Frommer's Review
A few miles south of Ürgüp in the sleepy village of Ayvali -- where women still bake bread in outdoor ovens and residents still turn a blind eye to polygamy -- a resident pioneer has built the handsome Gamirasu Hotel. Skeptics are advised to continue bravely past the chickens and over cow dung to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow -- or in this case, at the edge of this narrow, isolated valley.
Opened in 1999, Gamirasu is the project of one of the local villagers who through luck or fate obtained financial backing from some German investors. Undoubtedly this hotel will change the face of the village forever, but in the meantime, Ayvali is still an untouched, unspoiled Cappadocian village with not so much as a kebap house or carpet shop in sight.
The hotel is built in and around the valley's caves, and enclosed within an unexpectedly elegant rose garden; if you walk along the creek a short way, you can bring back a pitcher of fresh bubbly mineral water. In keeping with the natural focus of the hotel, mattresses are handmade of 100% cotton and breakfast's bounty consists of locally dried apricots, pure village honey, and cream straight from the owner's cow. Guests can even participate in village activities like milking the cow or harvesting grapes with the residents. A local musician shows up regularly to serenade guests over dinner, and transportation to local sites is provided on request.
Facilities:
Tour desk; car-rental desk; laundry service; dry cleaning
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
