Hiking alongside the Melendiz River in Cappadocia’s Ihlara Valley in Turkey  takes you away from the moonscape and into a more lush part of the region. After climbing down a series of staircases hugging a rock cliff,  you walk on a trail that follows  and crisscrosses the river. The gorge is so deep that at times you feel hemmed in by rock walls. Along the way, you can stop at rock churches built by monks, where they gathered with other early Christians to worship.

The walking isn’t difficult, but once you’re down in the gorge there are limited places where you can get out. Start walking early in the day because it can get hot. If you exit the canyon at Belisirma Village, have lunch at a simple riverside restaurant.