Hezen Cave Hotel

Rooms

The guest rooms are carved into the hillside at different levels and no 2 are the same. Some of the rooms on the upper floors have private balconies, while some of the lower rooms have access to a courtyard.

They're surprisingly light and airy for caves, and the Turkish designer Halide Didem was inspired by the region’s traditional houses to use colourful décor. Green window frames, a yellow door and a glossy red bedstead enlivened the rustic sand-coloured stone walls of our room, while bright embroidered cushions and a throw adorned the large bed. Goosedown duvets and pillows kept things cosy at night.

All rooms have ensuite bathrooms with underfloor heating, marble showers, attractive round basins decorated with Ottoman-style designs, thick white Turkish bath towels, and traditional slippers.

All Standard Rooms have seating areas - ours had a pair of contemporary button-backed chairs - and the Suites have a separate living area with plenty of lounging space, flat-screen TVs and minibars. These latter rooms are best for families.

More recently, 4 Superior Suites have been added to the collection. We haven't seen them yet and they're set in a slightly different location to the other rooms, but the look particularly luxurious and have a slightly more modern design than the original rooms.

Features include:

• Central heating
• Complimentary mineral water
• Cots Available
• Extra beds
• Hairdryer
• Honesty bar
• Phone
• Safe box
• Slippers
• Terrace
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

A buffet breakfast is served in the colourful dining room or on the sun-drenched terraces. We really enjoyed our typical Turkish feast - white cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, freshly baked bread, strong coffee - and there are also fresh pastries, fruit, cereals and cold meats, as well as eggs made to order.

The honesty bar stocks a full range of spirits and beers. Post-sightseeing, relax alfresco or in front of the fire in the lounge with a Turkish tea, a glass of the excellent local wine, or raki, Turkey’s potent anise-flavoured spirit.

Ortahisar has several small restaurants. Süreyya Restaurant near the castle is one of the best, offering traditional Cappadocian cuisine in a cave setting.

Further afield - the hotel has a discounted rate with the local taxi station - try A’laturka in Goreme (3km away), which serves traditional Turkish dishes with a contemporary twist. Ziggy’s in Urgup (6km away) is also a favourite with both visitors and residents, but make sure you book in advance. We loved the Turkish menu, which included 10 mezze plates - smoked aubergine dip and fava bean purée among them - and garlic chicken skewers.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and marvel at the beautifully preserved Byzantine frescoes that decorate its many monasteries and churches
  
  
• Don’t miss a sunrise balloon flight and the chance to drift gently over the sculpted landscape, dipping in and out of valleys and over fairy chimneys
  
  
• Remember to duck as you explore the narrow, labyrinthine passageways, wineries and kitchens of the ancient underground cities of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli
  
  
• Take a hike - the terrain is perfect for hiking at all levels and the hotel will provide you with route maps
  
  
• Or go horse riding, mountain biking or quad biking, and play cross-country golf
  
  
• Lose yourself in Ortahisar’s warren of narrow streets, visit its castle and climb to the top of its fortress for panoramic views
  
  
• Be entranced by the Whirling Dervish performances at the historical Saruhan caravanserai; reception can book tickets
  
  
• Barter for carpets, silver jewellery, semi-precious stones, pottery and more in the bazaars of Urgup and Goreme
  
  
• Sample the reds, whites and rosés at Turasan in Urgup, one of the region’s oldest wineries

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse-riding
• Hot air ballooning
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Private guided tours
• Quad biking
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children are welcome on request.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Suites have 1-2 sofas (which can be made up as single beds for children aged 6 and under), or can fit 1-2 rollaway beds for older children. One of the Superior Suites has space for an extra bed or baby cot.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection