red blue green tour cappadocia

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Which is the best cappadocia tour: red, blue, or green.

There was one place that was absolutely top of my list when it came to visiting Türkiye: we 100% had to include Cappadocia in our itinerary! This incredible region of Türkiye includes the stunning town of Göreme, where rock formations lovingly known as fairy chimneys create an otherworldly landscape. Here you can stay in cave hotels, explore ancient churches carved out of rock, and witness the spectacle of hundreds of hot air balloons skimming the landscape at dawn every day. Honestly, this was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited, full of sights that I will never forget. But one lesser known thing about Cappadocia is how spread out the sights are: some of the terrain is a little treacherous too, so it can be a little difficult to get around - especially if, like us, you only have a small amount of time to spend in the region. So that's where the tours come in!

What is the difference between the Cappadocia Green, Blue, and Red tours?

When it comes to getting a tour of Cappadocia, things can get a little bit confusing and overwhelming - especially if you only have the time and money to go on one of the tours. While we usually recommend booking and paying for tours from local vendors when you arrive in a place, rather than booking online in advance since it usually ends up way more expensive, we actually found the opposite was true in Göreme. Because almost everyone who visits the town is looking for a hot air balloon ride and/or a Göreme tour, the prices are pretty high here and we definitely found better deals online. It was even cheaper than the specially discounted deals our hotel offered!

But without the help of booking agents, we spent a very long time deliberating over which tour to choose. Why? Because all of the tours offer completely different routes around the region, and different sights to see. There were exciting things on each tour, but also things that we didn't want to miss out on!

Now, probably the most comprehensive tour, with some of the main highlights of the Cappadocia area, is the blue tour. Not only is this a full day tour including lunch, it also visits the Red and Rose Valley, the Fairy Chimneys, Pigeon Balley, Uchisar Castle, Cavusin Cave Village, and the Underground Cities. However, this is a very small group tour - usually with a maximum of four people and a tour guide - meaning it tends to be a lot more expensive. It usually costs around twice the price of the red or green tours: not only does this tour offer a more personal service, the distances between the locations are longer, and there are more entry fees included. So if cost isn't an issue, this may be the tour for you.

For us though, the cost of the Blue Tour was prohibitive: we needed to make the most of Cappadocia on the larger group Green or Red tours. And this is where we ran into a bit of a problem: there was no way we could see everything we wanted to! The Red Tour encompasses North Cappadocia, while the Green Tour explores the South...

The Red Tour is extremely popular, especially if your group includes children or if you struggle to walk long distances. This is because the stops are closer to Göreme, and there is less walking involved. It also includes lunch and all entry fees, including a visit to the famous Göreme Open Air Museum, which is a must visit for many travellers in Cappadocia. Other highlights include Uchisar Castle, Monks Valley, Devrent Imagination Valley, and a trip to the Pottery Workshops too.

The Green Tour, on the other hand, takes you a little further away from Göreme. After a quick stop at Pigeon Valley Viewpoint, where you can get some photos and incredible views over the valleys and Fairy Chimneys, you will head onto Ihlara Valley, Belisirma Village, Derinkuyu Underground City, and Selime Monastery. Encompassing some of Cappadocia's most unique sights, this tour takes more time, but like the other tours, also includes lunch and your entry fees.

Which tour did we choose, and why?

After a lot of deliberation, we opted for the Green Tour.

Although we were sad not to visit Red and Rose Valley and Göreme Open Air Museum on our tour, we decided that these areas were a lot easier for us to access on our own.

Without transport, there was no way that we were accessing South Cappadocia - and we really didn't want to miss the Underground City and those incredible views over Pigeon Valley! If money had been no object, though, we definitely would have picked the Blue Tour, since it would have offered almost everything that we wanted to see while we were staying in Göreme!

What were our lasting impressions of the Green Tour? Would recommend it?

Honestly, we loved the Green Tour! Without a doubt, a highlight was the views over Pigeon Valley in the fresh light of the early morning! From the moment we were picked up from our hotel by our lovely, bubbly tour guide, we had a day packed full of interesting and informative facts about the region, and plenty of time to explore on our own too. This is exactly what we like in a group tour! The group that we were with were really friendly, and the bus was modern and comfortable, and more than equipped for the sometimes challenging terrain. This was probably the most comfortable tour bus that we have travelled in - you forget how much of a difference a comfy ride makes to your overall tour experience!

Aside from the incredible viewpoint at the beginning of the tour, not long after we'd left Göreme, the most memorable parts of the tour were definitely our trip to Selime Monestary and Derinkuyu Underground City. The Monestary was extremely impressive, and really fun to explore. Though you can't really see any of the frescoes any more, it's still incredible to climb inside the ornate structure, carved out of rock all that time ago. Though many of the rooms are rougher, the church itself is so impressive and definitely has to be seen to be believed! But even more impressive, in my eyes, was the underground city. Learning about its history, squeezing myself through the tunnels, and witnessing how people lived underground, all those years ago? This was the kind of unique experience that we relished, and were so pleased that we had chosen the green tour, which enabled us to experience this!

Was the Green Tour suitable for vegetarians and vegans?

In short, yes - it was vegetarian and vegan friendly, but there were some elements that could really be improved here. When it comes to the lunch, you will be more than happy. Like most group tours, the Green Tour takes you to a buffet restaurants that caters mostly for tour groups. This one is pretty cool though because, after a short valley trek, you reach its tranquil riverside location. The food is much better than the food I have experienced on most tours. In your booking, you should have had the opportunity to specify your dietary requirements - in our experience, this will be reconfirmed on the bus, where your guide will ask if you want the chicken, fish, or vegetarian option. Note that if you are vegan, you will need to specify no dairy products, as the main course is topped with cheese as standard. This is all easy to navigate though, and the restaurant are very used to dealing with these requirements.

When you reach the restaurant you will be served your starter, which in our case was lentil soup. Everyone, regardless of their main course choice, was served the same soup. Lentil soup is actually very popular in Türkiye (keep an eye on our blogs from Antalya where we will be trying the most famous lentil soup in the country!) This soup was really delicious and filling, with plenty of bread to share on the table. This was followed by a really tasty main course, a ratatouille style dish of mixed vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, served with some of the most delicious and warming rice! Now, if you are vegan like me, make sure that you are served the dish without melted cheese on top. Mike, who is vegetarian, had the variant with cheese, but it seemed like it didn't add much - this dish was really flavoursome in itself anyway! Dessert and drinks are not included in the tours, so make sure that you bring plenty of water if you don't want to pay! We didn't add dessert on, since it was baklava and ice cream (and very expensive too!) so we had a nice stroll while other members of our group enjoyed dessert and coffee. After that tasty meal though, we really didn't feel like we were missing out!

The worst bit of the tour, for us, was the only part that I would say really isn't vegetarian and vegan friendly. If you are familiar with tours in countries across the world, you'll be aware of the habit of tour companies taking their groups to expensive tourist trap workshops and shopping visits along the way. From pottery and jewellery to paintings and clothing, we've seen it all! It's usually a slightly annoying but sometimes mildly interesting part of going on organised group tours.

But in this case, they took us to a leather and fur fashion house, which I found quite upsetting. We were able to make the choice to stay outside, and instead be entertained by the adorable cats outside (if you want to learn more about the cats you'll encounter all over Türkiye, never fear, we have a blog in the works on this too!) , But obviously it would be much better if cruelty free sites were chosen for these token visits. However, don't let this put you off booking one of these tours: if the tour companies see more and more people refusing to join their group on these visits, they may be more likely to make the change to different workshops and stores. And if nothing else, these cats are very cute, and you will have an excellent time on the rest of your Cappadocia tour!

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Where should I stay?

Out of all of the places I've been, Cappadocia definitely takes the crown for some of the coolest and most unique places to stay! Most people stay in the town of Göreme, and although the prices are slightly higher, I would really recommend this! Most of the accommodation boasts cave rooms, as well as more modern extensions, its definitely worth paying slightly more if you want the incredible experience of a cave room! For a luxurious experience, try Cappadocia Cave Lodge , which has incredible views from its roof terrace for you to enjoy your breakfast surrounded by balloons! Or for a more social time, Kamelya Cave Hostel has both mixed sex and female only dorms - and includes breakfast too!

Tours & Experiences

You can see and book the Green Tour that we went on by clicking here !

While you're in Cappadocia, many people also want to head out in a hot air balloon to see this incredible landscape from the sky. There's so many hot air balloons out there, and depending on the time of year you visit you might be able to get a good deal the day before by booking in Göreme. However, if you go in peak season, the prices will rise due to demand, and it might be better to book in advance online to make sure that your place is secured! Check the links on the left for some of the most popular tours and hot air balloons in Cappadocia right now!

Please note that the tours displayed on the left are automatically selected for their popularity by Viator, not chosen or recommended by us. Please check whether any food or drink based tours are suitable for your dietary requirements, and any animal-based experiences are ethical, before booking!

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Home > Cappadocia Red Tour Vs Green Tour – How To Choose

Cappadocia Red Tour Vs Green Tour – How To Choose

Written by our local expert Mehmet

Mehmet is digital nomad who was born in Istanbul, Türkiye and now calls the Balkans region his home-office.

I first visited here when I was a young boy, and to this day, the enchantment of Cappadocia’s unique landscapes and rich history has never left me. Settled in central Turkiye, Cappadocia is known for its moon-like landscape, picturesque views, fairy chimneys, unique underground cities, hot air balloons, ATV rides, and cave churches.

In this guide, I will help you choose between the Cappadocia Red Tour Vs. the Green Tour, providing you with all the information you need to make the best choice for your adventure in this captivating region.

Are you in a rush and want to know how to choose between the Red Tour or the Green Tour? Here is what we think you should know:

This vast and magical region offers tons to see and do and can only be explored via prearranged day tours. Two of the best day tours in Cappadocia are the red tour (North Cappadocia) and the green tour (South Cappadocia), both of which feature some of the best tourist attractions you’ll ever see.

Where the red tour covers the central Cappadocia, i.e., the Goreme region, the green tour of Cappadocia includes attractions in the Ihlara canyon side. Since these day tours are unique and have significant geographical differences, an entire day needs to be dedicated to each. If you’re a first-timer, you’re in for a treat.

My post will be your local guide and will be as thorough as possible to show you how you should go about choosing a suitable tour.

Keep reading below for our in-depth analysis on weighing up the Red Tour vs. the Green Tour.

Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!

Quick Facts About Cappadocia Red And Green Tours

The day tours in this fairytale destination are exceptional in their own way.

Cappadocia green tour’s itinerary would allow you to check out the panoramic views of Goreme, feed pigeons at Pigeon Valley, explore the Derinkuyu underground city , stop at Lake Nar or Crater lake, walk the Ihlara Valley and grab lunch on the river, visit the Selime monastery built onto a cliff, and taste a bunch of Turkish desserts.

Cappadocia’s red tour, on the other hand, would leave you astounded with the stops at Uchisar castle, Open air museum in Goreme, Cavusin, pottery workshops, Pasabag Monks Valley, Devrent Imagination Valley, followed by delicious Turkish delicacies along the way.

Highlights Of The Cappadocia Red Tour

The North Cappadocia tour is a one-day trip that starts early in the morning, between 8-9 am, after picking up everyone in the group. Most tours will pick you up from and drop you off at your accommodation or the city center.

Here’s a breakdown of your day trip.

Uchisar Rock Castle

A 10-minute bus ride will take you to the castle from the town. Though, you’ll have to hike your way up to reach the top of the castle.

Goreme Open Air Museum

Walking through the rocky settlement area will transport you to another world. The well-preserved cave houses, churches, chapels, dining halls, and sitting rooms will take you back to the Byzantine era. The wall paintings and frescoes aptly reflect the lives lived by monks and nuns.

Love Valley

Home to the giant, mushroom-shaped rock formations, Love Valley is another popular tourist attraction. Mountain ridges and lush valley floor make this place a suitable hiking trail.

It’s also quite popular among couples for engagements and proposals. To make this visit more personal, there’s a photo stop with an ideal backdrop and a wish tree. The weather here tends to get extreme, though, so make sure you’re carrying appropriate clothes.

Pottery Workshops In Avanos Town

The red clay used in the craft is obtained from the same river. You can easily find art districts and pottery shops in the region where you can get your hands dirty and learn from the best. The shops usually have demonstration areas that teach you the intricacies of pottery making.

Pasabag Valley & Devrent Valley

Devrent Valley, on the other hand, will spark your imagination. The unique rock formations in this valley resemble animal structures such as camels, dolphins, snails , and snakes. This one-of-a-kind valley will make you feel like you’re in a customized sculpture zoo.

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Highlights of the cappadocia green tour.

The green tour in southwest Cappadocia on the Ihlara Canyon side is a one-day sightseeing trip that covers attractions such as Derinkuyu Underground City, Pigeon Valley, Ihlara Valley, Nar Crater Lake, and Selime Monastery.

The tour starts early in the morning and continues till 6 in the evening, and you can expect most tours to pick you up from and drop you off at your accommodation or the city center .

Here are the highlights of the green tour.

Underground City

Visiting the underground city of Derinkuyu or Kaymakli underground city (10 minutes away from each other) is one of the best things to do in Cappadocia. The hundreds of subterranean settlements containing multi-tiered cities will blow your mind.

The underground cities have proper sections for cellars, dining halls, churches, and stump shops. These 150-200 underground settlements of various sizes are one of the most interesting cultural assets of the Cappadocia region.

The cities are approximately 60 meters deep. You will travel down into each city, level by level, which is wonderful for those who may be claustrophobic, as you can gauge how you feel at each level and exit if needed. For some tunnels, you will need to crouch to get through, but never for long periods of time.

Ihlara Valley

The Ihlara Valley’s stunning landscape in central Anatolia is a sight for sore eyes. With the Melendez River flowing through the valley and trees lined up on both sides, the views are to die for.

A hike of 4 km from one end to the other with visually pleasing sights, a serene atmosphere, and cool air will have a soothing effect on you. The hike is quite flat after the initial descent down a fair number of stairs. As you travel the valley, you will see cutouts in the rocks where early Christians established homes and churches while hiding from the Romans.

Halfway through the hike, you will pass an outdoor vending area with fresh juices and fruits to replenish your energy, and the hike usually ends with an over-the-river dining experience at lunchtime.

Pigeon Valley

You can start this hike from the Town Center of Goreme and finish at Uchisar Castle. This route will allow you to take in the amazing valley views with pigeons flying around, caves, and rock formations, and then finish with stellar panoramic views from Uchisar.

On your way, you’ll find authentic tea houses to enjoy some Turkish tea .

• Things To Do In Pigeon Valley

Selime Monastery

The monastery looks very similar to the Open Air Museum but is much less busy due to the effort required to hike to the site. If you are willing to take on the challenge of getting there, it’s the perfect place for a photo op!

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Cappadocia Red And Green Tours: Is a Professional Guide Worth It

You can do the Cappadocia red tour by yourself, without a tour guide, but not the green one. The activities in the red tour Cappadocia are within Goreme’s vicinity, but for the green tour, you have to travel a lot, which can dig a hole in your pocket. Day-tour packages are relatively cheaper.

Check here for Red & Green Tour ideas.

How to get to the cappadocia green and red tours.

