American World Traveler Winter 2020-21 Issue

Cappadocia, Where Magic Transcends Reality
by Olivia Liveng
As a travel writer with an intrepid spirit,
I had believed that I was immune to a
total sensory shock when the plane’s
wheels landed in an entirely foreign destination
for the first time. Though traversing the
world for the work was a career I could only
conjure in my wildest dreams until that first
assignment years back, I never realized an
unintended consequence would mean that I’d
soon be saturated with the ability to be
amazed. That is until I landed in Cappadocia
for the first time.
Cappadocia, a historical region about a 1.5-
hour flight from Istanbul, is a different universe-where
Nature is omnipotent, and all
human-made activities are built around it.
The landscape is surreal, formed as a consequence
of three volcanic eruptions, with the
remnants spilled over hundreds of meters. Am
I still on planet Earth or did I mistake my
plane for a moon rocket? Usually bustling
with global tourists, winter was the prime time
to revel in the unspoiled beauty.
Though many choose to rent a car and
adventure on their own, for my first visit, I
decided to explore with the local tour company,
Goreme Kelebek Travel, to be assured I
wouldn’t miss out on any of the magic. And
just minutes after getting picked up at sunrise
for the most quintessential Cappadocia activity-hot
air ballooning-I was elated with my
decision. Though countless operators provide
this experience, Goreme Kelebek Travel differs
in their exclusive packages—flights tailored
for only 2, 4, or 8 provide a more
sophisticated and private experience, instead
of elbowing strangers for a glimpse over the
side of the balloon.
mately connecting tourists with Cappadocia’s
nature and culture. I enjoyed horseback riding
through the impressive vineyards of
Cappadocia valley, stopping every so often
for a picture opportunity or to marvel at the
landscape. Our tour ended as the sun began
to set, creating an atmosphere out of a
romance novel (If I weren’t already married,
this would have been where I’d want to be
proposed to!) Another activity that tantalized
all senses was our cooking class - the tour
operator shopped with us to find local ingredients
at the market before being brought to
a rural kitchen in untouched nature where
local entrepreneurial women taught us to
make soup and two local dishes, dolma, and
sarma.
It’s not only the activities in Cappadocia that
are so authentic and unique to the area. My
tremendous stay at the four-star Sultan Cave
Suites was an experience in itself. Perched
atop Aydinli Hill, this unique hotel offers cave
rooms furnished with antiques from throughout
Turkey. Between the breathtaking views
from the stone terraces, to the deep tissue
massage that greeted me post a day of hiking,
there was no better place to retreat than
to my cave (and how often does a traveler get
to say that!)
www.goturkeytourism.com
But Goreme Kelebek Travel goes way beyond
the classic tours here and prides itself on inti-