Turkey

Nevsehir

Göreme

Goreme is a charming and unique city where you should have plenty of time to wander around. There are numerous hikes in and around Goreme that are worth exploring. Be sure to watch the sunset and sunrise on some of the surrounding hillsides, as they will be unforgettable. In the morning, you will see the sky filled with 100s of hot air balloons.

Getting to Cappadocia can take some time. Even from the nearest airport, there is some drive. So take the first to get to the area of Goreme or near it.

Journey to Cappadocia 

Pigeon Valley

One of the stops on the Red Tour is the Pigeon Valley which can be a quick stop, or you can take some time to explore the area. A very scenic viewpoint, and many pigeons nest in the valley with manmade Pidgeon homes.

Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu is a popular and one of the largest underground cities to visit. It is in good shape and well-lit. The established public areas are fantastic to explore, and I wonder what it must have been like to live in one of these cities.

Uçhisar Castle

Uchisar Castle is nearby Pidgeon Valley and is an excellent viewpoint from afar. Going to Uchisar, you can hike up to the top or hike nearby in the town area (to grab lunch or coffee) and enjoy the view of the castle. The castle was an ancient military fortress.

Love Valley Viewpoint

Love Valley is a scenic valley view point worth visiting. It is called “love valley,” supposedly because the fairy chimneys here are pretty phallic. You can be your own judge.

Start the day off early (very early) and get out to those hot air balloons. They start before sunrise so you can watch the sunrise high in the sky. You'll need to book a tour for this, so book it before your trip. They are popular and fill up in advance. Next, you can optionally explore the places in the famous "red tour" on your own, hire a driver to take you to these places, or hire a guide. We recommend a guide for the tour, but I feel the Red Tour is the tour to skip on a guide if you have budget considerations.

Hot air balloons and red tour

Kaymaklı Underground City

This underground city is a bit more low-key than the prior one. Much broader areas and hallways. You can see the interconnected secret passageways between the large chambers much easier. You will also see a large church in this city.

Keşlik Manastırı

Keslik Monastery is one of the first you'll visit on the blue tour. There can be many more you visit in this region if you let your guide know you want to visit all of them. Otherwise, they may take you to some of the better ones. Keslik is one you should not miss.

Sobesos Ancient City

The ancient city of Sobesos has Roman architecture and was likely an established Roman city. It is a newer excavation and not super restored. You will see a lovely mosaic on the floor of the building. It is worth visiting, but there is not a lot to explore here. Your guide will be able to help you picture the place and its purpose better, as recent y excavations will uncover more of the story of Sobessos as it continues.

Rose Valley Viewpoint

End the day by catching the sun setting on &nbsp;Rose Valley in the distance. It is called Rose Valley. When the sun hits, it is just right. The red tint looks rose-colored. You can hike to the view point from Goreme if you have time. It is not far from the city, or you can hire a taxi in a pinch. Bring a light for the walk back to town, but the path is relatively easy to walk.

Blue Tour is the last of the popular tours, and we hired a guide for this tour. This one, in particular, has a bit more historical context in the sites you visit, so it is good to have someone knowledgeable help you understand what you are seeing. It will also help set a great tone for the Ihalara Valley hike.

Blue tour and Rose Valley For Sunset

Ihlara Valley end point

Ihlara Valley start point

From start to end, this trail is beautiful, and you'll be surrounded by churches and caves on the canyon side. The hike follows a river through a canyon. The trail is only 6.5 miles long, but there are numerous stops to see along the trail that requires some climbing. A lot of the churches are built into the canyon walls. Most of the churches have well-built and maintained stairways to get to them.

Ancient Ruins Near Selime - "Selime Castle"

Aksaray

After you finish hiking the Ihlara Valley, there is a great spot you'd visit as part of the Green Tour that cannot be missed. It is just outside the city of Selime and a short walk away from the trail's end. The Selime Castle is a vast structure built into the canyon wall. It was the largest we had visited and truly amazing to explore.

Today is a hiking day! For most, it might be enough to hire a tour called "Green Tour" and explore a lot of what you'll see on my suggested itinerary. But if you are feeling more adventurous, I suggest hiring a driver for the day and hiking the entire Ihlara Valley trail. If not, be sure to book the Green Tour for this day.

Hiking Ihlara Valley

Cappadocia (land of the horses) is the land of fairy chimneys, natural rock formations formed in the soft rock through many generations of this planet. They have a lot of historical value to the several civilizations that have called the lands of Turkey their home over the years. Numerous homes, churches, and castles built into these fairy chimneys create a view like none other in this world.&nbsp;

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Journey to Cappadocia

Hot air balloons and red tour

Blue tour and Rose Valley For Sunset

OPTIONAL

Hiking Ihlara Valley

Exploring Cappadocia, Turkey

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Title:

Owner:

Areas of Travel:

Seasons:

Updated:

Budget Range:

Journey to Cappadocia

Hot air balloons and red tour

Blue tour and Rose Valley For Sunset

OPTIONAL

Hiking Ihlara Valley