Gravel riding for many of us is about getting away from the herds. Seeking out some peace and tranquillity, far away from the beaten track. So why would you choose to go to one of Europe’s most heavily visited regions for mass-tourism? Because a gravel bike lets you discover areas away from the popular destinations and Cappadocia has a network of incredible gravel trails is of course the answer! Team FatPigeon pack up their gravel bikes and head to Türkiye in search of gravel riding nirvana away from the masses.

It's March in the Netherlands. Our bike computers indicate that it's 4 degrees Celsius, but in our rain-drenched jackets, it feels even colder. The decision to go riding was a good one, but now it's time for a warm drink. As we stop and step inside a café, we're promptly called back outside. The café host is clear, "No wet boots inside." Disillusioned, we leave and continue the remainder of the cold, rainy ride in silence.

Two hours and a hot shower later, Ruben, Nol, and Loek gather at the Fatpigeon HQ. "Hey, guys, come over here, will you?"Loek gestures from behind his desk. As Ruben and Nol gather around, he plays an old and über-cheesy Discover Cappadocia promo video. Colourful balloons rise in the sky, while tourists wave and take pictures of the fascinating and distinctive rock formations beneath them. 

Ruben pipes up "I know this place, it's famous, but why are you showing us the video?". Loek rewinds the video slightly and stops when the camera moves downward to face the ground. "Do you see that? And that? That's all gravel! And I think it's rideable too. Have you ever heard or seen someone riding their bike in Cappadocia? I haven't." Nol, who has already opened some digital mapping of the area says, "He's right, man. It sure is gravel, and it seems very rideable!" Their adventure planning machine starts working.

As they looked at photos and videos taken from the balloons, the team from FatPigeon.cc were captivated by shots of stunning sunrises and colourful mountain ridges. They wondered, "What would it look like down there?" This curiosity led them to Cappadocia, Türkiye, where an impressive, inspiring and fun gravel cycling adventure unfolded.

A few hours later, a loud ping signals an incoming message from an account called BoostCamp. "Hi, guys. I'm Kerim, the organiser of BoostCamp. Cappadocia is the most amazing place in the world to experience gravel. We're actually going there in a few months. Will you join us?" Not long after, we chat with Kerim over the phone as he shares why he loves travelling from Istanbul to Cappadocia: "Cappadocia is like another world. It's a World Heritage site and a tourist hotspot. But if you venture off the road and closer to the ancient chimney rock formations, you'll find great tracks to ride your gravel bike.” Our imaginations run riot at the thought of gravel riding in such a famous landscape.

Aside from the creation of employment and related economic benefits, mass tourism doesn’t always have a great reputation. But it’s possible to visit an area popularised by the media and to do it in a different way. This is where a gravel bike and a sense of adventure comes in! The 5,000 square kilometer region of Cappadocia offers countless gravel and sand tracks connecting carved-out towering rock formations and it’s perfect for an early season gravel adventure. We were hooked and signed-up to go and visit.

Skip forward in time and the team arrive in Cappadocia, where we were warmly welcomed by Hakan, one of the so-called "boosters", a cool and supportive title for the event crew. From the friendly cab driver to Hakan and the first real-life meeting with organiser Kerim, we were touched by their exceptional hospitality. In the evening, Kerim and his team extended a bilingual welcome to the assembled riders.

The BoostCamp group consisted of 80 riders, with 60% Turkish and 40% international participants, all of whom had travelled to this region to explore it by bike. This is a rare occurrence, as fewer than 0.1% of the area's multi-million annual visitors engage in cycling tourism.

After months of anticipating this biking experience, we couldn't resist setting a 5:30 AM alarm on our first morning in Türkiye. Why? We relish the ambiance and beauty of a morning sunrise. Our enthusiasm was rewarded on the first day when we witnessed a breath-taking golden hour and a unique spectacle - dozens of balloons lifting into the air, their flame torches illuminating them like sky lanterns in the dark sky. This unforgettable moment was a major highlight that we shared with others over breakfast. It didn't take long before we had a group of 20 riders eager to join us the next morning and the mornings after that….

Moreover, for four days of riding there was no one, except for three horse riders, to share those tracks with. But what about those tourists? Well, they are there, but they mainly opted for the in-out bus taxis using the easy-to-ignore main roads. Travellers expecting untouched villages are probably advised to skip the region, but it's easy to ignore the masses when opting for one of the many local çay bars by refreshing on one of the roadside fruit juice stands. 

In our short visit to the region, we barely scratched the surface of the riding potential, but these were our favourite locations:

• Rose Valley - As far as the eye can see you'll see layers of red/brown/orange/black rock formations. There are many unused gravel paths crossing this valley, but the best sight is at sunset from the higher main road. Wine is not included, but BYO and you will be rewarded.   
• Pigeon Valley - As someone who has never seen the Grand Canyon, I'd say this is the Grand Canyon of Cappadocia. Again, some seriously epic gravel paths deep down in the Valley and high above the depths. Please be a little careful close to the edge as the valleys don't have fences or borders that protect you from having too much interest in what it looks like deep down there!
• Uchisar Castle - Time and time again one big rock stood at the horizon. At approach it appeared to be a famous and culturally relevant architectural masterpiece: the Uchisar Castle. A 60m high mountain that is actually a carved-out rock, once housing around 1,000 inhabitants. 
• Fairy Chimney - all around the region you'll see narrow and steep rock formations. Drawn from the soil like magic they got their name from being made by fairies. The cool part is that these geological interesting shapes are all over the region and paths wind around them everywhere. They are special and delicate of structure, but also unprotected, so please respect them for the generations to come. 

As I look back on our time in Cappadocia, I can't help but be reminded of our initial skepticism when we considered this popular tourist destination for our next level gravel adventure. The idea of cycling beneath the crowded balloon-filled skies seemed the opposite of the very essence of gravel riding – the pursuit of solitude combined with thrill of off-the-beaten-path routes. But as the days rolled by in the land of fairy chimneys and ancient rock formations, we quickly realised that our gravel bikes were more than just tools - they were our keys to an unseen side of Cappadocia. 

The people we met, the paths we uncovered and the surreal landscape we experienced, became the prize we didn’t dare to dream we’d win. We discovered that even in a place so well known, the spirit of gravel riding brought us, and you as readers, new stories waiting to be shared with the world. 

Our journey through Cappadocia reinforced the essence of what GravelUnion and we at Fatpigeon.cc stand for - that the path less travelled often leads to the most memorable adventures. So, as we pack our bags for the next journey (a Scottish Highlands Bikepacking trip in July), we invite you all - saddle up, venture out and let’s uncover the world's hidden gravel trails together.