If you’re traveling from Istanbul to Cappadocia , you have various options for commuting, including a direct flight, train, bus, and rental car. After landing at Kayseri Airport by whichever means, you can book a car or use a shuttle service to go to Goreme in just 50 liras (or more). We recommend booking a hotel beforehand so you know where you will stay.

Photo Opportunities On A Green Vs. Red Tour Of Cappadocia

Every stop will offer a unique view and story, from Uchisar Castle’s architecture to the Selime monastery’s medieval vibe. You’ll get tons of opportunities to click cliche pictures, too, for instance, at the swing in Love Valley.

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Cappadocia Red Or Green Tour Accessibility

The green tour, however, is for wanderers and hikers. You can expect to walk a few kilometers in the Ihlara Valley, travel up and down a few flights of stairs, and hike up to see the monastery. You don’t have to be in top physical condition, but definitely wear comfortable clothing and be ready to move.

What does the Green Tour in Cappadocia offer?

The Green Tour in Cappadocia offers a full-day tour that covers attractions like an underground city, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, and more. It allows you to explore the region’s best sights in a short time.

Which attractions are included in the Green Tour itinerary?

The Green Tour itinerary typically includes a visit to Goreme Panorama, Onyx Factory or Pigeon Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, Ihlara Valley hike, Yaprakhisar, Selime Monastery, and Mt. Hasan view. However, please note that the exact itinerary may vary depending on the travel agency.

Is the Green Tour a full-day tour?

Yes, the Green Tour in Cappadocia is a full-day tour. It allows you to cover multiple attractions in a single day.

Is the Green Tour considered good value for money?

Yes, the Green Tour is generally considered good value for money. The attractions included in the tour are not easily accessible by public transport, and the tour offers convenience and guided exploration.

What is included in the Green Tour package?

The Green Tour package usually includes entrance fees to attractions, a guided tour, transportation, and lunch. However, it is advisable to check with the specific travel agency for the details of what is included in their package.

Who is the Green Tour recommended for?

The Green Tour is recommended for those who have limited time in Cappadocia but still want to see the region’s top attractions. It is ideal for individuals or groups who prefer a guided tour and wish to visit places that might be challenging to access by public transport .

What is the first stop on the Green Tour?

The first stop on the Green Tour may vary, but it often includes a visit to the stunning Goreme Panorama, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the region.

Do I have free time during the Green Tour?

Yes, some Green Tours provide free time at specific locations, allowing you to explore, take photos, or soak in the beauty of the surroundings at your own pace. Certainly! Here’s the FAQ section about the Red and Green Tours in Cappadocia without the “Q” and “A” labels or numbers:

What are the Red and Green Tours in Cappadocia?

The Red and Green Tours are popular guided tours in Cappadocia that take you through the region’s incredible natural beauty and historical sites. They offer unique opportunities to explore the remarkable landscapes and cultural heritage of the area.

What is the first destination on the Red Tour?

The first stop on the Red Tour often includes a visit to the stunning Melendiz River and its riverside restaurant. You can enjoy picturesque views and a Turkish kebab-style lunch.

What is the final stop on the Green Tour?

The Green Tour usually concludes with a visit to the Ihlara Valley, known for its astonishing rock-cut construction and ancient churches carved into volcanic rock.

Are there entrance fees for the tours?

Yes, there might be entrance fees to some of the sites and attractions visited during the tours. Your tour provider will provide clear explanations of any entrance fees beforehand.

Can I book a private tour for a more personalized experience?

Absolutely! Private tours are available for those who prefer a more tailored experience. You can explore at your own pace and focus on specific interests.

Are there options for small group tours?

Yes, you can join a small group tour for a more intimate and interactive experience. It’s a great way to connect with fellow travelers.

Will there be free time during the tours?

Yes, some tours provide free time at certain locations, allowing you to explore, take photos, or enjoy the natural beauty at your own pace.

The Green Tour is recommended for those who have limited time in Cappadocia but still want to see the region’s top attractions. It is ideal for individuals or groups who prefer a guided tour and wish to visit places that might be challenging to access by public transport.

What’s the best way to capture panoramic views of Cappadocia?

The tours often include stops at panoramic viewpoints like the Goreme Panorama, offering breathtaking vistas of the entire valley.

Is Cappadocia known for any famous movie locations?

No, Cappadocia’s distinctive landscapes have not been featured in films. While there were rumors that Cappadocia might have been considered as a filming location for Star Wars, it never materialized. George Lucas expressed interest in using the area, but the Turkish government declined the request.

Are there opportunities to see the local way of life?

Yes, you’ll have a chance to interact with local people, visit a local onyx factory, and gain insights into the semi-precious stone craftsmanship.

Can you explore underground dwellings on these tours?

Absolutely! You’ll have the chance to explore underground dwellings and marvel at the ingenious construction techniques.

Is lunch provided during the tours?

Yes, most tours include a Turkish kebab-style lunch at a local restaurant, offering a taste of the region’s cuisine.

What is the significance of Selime Cathedral on the tours?

Selime Cathedral is the largest religious structure in Cappadocia and is known for its astonishing architecture. It’s a must-visit on the tours.

Are the narrow passageways safe to explore in the valley?

Yes, the tours ensure your safety while navigating narrow passageways and stone-carved stairways in the valley.

What’s the significance of the local stone-carved stairways?

The stone-carved stairways are part of Cappadocia’s cultural heritage and were used by Cappadocian people in ancient times.

What is the significance of the pigeon houses on the tours?

Pigeon houses were used for various purposes in ancient times, including collecting guano for fertilizer and communicating with other villages. Final Words On Cappadocia Red And Green Tour

We only covered some of the possible itinerary options, but you’d be amazed at how much you can do with little time and money. If you don’t have two days, though, we’d (reluctantly) recommend you do the green tour for its incredible attractions and value for money.

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Hi, I check out your review. Could you recommend if I rent the car with driver from IST airport to Cappadocia and I prefer to book the green tour with air balloon too? How much is it per item? I plan to go next month beginning of April and we have 4 people. Thank you

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Stories by Soumya

The Travel Blog of a Culture Addict

Green Tour Cappadocia – Itinerary + Price + All You Need To Know

Last Updated on April 17, 2023 by Soumya

Thinking of a Green Tour in Cappadocia, Turkey ? Keen to find out what is part of a Green Tour itinerary, what are the prices, and how long the tour takes? Is it good value for money?

I just came back from my month-long trip to Turkey and honestly, the Green Tour was one of the best things I did in Cappadocia . Well, the hot air balloon also! And the hundreds of rock-cut churches and the amazing fairy chimneys too! Cappadocia is one amazing place that you should definitely have on your Turkey bucket list.

But, a Cappadocia Green Tour is a great way to see some of the best attractions in the region in a short time. The tour includes one of Turkey’s mysterious underground cities, the picturesque Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, a panoramic viewpoint, and a couple of other smaller stops.

In my opinion, the Green Tour is good value for money especially because you get to cover a lot during the tour. These attractions are not particularly close to each other and not easy to get to by public transport which is not the case with a Cappadocia Red Tour (I delve into details in my Green Tour vs Red Tour section here) .

That’s why it makes all the more sense to sign up for a Green Tour in Cappadocia. One of the highest rated tours in the market is this small-group tour with a knowledgeable tour guide.

However, I highly recommend that you red through this entire post and then decide if the Green Tour is a good fit for your Cappadocia itinerary .

Table of Contents

Quick link to the best Cappadocia Green Tour

Which green tour did I join?

Small-group Cappadocia Green Tour

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!

What is a Green Tour in Cappadocia?

A Green Tour in Cappadocia is a popular, full-day tour that covers some of the best attractions in southwestern Cappadocia including an underground city, the Ihara Valley, Selime Monastery, and Pigeon Valley.

When I arrived in Cappadocia, I was surprised to find all shops and stores displaying signs of Red, Blue, and Green Tours. Apart from the famous Cappadocia hot air balloon rides , of course.

After some asking around, I found that red tours covered the northern part of Cappadocia including the more popular spots such as Goreme Open Air Museum and Uchisar Viewpoint. Green tours covered the southwestern part of Cappadocia and included an underground city, Ihlara Valley, and Selime Monastery. Blue tours were somewhere between the two and the least popular.

If you have enough time like 3 days in Cappadocia or more, I would recommend that you do both the Green Tour and the Red Tour. However, if you are spending fewer nights here and have time for only one tour, I recommend doing the Green Tour. I have reasoned it out my section on Green vs Red here .

Note that all these tours are full-day tours but start around 9:00am in the morning. So, you can easily do them even if you are doing a hot air balloon ride in the morning.

Sample Green Tour itinerary

Depending on which agency you pick, your Green Tour itinerary may differ a little bit. But overall, this is what a sample itinerary for a Cappadocia Green Tour looks like.

Goreme Panorama

The first stop on our itinerary was the Goreme Panorama. This place, as the name suggests, offers a stunning panoramic view of Goreme. The viewpoint gives a 180-degree view of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys with the Uchisar Castle at a distance.

There are several benches in the area where you can just sit and absorb the beauty of the landscape that surrounds you. I urge you to venture a little away and find a quieter spot for yourself, without the crowds.

Small shops have cropped up in the area. They sell everything ranging from dondurmas (Turkish ice cream), gozlemes, and small trinkets in case you wish to purchase some. But feel free to venture away and capture some of your best photographs in Cappadocia, here.

Your tour guide will allow you 20-30 minutes to enjoy the views at Goreme Panorama.

If you decide not to do the Green Tour in Cappadocia, you can visit the Panorama on your own. It is a 30 minutes walk from Goreme City Center in the direction of Uchisar. A good bit of the walk is uphill, though.

Onyx factory or Pigeon Valley

Next up on our list was a tour of the Onyx Factory and a view of Pigeon Valley. Since both are located right opposite each other, we could pick what we liked. There was no pressure to go to the Onyx factory.

I am always a little wary of factories that process precious stones (or claim to do so). Plus, I have heard of some stone scams in Turkey. Therefore, we decided to do Pigeon Valley, instead. And boy! What a view that was! This was even better than the one at Goreme Panorama.

Pigeon Valley gets its name from the hundreds of dovecotes that have been carved into the soft tufa rock in this region. Our guide told us that pigeons have always played important roles (as messengers and their poop as fertilizer) in the lives of Cappadocian people. This place was, once, home to thousands of pigeons. Now, only a few hundred remain.

Pigeon Valley is one of the best places to watch a sunset in Cappadocia, if you decide to come back later. Or you can do a Cappadocia Blue Tour which almost always ends with the sunset at Pigeon Valley.

Kaymakli Underground City

One of the best things that is included in the Green Tour itinerary is a visit to an underground city in Cappadocia. You’ll probably have Derinkuyu or Kaymakli on the list. Both are located in southern Cappadocia and just 10mins from each other.

Cappadocia is famous for its strange martian landscape and out-of-the-world fairy chimneys. However, not many people know of the hundreds of subterranean settlements that remain hidden within the surface of Cappadocia.

Huge, multi-tiered cities complete with living rooms, community kitchens, wine cellars, stables, and sanctuaries dot the insides of this region in Turkey. Many of them date back to the 1st century when Christians fled from Roman persecutors and chose to hide in these underground colonies. The cities were repeatedly used during the Arab raids and Ottoman attacks later in history.

We visited Kaymakli on our green trip. It was surreal to enter into this hypogeal world and wonder how life would have been for people who spent months hiding. Be sure to notice the tall ventilation shafts that were used to provide citizens with fresh air.

Here are a few points to prepare you for the underground trip.

• You’ll need to walk through narrow tunnels and enclosed spaces while exploring. If you are extremely claustrophobic, it is best to avoid the underground city tour. However, if you’d like to test the waters, I highly recommend going down the first level and then gauging if you can do it. You can always come back from the first level.
• Wear a hat to avoid bumping your head especially if you are taller than 70 inches.
• There isn’t much light inside, so be prepared for low light photography.

Ihlara Valley hike

After being done with Kaymakli Underground City, we headed to our next destination – Ihlara Valley. The valley was a good 1-hour drive from Kaymakli and many in the van enjoyed a quick nap.

Ihlara is a stunning green valley located in a canyon between the villages of Ihlara and Belisarma. A glittering, gurgling Melendiz river flows through it and you can enjoy some tea or lunch by the river in a traditional Turkish setting.

Perhaps, the most interesting part about Ihlara Valley is the presence of numerous rock-cut churches here. Dating back to the 7th century, these Byzantine churches are adorned with gorgeous murals and religious frescoes.

We visited the first church on our way down the stairs of Ihlara Valley. It was the Agacalti Church with frescoes dating back to the pre-Iconoclast period of 9-11th centuries. Some of the remarkable scenes that you can still see here are the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the coming of three Magi.

There are several other churches that you’ll notice during your hike through the valley. You can always come back and visit them on your own.

During the easy hike by the river, you’ll come across a sort of a restaurant area where you can enjoy a cup of tea by the river or dig into some gozlemes (Turkish stuffed bread). You’ll have for these on your own.

At the end of the hike, you’ll have lunch (included in the cost of the tour). Our meal consisted of soup, salad, bread, and a veg/non-veg casserole. The food was okay, nothing out of the world.

A few points to note before the Ihlara Valley hike.

• You’ll need to climb down about 350 stairs to get to the bottom of the canyon from where you’ll begin the hike.
• It is an easy hike by the Melendiz River, not much climbing involved. Honestly, it is not really a hike, more of a walk with a few ups and downs. A long walk for sure! Get a good pair of walking shoes.
• There are several Instagram spots by the river where you can click great pictures.
• Note that your tour will usually have one rock-cut church in the itinerary. If you want to see more, you’ll have to come back later on your own.
• Toilets are available at the end of the hike at the restaurant where you are going to have lunch.

Yaprakhisar

Yaprakhisar is a massive rocky outcrop with rock-cut churches and monastic dwellings. It provides a stunning view against the clear blue skies and is apparently the place that inspired several scenes in Star Wars!

We just passed by this attraction but I guess, you can ask your guide to stop for a few minutes if you need some pictures.

Selime Monastery

Our next stop was Selime Monastery which was probably the most tricky climb of the day but totally worth it.

Selime is one of the most elaborate cave complexes in the region and an absolute must-have on your Cappadocia bucket list . The entire complex is cut into a cliff that is 50m above the valley and is home to a cathedral, monastery, kitchen, and even a stable. The walls were once covered with colorful frescoes but not much remains today.

It is believed that the Selime Monastery was built sometime between the 8th – 9th centuries. As a result, it has seen the Byzantines, the Romans, the Persians, the Ottomans, and nearly everyone that has influenced Turkey’s history.

At one point of time, Selime was used as a caranvanserai for merchants and travelers on the Silk Road. No doubt, there’s a ton of history hidden here.

Climbing to the top of Selime Monastery can be a little hard (because of the undulating structure of the tufa rock) but not undoable. Good shoes are key.

There are toilets and Turkish gifts stores after you are done with the complex tour.

Mt. Hasan view

On our way back to Goreme, we stopped for a few minutes to get some pictures of Mt. Hasan glistening in the sun. This was definitely the best end to our Cappadocia Green Tour.

Quick note: The eruption of Mt. Hasan is what created the canyon that Ihlara Valley rests in.

Itinerary map for Green Tour

Green Tour or Red Tour?

