Taskonaklar Hotel

Along the ridge of the dramatic Pigeon Valley in Uchisar, Cappadocia, Taskonaklar Hotel’s cave suites built into the mountainside offer an undeniably unique hotel visit.

• The experience of sleeping in a cave suite, especially those with a jacuzzi on the terrace
• A candlelit dinner paired with local Turkish wines in the private cave dining room
• Curling up next to a campfire after a long day of exploring, taking in golden hour views of Cappadocia’s countryside

A historic region in Anatolia in rural central Turkey, Cappadocia is known for two things: hot air balloon rides over its “fairy chimney” rock formations and open-air cave exploration. Taskonaklar Hotel, literally built into the canyon wall of the Pigeon Valley, makes for an ideal home base for exploring the region. The hotel brims with character, from the ever-warm staff (many of whom have been there for over a decade) to the lush and inviting grounds where you can sit and enjoy the otherworldly views–as well as the dogs and cats roaming the grounds on any given day.

The small property located in Uchisar (just down the road from Uchisar Castle) has 23 rooms and suites in total, each completely unique. A cool breeze greets you upon entrance to your suite. Décor is simple–some may say rustic–but comfortable, with local touches and designs. There is no heating or air-conditioning, but the natural rock formations keep the rooms cool in the summer, and each has a wood-burning fireplace to warm up the winter nights. The best suites have a private terrace overlooking the valley with a hot tub to relax in as the golden hour sets in.

The grounds themselves, while small, are charming and inviting. Little beats enjoying a sunrise breakfast on the terrace while watching the iconic Cappadocia balloons ignite and fill the sky. In the evening, the staff sets up small tables on the lawn for dinner or cocktails. There are numerous quiet corners to explore throughout the property, all with views looking over the countryside and all perfect for relaxing and reflecting. As night comes, small bonfires are lit for travelers to enjoy and regale stories of their day’s explorations. We suggest asking the staff about organizing a private candlelit dinner inside Taskonaklar’s lowermost cave–this is a must-try experience.

Those who want to explore the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia in a unique way and don’t mind giving up some of life’s creature comforts to do so