2-Day Cappadocia Tour: North & South with Lunch

See both sides of Cappadocia without splitting the experience across separate bookings

A 2-day guided tour of Cappadocia's north (Red) and south (Green) routes with hotel pickup, English-speaking guide, and lunch included. You choose which route runs on which day. The tour covers eight major sites (from Uchisar Castle and Devrent Valley to Kaymakli Underground City and Ihlara Valley) with a pottery-making stop in Avanos on the north day. Museum tickets are optional and priced separately per route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Shared Red (North) Tour Highlights

• Visit Uçhisar Castle View Point
• Lunch and pottery in Avanos
• Explore Paşabağ Open-Air Museum
• Visit Devrent Valley
• View Love Valley panorama
• Tour Zelve Open Air Museum
• Visit Chez Galip Pottery Workshop

Day 2: Shared Green (South) Tour Highlights

• Visit Göreme Panorama viewpoint
• View Pigeon Valley
• Explore Kaymaklı Underground City
• Hike in Ihlara Valley
• Visit Selime Monastery

The experience

The tour splits into two routes you can run in either order. The north (Red) route starts at Uchisar Castle for panoramic views of the fairy chimneys, then moves through Devrent Valley (known as Imagination Valley for its animal-shaped rock formations) before reaching Monks Valley (Paşabağ) with its most famous towering formations. Lunch happens in Avanos, the pottery town, where you get a hands-on pottery-making session with local artisans after eating. The day wraps at Zelve Open-Air Museum, a sprawl of cave dwellings, monasteries, and rock-hewn churches just 4 kilometers from Göreme.

The south (Green) route takes you through Pigeon Valley's cliff-carved pigeon houses and the Göreme Panorama viewpoint, then descends into Kaymakli Underground City: a network of tunnels and rooms that once sheltered thousands. The hike through Ihlara Valley covers about 4 kilometers along the Melendiz River, passing ancient churches carved into the cliffs with surviving frescoes. The route ends at Selime Monastery, a rock-carved complex with cave rooms and hidden passageways overlooking the surrounding landscape.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is an English-speaking guide for the full two days. Lunch is provided on whichever day you run the north route. Museum entry fees (13 euros for the Red Tour sites, 28 euros for the Green Tour) are optional and charged separately. The group stays small, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels, though the Ihlara Valley hike and the underground city both involve walking and some climbing.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off on both days.
• English-speaking local guide for the full two days.
• lunch with vegetarian and meat options on the north route day.
• hands-on pottery-making session in Avanos.
• transport to all attractions including Uchisar Castle, Devrent Valley, Monks Valley, Zelve Open-Air Museum, Pigeon Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, Ihlara Valley, and Selime Monastery.
• museum entry tickets are optional and charged separately at 13 euros (Red Tour) or 28 euros (Green Tour) per person.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (17 to 79 years) · Child (5 to 16 years) · Infant (2 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cappadocia Visitor

Is this one for you?Two days lets you cover both the north and south routes without rushing either one, and the fixed schedule means you're not building the itinerary yourself: hotel pickup, transport between sites, and lunch are all arranged. If you want to see the underground city, the monastery, the fairy chimneys, and the pottery traditions in one trip without splitting them across separate bookings, this pairing does it.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 16 years); Infant (2 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I choose which day to do the north route and which day to do the south route?

Yes. The Red (north) tour and Green (south) tour can run on either day one or day two. You pick the order when you book, and the guide will adjust the schedule accordingly.

What's included in the lunch, and when does it happen?

Lunch is served in Avanos on whichever day you run the north route. The meal is tailored to your preferences, with vegetarian and meat options available. After eating, you'll do a hands-on pottery-making experience with local artisans.

Do I have to pay extra for the museums?

Museum entry is optional. The Red Tour museums cost 13 euros per person. The Green Tour museums cost 28 euros per person. You can choose to add them at checkout or skip them entirely.

What is Ihlara Valley like, and how much walking is involved?

Ihlara Valley is a gorge with lush greenery, ancient churches carved into the cliffs, and a river running through it. The hike covers approximately 4 kilometers along the Melendiz River, so expect moderate walking with some uneven terrain.

How does Kaymakli Underground City work? Is it a full tour or just a quick look?

Kaymakli Underground City is an intricate network of tunnels and rooms carved into the rock. You'll explore the site during the Green Tour, discovering the tunnels, rooms, and the engineering that once sheltered thousands of people.

Is the pottery-making experience hands-on, or do I just watch?

It's hands-on. After lunch in Avanos, you'll participate in a pottery-making session guided by local artisans, learning the craft traditions the town is known for.