Compared to some other countries Turkey doesn’t have a huge range of volunteer work available. Also volunteer work that is a genuine exchange of sweat for stay is an increasingly rare commodity in a world of paid gap year programmes.

It is also unusual for us to meet a representative from one of the volunteer programmes we promote on our websites so it was a rare treat recently to meet Andus Emge of the Cappadocia Academy for Art and Culture – all the more so because we stayed in his hotel, one of the most comfortable and fun places we have ever spent the night in.

We were only able to stay for five days in the Fairy Chimney Inn but perhaps one of you reading this will be able to stay much longer. Overlooking the wonderland landscape of Goreme, in the heart of Cappadocia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Fairy Chimney is looking for a volunteer not just to help out around the hotel but also to initiate and implement a small cultural project of their own choosing for the Cappadocia Academy.

Volunteers should be computer literate, able to work well with others and preferably have a basic education in the field of tourism or anthropology – though personal enthusiasm will go a long way if not. Applicants should speak English, German or Turkish and be able to oversee a small project of their own choosing from start to finish.

For more visit the website of the Fairy Chimney Inn and take a look at the volunteer page.

Fairy Chimney Inn

Goreme

Goreme Open Air Museum

Horses near Goreme

Cappadocia landscape