Ihlara Valley

Embark on an extraordinary hot-air balloon adventure over the enchanting landscapes of Cappadocia, where you'll explore one of the incredible valleys below. Depending on the weather conditions on the day, fly over the breathtaking Cat Valley, Soganlı Valley, or Ihlara Valley. Start with pickup from your hotel early in the morning prior to the sunrise. Travel to the takeoff site and watch as the giant balloons are inflated by the expert teams. Prepare to be spellbound as you ascend into the sky, gently gliding above the iconic fairy chimneys, ancient cave dwellings, and striking rock formations that make Cappadocia a world-renowned destination. With each valley boasting its own distinctive charm and natural wonders, enjoy an awe-inspiring bird's-eye view of the region's breathtaking beauty. Snap photos as the rising sun illuminates the landscape, and capture a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Landing back safely on the ground, receive your flight certificate, and be returned to your hotel in Cappadocia.

Goreme Panorama Our first stop will be goreme panorama there you will be informed about the cappadocia region , occurance of fairy chimneys and goreme village itself. Narli Lake We will see a volcanic lake whose colour changes during the year. Selime Monastery Selime Monastery is an astonishing rock cut structure incorporating a vast kitchen and soaring chimney. A church with a gallery all around it, stables with feeding troughs and other evidence of the troglodyte lifestyle… Ihlara Valley We will trek for 45 minutes in the canyon before the lunch. Belisirma Village (Lunch) About 80 km away from our starting destination we will find ourselves in Belisırma village of Ihlara valley. Just next to the Melendiz river we will have our lunch at a pleasant restaurant. Derinkuyu Underground City Underground cities are the signs of cappadocia, these mega shelters will blow your mind we will get inside of it and walk through narrow tunnels you will get to see wineries,food storages and a lot of different parts of the underground city for defending and living. Gemstone Store (Jewellery Store, Shopping Point) Turkey is a real treasure when it comes to stones and we will spend some time at this beautiful store with expert people about stones all around Turkey. We highly recommend you to listen them and your guide very carefully because you will want to know everything about color changing zultanite stone. Pigeon Valley People were using pigeons for a lot of different purposes for a long time. At the pigeon valley you will be informed about those reasons and you will get the opportunity to feed the pigeons of the valley. Spice-Dried Fruits Shop You can see Cappadocian type of coffee and traditional dried fruits.

Embark on a Turkish cultural and natural adventure on a bus tour of Cappadocia. See the region's highlights, including the Uçhisar Panorama, Kaymakli or Derinkuyu Underground City among others. Tuck into a local lunch between incredible views. Start off with a visit to the highest point in Cappadocia: Uçhisar Panorama. This point is located in Uchisar Village, the highest village in the region between Nevsehir City and Göreme Village. Having a geostrategic position, this magnificent castle was used as an observatory for watching the whole region from the top to prevent enemy attacks. Then, drive to the Kaymakli or Derinkuyu underground city, the widest, most enchanting, and one of the over 100 most wonderful underground cities in Cappadocia. The miraculously well-protected and maintained structure has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Then, pause to enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Afterwards, continue to see Ihlara Valley, near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz (two of the three volcanoes of Cappadocia). It is a canyon with a depth of approximately 80m and was formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago with walking routes inside. Finally, head to Pigeon Valley. The valley is named for the many pigeon houses or dovecotes carved into the rocks and cliffs. Then, sit back and relax on your way back to your hotel.

Join a pottery workshop and watch a display on how to mold clay into pottery. Try it for yourself . Also have great photos. Have some free time to check out the gallery. Enjoy some tea, coffee, and water for free as well. Mold the clay into the correct shape with the help of your instructor while having free tea, coffee, and water if you like, and check out the gallery. Finally, admire the pottery you have made and head back to your hotel. This is a totally relaxing activity in Cappadocia . DONT MISS IT

