Goreme: Kaymakli Underground City & Fairy Chimneys Tour

Four levels down into Kaymakli, then up among the Fairy Chimneys

You descend into Kaymakli Underground City, explore the abandoned cave village of Zelve, watch pottery being made in Avanos, and walk among the Fairy Chimneys of Pasabag Valley: all with hotel pickup, a licensed guide, museum entry, and lunch included in one price. No hidden costs, no extra shopping stops, no ticket lines during the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Kaymakli Underground CityEntry included45m
2. Zelve Open-Air MuseumEntry included40m
3. Fairy ChimneysEntry included45m

Explore Cappadocia's cultural sites

• Visit Kaymakli Underground City
• Explore Zelve Open-Air Museum
• Watch Avanos pottery demonstration
• See bottom of Uchisar Castle
• Walk through Pasabaglar (Monks Valley)
• Visit Göreme Panorama viewpoint

The experience

Kaymakli Underground City is already 40 meters below ground when you arrive: eight levels carved into soft volcanic stone, though only four are open to visitors. You walk through stalls, stables, churches, and narrow tunnels that once held 5,000 people. The scale of it hits different when you're standing in a kitchen carved from rock, imagining families living here centuries ago. Your guide, licensed and English-speaking, walks you through the layout without the rush of a budget group. Everything is arranged in advance, so there's no waiting in ticket lines during the day.

After you surface, the tour moves to Zelve Open-Air Museum, about 7 kilometers from Goreme. It's an abandoned cave village where Christians and Muslims lived together until the 1920s, when erosion and population shifts emptied it. The stone dwellings are still there, carved into the rock face, and you can walk through them. It's quieter than the underground city, more contemplative. Then comes Pasabag Valley, also called Monks Valley, where the Fairy Chimneys stand like mushrooms with multiple stems and caps. This is where monks once retreated. Now it's one of Cappadocia's most photographed landscapes, and you'll understand why when you see them.

The pottery workshop in Avanos happens next. You watch a craftsman work the clay: the same technique passed down from the Hittites, using soft clay from the local mountains and river beds. If you want to try the wheel yourself, you can. Most people do, and it's harder than it looks. Unlike some tours that drag you through multiple shopping stops, this one includes only one workshop, so you're not spending half the day browsing carpets or trinkets. Lunch is included in the price, and so is transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with the same driver the whole day.

You'll also stop at the base of Uchisar Castle (you don't climb it, just see it from outside), and at Goreme Panorama if the weather allows, where you can see across the town and sometimes all the way to Erciyes Mountain. The day runs 8 to 9 hours total, and hotel pickup and drop-off are built in, so you don't have to arrange your own way to a meeting point. Small groups keep the pace manageable and the experience less like a cattle run.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Goreme, entrance fees to Kaymakli Underground City, Zelve Open-Air Museum, and all other sites, lunch, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional licensed English-speaking guide, and a pottery workshop visit in Avanos. The tour covers the Fairy Chimneys at Pasabag Valley, views from Goreme Panorama (weather permitting), and a stop at the base of Uchisar Castle.

Options for this experience

2 options

Mix Tour (Combined Red and Green Tour), All-Inclusive, Small GroupGuide in English · 09:30Admission to all museums is covered, with no additional fees for "alternative stops" or ticket-free sites, unlike some agencies that charge them. Lunch is provided at a clean, hygienic restaurant offering many choices, not the basic meals found at budget agencies that skip lunch altogether. We collect and return guests from their hotels, with no meeting points or office visits as with cheaper agencies. The tour is led by a licensed, experienced guide, not just a driver or an unlicensed guide as with many budget agencies. Pickup is included.

Private option for the same tourGuide in English · 09:30, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00Lunch is included at a local, traditional restaurant. The start time and itinerary are flexible, and changes can be arranged with your guide according to your preferences. You will travel in a private Mercedes Vito or Sprinter van. You will be accompanied by a private, professional, licensed tour guide. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 5h–6h, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 91 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (8 to 65 years) · Child (4 to 7 years): free · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

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 effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Imagine Cappadocia Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the main Cappadocia highlights (underground city, cave village, fairy chimneys, and local crafts) without arranging transport, tickets, or timing yourself. The fixed itinerary and included pickup handle all three, leaving you to focus on the sites themselves.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years): free; Infant (1 to 3 years): 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.

How deep is Kaymakli Underground City?

Visitors go down 40 meters, with 8 levels total carved into the rock, though only 4 are open to the public.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Yes, lunch is included in the price, along with all museum and ruin entrance fees.

How long is the full tour?

The tour runs 8 to 9 hours, including hotel pickup and drop-off.

Will I have to visit multiple carpet or souvenir shops?

No. The tour includes only one pottery workshop in Avanos and is focused on culture and history rather than shopping stops.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Goreme are included.

What is the group size?

Groups are kept small to avoid the feel of a large tour.

Do I need to buy tickets separately?

No. All museum and ruin entrance fees are included in the tour price, and tickets are arranged in advance so you don't wait in lines.

Can I try the pottery wheel myself?

Yes, the pottery workshop is interactive, and most visitors try the wheel during the demonstration.