Cappadocia Green Tour: Ihlara Valley Hike & Underground City

Walk a river canyon carved by ancient hands, then descend into stone chambers five stories deep.

The Deluxe Green Tour is a full-day guided sightseeing tour through southern Cappadocia that combines a scenic hike through Ihlara Valley with visits to Kaymaklı Underground City and Selime Monastery, plus panoramic stops at Pigeon Valley and a stone-carving workshop. The tour includes entrance tickets to all sites, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and a local lunch. It runs about eight hours and is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Pigeon Valley15m
2. Kaymakli Underground CityEntry included1h
3. Ihlara ValleyEntry included1h 30m
4. Selime MonasteryEntry included1h

Explore southern Cappadocia highlights

• Visit high viewpoint over Göreme
• See panoramic view of Uchisar Castle
• Watch stone to jewelry making
• Explore Kaymaklı Underground City
• Hike along Melendiz River in Ihlara Valley
• Visit Selime Monastery and learn about Silk Road

The experience

The day starts with a high vantage point over Göreme and central Cappadocia, then moves to Pigeon Valley for views of Uchisar Castle and the surrounding landscape. A stop at a stone-carving workshop shows how local artisans shape raw rock into jewelry before the tour descends into Kaymaklı Underground City: 55.5 meters deep across five floors, the deepest underground settlement in Anatolia. The tunnels and chambers reveal how people lived in ancient times, carved entirely from stone.

The main event is the hike through Ihlara Valley, a canyon with the Melendiz River running through it. You walk along the riverbank, discovering ancient rock-carved churches built into the cliff walls as you go. The valley's scale and the sound of the river create the backdrop for the afternoon. Afterward, the tour climbs to Selime Monastery, a rock-cut structure perched on a high hill near Selime Village. From there, views stretch across the landscape, and the guide explains the role of caravanserais along the Silk Road trade routes that once connected this region to the wider world.

Lunch is a local meal included in the tour, eaten somewhere along the route. Transport is air-conditioned throughout, and a professional English-speaking guide leads the entire day, handling the logistics so you move between sites without arranging pickups or entry separately.

What’s included

• Entrance tickets to Kaymaklı Underground City, Ihlara Valley, and Selime Monastery.
• an English-speaking professional guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• a local lunch.
• and panoramic photo stops at Pigeon Valley and Göreme viewpoint.

Options for this experience

2 options

Available to holders of a museum cardGuide in English · 09:30Tickets are not included; lunch is not included. Pickup is included.

All Included OptionGuide in English or Turkish · 09:30Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 8h 20m, runs every day at 09:30, from US$ 21 per person, with a live guide in English and Turkish, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Turkish

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Paphlagonia Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want hiking, underground tunnels, and hilltop monastery in one day with a guide managing the route. Choose it over separate outings only if you're comfortable with canyon walking and climbing to the monastery.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4): 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 is the hike through Ihlara Valley actually like?

Ihlara Valley is a canyon with the Melendiz River running through it. You walk along the riverbank for a scenic stretch, passing ancient rock-carved churches built into the cliff walls. The hike is part of the day's itinerary, not a separate expedition, and the guide leads you through the valley's historical sites.

How deep does Kaymaklı Underground City go?

Kaymaklı Underground City descends 55.5 meters across five floors and is the deepest underground settlement in Anatolia. You explore the tunnels and chambers to understand how people lived in ancient times.

What does the tour include?

The tour includes entrance tickets to all sites, an English-speaking live guide, air-conditioned transport, and a local lunch. Pickup is included in the all-included option.

How long is the full day?

The tour runs approximately eight hours, moving between five main stops: the Göreme viewpoint, Pigeon Valley, the stone-carving workshop, Kaymaklı Underground City, Ihlara Valley, and Selime Monastery.

What is Selime Monastery?

Selime Monastery is a rock-cut structure built on a high hill near Selime Village, carved directly from the stone. From the monastery, you see views across the landscape and learn about the caravanserais of the Silk Road that once passed through this region.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The tour includes a hike through Ihlara Valley and climbing to Selime Monastery, so a moderate level of physical fitness is needed. The operator does not recommend it for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.