Göreme Panorama First place in the tour is Panoramic view of Goreme. You get information about history, formation of Cappadocia while watching the fairy chimneys. Following the information, free time for photograph. Underground City After driving about 40 minutes, arrival to Underground City. This underground city was firstly used by the local people as a natural deep freeze, later by the late Romans as a shelter against potential Arabian invasions. With the clear explanations of your guide you will spend almost 1 hour here. Ihlara Valley Ihlara Canyon is 52 km. away from Underground City.Approximately 45 minutes later, you will be in the entrance of Ihlara Valley.Ihlara Valley was formed by the volcanic actions of Mt. Hasan, next to Ihlara Valley. Afterwards, Melendiz River eroded the valley for millions of years besides the layers cracked and fell down. Eventually, 80 meter- deep canyon was composed. Whole Valley is 14 km. length. In the past, generally Christians lived in the several parts of the Valley; also they carved churches and painted them. You will hike about 3,5 km.Hiking will last 1hour 15m.Then you will arrive to Restaurant for Lunch Lunch 1 hour for the lunch in the valley, next to the River. You will start with the soup and salad, later you will able choose one of the main dishes from the list. Lunch will be over with season fruits. Selime Monastry Our tour will go on with another movie- set-like place, Selime Monastery. At first look, the monastery looks like a castle, but shelters, churches, chapels, bedrooms, storages and big cathedral proves us its being a monastery. You get information about the monastic life in Cappadocia. Pigeon Valley Climbing to Selime monastery will exhaust you, probably. But till you arrive to Pigeon Valley, you will have about 1 hour to rest. Also, our guide will mention about some traditions, cultures and stories about Anatolia on the way. Upon arrival to Pigeon Valley, pigeons will meet you on the top of the valley. Pigeons have always been important for Cappadocian people. Their eggs and droppings were used for different purposes. For this reason, local people carved houses for them to the slopes of valley. You will see the reason why people call them “houses”, when you see them. Onxy Factory The Last place in the tour will be a visit to onyx factory in Uchisar. Onyx is a volcanic stone which has various colors and contains different minerals in. As being a volcanic area, Cappadocia has some onyx deposits. In the factory, a master will give you information about the steps of onyx shaping and you will watch a shaping show. 5-6 pm back to hotel

Start with morning pickup from your accommodation in Uçhisar, Göreme, Avanos, Ortahisar, Mustafapaşa, or Ürgüp. Travel in a comfortable bus to Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Valley) where you can see where hundreds of pigeon homes have been carved into the volcanic tuff rock. Find out how the pigeons were once used by local people before venturing to the Derinkuyu Underground City. Descend into the largest excavated underground city in Turkey. See a missionary school on the 2nd floor of the city, which has all the features which has a stable, cellar, dining hall, church, and winery. Next, make your way to scenic Ihlara Valley ( 1 km walk outside the valley) which lies in a canyon that contains about 50 rock-hewn Christian churches and buildings cut from the rocks. Stop for a tasty lunch in the village of Belisırma which is nestled in the Ihlara Valley. After lunch, visit Nar Lake which a crater lake that has thermal properties and is rich in calcium, sodium and bicarbonate. Return to your accommodation after enjoying Cappadocia's natural and historical wonders.

On this full-day tour of Cappadocia you'll visit Derinkuyu Underground City, the largest excavated site of its kind in Turkey. At a depth of 85 meters the multi-level city could accommodate up to 20,000 people. Continue to the Ihlara Valley for a 4-kilometer trek. See cave churches from the 7th-11th centuries, most of which feature brightly colored frescoes. Stop at Belisirma, a typical Anatolian village, to enjoy lunch and visit some of the churches open to tourists. Stop also in Selime town, known for its rock-cut churches and one of the largest rock-cut monasteries in Cappadocia. In Goreme, enjoy the beauty of Cappadocia’s lunar landscapes and the many-colored rock formations.

Step back in time as you see the UNESCO-listed underground city of Derlnkuyu and the 8th-century Selime Monastery with an archeologist guide. Enjoy a tasty lunch in the Ihlara Valley before going on a guided hike. Immerse yourself in local culture with a tea ceremony at a local bazaar. Be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in Goreme, Uchisar, Ortahisar, Ürgüp, Avanos, Çavuşin or Nevşehir. Relax on the transfer to a panoramic viewpoint that overlooks the Pigeon Valley, which is well-known for its fantastical fairy chimneys. Head to the Derinkuyu Underground City with a local guide and discover an ancient multi-level underground city that dates back 4,000 years. Discover well-preserved walls, hidden passages, and staircases carved from stone. Continue on to see the verdant waters of Nar Lake, which likes in a circular crater. Venture to the Selime Monastery to experience the early history of Christianity at this ancient rock-carved site. Savor a mouthwatering lunch in the stunning Ihlara Valley before going on a guided hike through the breathtaking landscapes of the Ihlara Canyon. Meet some locals with a coffee and tea ceremony amid the vibrant bustle of a local bazaar. Return to your accommodation with unforgettable memories.

