Roaming in the air in Cappadocia versus a hiking holiday to the Camino

Active holidays and the unique experiences have become more and more popular in the recent years. The traditional beach holidays with the obligatory trips to the local museum have increasingly been enriched with experiences where we get to move around and the memories last forever. Two such vacations can be found in Cappadocia in Turkey and in the scenic southwestern Europe, the Camino in Spain.

Scenic Cappadocia
If there is one activity that Cappadocia is known for, it is the colorful hot air balloons. Roam high into the air with the big balloons and have an unforgettable experience. Watch the sunrise from a height of 300 meters and enjoy the view over the beautiful mountain landscapes of Cappadocia.

When you have finished floating across the sky, it is time to explore what the earthly ground offers. Cappadocia’s very special mountains can also be enjoyed up close, where you can go exploring among rock caves and see churches and monasteries carved directly out of the mountains. According to local tradition, there are 365 churches in the area — one for each day of the year. Today, about 30 of them are open to the public, where you are allowed to enter and experience the ancient and completely unique architecture.

If you have not had enough of caves, then there are underground cities that stretch deep into the ground. The town of Kaymakli has had 8 floors with over 1000 tunnels and a direct route to the neighboring town of Derinkuyu. The underground cities have been able to house 20,000 people including being able to store food, animals and packing and were used as a refuge for Christians who were persecuted.

If you want to try something similar for yourself, there are plenty of hotels carved out of the rocks where you can stay in luxury during your holiday in Cappadocia.

Hiking holiday on the Camino
Another scenic experience to try, is to go on a hiking holiday to the Camino. The Camino really just means “road” or “path”, although the word covers many different hiking routes in southern Europe. In fact, there are as many as 6 different routes, ranging from a measly 87 km to a hike of 780 km. Depending on your physique and route, it can take 4 to 40 days to walk one of the routes.

Common to them all, however, is that they end up in the northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. According to a legend - this is where the apostle James is buried, and therefore the Camino is also called the Way of St. James. Whichever path you choose, the route takes you through beautiful nature and cozy cities, which are nurturing for your soul and body.