Honestly, both. But if you need to prioritize, I would recommend you pick the Green Tour over the Red Tour in Cappadocia. And there is a reason for that.

Green Tour takes you to places that are hard to reach by foot or public transport. For seeing Ihlara Valley or Selime Monastery, you’ll need to hire a taxi which costs about 100 EUR per day in Cappadocia.

However, the Red Tour covers attractions that can be accessed by public transport. And sometimes by walking. For example, the Red Tour includes Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag, and Avanos which can be easily reached by a dolmus (shared mini-buses that are the best public transport in Turkey) from Goreme City Center.

These mini-vans run every hour, from 7:00am – 8:00pm, from Urgup – Avanos and vice versa. The dolmus ride will cost between 7 – 15 TL depending on where you are going.

To get to Uchisar, you can use the Avanos – Nevshehir bus.

Price of Green Tour in Cappadocia

Depending on the travel agency you choose, the price of a Green Tour in Cappadocia can vary between $40 – $50. The tour price includes entrance fees to all the historical sites and lunch. If you decide to buy anything else, then you will have to pay on your own.

This price is for a small group tour (14-16 people) and you’ll be traveling in an air-conditioned van. There will be a tour guide who will lead the group, an aide who makes sure everyone is coming along, and a driver.

Important point to remember.

If you have a Turkey Museum Pass, note that entrance to Kaymakli, Ihlara, and Selime are covered in your museum pass . Be sure to mention that to your Green Tour provider and ask him for a discount that equals the sum of the value of these tickets. We got a $5 off our tour tickets because of our museum passes.

Book your Green Tour

You can always book your Green Tour online and reserve your slot.

My favorite go-to sites are GetYourGuide and Viator because they are easy to use and have flexible cancellation policies. Based on my personal experience, the rates on these platforms are competitive with the ones that you get on site or through your hotels. But you can always ask your hotels and check.

Here are some of the highest-rated green tours in the market.

• This highly-recommended Green Tour in Cappadocia comes at a really attractive price. Guests love the knowledgeable guide and the underground city tour.
• On this small group tour , you’ll not just see the usual Green Tour attractions but also get a chance to visit the beautiful crater Lake of Nar.
• If you are looking for a private tour, here’s a great one . You’ll not just visit the green places of interest but also step into the Sarihan Caravanserai from the 13th century.

Green Tour pick up time

The pick up time is usually around 9:30am in Goreme.

We were staying at Design Cave Suites in Goreme, so we were picked up around 9:45am from our hotel (official pick up time was 9:30am but there was a traffic jam in Goreme).

If you are staying in Urgup or Mustafapasa, you might be picked up a little earlier, say between 8:30 – 9:00am. If you are staying in Uchisar, you may be picked up around 10:00am.

Green Tour travel tips

• Green Tours will pick you up between 8:30-10:00am depending on where you are staying in Cappadocia. Please ensure that you are ready on time to avoid discomfort to your fellow passengers and to make the most out of your own day.
• Carry a good pair of walking shoes because there’s a lot of walking in Ihlara Valley and a bit of climbing at Selime Monastery.
• Underground cities have narrow tunnels that you’ll need to bend and walk through. If you are claustrophobic, I would advise you to avoid this part of the tour. If you wish to give it a try, read my section on Kaymakli .
• You’ll find toilets at the Onyx Factory, Kaymakli Underground City, restaurant in Ihlara valley, and Selime Monastery. Some of these might be paid and require 2-3 TL. The toilets at the restaurant are free to use.

Is the Green Tour worth it?

The Green Tour in Cappadocia is absolutely worth it because it takes you to some of the best attractions in Cappadocia that are not easily reachable by transport. You get to explore an underground city, hike through a stunning river valley, and check out the fascinating rock-cut monastery of Selime, all on the same day at a very affordable price.

Loved our Cappadocia Green Tour guide? Pin it for later!

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10 thoughts on “ Green Tour Cappadocia – Itinerary + Price + All You Need To Know ”

Hi, thank you for a great guide to Cappadocia! Do you mind providing a link for the green tour you did? I’ve looked at reviews of several green tours but all of them seem to do mandatory jewelry stops which I don’t want. The tour you did sounds perfect!

Hi Roopa, The tour that I did also had a jewelry stop – it was the onyx factory. But there was no pressure to go there. You can also excuse yourself from the factory tour and appreciate the scenery outside, instead. For us, the factory was right next to the Pigeon Valley so I had a good time capturing photos of Pigeon Valley. I have linked to the Green Tour that I took here . I have also linked to the tour in a yellow box on the top of my post.

Thanks a lot for the info! We’re headed to cappadocia in a few days. Just booked the same tour that you did 🙂

That’s great. Hope you have an amazing tour of Cappadocia. Happy travels.

Thank you for the information shared. Very helpful.

Glad you found this Green Tour info useful. Have a good trip to Cappadocia.

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Green Tour in Cappadocia: Everything You Need to Know

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links to the products we earnestly love and recommend, meaning at no extra cost to you, we might make a teeny-weeny commission if you click on the link and decide to buy something. The money will be used to sustain this little cozy blog we call our virtual home.

Want to know more about the Green Tour in Cappadocia, Turkey ? Are you contemplating if it’s worth it or not? This guide covers everything you need: what’s the tour all about, why you should choose, what you’ll see, how long it takes, how much it costs, and how to book it. Find out if this famous sightseeing tour is right for you!

What is a Green Tour in Cappadocia?

To kick things off, Cappadocia offers three main sightseeing tours: Red , Green , and Blue . The Red Tour covers the attractions in northern Cappadocia, the Green Tour includes the southwestern sights, and the Blue Tour introduces the lesser-known sights in the region.

Red and Green Tours are the most booked sightseeing tours, however, the Blue Tour is often overlooked by travelers. Maybe because it covers less-known places. Often, travelers don’t have much time and choose to see the famous spots first, so the Blue Tour gets less attention.

Moving on to the Green Tour in Cappadocia, as I said, it’s one of the most booked sightseeing tours that takes you through the famous attractions in southwestern Cappadocia .

There are quite a few variations of it (the viewpoints and valleys may differ) but the main attractions it covers include Ihlara Valley , Selime Monastery , Derinkuyu Underground City , and Pigeon Valley . Some tours might include a stop at Narligol Crater Lake , Uchisar , and Yaprakhisar like this one .

While booking online, you’ll often find that the terms Cappadocia Green Tour and South Cappadocia Tour are used interchangeably, so it’s important to verify the included attractions as there tends to be a variation. If the tour is labeled South Cappadocia Green Tour or Green (South) Tour Cappadocia then it usually matches the attractions on the typical Green Tour.

However, if it’s purely labeled as South Cappadocia Tour then you must check the attractions included as they might differ like here a bit from the original Green Tour or they might not like here . It mostly skips Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery and takes you to Goreme Panorama , Meskendir Valley , Rose Valley , Red Valley , Cavusin Valley , Avanos , Kaymakli Underground City , Pigeon Valley , Uchisar Castle , & Love Valley .

I know it’s confusing, but checking the details of each tour will help you choose the right one and make sure you get exactly what you want.

Why Take a Green Tour in Cappadocia? Is it Worth it?

First off, it covers some of the must-see sights in Cappadocia that anyhow you’ll have to explore when in the region.

Secondly, this tour is great for those who are short on time. I mean, you can explore so many places in just a day that might take more time when done on your own.

Thirdly, It’s a blessing for those who are clueless about transportation. Most of the sights are spread out and not near the main towns, making them hard to reach on your own without a car. The public transportation in Cappadocia is scarce and isn’t well-managed so if you aren’t up for renting a car and driving on your own, this tour takes away your worry by providing seamless pickup and dropoff.

Lastly, it comes with skip-the-line tickets saving you the time and hassle of queuing for tickets at individual attractions.

Not to mention, having a local guide adds to the experience. They share insider knowledge and fascinating stories to make the trip more interesting and informative.

So, it makes sense to book a Green Tour in Cappadocia.

PS: If you decide not to join the tour, you can follow the same itinerary and complete the Cappadocia green tour by yourself.

What to Expect?

The tour starts early in the morning with a pick-up around 9:30 am . The pick-up time might differ a bit like 15 minutes before or after 9:30 depending on which town in Cappadocia your hotel is like Goreme, Uchisar, Avanos, Cavusin, Ortahisar, Urgup, or Mustafapasa. If they don’t have your location included in the pick-up, you’ll have to arrange your travel to Goreme where they can pick you up.

The trip lasts about 8 to 9 hours , so you must dedicate the full day. You’ll explore the sights and attractions included in the trip as per the itinerary and will be dropped off at your hotel in the evening around 5:30 pm . Most tours include a lunch at a local restaurant.

Basic Green Tour Cappadocia Itinerary

As I said, the Green Tour varies a bit depending on the company you select, however, the core itinerary generally stays consistent, with some added scenic spots and valleys depending on the tour operator.

There can be minor variations in the route or order of the itinerary. For instance, the tour guides might operate in reverse order or choose alternate attractions like Kaymakli instead of Derinkyu or vice versa to avoid crowds during busy times.

9:30 am: Hotel Pick-up

Your full-day adventure begins at around 9:30 am when you are picked up from your hotel. It usually takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to reach your first destination from your hotel depending on the number of people picked up after you and the travel time to the destination from the last pick-up point.

First Stop: Goreme Panorama

This one’s considered one of the most celebrated viewpoints in Cappadocia. Located just outside the town of Goreme, there’s a vantage point ( Esentepe Panoramic Viewpoint ) located on the hill overlooking the town of Goreme. The viewpoint gives a panoramic view of the fairy chimneys with the iconic Uchisar Castle in the distance.

People love coming here at sunrise and sunset for the impressive views. So, it’s a perfect place to capture some stunning photos of the landscape this region is known for.

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes

Distance and Travel Time from Goreme Panorama to Derinkuyu : 39 km (24 miles) and 40 minutes

Second Stop: Derinkuyu Underground City

There are over 200 ancient underground cities in Cappadocia, Derinkuyu is notable for being the largest (280 feet) & the deepest (18 levels). It could once house 20,000 people. Besides Derinkuyu, other well-known underground cities in the region include Kaymakli, Ozkonak, and Mazi.

Most Cappadocia Green Tours include a visit to Derinkuyu while a few have Kaymakli on their itinerary.

Originally built by the Phrygians around 700 BC, these cities were expanded by early Christians to hide from Roman persecution during the first century AD. They also served as a refuge during Persian and Arab invasions in later centuries.

Carved deep into the earth, these subterranean cities could extend several levels underground, some reaching depths of up to 85 meters (nearly 280 feet), and included living quarters, storerooms, kitchens, livestock pens, ventilation shafts, and even churches.

No matter which underground city your tour includes Derinkuyu or Kaymakli, exploring them is an extraordinary experience.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Distance and Travel Time from Derinkuyu to Ihlara Valley: 55 km (34 miles) and 50 minutes

Note: If you have claustrophobia or mobility issues, you might consider skipping the visit to the underground city as it involves navigating through tight, enclosed tunnels and squeezing into small spaces. Also, tall people should be cautious of low ceilings and doorways. Wear light, loose-fitting clothes for comfort and ease of movement through tunnels.

Third Stop: Ihlara Valley

Stretching over 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from the village of Ihlara to the village of Belisirema, Ihlara Valley is a picturesque valley. With lush greenery, towering cliffs, and the Melendiz River flowing through its heart, it’s a refreshing contrast to the more arid parts of Cappadocia.

Ihlara Valley was made by Mount Hasan’s volcanic eruptions. Over time, the Melendiz River cut through the valley, and the land around it broke and fell. This created a deep canyon, 80 meters down, one of the largest canyons in Turkey or Türkiye.

But wait, the valley’s not only about natural beauty but holds great historical value too. It numbers many ancient cave churches and monasteries, some of which contain well-preserved frescoes depicting biblical scenes like in the Goreme Open-Air Museum .

There are 100+ rock-hewn churches carved inside the walls of the valley, however, only a few (almost 14, I guess) of them are open to the public. Besides, hundreds of rock dwellings, unknown and unnamed, dot the valley.

A walk through the valley is easy perfect for casual hikers. However, there are some uneven and slippery surfaces and steps, and you’ll also be descending around 380 steps to reach the valley floor from the entrance, so wearing good shoes is recommended.

The duration of the hike depends on the tour and how much of the valley you explore. Most of the tours start at the #2 entrance, allow you to hike about 4 km up to the #3 entrance, and let you explore only one church, Agacalti Church .

If you want to walk the entire stretch and explore all the churches along the hike, you’ll have to come here on your own. We were lucky to have enough time to explore the entire stretch of it while road-tripping in Turkey and find it a meditative experience. I found Kokar Kilise (Smelly Church), Agacalti  Kilise (Church Under the Trees), Yilanali  Kilise (Snake Church), Purenli Seki Kilisesi (Terrace Church), and Selime Monastery impressive.

Duration: Close to 2 hours

Lunch at a Local Restaurant in Belisirma

As you end your hike at the Belisirema village entrance, you’ll have lunch at one of the local restaurants here, next to the river.

The lunch menu is fixed as it’s included in the tour price and includes soup, salad, bread, seasonal fruit, and your choice (veg or non-veg) of one main dish.

Duration: 1 hour

Distance and Travel Time from Belisirma to Selime Monastery: 10 km (6 miles) and 10 minutes

Note: Some tours make a brief stop at Yaprakhisar , a large rock formation that once housed rock-cut caves, which are now almost in ruins. The moon-like scenery of Yaprakhisar looks like it’s from Star Wars (reminds you of Tusken Raiders or Sand People from the original 1977 film), which makes some people mistakenly say the movie was shot there, but as far as I know, that’s not true.

Fourth Stop: Selime Monastery

An essential inclusion to your itinerary for Cappadocia , this huge, rock-cut monastery dates back to the 8th or 9th century. It looks as impressive from the distance as it’s from the inside. As you walk up to the structure (it’s quite a steep hike), you’ll find a cathedral, living quarters, kitchen, and a stable carved directly into the rock.

Inside some of the caves, you can see the frescoes, although they are quite faded. From the top of the monastery, you can have a beautiful panoramic view.

Due to the strategic location of Selime on the Silk Road, Selime monastery was repurposed to serve as a caravanserai for the merchants & traders traveling along this historic trade route during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

Duration: Around 30 minutes

Distance and Travel Time from Selime Monastery to Pigeon Valley: 81 km (50 miles) and 60 minutes

Fifth Stop: Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley is famous for and named after countless man-made pigeon houses (dovecotes or columbarium) carved into the rocks. From a historical perspective, pigeons have been an important part of Cappadocia. The locals used pigeon droppings as fertilizer for their crops and collected eggs for a variety of uses. They carved out small niches and dwellings in the valley’s cliffs and rock formations to attract and house these birds, which you can see here.

Though there are beautiful walking trails if you want to explore the scenic landscape and pigeon lofts up close, this tour allows you to enjoy only the view of the valley from above because of a time crunch. The viewpoint is also counted among some of the best in the region to watch a sunset.

Duration: 30 minutes

Note: Many tours also include a stop at the local onyx factory (just so you know, onyx is a precious volcanic stone in the region) saying that you can see the carving process, however, as per my experience, these forced factory visits are more of a tourist trap rather than an authentic cultural experience. If you end up buying something from here, the tour company gets its commission, meaning you might pay more than you would at a local market. So, just enjoy the visit but don’t buy anything from her, instead explore local markets.

