Your journey to the heart of south Cappadocia begins at your Goreme hotel, where you’ll board an air-conditioned vehicle destined for Derinkuyu Underground City. During the short 30-minute drive, your guide provides history-rich information on Derinkuyu Underground City, the largest excavated city in Turkey.
On a guided tour of the subterranean community, see churches, kitchens, and water wells formerly used to support the existence of more than 20,000 people.
Then, continue to Ilhara Valley and embark on a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) hike along a route formed thousands of years ago by the Melendiz River. Located in the middle of the Ilhara Valley is the village of Belisirma, replete with ancient churches and restaurants selling fresh local produce.
Here, you'll stop for a traditional Turkish lunch in a recommended restaurant before you continue, revitalized, to Selime. Famed for its churches carved into rocks and the 13th-century Selime Monastery, Selime boasts a plethora of historic monuments.
Return to your vehicle and travel to Pigeon Valley to enjoy panoramic valley views and discover how the valley acquired its interesting name. Your final stop is a lookout point in Goreme, from where you’ll absorb views of Cappadocia’s lunar landscapes and unique rock formations.
Conclude your tour with drop-off at your Goreme hotel.
