Cappadocia Green Tour: Ihlara Valley hike with underground city

Walk a green canyon, then descend into stone chambers carved four millennia ago

The Green (South) Tour is a full-day guided sightseeing and hiking tour through southern Cappadocia, covering Kaymakli Underground City, Selime Monastery, a 3 km hike through Ihlara Valley, and Pigeon Valley with stops at Göreme Panoramic Point and an onyx workshop. The tour runs 7 to 9 hours with a professional English or Turkish-speaking guide, air-conditioned minivan transport, lunch at a village restaurant, and all entrance fees included; it operates as either a small group or private booking, and drinks during lunch are paid separately by guests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore southern Cappadocia highlights

• Visit Göreme Panoramic Point
• Explore Kaymakli Underground City
• Tour Selime Monastery
• Hike 3 km in Ihlara Valley
• View Uçhisar Castle from Pigeon Valley
• Visit onyx workshop

The Experience

You're picked up in an air-conditioned minivan and driven to Göreme Panoramic Point first, where the valley spreads out below in pale stone formations. From there the tour heads south to Kaymakli Underground City, where you descend into chambers carved over 4,000 years by successive civilizations—Hittites, Persians, Greeks—who stacked living quarters, storage rooms and ventilation shafts into the bedrock. A guide walks you through the layout and explains how people managed water, air and defense in a city built entirely underground.

Next is Selime Monastery, the largest rock-cut structure in all of Cappadocia, where monks carved a religious and commercial center into the stone. Then comes the physical heart of the day: a 3 km hike down into Ihlara Valley, a natural green canyon that drops as deep as 100 meters at some points. The walk is steady but not steep, and the valley floor stays shaded by vegetation—a sharp contrast to the pale stone you've been walking on all morning. Lunch happens at a village restaurant in the valley, with the meal included and drinks ordered separately.

The afternoon wraps at Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), where you get views of Uçhisar Castle across the gardens and a stop at an onyx workshop to see the region's polished stones. The whole day is built around the southern reaches of the region, so you're not retracing ground or doubling back—the route holds together as a single arc from north to south.

What’s included

• All entrance fees to Kaymakli Underground City, Selime Monastery and Ihlara Valley.
• lunch at a village restaurant in the valley.
• air-conditioned minivan transport throughout the day.
• professional guide in English or Turkish.
• pickup included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hereke Travel

Is this one for you?Book the small group option if you're comfortable meeting other travelers and want to share the cost; book private if you're traveling with family or friends and prefer your own pace and vehicle for the day. Either way, the fixed itinerary and included transport mean you walk into the canyon and the underground city without arranging entry, timing or logistics yourself.

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Top questions

How deep does Ihlara Valley get, and is the hike difficult?

Ihlara Valley reaches 100 meters deep at its deepest points. The hike is a pleasant 3 km walk through the canyon floor with steady footing and shade from vegetation; it's suitable for all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What is Kaymakli Underground City and why was it built underground?

Kaymakli Underground City was occupied by many different civilizations over its 4,000-year history—Hittites, Persians, Greeks and others. People built downward into the bedrock for defense, storage and living space, creating a multi-level city with chambers for homes, food storage and ventilation systems that allowed them to survive entirely below ground.

Is this tour private or shared, and can I book it either way?

The Green (South) Tour operates as a small group tour or as a private booking—you choose which option at checkout. Both include the same guide, transport, stops and lunch; the difference is whether you travel with other guests or book the minivan for your group alone.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay extra for?

The tour includes all entrance fees to Kaymakli, Selime Monastery and Ihlara Valley; lunch at a village restaurant; and air-conditioned minivan transport with a professional guide. Drinks during lunch are ordered and paid separately by guests.

How long is the full day, and what time does pickup happen?

The tour runs 7 to 9 hours total. Pickup is included and arranged as part of your booking; your guide will confirm the exact time when you book.

What should I bring or wear for the hike and the underground city?

Wear comfortable walking shoes for the 3 km hike through Ihlara Valley and sturdy footwear for descending into Kaymakli Underground City, where footing can be uneven. Bring water and sun protection for the open sections; the underground city and canyon are naturally cool and shaded.