of booking and tells you whether an online authorization is needed before departure. To prepare, our Turkey travel page gathers what you need to know about the country, from currency to etiquette in mosques. Pack good walking shoes and a scarf for religious sites.

Which Club Med resort should you combine with this tour?

The tour starts and ends in Antalya: the perfect chance to add a beach week at Club Med Palmiye, in Kemer, about 1 hour by road from Antalya airport. This large family resort backs onto the Taurus Mountains, on a beach lined with lemon trees, with kids' clubs from 4 months and plenty of water sports. On the Aegean, Club Med Bodrum Palmiye, set on a peninsula, is the other Turkish option. See all our Club Med resorts in Europe to compare.

Who is this tour made for?

It appeals to travellers who want to understand Turkey beyond its beaches, in a single week, without driving or planning the stages themselves. Couples and friends who love history find what they are looking for, as do those who prefer walking to long days on a coach. If you are weighing another itinerary in the region, such as Légendes des Dieux in Greece, browse our Club Med tours in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

A successful tour is an itinerary, but it is also a flight that lands the day before, a transfer that is waiting, a beach week that follows without a lost night. At Voyages AquaTerra, our advisors put these combinations together every day, from the flight out of Montreal to the stay at Club Med Palmiye. They check the travel documents, suggest the right insurance and stay reachable throughout the trip. To see every itinerary on offer, start from our Club Med Tours page.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.