We Slept in a Cave in Cappadocia

This is our third year of travel, and over that time we have slept in many weird and wonderful abodes.

We’ve slept in a Palace in Paraguay, a Tent in Croatia, a Treehouse in Guatemala, a Yurt in England, a Castle in Wales, and many more interesting places.

But this beats them all – we are sleeping in a cave!

And it isn’t just a cave – it is a Rocky Palace.

There are exclamations as we enter our suite.  It overlooks Pigeon Valley so we find out in the morning.  And it is stunning.

It is quite late in the evening when we arrive.

We are pleased there is a park right opposite, and there is snow all around, so the nice man at the reception desk grabs a snow shovel and helps me to move the car and guide it in. As an Australian, I’m not too used to driving in snow.

And even though there is snow all about, this is not the type of cave a bear would go and hibernate in.

Taskonaklar Boutique Hotel was built in keeping with the nature and history of this area and is perched on the side of a hill. Every single stone, arch, chimney and more were meticulously preserved to create this hillside rocky palace. And it blends into the history around it.

Each room and suite is unique – no two are alike, and each has its own character.

We love the numerous Turkish antiques, kilns, and rugs that decorate.

There are so many areas that are filled with hidden treasures and collectibles from years gone by.

In summer there is a range of outdoor seating areas, so there is always a place to enjoy the view of Pigeon Valley.  But when we arrive it is the day after the first snowfall of the season. And the distant beauty is incredible. 

Our huge en-suite has heated towel rails, central heating, and heated floors.  Warmth exudes the cave.

There is a second room and this is great for me to use when Explorason is asleep in the morning, and I can catch up on computer work.  There is also the main lounge area too, of course. And what is nice is the mini bar is stocked, and there is coffee making facilities too, so I can have my peaceful quiet time I enjoy in the morning.

Off to the side of this, you could see into a gaping hole that goes down into the inside of the hilly cave. Yes, we really are in a cave.

Little touches like Turkish Delights on arrival and beautiful toiletries make us feel special. There is even embossed towels and slippers – mind you, with the heated floor, we love the feel of that straight onto our cold feet when we come in from the snow.

Our first morning at Taskonaklar Hotel was an early start, as we had booked Voyager Balloons for a flight over the valley. We will blog on that separately, but I was impressed with the staff coordinating the event, and the wake-up call. This meant a 4:30 a.m. wake-up for me which they also organized.

On my second morning, I was surprised!  I realized I’d had a solid nights sleep for the first time in nearly four weeks.  I learned that the rock the cave rooms are made from has a breathable quality to it, and filters the air.  The walls are also so thick, there are no sounds of mosques to wake you as we had experienced recently in another place in Turkey.  Peace and tranquility abound.

Each morning, breakfast was laid out in the restaurant.  Lovely Turkish and English foods were in abundance.  I loved the fresh fruits, and the Turkish spinach or cheese pies, and the different baked goods.  Ahh, and beautiful coffee – go how I love a good cup of fresh coffee.  Explorason loved all the cold meats and the stringy Turkish Dil cheese too.

We found that after long days out exploring, it was just delightful to return here to our cave suite.

We booked dinner for the Saturday night, and there was a calming family feel in the restaurant.  Relaxed, yet with such beautiful decor.

On arrival for dinner, an assortment of entree dishes was laid before us, and the soup was served for starters.

(I caught Explorason telling me off for this photograph.) He just wanted to tuck into his dinner!  A beautifully mixed vegetable and chicken dish, with incredible flavors.

One thing I do learn is that this region is known for its quality wines, and so I enjoy the most superb red with my dinner.  It was a lovely slow evening and finished off with dessert.

As we head back to our room, we are just delighted with the choice we made in selecting Taskonaklar Hotel Cappadocia.

Nothing has been too much trouble for the staff.  Each time we go out, they have helped us plan our trip.  If something exciting is happening, they would come and invite Explorason to take a look.  We learned so much from them.

We’ve really enjoyed our stay here so much I wanted to share it with you.

So as we say goodbye to Cappadocia and Pigeon Valley, we also say goodbye to a very special place – our cave hotel or rocky palace – what a perfect place it has been.

Watch where we stayed on YouTube – it will amaze you

Bookings and Enquiries: Book this hotel here

Accommodation Name: Taskonaklar Hotel Cappadocia

Location:  Gedik Sk. No: 8 Uçhisar, Nevşehir, Cappadocia, Turkey

Date stayed: November 2014

Breakfast: Yes

Restaurant: Yes – reservations are required in advance

Wi-fi:  High speed, with each room having its own modem

Child-friendly: Yes

Questions and Comments

• Are you a family that travels permanently?
• What inspired your decision?
• How has the experience been?
• Which are the most craziest places you have slept in?
• Do share your comments with us below.