Visit southern Cappadocia on a day trip from Ürgüp. See fairy chimneys and scenic river valleys, visit the underground city of Derinkuyu and refuel with a lunch break. Get picked up from your hotel in Ürgüp in the morning and begin your journey on an air-conditioned bus. As you set off, your guide will tell you about the sights you're about to visit. Your first stop is at the Göreme Panorama. Enjoy panoramic views over the town of Göreme and snap some stunning photos of the area’s fairy chimneys. Next, you'll stop at Derinkuyu to visit the underground city. This is the largest and most popular among the 36 underground cities that can be found in Cappadocia. They were originally built by Christians escaping persecution. Wander the city's rooms, including a winery and kitchens. As you explore, learn fascinating facts about Derinkuyu from your guide. Afterward that, continue toward Ihlara Valley, which is a 14Km green river canyon. The bus will drop you off and, together with your guide, you will enjoy a 3.5km walk along the river. There, you will get the chance to observe Ağaçaltı cave church that was built in the 4th century and includes paintings from the 10th century. Next, stop at a riverside local restaurant you will enjoy a much needed lunch break. Recharge your batteries and relax before continuing your excursion. Lunch includes soup, salad, and a choice between, trout, chicken, a vegetarian meal, or meatballs. After lunch, visit the Selime Cave Monastery. Admire the area's interesting rock formations and the monastery built into a cliff. In the lower section of the cliff, visit fairy chimneys and take some photos. On your next stop, take a short photo break follows in the Pigeon Valley on the outskirts of Göreme. Take a chance to admire nature and enjoy some panoramic views over the area. Finally, stop at the onyx jewel factory and learn about the craftsmanship that goes into their production. After that, the bus will drop you off back at your hotel.

☑️ The first stop in this tour is goreme Panoramic View point, located at the highest point of Goreme, from where a stunning view of the village itself, rock hotels, nearby valleys and Uchisar castle opens up. The guide will give you detailed information about the region, its geological and historical past. ☑️ Derinkuyu Under Ground City: Underground cities are a unique feature of Cappadocia, they appeared due to the fact that the layer of soft tuff sometimes reaches a thickness of several tens of meters. It was easy enough for people to expand and deepen their buildings. Underground cities saved people from raids. In total, 36 underground cities have been discovered in Cappadocia. At first, these were more underground villages with a small number of rooms, but gradually, especially in the Byzantine period, they grew to the size of cities, accommodating up to thirty thousand people. The underground city of Derinkuyu, which translated from Turkish means "deep well", has eight underground floors and goes 55,5 meters deep. There are rooms for pets, warehouses, a dining room, a kitchen, wine cellars, a church and even a missionary school, a confessional and a font. The ventilation shafts of that time still function here, and the tunnels and halls are quite well lit. ☑️ Ihlara is a stone canyon that divided the plain into two "banks" like a deep ravine. Its length is about 14 kilometers, and its depth in some places is up to 150 meters. The canyon stretches from the village of Ihlara to the village of Selime. The small river Melendiz flows along the bottom. Ihlara served as a refuge for Christian monks, and therefore dozens of rock-cut churches and hundreds of residential caves were found here. The walking tour through the valley lasts 3.5 km. ☑️ Ihlara Valley Hiking: The murmur of the river, birdsong, delicious local cuisine - what you need to relax, gain strength and continue your journey! ☑️ Selime Monastery is located on the northern edge of the Ykhlara Canyon and is the highest rock-cut monastery in Cappadocia. The views from it are amazing! It is also notable for the fact that in one composition you can see all the components of the monastery ☑️ Pigeon Valley: The pigeons are very important in Cappadocia. Because if you need to grow herbs, vegetables, grapes etc. you need to fertalise the soil. otherwise the harvest will be inefficient and unhealthy. So you can see here lots of pigeon houses with lots of flying pigeons around. ☑️ Sweet Stop: the local sweets, nuts, delights whatever local here in Cappadocia you will have chance to try and buy.