5:30 pm: Hotel Drop-Off

The tour ends at around 17:30 with a drop-off service at your hotel. You can freshen up and rest for a while and then perhaps explore local dining options for dinner. Dibek , Inki Cave , Pumpkin Goreme Restaurant & Art Gallery , and Dolphin are the ones I tried and liked. However, on the authenticity scale, I found that restaurants in Cappadocia might not feel as authentic as those in other Turkish cities, possibly due to the area becoming very touristy.

What’s the Cost of Cappadocia Green Tour?

The price of the Green Tour in Cappadocia can vary depending on several factors including the tour operator, the time of year, and what is included in the tour (such as entrance fees, lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, and insurance). Typically, prices can range from around $50 to $80 per person.

Most of the tour operators offer small group tours accommodating up to 16 people in an air-conditioned van. You’ll be accompanied by a licensed and experienced tour guide.

If you want a more personalized experience, you can check with the specific tour provider for a private tour . A bit expensive (starts at $150 per person), a private tour promises the undivided attention of your guide and lets you explore at your own pace.

Green Tour or Red Tour

If you are short on time & don’t have transportation sorted but still want to explore all the highlights of Cappadocia, the Green Tour and the Red Tour make it possible. So, in this scenario, ideally, you should book both tours.

In case you want to combine a guided tour experience with personal exploration, opting for the Green Tour could be your best bet. This is because the sites it covers, like Ihlara Valley, which is 80 km (49 miles) away, and Derinkuyu, 35 km (21 miles) distant, are far from Cappadocia’s main towns and not easily reachable by public transport. To explore these attractions independently, you’d either need to rent a car or hire a chauffeur, investing more time, money, and effort.

On the other hand, the attractions included in the Red Tour are closer to central towns and easily accessible by public transportation (dolmus). Some attractions like the Goreme Open Air Museum are even within walking distance if you’re staying in Goreme, a popular base for visitors to Cappadocia. Thus, the Green Tour gives you better value by saving you money, time, and hassle.

How & Where to Book a Green Tour?

You can book your Green Tour via a local travel agent, hotel concierge, or online.

If you ask me, I always suggest booking well in advance online to secure your spot, more so, if you are traveling during the peak season to avoid any disappointment.

I use and recommend Viator and Get Your Guide where the local tour companies list their tours, clearly mentioning all the details from start times and pick-up locations to inclusions and necessary items. Here, you can compare prices and read trusted reviews, that help a lot in choosing the right tour. Also, flexible cancellation policies and the reserve now, pay later option give you peace of mind and convenience.

Here, I’ve done the groundwork for you and listed the most loved Green Tours in Cappadocia for you to just compare and book!

What Should You Bring on the Tour?

You should bring good sunscreen, sun hat, and sunglasses, especially if you’re visiting in the summer. You must also carry a water bottle since buying water might not be possible during the hike.

You can pack a light jacket for the cooler evenings.

Pack all the essentials in a small easy-to-carry transit backpack. Also, carry some cash in Lira for snacks and souvenirs.

If traveling with younger kids, bring a carry-on bag, as using a stroller isn’t feasible at any of the tour attractions due to the terrain.

What Should You Wear for the Tour?

It’s vital to wear sturdy shoes to handle all the walking & hiking.

Wear light, airy, stretchable clothes so you can easily bend and squat through the tunnels while navigating the underground city. Plus, it ensures your comfort despite the changing temperatures and conditions throughout the tour.

Note: The Green Tour requires a lot of walking and thus, needs a certain level of stamina and fitness level. It might not be suitable for young kids, and families with little ones or senior citizens should consider this before booking.

And there you have it, that’s everything you need to know about the Green Tour of Cappadocia. I hope this article helps you decide if this tour aligns with your travel plans or not! If you still have questions, ask me away in the comments section below.

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Cappadocia Red And Green Tours – 2-3 Day Cappadocia Itinerary

If Istanbul enchanted me with it’s infectious energy and diverse culture, then Pamukkale had me gasping at the beautiful white travertines & archaeological cities. My Turkey trip was going like a dream. With one final destination left, I was hoping to finish my journey in Turkey on a high note. And boy was it a high note or what! I had no clue that I was about to explore a destination so blessed with exquisite natural beauty that it would be etched in my memory forever. The place I’m talking about is  Cappadocia . Cappadocia is so weirdly picturesque that words fall short to describe it’s beauty. The terrain is rocky with a large expanse of volcanic rocks shaped like towers, cones, mushrooms, and even male genitals. Since Cappadocia is a huge territory, exploring all of it can seem like a bit of a task. Therefore, the tour companies there have designed three Cappadocia tours to help you cover different regions of Cappadocia. They are  Cappadocia Red, Blue and Green tours.  In this blog post, I’ll be sharing with you the best 2-3 Day Cappadocia itinerary  ie. exploring Cappadocia through the Cappadocia Red and Green tours.

How To Get To Cappadocia

Before discussing the details of Cappadocia Red and Green tours, let’s find out how to get to Cappadocia both, from Istanbul and Pamukkale.

From Istanbul To Cappadocia

1. BY PLANE –  The fastest and most convenient way to get to Cappadocia from Istanbul is by flight. If you book your domestic travel within Turkey in advance, then you can get your flight tickets at a cheap rate. Turkish Airlines & Pegasus Air  operate daily non-stop flights from both the Istanbul airports –   Istanbul Airport (IST) and  Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to Nevşehir-Kapadokya Airport (NEV) and  Kayseri’s Erkilet Airport  (ASR).

So pick and choose your airport based on the location of your accommodation and enjoy your 1-hour 15-minute journey!

But the journey doesn’t end there. Once in Cappadocia, don’t you want to get to your accommodation? You can get to your hotel through an airport shuttle service. I’d recommend you to use Peerless Travel Services as their shuttle rates are economical and the customer service is good too.

You can also use the shuttle service operated by Argeus travel company   (official Turkish Airlines shuttle service),  Turkish Heritage travel , and Rock Valley travel . However, if you’re rich and travelling in a public shuttle isn’t your thing, then you can hire a private car as well.

2. BY BUS –  If sleeping on a bus during a 10-12 hour overnight journey excites you, then, by all means, go ahead & travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia by bus. It’s the cheapest means of transportation with a ticket costing just 90 TL-100 TL. But let me warn you, it’s a long ride that covers a distance of around 750 km so you might be exhausted at the end of it.

The advantage with this is a) you save accommodation money by spending the night sleeping on a bus instead of a hotel in Istanbul and b) you can use that very money you saved to do tours and activities in Cappadocia instead.

3. BY TRAIN – If you choose to travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia by train, then you have two options. You can take a high-speed YHT train from Istanbul to Ankara. Check the train timetable by clicking here . 

Then take a metro from the Ankara station to the bus terminal. This can take about 45 minutes to an hour. Buses from Ankara to Gorëme in Cappadocia run every couple of hours throughout the day.

Journey to Gorëme takes about 4-5 hours and a ticket can cost you anywhere between 70 TL-110 TL depending upon the bus company you’re opting for. You can book your bus tickets by clicking here .

The second option is that you can take a high-speed train from Istanbul to Konya. Check the train timetable by clicking here . Then book a bus ticket from Konya to Gorëme in Cappadocia by clicking here . The journey to Gorëme takes 4 hours and a ticket can cost you anywhere between 65 TL-100 TL.

4. BY CAR/TAXI – For the adventurous braveheart who wants to drive a car from Istanbul to Cappadocia, a journey of 8-9 hours awaits. If you take meal and pee breaks into consideration, then the journey duration becomes 10 hours. It’s a long 800 km drive so avail this option at your own risk.

You can also hire a private taxi from Istanbul to Gorëme by clicking here .

From Pamukkale To Cappadocia

1. BY PLANE –  There’s no direct flight from Pamukkale to Cappadocia. So what you can do is take a shuttle from Pamukkale to the nearest airport ie. Denizli airport (which is approximately a 1-hour journey). Your hotel in Pamukkale can help you book this shuttle at a reasonable price.

Then take a flight from Denizli airport (DNZ) to  Kayseri’s Erkilet Airport (ASR). You will have a stop at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) in Istanbul because there is no direct flight that’s operational. So the flight duration can be anything between 4-5 hours depending on your stoppage time in Istanbul.

The second option is that you can take a shuttle from Pamukkale to Izmir (3 hours) and then hop on a flight fro Izmir to Cappadocia ( 1 hour 20 minutes). Once you’re at  Kayseri’s Erkilet Airport (ASR), you can get to your accommodation by using the shuttle services of companies I’ve mentioned above in the “ getting to Cappadocia from Istanbul by plane section “.

2. BY BUS – There are direct buses available from  Denizli otogar (otogar means bus terminal in Turkish) to  Nevşehir otogar.  It’s a 9.5-10 hour journey with a ticket costing you around 80 TL. You can book your bus tickets by clicking here.

In case direct buses are booked during peak season, then you’ll have to change buses in Konya. It’s a 6-6.5 hour journey from Denizli to Konya with a ticket costing you around 70 TL. From Konya otogar take a bus to  Nevşehir otogar (Cappadocia). It’s a 3-hour journey with a ticket costing you around 45 TL-55 TL. Book both your bus tickets by clicking here.

The distance from  Nevşehir otogar  to Gorëme is just 19km (25 minutes approx.) so you can take a cab/taxi from the bus stop to your hotel in Gorëme.

3. BY CAR/TAXI –  If you’re in the mood for a road trip, then you can hire a private car and drive a distance of 650 km from Pamukkale to Cappadocia. It’s an 8-9 hour journey and your fuel charges can range anywhere between 450 TL-700 TL. You can also book a private taxi by clicking here .

Where To Stay In Cappadocia – Cappadocia Accommodations

There are mainly two popular places in Cappadocia where you could book your stay –  Göreme and Uçhisar.  I stayed in  Göreme  and I’d recommend you to book your stay here as well. Why?

1. Firstly, because it has a centralized location with easy access to all parts of Cappadocia. As a result, you cut down on travel time to get to a particular place. Additionally, most of the good tour agencies have their offices in Göreme. So if you’re staying in Göreme, then you won’t have to worry about the pickup when choosing the Cappadocia Red and Green tours.

2. Secondly, it provides you with more options as far as eating, shopping and nightlife are concerned.

3. Thirdly, since Göreme is situated among the many fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, it offers you unique cave-style accommodations from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the hot air balloons during sunrise and sunset.

Best Hotels In Goreme Where You Can Stay

1. Cappadocia Cave Suites – This is the place I stayed at and I unabashedly recommend you stay here. Why? Because firstly, it has the best cave rooms at a minimal price (if you book in advance) and in the evenings it looks like THIS!

Photo @ Cappadocia Cave Suites Management

Secondly, it’s restaurant serves you the most delicious and sumptuous food  you can find in Cappadocia.

Thirdly, the staff is polite, friendly and assists you  in booking your Cappadocia Red, Blue and Green tours through a premium tour company that doesn’t overcharge you.

Finally, you get to see lovely  sunset views  from the terrace of the hotel. Check out the Cappadocia Cave Suites property and book your stay by clicking here.

2. Sultan Cave Suites – Check out the property and book your stay by clicking here.

3. Grand Elite Cave Suites – Check out the property and book your stay by clicking here.

4. Charming Cave Hotel – Check out the property and book your stay by clicking here.

5. Aydinli Cave Hotel – Check out the property and book your stay by clicking here.

Why Choose Cappadocia Red And Green Tours?

I had two and a half days to explore Cappadocia and wanted to make the most of it. Since I kept aside half a day to do bucket list items like Hot Air Ballooning  and ATV bike riding, I effectively had two days to do the tours.

I chose to do the Red tour Cappadocia and Green tour Cappadocia. Why? Because the two tours not only cover the museums, underground cities, castles, valleys, monasteries but also include lovely hikes through valleys, local food/wine tastings, and art workshops.

As a result, you get to experience the best of Cappadocia and understand why it has to be included in your Turkey itinerary .

Besides, you anyway end up covering a few places similar to those included in the Blue tour. So it makes more sense to do the Cappadocia Red and Green tours. This way you end up saving both time and money. However, you can do the Blue tour as well if you have an extra day or two.

The Ultimate Cappadocia Itinerary

Day 1 – red tour cappadocia.

Red Tour Cappadocia helps you explore the northern region of Cappadocia. The places and activities that you’ll be covering on your first day under this tour are :

• Göreme Open Air Museum,
• Uchisar Castle,
• Carpet Shop,
• Love Valley and Rose Valley,
• Ceramik Kapadokya Pottery Workshop,
• Urgup Fairy Chimneys,
• Devrent Valley and
• Wine Tasting in Urgup

Goreme Open Air Museum

A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984, the Göreme open-air museum is one of the most popular attractions to visit in Cappadocia. It’s a vast monastic complex consisting of individual monasteries placed side by side – each with a refectory and a private church.

You feel like you’re in a parallel universe as you walk through the rocky settlement area exploring the various cave houses, churches (kilise in Turkish), dining halls, chapels, sitting-rooms inside the rock-cut blocks.

The rock-cut churches are well preserved and have some beautiful frescoes and paintings that date back to the Byzantine era.

You see a reflection of the monastery life led by nuns and monks in the Byzantine cave churches. These churches have wall paintings and frescoes that depict scenes from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Some of the popular cave churches in the museum which you must not miss out on are the Dark Church (separate entrance fee), Tokali (Buckle) Church, Elmali Church, Yilanli Church, St. Basil’s Chapel, Saint Barbara Chapel, and   St. Catherine’s Chapel. 

The entry fee for the Göreme open-air museum is 40 TL.

IMPORTANT NOTE :

1. Visit this place early in the morning (around 8 am) to avoid both, the queues and the hot afternoon sun. 2. If you wish to explore the place on your own, then you can opt for an audio guide. The audio guide fee is 15 TL. 3. Your Cappadocia Museum Pass is valid for this museum.

Uchisar Castle

Situated on the highest point of the small town of Uchisar, this tall volcanic-rock outcrop is a famous tourist spot in Cappadocia. The Uchisar Castle, located just 5 km away from the town of Göreme, is one of the best viewpoints to witness the alluring sunsets of Cappadocia.

You can either take a bus from Göreme bus station to Uchisar village (a 10-minute journey) which costs you 3-5 TL per ticket or walk your way from Göreme to the Uchisar castle, hiking through the Love Valley/Pigeon Valley.

The Castle historically acted as a place of refuge for the locals when the enemy armies attacked/occupied the surrounding areas.

Once you climb the 100 odd stairs (10-minute climb) that lead you to the top, you are rewarded with the most spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of surrounding towns and rock valleys garnished generously with the surreal-looking fairy chimneys.

The entry fee for the Uchisar Castle is 9 TL.

Carpet Shop

I know that as soon as you read the word shop , all you can visualize is locals pestering you to buy their stuff. But trust me this inclusion in the itinerary isn’t a tourist trap.

In fact, by the end of your tour of the shop, you are tempted to buy every silk carpet that you lay your eyes on. Carpet weaving is an art and the Anatolian region is the center where this art flourished.

In the carpet shop, you are shown the 2 main types of rugs under production currently – the  kilim  (a flat-woven carpet) and  halı  (knotted rug).

