Sunset ATV safari

Before you ride: briefing and practice lap

First comes a short safety briefing: throttle, brake, cornering and hand signals. Then you take a practice lap in a closed area; ten minutes is usually enough to get used to the machine. Drivers must be 16 or older. No driving licence is asked for on the off-road track, but listening to the briefing and following the guide's instructions is a must. The guide leads, an assistant brings up the rear, and nobody is left outside the group.

Every ATV has a driver, and anyone who likes can ride behind as a passenger; children aged 7 and over may ride behind an adult driver. Driving means the throttle and the steering are in your own hands, and you feel the valley's rhythm through your fingertips. Riding as a passenger means sitting back and focusing on the view, the light and the photographs. Couples often swap halfway. After a short check for safety, the guide decides who rides which machine.

The track: dirt, rock, valley floor

The route follows dirt tracks through the valleys around Göreme. At one point you pass through a narrow gap with tuff walls rising on both sides; the next, the track opens and you emerge on a wide field beside vineyards. This is not a race: the group moves at the guide's pace, with some sections slow and demanding and others open and fast. We rate it "moderate" because it isn't physically tiring but needs attention throughout. Dust is unavoidable, and on dry days a cloud rises behind the quad in front. The guide keeps distances and swaps the order to keep it to a minimum.

Sunset: the stop and the light

Two or three short breaks are made along the way. One is for the view from a hilltop, another for the sunset itself. When the sun leans into the valleys, the tuff rocks first turn pink, then copper, then deep violet. The sudden quiet after you switch the engine off is one of the evening's best moments: you hear your own breathing, the earth cooling and a dog barking far away. Light and temperature change quickly, so bring a jacket. In summer the tour starts late and the heat drops toward sunset, so the valley cools in an instant; in winter the tour is brought forward, the air chills fast and you need to take care on the dirt track after sunset. After spring rain the tracks are sometimes muddy, which makes the ride a lot more fun and a lot dirtier.

Photography tips

Drivers need both hands on the handlebars and passengers a firm hold, so save photos for breaks. Zip your phone into a pocket so bumps can't shake it loose. Dust is a lens's enemy: pocket the phone when not shooting and wipe the lens at each stop. With the low sun behind you, the dust from the quad ahead becomes a golden curtain; once the engines stop and it settles, catch that light. At the sunset stop, wait for the rocks to go pink, then copper, and for the horizon's softer colours after sunset. For video, hold the phone sideways and tuck your elbows in; short steady clips beat long shaky ones. With friends, photograph each other at the break, helmets on and faces dusty: the most honest pictures. The guide knows the best vantage point, so stand where they ask.

What to wear and bring

• Closed shoes (no sandals or flip-flops)
• Long trousers and a top layer that holds off dust
• Sunglasses; a bandana or neck buff helps against dust
• Spare lenses if you wear contacts
• Please don't arrive after drinking: nobody who has had alcohol rides

Who should skip it

We don't recommend this tour for pregnant women, anyone with serious back or neck problems or cardiovascular conditions, and children under 7. The ride is bumpy and some sections need sudden braking. If you aren't sure about your health, write to us on WhatsApp before booking.