Turkey impressed me in so many ways, the scenery in the Taurus Mountains varied so much during the trek from gorges, lush green valleys to snowy high mountain moonscape. Parts of it seemed out of this world!

Cappadocia was simply amazing, what surprised me was how big an area it covered. There is not just one small area of the fairy chimneys and rock houses/caves, they were everywhere. In some of the towns and villages some had houses built on the front so in part still used today.

1. THE TAURUS MOUNTAINS ARE SIMPLY SPECTACULAR

It’s always great to be high up in the mountains regardless of the range, but the Taurus Mountains did not disappoint. The high mountains are rugged limestone, like many others close to the Mediterranean Sea, and form both a brilliant backdrop and excellent trails to walk. Our trek passes below the typical steep limestone cliffs as well as more volcanic rock formations. Even though I went in early spring, the thing that surprised me most was the variety of flowers and plants around even high up in the mountains. We saw lone orchids, strange thistles and blankets of yellow flowers.

2. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MOUNTAINS – YOU’LL SEE GORGES AND CANYONS

On day 2 we passed through Kazikli Canyon. This canyon is formed from a different rock type than the high mountains and offers some great variety. It’s a fascinating and historic place, with ancient burial chambers which are 1000s of year old. These have been created by chiselling in to the rock. The main entrance was blocked up to prevent looters and a small top hole was left to let the spirit out, as the locals then believed in life after death. There also used to be lots of bees in the cliff and the local honey is considered some of the best. Today the gorge is frequented by local climbers, and there are still lots of people in the area keeping bees. We also saw Mangirci Gorge, a lime stone gorge which is again popular with climbers.

The trips finished with the Maden gorge, a specular narrow chasm low down in the mountains. We walk through the entire gorge. As we walked we could see eagles flying above. It was a great way to leave the mountains, as it felt like the trip started in the mountains and ended on the plains.

3. TREK TO THE TOP OF MOUNT EMLER AT 3723M

We were lucky enough to have a blue sky morning for the summit. From the camp, the guide took us up a wide ridge to the summit. This avoided much of the late lying frozen snow which was dotted around the valley. The path came and went through the scree parts but we soon reach the ridge where the path was rockier under foot. From the summit you really see the contracts of the plains in one direction and the specular jagged mountains in the other. Emler is a truly amazing viewpoint. Other peaks are a lot rockier, reserving their summits for rock climbers rather than trekkers.

4. CAMP IN WILD AND BEAUTIFUL PLACES

All 3 of the camps were in spectacular places with steep cliffs rising above our tents. On the plateau, you really feel the isolation due to the stark nature of the high mountains and the fact it’s a place only accessible on foot. We felt like we’d really earned our stay! On the plateau you are also really close to a couple of lakes, if you fancy a dip! Careful though, as it certainly will be cold!

5. YOU’LL MEET THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MOUNTAIN CAMPS AND NOMADIC SETTLEMENTS

The Taurus mountains are home to the Yoruks, an indigenous group of the Turkish people. They’re mostly nomadic, their very name deriving from the Turkish verb yürü, which means “to walk”. It was late spring when we arrived, which lots of snow, so there not as many shepherds about. They even go up to the plateau, but it was barren there - spring had not sprung on the high mountains yet! Nonetheless, we met a shepherd on the trail below Lake of Dipsiz with his sheep. Some of the sheepdogs have spikes on their collars in case they meet a wolf. He told us that the sheep in the region are milked milk and are not just for lamb. This milk is used in yoghurt and cheese.

6. THE GUIDE AND CREW HELP MAKE THE TRIP

The guides always make sure you have a great trip, and our guide Ibrahim was no exception. He gave us great insights in to Turkish history such as the oppression of the early Christians and how it has been invaded, as Turkey is where Europe meets Asia. He went the extra mile in Cappadocia by giving us an interesting tour of the cave houses behind the hotel, and organising a hamam for the group to relax and recover in after all that trekking. He really added extra value to the trip!

7. THE FOOD – IN THE MOUNTAINS AND IN THE CITY

The food on trek was hearty, but the best local dish was had after the trek in Cappadocia. It’s called testi (pot) kabab, and consists of a yummy beef stew cooked in a ceramic pot you crack the top off the pot - sort of like an egg. It was a fun tradition, delicious, and well worth the effort of breaking in to it.

8. THE BEST WAY TO SEE CAPPADOCIA IS ON FOOT

Cappadocia was at the end of our trip, and it more than lived up to the hype. It's a vast area, much larger than I had imagined – and much more spectacular. The caves are part of every town and village in the area. It was naturally busy at the main sights with tourists taking photos, however once you leave these behind you can get some incredible locations just to yourself! This is why it’s best to explore Cappadocia on foot – it was great to get off beaten track with our treks. Once were only a few minutes from the road we saw no one. Everywhere you look, you see jaw-dropping rock formations and churches. An unforgettable and amazing place to explore.