I particularly loved watching graceful Turkish women making woollen and silk carpets with their bare hands using designs that reflect the cultural heritage of Turkey.

The staff at the store show you different kinds of Turkish carpets – both vintage and modern. They teach you how to distinguish between an authentic silk carpet and a fake one, winning you over with their warmth, genuineness, and knowledge.

You get to witness products of their masterful craftsmanship over a delicious cup of Turkish tea/coffee which, according to me, is an absolute win!

Love Valley And Rose Valley

Considering the one-of-a-kind terrain that Cappadocia is blessed with, the valleys form an integral part of the gorgeous landscape. Two such valleys are the Love Valley and the Rose Valley. 

Love Valley gives you an interesting perspective of the cave dwellings and volcanic-rock formations. You see an endless spread of cone topped rock structures called Fairy Chimneys , formed due to wind and rain erosions over thousands of years.

The rock structures strangely resemble mushrooms . So I’m assuming the person responsible for naming this valley had a “love for mushrooms” .

Hiking through the Love Valley is an option if you love hikes and have time on your hands. I, however, got a bit creative. I spotted a sofa at a vantage point which offered an incredible view of the valley (no kidding!).

So I removed my footwear, slid down a rocky slope, and enjoyed the remarkable view of the valley, resting my butt on that oddly but strategically placed sofa.

Rose Valley is another picturesque valley that has to be on your must-visit list. Again, you have the option of hiking the Rose Valley trailhead to get to the valley or you could drive for 15 minutes from Göreme town and get straight to the viewpoint. I chose the latter option.

Rose Valley has unique rock formations which give it a corrugated appearance. But what makes the Rose Valley incredibly exquisite is the fact that the minerals in the sandstone have a pink coloured tinge to them.

This pink is accentuated through the day and is at it’s peak during sunset when the slanting rays create an impression of a valley resplendent in a rosy pink blanket. Rose Valley during sunset is a sight to behold and an absolute natural wonder that leaves you awestruck.

Ceramik Kapadokya Pottery Workshop

If you think that weaving beautiful silk carpets is all there is to Cappadocia, then you’re wrong because there’s an entire world of ceramic art that awaits you. I went to Ceramik Kapadokya which is a ceramic pottery workshop cum store.

The place has a demonstration area where you’re shown how the pottery products are made from scratch. You can even try your hand at it and learn the skill from the masters. The ease with which they make such intricate and wonderful pieces of ceramic art leaves you mighty impressed.

There is a section of products in the store that’s exorbitantly priced as it is designed and made by the experts at the craft. But then there is another section made by the students that’s more affordable.

I chose the latter section to buy Turkish wine decanters and decorative plates famous in that region. If artgasm (yeah, I coined that) is a thing, then the sight of turquoise ceramic pieces of whirling dervishes in a “sema” dance pose has to be the definition of it. The place is an absolute haven for art lovers!

Urgup Fairy Chimneys

The Fairy Chimneys  are a distinctive geographical feature of Cappadocia that makes it one of the most famous destinations in Turkey.

In the Red Tour Cappadocia, you’ll be visiting Urgup and seeing the Fairy Chimneys from close quarters. A 15-minute drive from Göreme town leads you to these surreal towering rock formations.

What’s interesting to know is the story behind their emergence! Volcanic eruptions that occurred millions of years ago blanketed the region with a thick layer of ash, which later solidified into tuff (soft rock). Then erosion by wind and water removed the softer layers of the rock formations leaving only the harder elements to form the Fairy Chimneys.

Fairy Chimneys generally have a conical-shaped body with a boulder on top of it that could resemble a cap, mushroom, or pointed rock. Fairy Chimneys of different kinds can be spotted in different parts of Cappadocia.

Human inventiveness during the Roman period gave the Chimneys their current structure. In this period, Christian inhabitants made a network of caves, churches, sitting rooms, tunnels, and storehouses.

Holes in the walls were for air circulation and blackened walls implied they were part of the kitchen. Just walking around these structures transports you to those times and makes you wonder how the nuns and monks must have lived the “monastery life” inside them.

Devrent Valley

Devrent Valley is a place you’ll enjoy visiting if you have an active and vivid imagination. No kidding! The valley is also called Imagination Valley  for the same reason. Wondering why? That’s because the rock formations here resemble shapes of animals. The most noticeable animal shapes are those of camels, snakes, dolphins, and snails!

You feel like you’re in a customized sculpture zoo designed by nature. The small Fairy Chimneys here have a different appearance compared to those in other valleys. You’ll see them forming a moonscape or a lunar landscape because of their strange look.

Unlike other valleys, you won’t find any cave dwellings or churches in this valley as it was never inhabited by the humans. But what will appeal to you about the Devrent Valley is the lunar landscape. The place is a mere 15 minutes away from Göreme town (11.5 km) and is worth visiting.

Wine Tasting In Urgup

Exploring Cappadocia would be incomplete without getting a taste of the natural, authentic, delicious wines of the region.

Turkey is the world’s fourth-leading producer of grapes with Urgup being the heart of the wine-producing region of Cappadocia. So it comes as no surprise that wine’s always been an integral part of the Turkish culture.

I was taken to the Turasan Sarapcilik  in Urgup. The staff members at Turasan Sarapcilik were warm, friendly, and offered me complimentary tastings of their award-winning wines. 

The quality of wine here is great thanks to the stocking of the grapes at a constant temperature inside the caves. The main grape varieties that are used to make wine here are Emir, Okuzgozu, Kalecik Karasi, Bogazkere, and Narince.

My favourite wines from the ones I tried were  Kalecik Karasi and Emir . They have a unique aroma and flavour which makes them irresistible. I ended up buying a couple of them and I recommend you try them as well!

Day 2 – Green Tour Cappadocia

Green Tour Cappadocia helps you explore the southern part of Cappadocia. The places and activities that you’ll be covering on your second day under this tour are :

• Göreme Panorama Viewpoint,
• Kaymakli Underground City,
• Ihlara Valley Hike,
• Selime Monastery,
• Pigeon Valley,
• Turkish Delights Tasting and

Kapadokya Onyx Stone Centre

Goreme panorama viewpoint.

You begin your Green tour Cappadocia with a marvellous view that could easily replace your current desktop wallpaper. Since the name of the place is self-explanatory, I don’t need to tell you much.

You just need to take a deep breath, marvel at the stupendous panoramic views of Göreme, and have a good camera with you to capture the magic on display!

It’s best to go to the Göreme Panorama point either at the beginning of the tour (just after sunrise) or the end of the tour (during sunset). Because it’s during these two periods of “golden light” that the valleys containing fairy chimneys and other rock formations of Göreme come alive.

There is no entrance fee and the parking here is free as well. There are some souvenir stores and small coffee shops at the venue for tourists.

Kaymakli Underground City

Does the idea of an underground city fascinate you? If yes, then you’re in for some exciting times as the Green tour gives you a chance to explore the widest underground city of Cappadocia.

Built under the hill known as the Citadel of Kaymakli, the  Kaymakli underground city  was first opened to tourists in 1964 and was part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. The ancient name of the city was Enegup.

Though Kaymakli city is an 8 level deep maze of tunnels and rooms carved into the Earth, only 4 of them are open to the public. Each space is organized around ventilation shafts. So the size and design of rooms vary depending on the ventilation available.

Our guide informed us that the first underground caves were built by Indo-European people called “Phrygians” and the material they used to build the city was the soft volcanic rock.

Later, Christian inhabitants expanded the cave chambers by constructing chapels, storage rooms, and living spaces. But the underground caves were mainly used by the Christians to seek protection from the Arab, Mongolian and Ottoman invasions that occurred at different times.

The first floor was used as a stable since it was difficult to take animals downstairs to lower floors through narrow passageways. To the right of the stable, you’ll see rooms that were probably living spaces.

On the second floor , you’ll see a church with a few small living spaces. The third floor is the largest and the most important of them all. Here you’ll come across community kitchens, wine/oil presses, and storage areas. On the fourth floor , there are spacious living quarters and storage rooms.

Archaeologists believe that the city once accommodated 3000-3500 people. I had a great time exploring this special place. After all, where else would you get the opportunity to time-travel to 7th century BC while squat-walking fancily through narrow tunnels? 

It is a must-visit place in Cappadocia. According to me, exploring the underground city is the most thrilling activity among all activities in the Cappadocia Red and Green tours.

1. Exploring the underground city requires a certain level of fitness. So if you have a bad back or knee problems, then I advise you to avoid visiting the place. 2. Only the passageways that lead you from one level to another can get a bit too tight. Otherwise, it’s very easy to navigate the site. However, if you’re too claustrophobic, then don’t visit the place.

Ihlara Valley Hike

This was my favourite part of the Green tour of Cappadocia. The Ihlara Valley is a beautiful gorge in the Aksaray province of central Anatolia region. 

Lined with trees on both sides, the Melendiz river flows through the Ihlara valley and gives it a calming appearance. For those wanting to connect with nature, this hike is highly recommended.

It’s an easy 3.5-4 km walk from one end to the other. You get down a series of steps and reach the base of the valley where the hike begins. Along the stairway path, you’ll come across a lovely little cave church carved into the volcanic rock.

What surprised me were the colourful frescoes on the inside walls of the church! They were surprisingly well maintained.

Walking along the river, you’ll see many historically significant caves and rooms carved into the cliff that arouse your curiosity. Thankfully, I had a guide named Ahmet  (from Andromeda Tours ) who answered all my questions.

He informed us that Christians escaping from the Roman soldiers took shelter in the rock caves of the Ihlara valley because of the abundant water supply.

The hike is full of visually pleasing sights that have a soothing effect on you. When you’ve got cool fresh air, a serene atmosphere, and pristine natural beauty for company, what more can you ask for?

You’ll even find ducks roaming around freely near the river, at a washroom stop in your hike.

The hike ends with an appetizing lunch at the BelisIrma restaurant which offers you an “over-the-river” dining experience. Tasty food, a friendly staff that serves you with a smile and a view of the picturesque scenery ensure you end your Ihlara experience on a high.

Luckily, I even got to experience my first live snowfall while standing on the wooden bridge just outside the restaurant. Forget feeling exhausted, I felt rejuvenated after the hike. That visual of the snow falling gently on the river is also my favourite memory from the Cappadocia Red and Green tours.

Selime Monastery

Located at the end of the Ihlara valley, at a distance of about 28 km from Aksaray province, is the stunning rock-cut Selime monastery. Selime Monastery is one of the most stunning places to visit in Cappadocia. It is the biggest religious building in Cappadocia with a cathedral-sized church.

The monastery is said to date back to the 8th or 9th century BC and it took almost 200 years to shape and organize the monastery. Inhabitants from Hittite, Assyrian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, early Christian, Seljuk, and Ottoman civilizations settled here.

The monastery was believed to house 5000 people at one time, which is 1,500 people more than the total capacity of the Kaymakli underground city.

After the 11th century, the monastery was converted into a caravanserai ie. a resting place/hotel for travellers and traders along with their animals. This practice was started by the Seljuk Turks to promote the growth of trade in Turkey along the Silk Route.

As you climb up the steep slippery path to the top of the monastery, you’ll see kitchens, stables, dining rooms, living quarters, storage spaces, a church, a chapel, and a cathedral.

Walking inside the impressive rock-hewn caves gives you an idea of the lifestyle of the people from ancient civilizations.

After the 16th century, the monastery was abandoned and only the local shepherds and village kids visited the place for the longest time, damaging the interiors of the monastery. The paintings and frescoes inside the church though are mostly destroyed due to vandalism and smoke.

There are various vantage points in the monastery from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding areas. You can easily spend 1.5 hours to 2 hours touring the monastery.

All in all, the Selime Monastery is a wonderful place worthy of your time and effort.

IMPORTANT NOTE : 

1. Exploring the place requires some climbing. Since the path is steep and slippery, elderly people and people with knee issues can avoid the climb. 2. Remember to wear proper climbing shoes.

Pigeon Valley

After exploring the Selime monastery on foot, you proceed to the Pigeon Valley viewpoint. The Pigeon Valley gets it’s name from the various pigeon houses and shelters with nest holes for domesticated pigeons that were carved into the rock formations.

But why give such importance to pigeons? Well, pigeons were once used as message carriers and their poop was used as a fertilizer . So they helped the people of those times in communication and effective farming.

As a result, pigeons became an important part of the local household, and subsequently a valley was named after them as a mark of reverence to honour their contribution to the Turkish culture.

You can feed the pigeons and enjoy scenic panoramic views of the valley. Keep your eyes open and you’ll be able to see the Uchisar castle from here as well.  You’ll also spot a strikingly beautiful evil eye tree at the viewpoint.

If you choose to hike the Pigeon valley, then you’ll come across cave dwellings, ancient paintings, earth pillars, and of course a huge flock of pigeons!

Turkish Delights Tasting

Travelling to Turkey and not tasting their world-famous Turkish delights is a sin. And since I’m not a sinner, I thoroughly enjoyed the Turkish delights tasting included in the Green tour Cappadocia.

Turkish delight, also known as lokum  is a delicately chewy confectionery item made from sugar, starch, and exotic dry fruits.

In this tasting, you’ll be taken to a sweet mart where you’ll be made to taste all kinds of local dry fruits and exotic Turkish delights. The scent of these desserts coupled with the rich flavours of hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, and dates makes for a deadly combo.

Chocolate-coated apricots were my absolute favourite and I recommend you try them. For people with a sweet tooth, this experience is truly worth it!

If you’re into handmade jewellery, onyx stone souvenirs, and pottery, then you will love visiting the Kapadokya Onyx stone centre. It’s located just outside of Uchisar on Hacialibey Street No: 36.

The owner – Mr. Alpaslan is a friendly, funny, and knowledgeable gentleman who gives you information about different types of Onyx stones and explains the techniques used to craft them into attractive jewellery.

The handmade stonework in the centre is impressive and most importantly, authentic. Since all the stonework is done at this very place, you get the best quality products at a cheap price. The variety of onyx stone jewellery on display is so huge that you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Unlike other onyx stores in Cappadocia where the prices of products are exorbitant, the Kapadokya Onyx stone centre offers you bona fide products that are bang for your buck.

Activities To Do In Cappadocia If You Have An Extra Day

Since I had half a day extra in addition to the 2 days, I chose to do an activity that I’m sure many people have on their bucket lists ie. an ultimate Hot Air Balloon Tour of Cappadocia with Royal Balloons .

It’s not a part of the Cappadocia Red and Green tours but you should definitely include it in your itinerary. I had the time of my life on that Hot Air Balloon and can’t recommend the activity enough!!

Besides that, some other activities that aren’t included in the Cappadocia Red and Green tours but which you can do are – the ATV Bike Tour of Göreme ,  visiting the  Red Valley, Sword Valley  and booking a spa appointment at a nice Turkish Hammam to end the Cappadocian journey on a relaxing note.

Cappadocia is a jaw-droppingly beautiful destination. The magical Cappadocian landscape makes you feel like you’re on Mars and not Earth. And it’s this very characteristic that makes Cappadocia appear almost otherworldly and sets it apart from other places in Turkey.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Cappadocia and hence, strongly recommend you include it in your Turkey trip itinerary. Any number of days feels less when it comes to exploring a place like this.

