WHILE some people may have never heard of Cappadocia, others know it as a must-see tourist destination. Cappadocia is a region located in central Turkey and has a rich history, dating back many centuries.
Even though Istanbul is the main tourist destination in Turkey, many people also venture to Cappadocia, especially the town of Goreme, which is centrally located in the region. It is a one-hour plane trip from Istanbul, and Goreme has many hotels and B&Bs to choose from. It is then walking distance to many places of interest and eateries and bars. 
The Turkish people are very friendly and helpful. Many tour options are available from several tourist operators and these are usually half-day or full-day tours, covering many historical locations along the way. On a full-day tour, lunch is provided as part of the cost.
The most well-known attractions are the fairy chimneys, which are thin spires of rock formed by erosion. Over the centuries they have been used as homes and more recently have been converted into hotels, creating a truly unique form of accommodation native to the area. 
Possibly the best-known tourist industry is the hot air balloon rides. Having ideal weather conditions, there are over 160 hot air balloons in use in Goreme, run by several operators. Starting at day break, the balloons are launched to oversee the whole town and surrounding areas of the region. It is a truly exhilarating experience, and the balloonists are experienced in this very specialist area. Local talk is that most pilots would rather fly a plane than fly a balloon, as it is a very precise and specialist skill to operate and manoeuvre a balloon. Most baskets can carry up to 20 passengers, in about five-to-six sections, with each section having three or four passengers, perhaps more depending on the size of the children in the basket. Gliding up and  across the area is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having been in a hot air balloon is something I thought I would never do, and I would recommend this to everyone. Safety is paramount with the balloonists, and at no stage did we feel uneasy about being up so high. The views are truly spectacular. 
Being a popular tourist destination, Goreme has many shops, bars and restaurants that people can access. The prices in the souvenir shops are very reasonable and with an advantageous exchange rate, many items are very affordable in Australian dollars. There are numerous bars to choose from for a relaxing drink after a big day of sight-seeing, and many of these also serve food. There are also many Turkish restaurants serving a variety of authentic cuisine that I found delicious. Turkey is a secular state with a Muslim majority population and in some areas you may find a restaurant that avoids serving alcohol, although the majority do.
While the hot air balloons and the fairy chimneys dominate the tourist industry in the region, there are also many other activities visitors can encounter. These include horse riding, attending a live Turkish show and having a traditional Turkish bath, sauna and spa. Those that have had one, namely my wife, rate it very highly and leave feeling reinvigorated. 
Another interesting feature in the Cappadocia region is a visit to an ancient underground city. We visited the Kaymakli underground city, but there are several others to choose from. Over the centuries these cities have been used mainly as refuges from numerous invaders. The Kaymakli is a massive underground structure with nearly 100 tunnels designed to protect the people living there, and in its original state certainly lived up to the name city as it accommodated thousands of people. While only a fraction of this complex is open to the public, mainly due to structural and safety concerns, people can get an idea of the size of the  city. Only four of the 12 floors are open to tourists and what we saw was massive. It is a truly fascinating history of how the people survived and lived in these underground cities, and it is well worth a visit to experience something truly different. Unfortunately in Kaymakli, people with mobility issues will be unable to make it inside due to the narrow tunnels, and visitors inside will need to bend and crawl through the tunnels. People with claustrophobic issues will need to think twice as well before entering Kaymakli. Check other underground cities for accessibility, as all were built differently.
People intending to visit Cappadocia can either book their choices of what to see and do in Australia, or they can book while in Cappadocia. We chose the latter option, but some new-found friends from Adelaide booked their details before they went to Turkey. Cappadocia is certainly a very unique place on Earth and well worth a visit if travelling in Turkey.