Your SOUTHERN CAPPADOCIA TOUR begins around 9.30am when you will be collected at your local hotel by our fully-qualified local guide.
Our first stop on this tour through Southern Cappadocia is at the panoramic viewpoint at Esentepe, overlooking the picturesque town of Göreme. Here your guide will explain, in depth, the history of the region of Cappadocia and its unique rock formations.
After you have enjoyed the wonderful views across Göreme we then travel to Derinkuyu, the largest and most impressive of the 36 underground cities in Cappadocia. The underground city of Derinkuyu descends some 85 metres below ground level and you will have complete access to 7 of the 16 floors which have been excavated.
These troglodyte cave-cities were created as early as Hittite times, (between 1,600 – 1,100BC), when they were then expanded by the early Christians and other civilizations over the remaining centuries. This was done to provide places of safety during times when various marauding armies traversed through Central Anatolia in search of captives and local wealth & treasures.
Following our visit to Derinkuyu we continue on to the very beautiful Ihlara Valley where we will safely descend approx 100 metres down to the bottom of the canyon and enjoy a gentle 3 - 4km walk through the vıneyards, poplars and pistachio trees to the soothing sounds of the rushing waters of the Melendiz River. In the valley we will stop at many of the early Christian cave-dwellings and churches which have been carved into the tuff stone (consolidated volcanic ash produced millions of years ago from the nearby Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz, 2 of the 3 now dormant volcanoes in Cappadocia) It is believed that at one time around eighty thousand (80,000) people lived in Ihlara Valley and as such it housed thousands of dwellings and more than 100 cave churches, each decorated with their unique frescoes.
After this “stroll back in time” we reach the village of Belisirma for a fabulous “East-meets-West” lunch. Here we will enjoy some traditional Turkish foods (including dessert) and some refreshing Turkish çay (tea).
Once we have finished lunch our next stop is at Selime Monastery, the largest rock-cut monastery in the region of Cappadocia. This is an astonishing example of the very early rock-cut structures housing a very large cave cathedral and various “living quarters” which would have been inhabited by the monks of their time. It really is an incredible testimony to the people who created it.
We then head back to Göreme, stopping at the viewpoint of Pigeon Valley. Here we will see the centuries-old, purpose-built pigeon houses. These were created to “tempt” pigeons to live in the area, allowing the local farmers to “harvest” their droppings to use as fertilizer for their many, diverse crops of fruit including apricots, peaches, grapes and plums. Even to this day the fruit of Cappadocia is widely regarded as some of the very best in the world, either fresh or sun-dried.
It’s then back to your hotel after a fantastic day spent “touring” Southern Cappadocia… …and maybe treat yourself to a wonderful Turkish Bath (Hamam) which we will be delighted to arrange for you.
Free pick-up and drop off from local hotels. (Göreme, Çavuşin, Ürgüp, Avanos, Üchisar)
Professional, quaified & licensed English-speaking guide. (Other languages covered on request)
Air-conditioned, luxury minibus. (Maximum 19 passengers)
All enterance fees.
Lunch (Tea included, all other drinks are chargeable)