Soganli Valley Hiking Tour from Cappadocia – Mustafapasa & Rock Churches

Soganli Valley Day Trip with Mustafapasa and Sahinefendi Mosaics

The Soganli Valley hiking tour from Cappadocia heads to the quieter southern side of the region, far from the busiest viewpoints. On this guided day tour you walk among rock-cut churches, wander the lanes of a former Greek town and see recently excavated mosaic houses, with lunch and hotel transfers taken care of.

• Mustafapasa (Sinasos): a former Greek town known for its elegant stone mansions
• Sahinefendi (Sobessos): mosaic houses and an archaeological excavation uncovered in 2002
• Soganli Valley: an open-air museum of rock-cut churches in a wild natural setting
• Hike through the valley: an easy walk between churches with their own fresco styles
• Keslik Monastery near Cemil: frescoes hidden under a thin layer of soot, revealed by torchlight

Mustafapasa, known as Sinasos until the early twentieth century, was home to a prosperous Greek community, and its carved stone facades, arched doorways and decorated balconies are among the finest examples of late Greek settlement architecture in Cappadocia. A short drive away, Sahinefendi hides the ancient settlement of Sobessos, discovered on 1 May 2002; its floor mosaics and excavated rooms give a rare look at daily life here in late antiquity.

Soganli Valley lies beside a traditional Cappadocian village and holds churches carved in several different styles, many still showing their painted frescoes. The walk is easy, so this daily tour and daily excursion suits most travellers who are comfortable on uneven paths. The final stop, Keslik Monastery near Cemil, is a special moment: its paintings sit behind a fine layer of smoke and come alive only when the guide shines a torch across the walls. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and sun protection. City tax and personal expenses are not included.

Photo credits: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Munalas (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Munalas (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); prilfish (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); prilfish (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons); Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons); Ludovic Courtès (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons); Erdoğan Aslan (Public domain, Wikimedia Commons)