Aydinli Mah. Yavuz Sok. No 1, Goreme, Turkey | (888) 708-2081
Charming typical Cappadocia building with twin "fairy
chimneys"
Set on hillside overlooking town and rock formations
Outdoor swimming pool with poolside bar
Features one of the town's best hammams
Flower-filled garden and nearby organic farm
Lavish suites with fireplaces and hammam basins
Excellent Turkish breakfast
with homegrown products
Weak Wi-Fi in cave rooms and most lack TVs
Lots of steps in property
Set on fairly steep hill
The 36-room Kelebek Special
Cave Hotel offers an authentic Cappadocia cave experience but is a cut above many similar
hotels by virtue of its excellent hammam and outdoor pool. The hillside setting
means some wonderful views, though also a steep walk up to the hotel. Rooms are nicely finished, but amenities can vary widely -- as can rates -- so be sure
to know which you're getting. Suites are particularly lavish and worth
the extra outlay.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Charming small hotel with flower-filled garden with superb views
One of the
originals of its kind, the Kelebek -- which translates to butterfly -- was the
family home of owner Ali Yavuz until 1993 when he converted it into this impressive
hotel. The property is spread over two charming stone houses, each with a "fairy
chimney" protruding upwards, which originally served as ancient chapels and more
recently to raise pigeons and store grapes. Typical of the area's architecture,
the building has elegant limestone arches and panoramic terraces, though also a
lawned, flower-filled garden boasting superb views over the town and fabulous
rock formations. Interiors are mostly hewn out of the rock and crammed with
numerous rustic furnishings and Anatolian knick-knacks lending
the place a particularly authentic and timeless ambience.
Location
Set on hillside west of Göreme center overlooking stunning scenery
The hotel is
located in the west of Göreme on the hillside overlooking the town and
surrounding scenery. The town center is about a five-minute walk away with most
of the restaurants and tour agencies, while there are plenty of hiking trails
nearby and the Open Air Museum and balloon take-off areas are both within 15 minutes on
foot. The hotel can organize
shuttle transfers to and from both Kayseri and Nevsehir Kapadokya airports,
which takes between an hour and an hour and a half -- a one-way trip is free if
guests also book a daily tour and balloon trip through the hotel.
Rooms
Wide selection of varied rooms from simple "Fairy Chimney" rooms to lavish suites
The hotel has 36
rooms, which are either cave, arch, or stone categories. Rooms are decorated
with hand-woven Turkish rugs, authentic aged-wood furnishings, and wooden or
travertine-tiled floors. Amenities vary according by room, but rooms (and some Junior Suites) don't
have TVs and Wi-Fi signal can be very weak. Many suites, however, include
fireplaces and hammam basins. "Fairy Chimney" rooms are quaint but very small
with no heating or private bathrooms.
Features
Outdoor swimming pool and one of the town's best hammams
The hotel has
converted one of its caves into a fabulous hammam, which offers guests the full
Turkish bath experience as well as a wide range of massages. Also, unusually
for Göreme hotels, there is a small (unheated) outdoor swimming pool with
mosaic map and poolside bar. The owners also tend an organic farm where guests
can pick their own breakfast ingredients. Cooking classes and autumn
grape-harvesting trips can be arranged.
