South Cappadocia Green Tour with Trekking in Ihlara Valley
Göreme, Turkey
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Trip Type: Hiking & Camping
Duration: 8 hours
Green tour is also known as South Cappadocia tour because of its itinerary covering all the main attractions of the South Cappadocia. You will visit the largest excavated underground city in Turkey, do trekking in Ihlara valley, visit one of the biggest rock-cut monasteries and enjoy stunning views over the Cappadocian valleys.
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Green tour is also known as South Cappadocia tour because of its itinerary covering all the main attractions of the South Cappadocia. You will visit the largest excavated underground city in Turkey, do trekking in Ihlara valley, visit one of the biggest rock-cut monasteries and enjoy stunning views over the Cappadocian valleys.It is a full day tour with a professional licensed guide. Pick up time from the hotel is around 09:30 am depending on your hotel location. The highlights of Green tour are listed below in the order you will visit them:
Derinkuyu Underground City is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey, and the deepest one in Cappadocia. Inside there are found food stores, kitchens, stalls, churches, wine production places, ventilation chimneys, water wells and a missionary school. With the depth of 85 m this multi-level city could accommodate up to 20,000 people at the same time.
Derinkuyu Underground City is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey, and the deepest one in Cappadocia. Inside there are found food stores, kitchens, stalls, churches, wine production places, ventilation chimneys, water wells and a missionary school. With the depth of 85 m this multi-level city could accommodate up to 20,000 people at the same time.
Derinkuyu Underground City was opened to visitors in 1969, about half of it is accessible to tourists. Continuing on you will visit Ihlara Valley (4 km trekking) begins at Ihlara village and ends with Selime Monastery at Selime village. It was formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. The total length of the canyon is 14 km and depth is approximately 100 m. Ihlara Valley has many cave churches dated from the 7th to 11th centuries. Most of them are decorated with frescoes in bright colors and display scenes dissimilar to the scenes depicted in other Cappadocian churches.
Belisirma Village is situated in the middle of Ihlara Valley. It's a typical Anatolian village which is of great interest to tourists. There are so many cafes and restaurants near by the Melendiz River that offers fresh fish and very delicious local food. You will have a nice lunch at one of this local restaurants. From 100 churches of Ihlara Valley only 14 are open to visitors now and 7 of these churches are situated around the Belisirma village.
Selime is a town established at the end of Ihlara Valley. It's famous for rock-cut churches and Selime Monastery - one of the biggest rock-cut monasteries of Cappadocia with a cathedral sized church. Selime monastery was carved by the monks in the 13th century and apart from the church has monks quarters, a large kitchen, and stables for animals.
Pigeon Valley (photo break, panoramic view over the valley) got its name due to the numerous pigeon houses carved into fairy-chimneys. Farmers used these pigeon houses to collect the droppings of pigeons which is an excellent natural fertilizer for the orchards and vineyards.
Goreme (Esentepe) provides one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Cappadocia and of Göreme Valley in particular. You will enjoy the beauty of the Cappadocian lunar landscape. You will see unique rock formations with a great shape and colour diversity.
At the end of the Green tour you will be dropped off back at the hotel. The tour finishes around 6:00 pm. If you have time you are recommended to join another day the Red tour around the North Cappadocia so that you can cover all the Cappadocia’s highlights.
Belisirma Village is situated in the middle of Ihlara Valley. It's a typical Anatolian village which is of great interest to tourists. There are so many cafes and restaurants near by the Melendiz River that offers fresh fish and very delicious local food. You will have a nice lunch at one of this local restaurants. From 100 churches of Ihlara Valley only 14 are open to visitors now and 7 of these churches are situated around the Belisirma village.
Selime is a town established at the end of Ihlara Valley. It's famous for rock-cut churches and Selime Monastery - one of the biggest rock-cut monasteries of Cappadocia with a cathedral sized church. Selime monastery was carved by the monks in the 13th century and apart from the church has monks quarters, a large kitchen, and stables for animals.
Pigeon Valley (photo break, panoramic view over the valley) got its name due to the numerous pigeon houses carved into fairy-chimneys. Farmers used these pigeon houses to collect the droppings of pigeons which is an excellent natural fertilizer for the orchards and vineyards.
Goreme (Esentepe) provides one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Cappadocia and of Göreme Valley in particular. You will enjoy the beauty of the Cappadocian lunar landscape. You will see unique rock formations with a great shape and colour diversity.
At the end of the Green tour you will be dropped off back at the hotel. The tour finishes around 6:00 pm. If you have time you are recommended to join another day the Red tour around the North Cappadocia so that you can cover all the Cappadocia’s highlights.
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