However, I tried curating an ideal 2-3 day Cappadocia itinerary where you get to explore the best that Cappadocia has to offer through the Cappadocia Red and Green tours. Trust me, the money spent here doesn’t feel like expenditure, it feels like an investment!

SHARE the post “Cappadocia Red and Green Tours – 2-3 Day Cappadocia Itinerary” on your social media channels so that you can help your near and dear ones plan their ideal Turkey trip!

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Vaibhav Mehta

Speaking english is not a measure of intelligence, how to handle rejection in life, you may also like, 10 day turkey itinerary – the ultimate turkish..., best cappadocia hot air balloon tour – royal..., pamukkale tour – things to do in pamukkale, how to spend 4 days in istanbul –....

Hi!Absolutely loved reading ur travelogue.We are a family of 4 and ur blog has helped to plan my trip to Cappadocia better.Thanks once again.

Glad the blogs helped you Ranjita. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Great and very helpful blog Vaibhav. Top marks. My question is that we have only 1.5 day itinerary and we want to fit both red and green tours spots. I understand that we won’t be able to cover everything but is there a private tour where we can select few spots on the red and few on the green tour. Also what’s your experience of prices for the hot air balloon as we can easily fit it in the morning schedule. Thanks again

Thanks Pankaj, glad you found the blog helpful. And yes, you can arrange the private tour without much stress from the property you stay at, in Cappadocia. We did it right there and without any hassles. These 2 tours are extremely popular with the travellers so you can tell the travel agency to selectively take you to spots you want to go to.

Also, prices of the Hot Air Balloon experience can be a bit steep. But if you want the whole experience of it in the best manner possible, then go for Royal Balloon Cappadocia. They start early in the morning so you can be done with it and from there, head on to your red or green tour for that day. Hope that helped. Safe travels, goodluck!

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• Christmas & New Year
• Explore Göreme Open Air Museum
• Visit Uçhisar Castle for panoramic views
• Walk through the unique Love Valley
• Discover ancient pottery in Avanos
• Tour the expansive Ihlara Valley
• Introduction
• Day 1 Cappadocia Red Tour
• Day 2 Cappadocia Green Tour
• Day 3 Cappadocia Blue Tour

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Green Tour Cappadocia: The Best Day Trip From Göreme or Uchisar

When you think of Cappadocia, you likely think of hot air balloons, Turkish breakfasts atop lavish cave hotels, and fairy chimney landscapes. But that’s just one small part of what Cappadocia offers.

Cappadocia is not a town or city in Turkey; rather, it’s a large region in the center of Anatolian (Asian) Turkey. It encompasses parts of five Turkish provinces: Nevşehir, Kayseri, Kırşehir, Aksaray, and Niğde.

However, in travel writing, Cappadocia most often gets condensed into a few small towns. Göreme, its touristy heart; Uchisar, its upscale but smaller sister; and Urgup, its offbeat and quiet (though still quite touristic) neighbor.

However, Cappadocia is so much more than these three towns. And the best way to discover the region of Cappadocia more extensively is by taking a tour. There are three main tour circuits: red, blue, and green. Since I only had a few days in Cappadocia, I could only pick one. After doing the research, I ended up picking the Green Tour Cappadocia (also called a South Cappadocia tour) and I’m so happy I did – and I’ll go into why here.

Pros of the Green Tour Cappadocia

You’ll get to see the widest region of cappadocia.

Compared to the Blue and Red tours, the Green Tour of Cappadocia has you going the furthest afield.

The Red Tour stays pretty close to Göreme and takes up a lot of time at the Open Air Museum and Uchisar Castle – two places that you could visit independently quite easily on your own. Its other stops, like Avanos and Cavusin, are slightly further afield but are still quite popular and tourist-trappy in nature.

Meanwhile, the Blue Tour gets you a little further out but still isn’t as all-encompassing as the Green Tour. It does include one of the two famous underground cities (Kaymakli) which is less-visited but also not quite as impressive as Derinkuyu, which is much deeper. It does spend quite a bit of time near Göreme/Uchisar, though, visiting Uchisar Castle which is easy enough to see on your own.

The reason I like the Green Tour best is that it would be virtually impossible to cover this much ground all on your own independently, unless you have a rental car. You go all the way to the Ilhara Valley and Selime Monastery, which are nearly a hundred kilometers away from Göreme, with very limited public transportation (if any at all, honestly – I’m not sure).

To me, I take tours to get myself to places that would normally be hard to get to on my own and DIY wherever possible, as I’m not huge on guided experiences in general. The Cappadocia Green Tour was easily the best way to see as much of the Cappadocia region as I could in a single day.

It covers the most interesting South Cappadocia tour sights

In addition to covering the most ground geographically, it also covered some things that I thought were way more interesting than some of the other Cappadocia tours.

I was stoked to visit Derinkuyu Underground City, and let me tell you: it exceeded my expectations. It’s truly incredible to see how people carved out a fully functioning underground city (no, no exaggerating here: it could literally fit some 20,000 people plus livestock entirely underground) to hide from invaders centuries ago.

It’s the kind of place that really benefits from a guided tour – otherwise, how else would you know that this stone basin was used to ferment wine (I mean, how else are you going to survive living underground for years at a time?) or that this structure was used to funnel smoke out from the underground city safely? It’s not impressive at first glance, but the stories around it truly bring it to life (with a bit of imagination).

But for me, the true highlights of the Cappadocia Green Tour were the Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery, two stops that none of the other Cappadocia tours make. I loved being able to get out and hike in the Ihlara Valley. It was a short walk, only about an hour, maybe an hour and a half, but it was a really welcome disruption from the hop-on-and-off-the-bus nature of all the guided tours and broke up the tour nicely.

Cons of the Green Tour Cappadocia

It’s not the best option for people with limited mobility.

While Cappadocia in general is not the most accessibility-friendly destination, the Green Tour is definitely not suitable for those with limited mobility or other accessibility needs. The long walk in Ihlara Valley would be tiring for some and not feasible for those in wheelchairs or with walkers, etc. Meanwhile, both Derinkuyu Underground City and Selime Monastery involve some difficult footwork to maneuver properly.

While I’m not an expert in accessible travel, the Red Tour would likely be more suitable for people with mobility limitations, though you would have to contact your tour operator to discuss your specific needs. Hatti Travel organizes accessibility-friendly tours of Cappadocia if that’s something you require.

There is still some tourist-trappery

As with many tours in Turkey, there are some stops that are clearly designed to get the tourist to spend some extra cash. Think overpriced and underwhelming lunches and stops at artisan shops designed to entice you into spending.

The Green Tour avoids some of the more obvious tourist traps by including lunch in the cost of the tour and skipping many of the shop stops, but still expect to stop at least one or two shops, as that’s a common way they lower the cost of the tour, by making deals with shopkeepers to visit their store.

Just know that this is standard for all Turkey tours (and tours in much of the world, to be honest) and don’t feel obligated to shop – unless, of course, you spot a Turkish souvenir you just can’t live without!

What is Included on a Cappadocia Green Tour Itinerary?

Luckily, there are three fixed routes: red, green, and blue. The benefit of this is that it’s quite easy to determine what stops are included on each tour, so that you can pick the best tours and not overlap that much if you choose to do multiple tours (though there is some moderate amount of overlap, mostly short scenic overlooks).

That means it’s quite easy to define what you’ll see on a Cappadocia Green Tour and it shouldn’t vary that much between different operators. However, keep in mind that weather conditions, closures, etc. may cause a shift in the itinerary so come with an open mind in case of any changes.

Generally, the Green Tour will cover the following main stops: Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley for a short walk, and Selime Monastery. It’ll also make other stops at scenic overlooks, workshops, etc. depending on the itinerary.

Generally, tours you can book online include lunch, licensed guide, all transportation, and all entry fees, so the only extras you’ll pay are souvenirs and any extras like drinks or snacks that aren’t part of the lunch. If you book a tour on the ground in Cappadocia, you’ll often get quoted a lower price – but then you’ll have to pay for lunch, entrance fees, etc., so you don’t really end up saving much money (if any at all).

Which is the Best Cappadocia Green Tour?

The Cappadocia Green Tour refers to a circuit of common stops, not one fixed tour offered by a single company. As a result you’ll find different tour companies offering the Green Tour, with slight variations on the tour but offering all the same main stops.

If I had to pick, my choice would go to the Green Tour run by Enka Turkey Tours . This is because the guide is a professional art historian with a ton of knowledge about the sites you’ll be seeing on the tour: all the reviews of the tour rave about the guide’s knowledge and how it enhanced the tour.

Since you’ll spend quite a bit of time in transit and exploring sights on foot, having a knowledgeable guide who can make that transit time more educational is a huge benefit. The transportation is also slightly more comfortable as it’s in a luxury minivan with a smaller group – since you’ll be spending at least 4 hours in the van over the course of the day, it’s better to splurge for a little comfort.

If you’re on a budget, the Green Tour by Tourmania is slightly cheaper, although you’ll travel in a slightly larger group (and your guide, while knowledgeable, likely won’t have an art history background). However, it covers all the same stops as the other Green Tours, since it’s a fixed route, so you’ll see all the same things as the other tour.

Of course, you could always wait until in Cappadocia to book, but keep in mind that they’ll often spring some last minute costs on you that are excluded, so if you prefer knowing what you’ll pay ahead of time, I definitely recommend booking in advance. The better tour companies could also get fully booked, so that’s another reason to book in advance.

Where to Stay in Cappadocia

Many of the hotels you’ll find in Cappadocia have been restored from old cave homes that were cut into the rock and given new life. Staying in a cave hotel in Cappadocia was truly one of my favorite parts of the entire trip and I definitely recommend it when planning your trip!

Budget : I was traveling Cappadocia on a budget and stayed at  Chelebi Cave House Hotel , which I loved (my small room is pictured above!). I stayed in a double room with a jacuzzi bathtub ensuite and it was simple but perfect. The breakfast spread was fantastic and ultra-generous, and its rooftop terrace was a wonderful place to watch the balloons at sunrise if you could drag yourself out of bed early enough to spot them. Check prices, availability, reviews, and photos here.

Mid-Range: The most-Instafamous hotel in Cappadocia, Sultan Cave Suites , is surprisingly affordable for its ubiquity on Instagram. I’d be willing to bet you’ve seen the breakfast set-up approximately a thousand times as you’ve scrolled through Instagram. Rooms are gorgeously chic and spacious – definitely bring your expectations from the word ‘cave’ up a notch! – and gorgeously furnished with Turkish details such as carpets and textiles. But really, you’re there for that gorgeous terrace and the delicious breakfasts (though the one you’ve seen on Instagram is fake and just set up for the ‘gram, according to my friend who stayed there!). Check prices, availability, reviews, and photos here.

Luxury: Awarded both the Best Luxury Boutique Hotel and the Best Hotel Architecture in Europe, the  Museum Hotel  is basically as good as it gets. It’d be hard to beat the dreamy infinity-style pool at Museum Hotel (yes, breakfast can be eaten poolside, and the pool is heated even in winter!) But the coolest thing about Museum Hotel is that its name isn’t in vain: the hotel is literally set within historic ruins which have been renovated extensively. It has a number of artifacts from around Turkey that create a ‘museum’ within a hotel — plus each room is furnished with invaluable antiques that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Staying here is like staying in a living, breathing, 5-star piece of history. Check prices, availability, reviews, and photos here .

More Cappadocia & Turkey Travel Resources

If you’re curious about the most  Instagrammable places in Cappadocia , we’ve got you covered. We’ve also written extensively about  the best cave hotels  for all budgets here in Cappadocia.

We also have posts on the best things to do in Cappadocia , and how to plan a perfect 3 day Cappadocia itinerary .

You’re likely also planning a trip to Istanbul if you’re headed to Cappadocia. We’re working on our massive things to do post, but for now, you can check out our  Instagram guide to Istanbul , our favorite  Istanbul neighborhoods and where to stay , and tips for  shopping in Istanbul .

For more general Turkey information, check out this guide to  planning a trip to Turkey (including visa information)  and this guide to other  beautiful places to visit in Turkey .

We have tons more Turkey and Balkans resources, and we publish new content nearly daily. Bookmark our  Turkey  and  Balkans  travel pages so you can find any new resources that come out before your trip!

Headed to Cappadocia? Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

If you’re planning a trip to Cappadocia, make sure to travel with a valid  travel insurance  policy. While we feel safe in Turkey, especially in Cappadocia, you need to be covered in case of an emergency. Travel insurance covers you in case of theft or an accident, which can save your trip if there’s an incident.

For travel insurance, I use  World Nomads .  I’ve been a happy customer of theirs for almost three years, and I’ve never had an issue when making a claim. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet.

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Originally from California, Allison has been living in Bulgaria for the last two years and is obsessed with traveling around the Balkans. She has been published in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, Matador Network, and the Huffington Post. She loves befriending dogs, drinking coffee, geeking out about wine, and cooking food from around the world.

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Red Tour vs Green Tour in Cappadocia: The differences

Cappadocia, renowned for its surreal landscapes and rich history, offers two popular tour options: the Red Tour and the Green Tour.

These tours take you on unique journeys through the captivating region, showcasing its natural wonders and cultural treasures.

Both tours are excellent and essential for experiencing Cappadocia. However, if you have limited time and you need to choose one, here are the differences.

The Red Tour, also known as the North Cappadocia Tour , covers the beauty of Cappadocia’s northern region.

The tour begins by visiting Uchisar Castle , the highest point in Cappadocia. The castle is one of the most popular places in Cappadocia.

Although we do not climb the castle itself, we get close enough to witness its magnificent presence and admire its impressive structure.

Next, you will explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Goreme Open Air Museum , home to well-preserved frescoes dating back to the 5th century.

It’s important to note that not all travel agencies include the Goreme Open Air Museum in their Red Tour. Instead, they replace it with the Zelve Open Air Museum, which is free to visit and helps them reduce costs.

However, we include Goreme Open Air Museum in our Red Tour itinerary . We believe that visiting the Goreme Open Air Museum is an absolute must, as it offers a truly remarkable experience. The differences between these two sites are substantial.

The tour continues with visits to the famous Love Valley , the charming Avanos village for lunch, a pottery workshop, and concludes with Pasabag and Devrent Valley , where you can admire the best-preserved fairy chimneys of the region.

The Red Tour is a must-do, showcasing the iconic symbols of Cappadocia.

The Green Tour , also known as the South Cappadocia Tour , explores the southern part of Cappadocia.

The tour begins with a panoramic view of Goreme village, offering a breathtaking perspective.

The journey then takes you to the renowned Derinkuyu Underground City , one of Cappadocia’s most significant sites.

With its eight levels, it is the deepest underground city in the region.

Next, you will explore the vast Ihlara Valley , the largest canyon in Cappadocia. A walk alongside the Melendiz River allows you to immerse yourself in the scenic beauty.

It’s worth mentioning that if you prefer not to participate in the walking portion, you have the option to skip it. In this case, you can wait with our driver and rejoin the group at the end of the walking.

The tour includes a lunch break in Belisirma Village, near the Melendiz River, and continues with a visit to the remarkable Selime Monastery , the largest rock-cut cathedral in Cappadocia.

The tour concludes with a return to the center of Cappadocia, offering picturesque views of Pigeon Valley and a visit to an onyx factory.

