My first time visiting Cappadocia

I travel every year to Turkey to spend time with family and friends but also visit countless vacation spots from turquoise colored coasts to culture rich cities like Istanbul.

This year, I have a very exciting trip planned with my beloved photography teacher Faruk Akbas, in a city I have personally never been: Cappadocia!

In fact, I still can’t believe I haven’t been to this surreal land, home to “fairy chimneys”, handmade caves, 10 stories deep underground passages. Add to this UNESCO Heritage site the hot air balloons and boutique hotels with converted cave rooms, you won’t be surprised it is a hot destination!

What is a photo safari?

The way this tour is planned is not to be a tourist in a foreign place. The place we will stay, the locations we will visit and the food we will eat is all planned by the people who knows the place more than you and me.

The best part is this will be a two in one achievement! (– ugh- my inner over-achiever speaking)

I want to further my photography skills while exploring a new land. I want the memories I will collect to speak to my true experience.

I want to take my time when I go somewhere to seek different angles, different light and textures that are sometimes plain site in front of me.

I want to look around to discover my own meaning and cultivate my own connection to the land I am stepping onto.

Tour Dates and Itinerary

The safari tour will take place in one of the best times to visit Turkey between 4-9 October’22.

We will only accept max 8 participants.

Day 1. (October 4th) We meet at the Kayseri Airport and travel to the hotel from there. After settling down in the hotel, we do a meet and greet with the group at the hotel followed by a short walk around town if anyone in the group is up for it.

Day 2. We drive around the city of Goreme and seek photo opportunities around the valleys by walking. This location offers endless possibilities so we will try to cover ground by moving steadily. Places we visit include but are not limited to Goreme, Kiliclar Valley, Asiklar Valley. Get ready to photograph the “fairy chimneys” and rock formations along with the ever changing sky!

Day 3. Cappadocia has a rich historical culture, going back thousands of years, hence it has been under UNESCO protection since 1985. One of the oldest settlements in the area was in the city of Ortahisar. We will visit the Çavuşin village located in this area and spend the day there capturing nature and go past the sunset to experiment with night shooting. We are not sleeping early tonight!

Day 4. With the rise of the sun, one of the best moments is to observe the hot air balloons. We can also opt in to experience one in the air for an extra cost. After breakfast, we will leave to go to Uçhisar Castle that sits on a mountain that will serve us great panoramic perspectives to capture. After the castle we hop into local clay art studios. Later we drive to city of Kayseri to photograph wild horses. This is one of the most fascinating moments to see horses running and creating a veil of dust around that serves us layers of different lights. We will get a chance to try “log exposure” and “panning” techniques. 

Day 5. We will travel to Hasan Mountain to experience the famous Ihlara Valley. Here we will spend time around the villages, discovering historic churches and rock formations in the valley. 

Day 6. (Oct 9) This is the departure day. We will be transferred to the airport according to individual flight times. 

Price and Payment

The total cost is 1000 Euros per person.

This price includes the accommodation, the meals for breakfast and dinner and the transportation during the tour including airport transfers.

A deposit of 500 euros is due by July 4th and the final payment is due by August 31st 2022 to lock down your spot. To get payment details email me at theturkishgirlblog@gmail.com.

This tour is a unique and special opportunity, there will not be a refund or cancellation possible. Only exception to this policy is if the tour gets cancelled due to unforeseen events such as a pandemic. We are not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled tour including airline tickets, loss of work, and/or other costs associated with  the preparation of your trip. In case you have any concerns, please purchase travel insurance.

Other Details

• The minimum equipment you need are the camera and your laptop. A tripod is also recommended. You can email me at theturkishgirlblog@gmail.com to ask about gear!

• The workshops are designed for both amateur and professional photographers. There is no requirement to have an advanced photo portfolio to attend. Faruk Akbas, our lead photographer will review each participant’s portfolio and equipment on day one and make changes to the workshop according to the participants’ interests, skill level, desires and objectives.  

• During the workshops, the participants can work with Faruk or work independently to photograph the point of interest. In the evenings, everyone will come together to evaluate the shots from the day. Participants are asked to explain their own approach and viewpoints. This helps participants to further their education around photography. 

• Expect highs of 70 F and lows of 40 F during this time of the year. It is a good idea to bring light coverage from sun but also be ready to layer up towards the evenings. A backpack to hold your camera will be a good idea. Bring shoes that are comfortable to hike with.