Cappadocia Red & Green Tour: Underground city plus fairy chimneys

Skip the lines and uncover Cappadocia’s hidden pottery and ancient shelters with ease

A guided tour of Cappadocia combining the region's Red Tour highlights with access to Özkonak Underground City, a complex network of ancient tunnels and chambers carved into volcanic rock. The itinerary covers the Göreme Open-Air Museum, Pasabag's monk-carved fairy chimneys, Pigeon Valley and Monks Valley, plus the subterranean city where early Christians sheltered from persecution. Licensed local guide, private transportation and skip-the-line entry are included. The order may shift to avoid congestion.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Göreme Open-Air Museum2h
2. Monks Valley30m
3. Pigeon Valley20m
4. Özkonak Underground City1h
5. Fairy Chimneyspassing by

Explore Cappadocia's highlights and history

• Visit Göreme Open Air Museum
• Explore Pasabag (Monks Valley) fairy chimneys
• Pass through Göreme town
• Visit Pigeon Valley
• Tour Özkonak Underground City
• See Fairy Chimneys landscape

The experience

The day runs seven to eight hours and covers ground most single Red Tours skip: you'll see the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open-Air Museum with its 9th- and 11th-century rock-cut churches and their frescoes, then move into Pasabag (also called Monks Valley), where hermit monks carved homes and chapels directly into the fairy chimneys. Those cone-shaped volcanic formations that rise 30 to 40 meters from the valley floor. The guide walks you through the landscape explaining how erosion shaped these formations over millions of years and how monks adapted them into shelter.

The second half descends into Özkonak Underground City, a rare addition to the standard tour. You'll explore the tunnels, passageways, stables, storage rooms, kitchens, wineries and ventilation shafts that early Christians used as refuge. The scale and preservation of the site, carved entirely into soft volcanic rock, makes the ancient engineering visible in a way surface sites cannot. Pigeon Valley and Monks Valley round out the stops, each with their own historical layers: thousands of pigeon houses carved into cliffs for fertilizer collection, and rock-cut churches tucked into the formations.

A licensed local guide leads the group in your chosen language (English, Spanish, Portuguese, German or Japanese options available). Transportation is included from your hotel, and skip-the-line access means you enter the Göreme museum and underground city without waiting at the door. Small group size keeps the pace manageable and the guide's attention distributed. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, bring a hat and sunscreen (shade is limited across the valleys), and watch your footing on uneven terrain, especially in the underground passages.

What’s included

• Private guide in your choice of language.
• hotel pickup and transportation throughout the day.
• skip-the-line entry to Göreme Open-Air Museum and Özkonak Underground City.
• visits to Pasabag, Pigeon Valley, Monks Valley and the fairy chimneys.

Options for this experience

5 options

Small group with an English guide09:00, 09:30 and 10:00Red Plus Tour includes Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle, Imaginary Valley, Pasabag, Pigeon Valley and Fairy Underground City. Small group tour with an English guide. Pickup is included.

Private tour with a Spanish-speaking guide7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:30Duration: 7 hours. Red Plus Tour includes Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle, Imaginary Valley, Pasabag, Pigeon Valley and Fairy Underground City. Private tour in a Mercedes Sprinter or Vito with a Spanish-language guide. Pickup is included.

English*Japanes Private Guide7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:30Duration: 6 to 8 hours (7 hours). This Red Tour covers Goreme Open Air Museum, Underground City, Pasabag, Pigeon Valley, Avanos Pottery Village and Ortahisar Weaving Education. Private tour in a Mercedes Vito or Sprinter with an English- or Japanese-language guide. Pickup is included.

See 2 more options

Small group with a Spanish guide09:00, 09:30 and 10:00Cappadocia with a Spanish guide: small group Cappadocia tour with a Spanish guide. Small group tour for a maximum of 15 people. Duration: 8 hours. Pickup is included.

Small group with a Japanese guide09:00, 09:30 and 10:00Cappadocia with a Spanish guide: small group Cappadocia tour with a Japanese guide. Duration: 8 hours. Small group tour for a maximum of 15 people in a Mercedes Sprinter. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Japanese

Audio guideFrench, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, Greek and Swedish

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

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Moira Travel Agency

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want both the iconic Red Tour stops and the rare chance to explore an underground city in a single day. The combination is what sets it apart from standard Cappadocia itineraries, and the small group size with a licensed local guide means you move through the highlights without the crowds that fill the main sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, Spanish and Japanese, with 7 departure times. In German and Portuguese, at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 6): 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 exactly is an underground city and what will I see inside Özkonak?

Özkonak Underground City is an ancient refuge carved into soft volcanic rock, with a complex network of tunnels, rooms and chambers. Visitors explore the kitchen, winery, stables, storage rooms, chapels and ventilation shafts that early Christians used for shelter during persecution. The site is one of the largest and best-preserved underground cities in Cappadocia.

Will I have time to see the Göreme Open-Air Museum properly, or is it just a quick stop?

The Göreme Open-Air Museum is a full stop on the itinerary, not a drive-by. The museum contains several rock-cut churches with unique frescoes, including the famous Church of the Apple, and a visitor center explaining the region's religious and cultural history. Skip-the-line access means you enter without queuing at the entrance.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes private guide, hotel transportation and skip-the-line entry to the attractions. Lunch, drinks and entrance fees are not included in the base price, so budget for meals and any gratuities for your guide and driver separately.

What should I wear and bring for a day in Cappadocia's valleys?

Wear comfortable shoes with good grip for uneven terrain, especially in the underground city passages. Bring a hat and plenty of sunscreen: shade is limited across the fairy chimney valleys. The itinerary involves walking and climbing, so dress for active exploration in an open landscape.