Differences

Timing: Both tours start around 09:30-09:45, but the Red Tour ends around 16:30, while the Green Tour ends around 17:30. The Green Tour has slightly longer travel times due to the distances covered.

Physical difficulty: The Red Tour involves minimal walking, except for exploring the Open Air Museum and Pasabag area.

In contrast, the Green Tour includes a moderate walk in the Ihlara Valley, which can be skipped if desired. The underground city visit involves walking through narrow tunnels but opens up to larger rooms. You can easily exit if needed.

Choosing between the Red Tour and Green Tour depends on your preferences and interests. The Red Tour is suitable for those seeking picturesque landscapes, fairy chimneys, castles, and valleys—the iconic symbols of Cappadocia.

On the other hand, the Green Tour appeals to nature and hiking enthusiasts, providing opportunities to explore the vast Ihlara Valley and the remarkable Derinkuyu Underground City.

Both tours offer insights into Cappadocia’s rich history. Ultimately, selecting one tour over the other allows you to delve deeper into specific aspects of this captivating region. Remember, both tours are necessary to grasp the essence of Cappadocia fully.

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Cappadocia Red – Green & Blue Tours – 3 Days

Reservation Form

You can book Cappadocia Red – Green & Blue Tours – 3 Days or you can make an enquire by using our form.

From: 119  €

We combine most famous Cappadocia day tours in one package. You will be picked up from your hotel in Cappadocia daily for the tours and at the end of the day, tour returned back to your hotel. If you have hotel reservation already in Cappadocia then this program will be perfect tour option for you to explore the Cappadocia in 3-day tours. 3 days Cappadocia red – green & blue tours program is available every day all year round.

3 Days Cappadocia Red – Green & Blue Tours

Day 1:   cappadocia red tour.

09:30  am – Our travel team will pick you up from your hotel in Cappadocia. Today is your first day tour of the Cappadocia. You will meet with the local guide in Cappadocia center and start to the fully guided  Cappadocia Red Tour .

In this day you will be able to see: Devrent Valley Uchisar Castle Avanos Pasabaglari Goreme panoramic viewpoint Zelve Open Air Museum Pigeon Valley Guided tour will finish around 16:30 pm and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2:   Cappadocia Green Tour

09:30 am – Our travel team will pick you up right from the hotel and you will meet with the local guide in Cappadocia. Start to the Cappadocia Green Tour .

In this day you will be able to see: Goreme Panoramic View Hike in Ihlara Valley Selime Monastery Derinkuyu Underground City Belisirma Village Pigeon Valley Guided tour will finish around 17:00 pm and transfer back to your hotel.

Day 3:   Cappadocia Blue Tour

09:30 am – Our travel team will meet you right at the hotel and start the Cappadocia Blue Tour .

In this day you will be able to see: Cavusin Village Red Valley (Kizil Cukur) Hospital Monastery Underground City Monks Valley Ortahisar At the end of the guided Cappadocia blue tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 17:00 pm.

• Hotel Pick Up & Drop Off
• 3 Days Guided Cappadocia Day Tours
• Professional Local Tour Gude
• Transportations
• Entrance Fees
• Parking & Road Fees
• Local Taxes
• Personal Expenses
• Hotel Accommodation
• Drinks at the lunches
• Optional Cappadocia Tours
• You are kindly requested to present yourself at the pickup point 15 minutes prior the pre-advised pickup time.
• Guests must be able to walk approximately 1,5 miles over uneven and cobblestone surfaces.
• Comfortable shoes, a hat and plenty of sunscreen are recommended as shade is limited the order of the tour itinerary may vary in order to avoid congestion.
• Guests should watch their step at all times in order to avoid injuries.
• It is not recommended to visit underground cities for the guests who have asthma and claustrophobia.
• Optional add-ons at extra charge: Highly Recommended in Cappadocia * Join Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia * Enjoy Whirling Dervish Show * Traditional Turkish Night and Dinner Show

Tour Reviews

Leave a review, related cappadocia tours.

Standard Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour

Turkish Night Cappadocia

Cappadocia Horse Riding

Blue Tour in Cappadocia: Is it Worth it?

Co-Founder of The Turkey Traveler. Globetrotter, Adventurer, and Frequent Traveler to Turkey!

This website uses affiliate links. For more information, click here .

Cappadocia is known for its desert landscape and iconic fairy chimneys, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Goreme National Park is a huge area that is just waiting to be explored.

But if you have only a short time in Cappadocia, you might be considering one of the tour options. The most famous are the Red and Green tours, which are most often coach tours (though not always) that take you to some of the biggest highlights in the region.

But who really enjoys being on a bus with 40 strangers and not being able to hear your guide at each stop? Not us, that’s for sure.

This is why the Blue Tour in Cappadocia is a great option for those who don’t have long to spend and prefer being in a small group. 

But what is the Blue Tour and what do you see? This complete guide to the Blue Tour in Cappadocia will answer this question and more…

Planning a trip to Cappadocia last-minute?

Make sure you book your tours, places to stay, and airport transfers ahead of time to ensure availability!

Here is our recommended airport transfer in Cappadocia:

• Airport Shuttle From Nevşehir Airport (NAV) or Kayseri Airport (ASR) (Super affordable!)

Here are our recommended tours in Cappadocia:

• Hot Air Balloon Flight In Cappadocia At Sunrise (A must-do In Cappadocia)
• ATV Tours At Sunset
• Green Tour In Cappadocia (Perfect for those not renting a car!)

Here are our recommended places to stay in Cappadocia:

• Koza Cave Hotel (Amazing views and great photo opportunities)
• Museum Hotel (Most luxurious hotel in Cappadocia)
• Kamelya Cave Hostel (Budget hostel with cave rooms!)

What Are The Stops On The Blue Tour In Cappadocia?

The blue tour is a small group tour that takes you to some of the most iconic landscapes. These are the stops on the blue tour.

• Red and Rose Valley Hike

Cavusin Cave Village

• Local lunch in Cavusin

Özkonak or Kaymakli Underground City

• Fairy Chimneys in Uc Guzeller (not included on every tour)

Pigeon Valley

Uchisar castle.

This is the general itinerary for the blue tour in Cappadocia. Some of the tour companies have variations of this tour, with other stops included such as an optional balloon flight, but most of the companies offer this route. 

The order of these stops might differ depending on the tour company to stop overcrowding at each site. You will spend roughly one hour at each place.

The blue tour starts between 9.30 AM and 10 AM (it picks everyone up from their hotel) and ends roughly 7 hours later at around 5 PM. 

From our research, some tours don’t include a visit to the fairy chimneys in Uc Guzeller, so if this is a deal breaker for you, it’s a good idea to shop around. If you’d like to book a tour with this included, click the box below.

Red and Rose Valley

The first stop on the blue tour is the Red Valley and Rose valley . 

Hiking in Cappadocia is one of the best things to do in the region but it’s also not something you want to be doing in the heat of the day. This is why it’s the first stop on the tour, so you can enjoy the beauty of the landscape during the coolest hours of the day.

Red and Rose Valley are connected to each other, which is why many people confuse the two. Rose Valley is North of Red Valley and is where you’ll find most of the fairy chimneys and churches. 

The Red Valley gets its name from the red rock type that adorns the landscape here. There are a few cave dwellings to explore here, too.

Don’t Miss Out on the BEST Experience in Cappadocia!

No trip to Cappadocia is complete without taking an epic hot air balloon flight at sunrise!

Make sure you reserve your tour well in advance to avoid missing out or paying any additional fees last minute!

Cavusin is a cave village just North of Red and Rosey Valley, between Avanos and Goreme. 

The village was built by the Greeks in the 7th and 8th centuries and has been inhabited right up until the 60s when the villagers were forced to leave by the government who deemed the dwellings to be unsafe. 

The cave dwellings here are some of the largest and most impressive in the region and are one of the rare examples of dwellings on top of one another. There are also several churches that you can visit too.

Cavusin is also where this tour stops for lunch in one of the local restaurants. Some of the best restaurants in Cappadocia are in Cavusin, with incredible views of the dwellings from their windows.

There are said to be around 200 underground cities in Cappadocia, but only a few are open for tourism. The main ones are the Derinkuyu Underground City and the Kaymakli Underground City. The Özkonak is another underground city open for tourists but it’s much less well-known (though not less interesting).

The underground cities were thought to have been built in the 7th and 8th centuries as sanctuaries from Arab invaders. The Kaymakli Underground city is thought to be the oldest, which is why it’s a popular attraction in Cappadocia.

During your visit to the underground cities, you will see how thousands of people lived in caves underground, including all their food sources and livestock. The cities have not only homes but churches, cellars, and storerooms, too.

The underground cities are best viewed with a guide, as there is no information provided about what you are looking at inside.

Uc Guzeller

Uc Guzeller, otherwise known as The Three Beauties or The Three Graces, is an impressive rock formation located between Urgup and Ortahisar. 

They are three rock towers with a flat surface on top, similar to what you might see in Love Valley but with a flatter top. The interesting thing about these formations is that they are natural. 

This is a quick photo stop on the Blue Tour and is not included on every tour, so if you really want to see it, make sure to book a tour that has this included.

Pigeon Valley connects Goreme with Uchisar and is usually one of the last stops on the tour. Compared to Red and Rose Valley, Pigeon Valley is small at only 3 km long. It’s called Pigeon Valley because of the numerous pigeon houses you can see here. 

Farmers used pigeon poop as fertilizer in ancient times, and it was very expensive. The houses here built houses for pigeons as a way to easily harvest their poop.

Uchisar Castle is the only castle in Cappadocia and was the main source of defense against the Arabs during the Byzantine wars. The castle sits on the highest point of Cappadocia and is said to have access to the underground cities below.

The Castle is an impressive example of the unique cave dwellings and rock formations in the region. It’s important to view the castle with a guide, as like the underground cities, there is no information about what you’re looking at inside the museum.

Value-For-Money

One of the perks of the blue tour is that it’s a small group tour of a maximum of 15 people. Rather than loading into a coast of 40+ tourists as you do on the Red and Green tour, you are paying a premium for a smaller and more intimate experience.

This means your questions are more likely to be answered and you will always be able to hear what the guide has to say – don’t you just hate it when you’re standing in the crowd at the back and can’t hear a word?

Depending on which tour company you book, you’ll be looking to spend around $78 USD per person. This includes your entrance fee and your lunch, as well as your guide.

If you were to do this tour yourself, you would be looking to spend around $10 on transport (unless you’re renting a car in Cappadocia ), $5 on food, and $10 on entrance fees, which essentially means you are spending an additional $40 for a professional guide, a luxury vehicle, hotel pick up and drop off, and the convenience of not having to organize it yourself.

I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you think that’s good value for money.

Level of Physical Activity

Now there is a bit of hiking involved in this tour, as you visit some of Cappadocia’s most famous valleys. However, the valleys are not steep and the walking is mostly flat.

You should also note that the underground cities have loose rock which can cause irritation for those with asthma. It’s also not great for those with claustrophobia.

You don’t need to be extremely fit to do this tour, but you do need to be aware that there is a considerable amount of walking. You will need to wear sturdy shoes (not sandals or flip-flops) and bring plenty of water. 

Be prepared for some aching limbs at the end of this trip!

Attractions

Honestly, the attractions on this tour are all incredible. They are pretty much the highlights of Cappadocia, the best valleys, the oldest and most interesting underground city, and the only castle.

It’s an all-around excellent way to see how the ancient settlers in Cappadocia live and you see some of the best rock formations in the region.

This tour cannot be faulted for its attractions as there isn’t one we wouldn’t recommend seeing.

This tour has several incredible photo opportunities for those into photography. The Red and Rose valley have some of the most beautiful landscapes, and you won’t find better examples of cave dwellings than those in Cavusin and Uchisar.

You also go to Kaymakli Underground City, which in our opinion, is much better for photo opportunities than Derinkuyu Underground City . 

Although sometimes these tours decide to visit Derinkuyu or Kaymakli or Özkonak, depending on how crowded they are, it seems that Kaymakli is the preferred choice.

But don’t worry, all the underground cities are incredible and have unique and interesting photo opportunities.

Is the Blue Tour Worth It?

If you’re visiting Cappadocia for only a short time, the blue tour is absolutely worth it. It takes away the stress of having to organize your way around and it also stops at all the main highlights in the region. 

If you hate the idea of a big coach tour, then the blue tour is a much better option as it’s a small group tour. 

Co-Founder of The Turkey Traveler

Sean Lau is a professional travel blogger and writer with adoration for Turkey. Originally from the USA, Sean frequently travels to Turkey to explore every nook and cranny. From bustling bazaars of Istanbul to the tranquil beaches of Antalya, Sean has seen it all. He hopes to share his first-hand knowledge, insider insights, and personal anecdotes to inspire fellow travelers to visit Turkey, especially to his favorite destinations – Istanbul and Cappadocia.

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Göreme Panorama: This is a viewpoint that offers stunning panoramic views of the Goreme Valley and the unique rock formations of Cappadocia. Your guide will provide information on the history and geology of the region. Zelve Open Air Museum: This museum is a former cave-dwelling settlement that was inhabited until the 1950s. The site includes rock-cut churches, homes, and other structures that give visitors a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who lived here. Lunch: The tour will typically include a break for lunch, during which you can sample local cuisine at a traditional Turkish restaurant. Pottery demonstration in Avanos: Avanos is known for its pottery, and you'll have the opportunity to watch a demonstration of the traditional techniques used to create pottery in the region. You may even have the chance to try your hand at making your own piece. Pasabag: This is a valley with unique rock formations, also known as the "Fairy Chimneys." These towering cone-shaped rock formations are a result of volcanic eruptions and erosion. Devrent Valley: This is another valley with unusual rock formations that resemble animals and other shapes. Your guide will point out the different formations and provide information on their history and geology. Overall, a red tour in Cappadocia offers a fascinating glimpse into the unique landscape and culture of the region.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Desmond duggan.

Really good way to see the highlights of Cappadocia. Hotel pickup and drop off were good. Excellent and informative guide and nice lunch.

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The Red Tour Cappadocia offers an immersive experience into the wonders of this enchanting region. The tour starts with a visit to Pasabag, also known as Paşabağları, where travelers can witness the extraordinary rock formations that resemble giant mushrooms. This geological wonder has captivated visitors for centuries and provides a fascinating insight into the forces of nature that have shaped Cappadocia over time. Continuing on, the tour takes participants to Avanos, a charming town renowned for its pottery craftsmanship. Here, visitors have the opportunity to observe skilled artisans at work in traditional workshops and learn about the age-old techniques used to create exquisite ceramic pieces. This hands-on encounter with local culture allows travelers to gain a deeper appreciation for the artistic traditions that have been passed down through generations in Cappadocia.

As we embark on this captivating journey through Cappadocia’s red-hued landscapes, we invite you to join us and explore these extraordinary sights that are sure to awaken your sense of adventure and curiosity. Whether you long for an escape from everyday life or seek inspiration from ancient wonders, let yourself be immersed in the magic of Cappadocia’s Red Tour – an experience that promises to leave you awe-inspired and yearning for more freedom in your own life.

