Cappadocia Green Tour: Underground City & Ihlara Valley

The underground city sits eight stories deep, carved into volcanic rock by hand centuries ago.

The Cappadocia Green Tour is a guided sightseeing tour from Goreme covering the south region's three signature attractions: Kaymakli Underground City, Pigeon Valley and Ihlara Valley. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours with a professional guide in English or Turkish, includes lunch, park entry and transportation, and involves a long walk through Ihlara Valley past churches and fairy chimneys. Children from age 8 are welcome. The walk is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy or cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Pigeon Valley20m
2. Kaymakli Underground City45m
3. Ihlara ValleyEntry included1h 30m

Explore Cappadocia's key sites

• Watch Goreme panorama and lecture
• Visit Pigeon Valley
• Tour Derinkuyu underground city
• Walk through Ihlara Valley
• Have lunch

The experience

If you have a full day free in Goreme and want to see the region's most important sites without arranging transport or entry tickets yourself, this tour bundles three stops that define Cappadocia. You start with a guided look at the Goreme panorama, then move south to Pigeon Valley, where ancient dovecotes are carved into the soft volcanic rock between Göreme and Uçhisar. The valley gets its name from those pigeon houses. They are still visible in the cliff face, a detail that makes the landscape readable once your guide points it out.

The underground city of Kaymakli is the centerpiece. Your guide accompanies you through the passages, explaining how the city was carved and what each chamber was used for. The depth and scale are hard to picture until you're walking it: eight stories down into rock, with air shafts and storage rooms still intact. After that comes lunch, included in the tour price.

The long walk through Ihlara Valley closes the day. You'll see churches carved into the canyon walls and fairy chimneys rising from the valley floor, with your guide describing the geology and the history layered into both. The walk is substantial (it's the reason the tour runs 8 to 9 hours), but it's the part most travelers remember. Transportation, parking fees and all museum tickets are included. You bring water and wear shoes that grip.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel in Goreme.
• lunch.
• all museum and ruins entry tickets.
• parking fees.
• and a professional guide in English or Turkish who accompanies you through all three sites.

Options for this experience

2 options

RegularGuide in English or Turkish · 09:30Pickup is included

Cappadoica Green TourGuide in English or Turkish · 09:30Lasts 8 hours by bus, with pickup included

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

Before you book

Lasts 8h–9h, runs every day at 09:30, from US$ 71 per person, with a live guide in English and Turkish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (8 to 9 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cappadocia Balloon Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Cappadocia's three most important sites in one day without renting a car or buying tickets separately. The guide, transport and lunch are arranged, so the day holds together. The long walk through Ihlara Valley is the physical core of the day. If you're comfortable with sustained walking and want to understand the geology and history as you go, this tour delivers both.

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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 (10 to 17 years); Child (8 to 9 years). Children under 8 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 is Kaymakli Underground City and why is it worth the time?

Kaymakli Underground City is an eight-story settlement carved into volcanic rock, with passages, storage chambers and air shafts still intact from centuries ago. Your guide walks you through the levels and explains how people lived and defended themselves underground, which makes the scale and engineering visible in a way a photo cannot.

How long is the walk through Ihlara Valley and what will I see there?

Ihlara Valley is a long walk (it's the reason the tour runs a full 8 to 9 hours), and you'll see churches carved into the canyon walls, fairy chimneys rising from the valley floor, and the combination of geology and human settlement that defines the region. Your guide describes both as you walk.

Is lunch included, and what about water and breaks during the day?

Lunch is included in the tour price. Bring your own water for the valley walk, as the long stretch has limited shade. Your guide will pace the day with breaks built in.

What is Pigeon Valley and why does it have that name?

Pigeon Valley is one of Cappadocia's most popular valleys, located between Göreme and Uçhisar. It gets its name from the ancient pigeon houses (dovecotes) carved into the soft volcanic rock. The dovecotes are still visible in the cliff face, which is what makes the valley distinctive.

Does the tour include hotel pickup, or do I meet the guide in Goreme?

Private transportation is included in the tour, which means pickup from your hotel or accommodation in Goreme is part of the package. Confirm your pickup location and time when you book.