Cappadocia 2-Day Private Tour: Underground Cities & Chimneys

Two days to move through Cappadocia at your own pace, from underground chambers to valley floors.

A 2-day private tour of Cappadocia with an English-speaking guide and dedicated vehicle, visiting Zelve Open-Air Museum, Fairy Chimneys, Devrent Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, and Pigeon Valley. The guide sets the pace and you choose how long to spend at each stop. Entrance fees and parking are included. A pottery workshop and volcanic stone workshop are part of the itinerary on day two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: North of Cappadocia

• Visit Zelve Open-Air Museum
• Explore Fairy Chimneys
• Walk through Devrent Valley
• Watch pottery demonstration
• Try pottery making
• Walk around Uchisar Castle promenade
• Enjoy regional lunch

Day 2: South of Cappadocia

• Tour Kaymakli Underground City
• Walk in Ihlara Valley
• Visit Selime Monastery
• Attend volcanic stone workshop
• Stop at Pigeon Valley viewpoint
• Enjoy set menu lunch

The experience

How much ground can you cover in two days if you don't have to rush? This tour answers that by pairing a private vehicle with a guide who knows the region well enough to explain what you're standing in front of. Day one takes you north: Zelve Open-Air Museum, a three-valley monastic settlement abandoned in the 1950s. The Fairy Chimneys, where you'll spend about an hour hearing the story of St. Simeon carved into the rocks; Devrent Valley with its rock formations shaped like animals and figures; a pottery workshop where a local craftsperson demonstrates the red-soil technique that's been part of Cappadocia since the Hittite period; and Uchisar Castle, the region's highest point, where a short walk along the promenade gives you the full view.

Day two heads south into larger terrain. Kaymakli Underground City dates to the early Christian period: carved out when Roman persecution drove people below ground, and now a network of chambers and passages your guide will walk you through. Ihlara Valley is one of Turkey's largest, and the hike down averages 400 steps into the valley floor, where a 3-kilometer walk follows the Melendiz Stream past rock churches. Selime Monastery, built into a mountainside in the 8th century, includes a chapel, kitchen, wine cellar and rooms all carved from stone. A volcanic stone workshop shows you how the region's most interesting rocks form and what sets them apart. The tour ends at Pigeon Valley, a viewpoint for photographs of the valley, the castle, and the flocks the place is named for.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats your group alone. The guide speaks English and is included both days. Entrance fees to the sites and parking are covered. You set the time you spend at each stop, which is what makes two days enough to see the major sites without feeling like you're moving through a checklist.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Zelve Open-Air Museum, Kaymakli Underground City, Ihlara Valley, and Selime Monastery.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for both days.
• English-speaking guide.
• parking fees.
• pottery workshop demonstration.
• volcanic stone workshop.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jan 2027

AgesAdult (25 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (13 to 24 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Touchstone Travel

Is this one for you?The hike in Ihlara Valley on day two descends 400 steps and covers about 3 kilometers, so a moderate level of walking fitness helps you enjoy the full route. The rest of the tour is at your own pace with stops for photographs and explanations.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 24 years); Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (under 7): 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.

What's the walk like in Ihlara Valley on day two?

Ihlara Valley involves descending about 400 steps into the valley, then walking roughly 3 kilometers along the Melendiz Stream past rock churches. The stream runs through the middle of the valley and the walk is at a moderate pace.

Are entrance fees to the sites included in the price?

Yes, entrance fees to Zelve Open-Air Museum, Kaymakli Underground City, Ihlara Valley, and Selime Monastery are included, along with parking fees for both days.

What happens at the pottery and stone workshops?

At the pottery workshop on day one, a local craftsperson demonstrates the traditional technique of mixing red soil with water, a practice dating to the Hittite period. One person gets to try it. On day two, the volcanic stone workshop shows how the region's distinctive rocks form and their different properties.

Can I spend more time at one stop if I want to?

Yes. The tour is private with your own guide and vehicle, so you control how long you stay at each attraction. The guide adjusts the day around your interests.

What's included in the tour?

The tour includes an English-speaking guide for both days, a private air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees to all sites, parking fees, and access to the pottery and stone workshops.