Traveling in Cappadocia

The region of Cappadocia offers an assortment of tour options for the curious traveler. In previous posts, I have shared my experience with the north tour and some tips for choosing a hot-air balloon. Here, I will share my itinerary for the third day in Cappadocia: the green tour.

It is important to note here that Cappadocia is a region, not a city. We based ourselves out of the major tourist town, Göreme. You can book the green tour in a few different ways: online, by speaking with one of the tour companies in Göreme or nearby towns, or through your hotel receptionist. 

The Cappadocia Green Tour

is a full day’s journey through the southern part of Cappadocia. The tour operator scheduled a pickup time from our hotel the night before. A minibus arrived within the agreed time frame on the morning of departure, and we were off. Our guide, Mehmet, immediately showed his knowledge of Göreme, keeping us entertained with facts about the town while we picked up the remaining tourists. 

The itinerary stated we would begin at the Göreme viewpoint. Mehmet explained we would actually go there last to avoid the crowds. It also meant that we could watch the sunset over the valley. Everyone was content with this decision.

Derinkuyu Underground City

Turkey may be most famous for its ancient underground cities. This one is the largest excavated underground city in the entire country. Historians estimate builders completed construction around the 8th century BCE. The Derinkuyu underground city may have once housed up to 20,000 people and their livestock. It extends about 85 meters/280 feet below ground. 

Mehmet led us through cave rooms that were once bedrooms, meeting areas, kitchens, churches, food stores and cattle holding areas. In some places, we could barely fit through the narrow staircases. The taller members of our group had to crouch and crawl to make it through the smaller passageways. That being said, many parts of the caves were spacious, well-lit and easy to navigate. Still, I wouldn’t recommend this part of the trip if you have a fear of tight spaces or caves.

Caves are typically cool and damp. I wore a dress with a light jacket over the top. I felt comfortable throughout the tour. If you get cold easily, long pants and layers are probably best. Some travelers had water resistant jackets with hoods for the damp parts of the cave. I didn’t feel that this was necessary for our visit in April, although maybe other months have wetter conditions. 

For more information about this historic underground city, you can read the BBC article linked here.

Ihlara Valley

Ihlara Valley is a 14 kilometers long canyon. This gorge was likely inhabited as early as the 4th century A.D. by hermits and priests, some of whom were escaping religious persecution from the Romans. Cave homes and churches are still visible, carved into the rocks along the path. Today, visitors find this area a relaxing river-walk.

We arrived late in the morning. Mehmet guided us down a well-maintained path along the river. He pointed out a few caves and ancient rock paintings. A tree-top canopy covered us for much of the way. It was a little humid near the water, but comfortable weather for April. There were many places to sit and relax, as well as to take scenic photos. We had 30 minutes to explore on our own after the tour.

You can find more information about the canyon and its history here.

Lunch

We worked up an appetite on our river walk. Luckily, we didn’t have too far to travel for lunch. We had to exit the park area, but there was a strip of waterfront restaurants just past the entrance.

There were 2 options included in the tour price for lunch: meat or fish. The meal came with a small salad and bread. Drinks, mostly soda and water, were an additional fee. The food was average, but the atmosphere was nice. We sat outside on a deck partially extended over the water. 

The restaurant’s name is Belisirma. You can view it on trip advisor, here.

Selime Monastery

The next stop on our tour was my favorite, an old monastery carved out of a series of caves. The Selime Monastery is the biggest religious cave complex in Cappadocia. Many leading clergymen received their education here. The monastery dates all the way back to the 8th and 9th centuries. Perhaps most impressive is the cathedral-sized church carved into part of the rock.

The cave’s entrance is visible from the road. The size is impressive at a distance, but even more incredible up close. There is a steep incline to walk up to the main part of the caves. It is possible to explore them on foot. People who require a wheelchair or are mobility-impaired will find a large part of the caves to be inaccessible. If you’re looking for souvenirs, there is a tourist shop at the bottom of the hill. There are also a few small restaurants and bathrooms (for a small fee).

Pigeon Valley

The next stop on our trip took us to the overlook of Pigeon Valley. This was one of the less eventful stops. We took in the valley view from above. Mehmet gave us a brief history of the importance of pigeons to ancient civilizations. We could see the pigeonholes in the rocks, as well as the occasional pigeon nesting or flying around. There were also walking trails around this valley. This was a quick stop, but if we had more time, I think I would have enjoyed trying a few out.

For more information about the history of Pigeon Valley, you can read here.

Sweets shop

Up to this point, we had already had a pretty full day and were low on energy. Mehmet promised to take care of us, taking us to an unscheduled stop at a sweets shop. The timing of this stop was perfect. One of the store workers gave us samples of various types of baklava, sample cups of local coffee, and tea. He encouraged us to shop around after the sampling. Since we were all hungry and tired, we probably bought more than necessary. Still, it was an enjoyable time. I can highly recommend the chocolate-covered pomegranates!

Göreme Panorama 

To end our day, we visited the panoramic overlook of Göreme’s old town, with its unreal backdrop of fairy chimneys and unique rock structures. Here, you can see hot air balloons floating over the valleys in the early hours of dawn. We arrived around 6 pm, when there were far fewer tourists than in the early hours. This was a great way to end our tour.

My experience

I found the Cappadocia Green Tour to be an excellent way to see many of the major sites of Cappadocia without a car. The price in relation to what it included was great. The tour’s price included all transportation, entrance tickets, and lunch. I also felt that I learned a lot from Mehmet. He constantly shared bits of history, even when we were driving between locations. We received an honest and raw insider perspective of the region from him. He also shared extra tips for our remaining days in Göreme. It was a long, full day and worth every moment.

If you would like to book the Cappadocia Green Tour online, you can do it here through Viator.