Cappadocia

Cappadocia, in central Anatolia, was formed by volcanoes and then carved by wind and rain over thousands of years, leaving cones of rock known as fairy chimneys and valleys in shades of pink and white. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1985.

Its best-known moment is the dawn balloon flight, when dozens of balloons rise over the valleys with the first light. By day you visit the underground cities, the dwellings cut into the rock, and Uçhisar Castle, the highest point in the area, which looks over all the valleys.

Staying here is part of the experience: cave hotels have turned old rock houses into rooms and suites, some with terraces that face the balloons in the morning. From Istanbul it is a domestic flight of about an hour and a quarter to Kayseri or Nevşehir, then a drive.

Two nights are enough to see the essentials. The best months are April to June and September to October, when the weather is mild and flying days are frequent.