Cappadocia full-day tour: Underground city, valley hike, lunch

Four stops in one day instead of piecing together transport and tickets on your own

A full-day guided tour from Goreme covering the main historical and natural sites of Cappadocia, including Kaymakli Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Pigeon Valley, and Goreme Panorama. Hotel pickup and drop-off, museum entry, lunch, and an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide are included. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and suits all fitness levels. Children are welcome from age 5.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 3.36 to US$ 62 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Lunch and tickets are not included. 03:00 and 09:30 Guide in English or Turkish A professional tour guide is included, but the museum ticket is extra: the Underground City entrance ticket is not covered and the guest pays for it directly. Lunch is also extra, paid by the guest directly. An air-conditioned vehicle is included, and pickup is included.

All Included 09:30 Guide in English or Turkish Museum tickets are included: the entrance fee for the Underground City is covered by us. Lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional tour guide are included, and pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cappadocia's highlights

• Visit Goreme Panorama viewpoint
• Tour Kaymakli Underground City
• Hike 3.5 km in Ihlara Valley
• Enjoy lunch at Ihlara Valley restaurant
• Visit Narlıgöl volcanic crater lake
• Explore Pigeon Valley and observe pigeons

Stops and time spent at each 5 stops

1. Goreme Panorama 1h
2. Kaymakli Underground City 1h 30m
3. Ihlara Valley 1h 30m
4. Narligol Krater Golu 1h
5. Pigeon Valley 1h

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entry to Kaymakli Underground City and museum sites.
• a professional guide in English or Turkish.
• lunch at a restaurant in Ihlara Valley.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.

Times

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• Every day except Wednesday 09:30
• Wednesday 03:00 09:30

Information

Full-day guided tour of Cappadocia from Goreme with hotel pickup, museum entry, and lunch: hike Ihlara Valley, descend into Kaymakli Underground City.

Group Up to 15

Live guide English and Turkish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Book up to 3h before

Ages Adult (16 to 70 years) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Goreme, then heads to Goreme Panorama for the opening views of Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and rock formations. From there, a 40-minute drive takes you to Kaymakli Underground City, where you'll spend about an hour with your guide exploring the carved chambers, storage rooms, and corridors that locals used first as a natural deep freeze, then as shelter during the Late Roman period. The guide explains the layout and history as you move through the labyrinths, so the scale and purpose of the place become clear as you walk.

After the underground city, a 45-minute drive brings you to Ihlara Valley, where you'll hike roughly 3.5 kilometers through the canyon for about an hour and fifteen minutes. The valley was carved by the Melendiz River over millions of years, dropping 80 meters deep, and churches are built into the rock walls along the way. You'll end the hike at a restaurant where lunch is served, giving you time to rest and take in the views of the valley from above.

The afternoon takes you to Pigeon Valley, where locals carved dovecotes into the slopes centuries ago. The pigeons' eggs and droppings were valuable for fertilizer and other uses. You'll walk to the top of the valley to see these carved houses and watch the birds, while your guide shares stories about Anatolian traditions and why pigeons have always mattered to Cappadocia. The tour ends with hotel drop-off, completing the loop without you having to arrange transport between sites or buy tickets separately.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 Kaymakli Underground City and why would I spend an hour there?

Kaymakli Underground City is a network of carved chambers and corridors built into the rock, first used as a natural freezer by locals, then as a refuge during Arab raids in the Late Roman period. Your guide walks you through the layout and explains how people lived and stored food in these underground spaces, so you understand the engineering and history as you explore the passages yourself.

How hard is the hike in Ihlara Valley and what will I see?

The hike in Ihlara Valley is about 3.5 kilometers and takes roughly an hour and fifteen minutes, suitable for all fitness levels. You'll walk through an 80-meter-deep canyon carved by the Melendiz River, passing churches built into the rock walls, and end at a restaurant where lunch is served so you can rest and enjoy the valley views.

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

Hotel pickup and drop-off, museum entry tickets, lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional guide are all included. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase at lunch if you choose them. Non-alcoholic drinks are not included in the base tour.

How long is the full tour and what time will I be back at my hotel?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total, including all stops, the hike, and lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you'll return to your accommodation at the end of the day without arranging separate transport.

Operated by Tatildokya Travel Turkey. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.