Cappadocia Green Tour: Derinkuyu, Pigeon Valley & Lunch Included

Walk through an underground city, hike a canyon, and see dovecotes carved into cliffs

The Green tour is a full-day guided sightseeing tour of Cappadocia that visits Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley and Pigeon Valley with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide. The itinerary includes a 4 km hike through one of the world's deepest canyons, lunch at a local restaurant in the ancient Ihlara village, and a stop at Selime Monastery. Groups stay under 15 people, and the tour covers all entrance tickets, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and hotel pickup.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cappadocia's natural and historic sites

• View Cappadocia's rock formations
• Visit Derinkuyu Underground City
• Hike 4 km in Ihlara Valley
• Have lunch in Ihlara village
• Visit Selime Monastery
• See pigeon houses in Pigeon Valley

The Experience

Derinkuyu Underground City opens the day—you descend into the deepest excavated underground settlement in Cappadocia, carved into the rock centuries ago. The guide walks you through the chambers and passages that once sheltered entire communities, explaining how the city was engineered and what daily life looked like below ground. After emerging, the route heads to Ihlara Valley, where you hike 4 km through a canyon carved by a river, with rock formations rising on both sides and the guide pointing out the geology and history as you walk.

Lunch happens in the ancient Ihlara village at a local restaurant, giving you a break in the middle of the day before the afternoon stops. From there, Selime Monastery—one of Cappadocia's most striking sites—sits carved into the rock face overlooking the valley. The final stop is Pigeon Valley, where hundreds of dovecotes honeycomb the cliff walls, carved by hand into the soft stone. The guide explains why pigeons were so important to the region and how these structures were built and used.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and the group stays small—no more than 15 people—so the pace stays manageable and you're not moving through the sites in a crowd. All entrance tickets are included, so there's no stopping at gates or handling payments at each stop. Hotel pickup is part of the booking, and the whole day runs about eight hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• all entrance tickets to Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery and Pigeon Valley.
• lunch at a local restaurant in the Ihlara village.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• knowledgeable English-speaking guide for the full day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by NOMAD TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Small groups of up to 15 people suit this tour well if you want to move through multiple sites without feeling rushed—the guide paces the day so you have time to absorb each stop, from the underground city to the canyon hike to the monastery, without the fatigue of a larger group or the logistics of arranging your own transport and tickets.

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Top questions

What is Derinkuyu Underground City and why is it worth seeing?

Derinkuyu is the deepest excavated underground city in Cappadocia, carved into the rock by hand centuries ago. You walk through the chambers and passages that once housed entire communities, and the guide explains how the city was engineered to shelter people and how they lived underground.

How difficult is the hike in Ihlara Valley?

The hike covers 4 km through a canyon carved by a river, with rock formations on both sides. The operator notes the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the guide sets the pace so you can take in the landscape and geology as you walk.

What happens at lunch and where?

Lunch is served at a local restaurant in the ancient Ihlara village, giving you a break in the middle of the day. The meal is included in the tour price, so there's no separate cost.

What can I expect to see at Pigeon Valley?

Pigeon Valley is a cliff face honeycomb with hundreds of dovecotes carved into the soft rock. The guide explains why pigeons were essential to the region historically and how these structures were built and used.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in the tour. The guide will collect you and return you at the end of the day, and the vehicle is air-conditioned throughout.