Cappadocia pottery workshop: Tour Kaymakli Avanos

Underground city, fairy chimneys, and a pottery wheel in a cave atelier

A private full-day tour of Cappadocia starting from Goreme includes hotel pickup, visits to Kaymakli Underground City, the Göreme Open-Air Museum, Pigeon Valley and Devrent Valley, and ends with a hands-on pottery session in Avanos village where you throw clay on a traditional kick-wheel. Your licensed local guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese and leads the entire day. All local taxes and transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Göreme Open-Air Museum1h
2. Pigeon Valley30m
3. Devrent Valley40m
4. Fairy Chimneys30m
5. Kaymakli Underground City1h

Explore Cappadocia's highlights and pottery

• Visit Goreme Open Air Museum
• Explore Uchisar village and Pigeon Valley
• Discover Devrent Valley
• Walk through Goreme village
• Tour Kaymakli Underground City
• Attend pottery workshop in Avanos village

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and moves through the landmarks that define Cappadocia's geology and history. Kaymakli Underground City opens first: a multi-level settlement carved into soft stone where families once sheltered. From there you visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a cluster of Byzantine rock-cut churches and dwellings, then move through Pigeon Valley near Uchisar village and Devrent Valley, each one a different face of the region's eroded landscape. The guide navigates the stops and explains what you're standing in front of, so the day builds a coherent picture instead of a list of photo spots.

The pottery session happens in Avanos village at the atelier of the Old Master, who built his workspace inside labyrinth-like caves where the earth is soft and reddish. The same material potters have used for centuries. He demonstrates the traditional kick-wheel, and if you want to, you throw your own piece of clay right then. You sign your name to what you make, so you leave with an object you created, not a souvenir you bought. This is not a demonstration you watch. It's a skill you try.

Private transportation means the pace stays yours and the group stays small. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so if you're staying in Goreme or another hotel in the region, the logistics are already settled. The guide is licensed and speaks your language throughout. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes for walking through valleys and into caves. The day runs five to eight hours depending on how long you spend at each stop and how deep you go into the pottery work.

What’s included

• Private transportation with a professional driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a licensed local guide speaking English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• entry to the Göreme Open-Air Museum and Kaymakli Underground City.
• and a hands-on pottery session with the Old Master in Avanos village where you throw clay on a traditional kick-wheel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 95 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Ada Vegas Travel

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or arrange transport from your accommodation. The guide collects you and returns you at the end of the day. The private format keeps the group small and lets you set the pace at each stop, so you spend as much time as you want in the valleys or at the pottery wheel.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly is inside Kaymakli Underground City?

Kaymakli Underground City is a multi-level settlement carved into soft stone, with rooms and passages that once sheltered families. You descend into the carved chambers and see how people organized living spaces, storage and defense in the rock itself.

Can I actually make pottery on the kick-wheel, or is it just a demonstration?

You can throw clay on the traditional kick-wheel if you want to. The Old Master shows you how to use it, and you're welcome to create your own piece right there in his cave atelier. You sign your name to what you make and can take it with you.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Your guide can recommend places to eat in the villages you visit, and you can arrange a meal break during the day.

What is Devrent Valley known for?

Devrent Valley is a landscape of eroded rock formations shaped by wind and water over millennia. The shapes resemble animals and figures, which is why locals call it the "Imagination Valley": the formations invite you to see what the erosion has created.

Is hotel pickup available if I'm staying outside Goreme?

Hotel pickup is included for hotels in the Goreme area and surrounding region. Let the operator know your hotel location when you book so they can confirm the pickup point and time.