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The tour highlights of the red tour in Cappadocia encompass a range of breathtaking natural wonders and historical landmarks. One of the most spectacular sites on this tour is Göreme Open Air Museum . This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to numerous rock-cut churches and monasteries, adorned with exquisite frescoes dating back to the 10th century. As you explore this ancient complex, you will be transported back in time, marveling at the skill and artistry of the Byzantine era. Another highlight of the red tour is Devrent Valley , also known as “Imagination Valley.”This surreal landscape resembles an otherworldly playground with its whimsical rock formations that resemble animals and objects. Walking through this valley feels like stepping into a dream where imagination knows no bounds. The unique shapes and contours of these rocks are a testament to millions of years of natural erosion, creating a truly awe-inspiring sight. Transitioning into the subsequent section about ‘ pasabag (paşabağları) ‘, visitors will continue their journey through Cappadocia’s wonders as they uncover another enchanting destination.

Pasabag, also known as Paşabağları, is a mesmerizing destination with rock formations that resemble towering chimneys emerging from the ground like ancient sentinels. This unique geological site is located in the region of Cappadocia in central Turkey and offers visitors a truly otherworldly experience. The name “Pasabag”translates to “Pasha’s Vineyard”in Turkish, which alludes to its historical importance as a vineyard during Byzantine times. The rock formations at Pasabag were created by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, followed by centuries of erosion. What remains today are these fascinating fairy chimney-like structures that have captivated the imaginations of many. These distinct shapes are formed when softer layers of volcanic ash and tuff erode faster than the harder layers on top, resulting in tall spires with mushroom-shaped caps. Some formations even feature multiple caps, adding to their enchanting appeal. As you explore Pasabag, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the surreal landscape surrounding you. The towering chimneys stand like guardians from another world, beckoning visitors to step into an ancient realm filled with mystery and magic. It’s a place where one can let their imagination run wild and embrace the freedom that comes with escaping into nature’s own masterpiece.

Avanos, a town situated in the mesmerizing region of Cappadocia, offers visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in its rich cultural heritage and witness the traditional art of pottery making. The town is located on the banks of the Kızılırmak River, which provides an ideal environment for clay extraction used in pottery. Avanos has been renowned for its pottery since ancient times, with evidence of this craft dating back thousands of years. Today, it continues to be a hub for pottery enthusiasts who can explore numerous workshops and galleries showcasing intricate ceramic designs. The art of pottery making in Avanos is deeply rooted in tradition and craftsmanship. Skilled artisans use age-old techniques passed down through generations to create unique pieces that reflect the town’s heritage. Visitors can witness these artists at work as they mold clay into beautiful shapes using potter’s wheels or hand-building methods. The process involves precision and patience, with each piece taking days or even weeks to complete depending on its complexity. Transitioning into the subsequent section about “pottery workshop; hand-crafts of Cappadocia,”visitors can delve deeper into Avanos’ artistic traditions by participating in hands-on experiences or exploring workshops that offer insight into other traditional crafts found throughout Cappadocia.

Situated in the heart of Cappadocia, visitors can immerse themselves in the artistic traditions of the region by participating in a pottery workshop that unveils the intricate hand-crafts found throughout this mesmerizing land. The pottery workshop offers a unique opportunity to witness and learn about the centuries-old techniques used by local artisans to create beautiful ceramics. From shaping clay on a potter’s wheel to intricately painting patterns, participants get a firsthand experience of the artistry involved in making these exquisite pieces. During the workshop, skilled craftsmen guide visitors through each step of the pottery-making process, sharing their knowledge and passion for this ancient craft. Participants can try their hand at creating their own masterpiece under expert supervision, allowing them to appreciate the skill and precision required to mold clay into delicate forms. As they shape and decorate their creation, visitors gain insight into the cultural significance behind different motifs and symbols used in Cappadocian pottery. With newfound appreciation for Cappadocia’s traditional hand-crafts, visitors can then venture into Dervent Valley to explore its unique rock formations shaped by natural erosion over thousands of years.

The pottery workshop in Cappadocia offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness the traditional hand-crafts of the region. As we delve deeper into the cultural heritage of Cappadocia, we now turn our attention to Dervent Valley, another fascinating destination along the Red Tour route. Located just outside Goreme, Dervent Valley showcases an array of intriguing rock formations that have been carved by thousands of years of wind and water erosion.

• Eerie Fairy Chimneys: One cannot help but be enchanted by the whimsical shapes formed by these natural wonders. The fairy chimneys stand tall and proud, resembling something out of a fantasy world. With their cone-like structures and mushroom-shaped caps, they create a surreal landscape that sparks the imagination.
• Mushroom Rocks: Amongst the peculiar formations, one can easily spot rocks that resemble giant mushrooms scattered throughout the valley. These mushroom rocks are characterized by their slender stems and broad tops, creating an otherworldly sight that is both mesmerizing and captivating.
• Animal-Shaped Formations : Nature’s artistry is truly showcased in Dervent Valley through its animal-shaped rock formations. From camels to snakes to dolphins, these intricate sculptures give life to the rocky landscape, as if Mother Nature herself had carefully crafted each creature with her own hands.
• Lunar-Like Terrain: Walking through Dervent Valley feels like stepping foot on another planet altogether. The barren terrain resembles a lunar landscape with its pale colors and lack of vegetation. It is this desolate beauty that captures the essence of freedom – a vast expanse where one can escape from the confines of everyday life and embrace a sense of liberation.

As we leave behind the enchanting Dervent Valley, our next stop will take us to Uchisar Castle – yet another architectural marvel steeped in history and offering breathtaking views over Cappadocia’s unique landscapes.

Uchisar Castle, a magnificent fortress perched atop a rocky hill, offers visitors an extraordinary vantage point to admire the breathtaking landscapes of this fascinating region. The castle, carved out of natural rock formations and standing at a height of 60 meters, provides panoramic views that stretch across the entirety of Cappadocia. From its highest point, one can witness the stunning beauty of the unique fairy chimneys scattered throughout the valley, as well as the vast expanse of undulating hills and valleys that make up this otherworldly landscape. As visitors explore Uchisar Castle’s labyrinthine corridors and chambers, they are transported back in time to when it served as a strategic lookout post for various civilizations throughout history. The castle’s strategic location allowed its inhabitants to control trade routes and defend against potential invaders. Today, it stands as a testament to both human ingenuity and nature’s marvels. Its imposing presence evokes a sense of awe and wonder in all who visit. Moving on from Uchisar Castle’s grandeur is Love Valley Panorama, where towering rock formations shaped by centuries of erosion create an enchanting landscape reminiscent of ancient sculptures.

Shaped by centuries of erosion, the towering rock formations in Love Valley Panorama create an enchanting landscape reminiscent of ancient sculptures, evoking a sense of awe and wonder in all who visit. These natural wonders stand tall against the sky, their unique shapes and textures captivating the imagination. The reddish hue of these rock formations adds to their mystique, as if they were painted by nature’s own brush. Standing amidst this picturesque valley, one can’t help but feel a connection to the past, as if being transported to a time when giants roamed the earth.

Visitors to Love Valley Panorama are greeted with a mesmerizing sight that is both serene and powerful. Here are three notable features that contribute to its allure:

• Phallic Rock Formations: These towering structures resemble phallic symbols and have become synonymous with Love Valley’s identity. They stand proudly amidst the landscape, creating a surreal atmosphere that sparks curiosity and intrigue.
• Tranquil Atmosphere: As visitors explore Love Valley Panorama, they are enveloped in a sense of tranquility that is hard to find elsewhere. The peacefulness of this place allows for introspection and contemplation while admiring nature’s magnificent creations.
• Photographic Opportunities: With its breathtaking vistas and unique rock formations, Love Valley Panorama offers an abundance of opportunities for photography enthusiasts. From capturing the play between light and shadow on these towering rocks to framing panoramic views against the backdrop of clear blue skies, each shot promises to be a masterpiece.

Transitioning seamlessly into our next destination, Göreme Open Air Museum unveils an entirely different facet of Cappadocia’s rich heritage…

Göreme Open Air Museum showcases a vast collection of cave churches and monasteries, offering visitors a glimpse into the religious and cultural history of Cappadocia. Located in the town of Göreme, this open-air museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts tourists from all over the world. The museum is an important site for understanding the early Christian communities that thrived in Cappadocia during the Byzantine era. The caves at Göreme Open Air Museum were carved by hand into the soft volcanic rock known as tuff. These caves served as places of worship, housing intricate frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible. The museum features numerous churches, each with its own unique architectural style and artistic elements. Visitors can explore these ancient structures and marvel at the impressive craftsmanship that went into creating them.

As visitors wander through the museum, they are transported back in time to a period when these caves were bustling centers of religious activity. The peaceful atmosphere and stunning natural surroundings create a sense of serenity and tranquility. This makes Göreme Open Air Museum not only an educational experience but also a place where visitors can find solace and connect with their inner selves. Whether one is interested in history or simply seeking a moment of respite, this remarkable site offers something for everyone who yearns for freedom from their everyday lives.

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Krasnodar Krai, Russia

The capital city of Krasnodar krai: Krasnodar .

Krasnodar Krai - Overview

Krasnodar Krai is a federal subject of Russia located in the south-west of the country, part of the Southern Federal District. Krasnodar is the capital city of the region.

The population of Krasnodar Krai is about 5,687,400 (2022), the area - 75,485 sq. km.

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Krasnodar krai latest news and posts from our blog:.

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8 July, 2012   / Unexpected flooding that occurred on July 6-7 in Krasnodar krai killed at least 150 people mostly in small town of Krymsk. The water level in Krymsk region rose to 7 meters, entire villages were washed away. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the flood occurred at night, when most people were asleep in their homes.

History of Krasnodar Krai

The territory of today’s Krasnodar Krai was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic, about 2 million years ago. It was inhabited by various tribes and peoples since ancient times. There were several Greek colonies on the Black Sea coast, which later became part of the Kingdom of the Bosporus. In 631, the Great Bulgaria state was founded in Kuban. In the 8th-10th centuries, the territory was part of Khazaria.

In 965, the Kievan Prince Svyatoslav defeated the Khazar Khanate and this region came under the power of Kievan Rus, Tmutarakan principality was formed. At the end of the 11th century, in connection with the strengthening of the Polovtsy and claims of Byzantium, Tmutarakan principality came under the authority of the Byzantine emperors (until 1204).

In 1243-1438, this land was part of the Golden Horde. After its collapse, Kuban was divided between the Crimean Khanate, Circassia, and the Ottoman Empire, which dominated in the region. Russia began to challenge the protectorate over the territory during the Russian-Turkish wars.

More historical facts…

In 1783, by decree of Catherine II, the right-bank Kuban and Taman Peninsula became part of the Russian Empire after the liquidation of the Crimean Khanate. In 1792-1793, Zaporozhye (Black Sea) Cossacks resettled here to protect new borders of the country along the Kuban River. During the military campaign to establish control over the North Caucasus (Caucasian War of 1763-1864), in the 1830s, the Ottoman Empire for forced out of the region and Russia gained access to the Black Sea coast.

Prior to the revolutionary events of 1917, most of the territory of present Krasnodar krai was occupied by the Kuban region, founded in 1860. In 1900, the population of the region was about 2 million people. In 1913, it ranked 2nd by gross harvest of grain, 1st place for the production of bread in the Russian Empire.

Kuban was one of the centers of resistance after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. In 1918-1920, there was a non-Bolshevik Kuban People’s Republic. In 1924, North-Caucasian Krai was founded with the center in Rostov-on-Don. In 1934, it was divided into Azov-Black Sea Krai (Rostov-on-Don) and North Caucasus Krai (Stavropol).

On September 13, 1937, the Azov-Black Sea region was divided into Rostov Oblast and Krasnodar Krai that included Adygei Autonomous Oblast. During the Second World War, the region was captured by the Germans. After the battle for the Caucasus, it was liberated. There are about 1,500 monuments and memorials commemorating heroes of the war on the territory of Krasnodar Krai.

In 1991, the Adygei Autonomous Oblast withdrew from Krasnodar Krai and became the Republic of Adygea.

Beautiful nature of Krasnodar Krai

Sunflower field in Krasnodar Krai

Author: Alexander Egorov

Krasnodar Krai landscape

Author: Vladislav Shutyy

On the coast in the Krasnodar region

Author: Sotnikov

Krasnodar Krai - Features

Krasnodar Krai is located in the south-western part of the North Caucasus. The territory is washed by the Azov and Black Seas. The length of the region from north to south - 327 km, from west to east - 360 km. The Republic of Adygea, another federal subject of Russia, is located entirely within the Krasnodar region.

The Kuban River divides Krasnodar Krai into two parts: the northern - lowland (2/3 of the territory), located on the Kuban-Azov plain, and the southern - foothills and mountains (1/3 of the territory), located in the western highlands of the Greater Caucasus. The highest point is Mount Tsakhvoa (3,345 m).

The population is concentrated in the basin of the Kuban (also known as the Cossack land). The main cities and towns of Krasnodar Krai are Krasnodar (974,000), Sochi (433,500), Novorossyisk (277,000), Armavir (186,000), Anapa (95,900), Eisk (83,200), Kropotkin (76,300), Gelendzhik (75,100), Slavyansk-na-Kubani (67,200), Tuapse (60,400).

Krasnodar Krai is the warmest region of Russia. The climate is mostly temperate continental, on the Black Sea coast from Anapa to Tuapse - semi-arid Mediterranean climate, south of Tuapse - humid subtropical. Winters are mild and summers are hot. The average temperature in January in the plains is minus 3-5 degrees Celsius, on the Black Sea coast - 0-6 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 22-24 degrees Celsius.

Krasnodar Krai - Economy and Tourism

There are reserves of oil, natural gas, iodine-bromine water, marble, limestone, sandstone, gravel, silica sand, iron ore, rock salt, mercury, gypsum, gold. Krasnodar krai is Russia’s oldest oil producing region (since 1865).

The local economy is based on the industrial, construction, fuel and energy, agriculture, transport, resort and recreational, tourist sectors.

The seaports of the Krasnodar region provide direct access, through the Azov and the Black Seas, to international trade routes and handle more than 35% of foreign trade and transit cargoes of all Russian seaports. The air gateway of the region is Krasnodar International Airport (Pashkovsky Airport) - one of the largest airports in Russia.

Tourism is an important sector of the economy of Krasnodar krai. It is actively developing on the coast of the Black and Azov Seas, as well as in mountain and steppe districts of the region. The main centers of tourism are the resorts of federal significance (Sochi, Gelendzhik and Anapa) and the resorts of regional significance (Yeisk, Goryachiy Klyuch and Tuapse district).

Due to a combination of favorable climatic conditions, availability of mineral waters and curative mud, Krasnodar krai is the most popular resort and tourist region of Russia and in fact the only one in Russia seaside spa and recreational center.

Krasnodar krai of Russia photos

Krasnodar krai scenery.

Cretaceous rocks in Krasnodar Krai

Steep cliffs on the coast in the Krasnodar region

Author: Aleksey Kleymenov

Country road in Krasnodar Krai

Author: Nikola Mitinskiy

Pictures of Krasnodar Krai

Memorial Field of Cossack glory in Kushchevskaya village in Krasnodar Krai

Author: Sergey Timofeev

Jet fighter monument in the Krasnodar region

Author: Konstantin Seryshev

Village in Krasnodar Krai

Author: Alena Amplieva

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