Cappadocia Green Tour

Cappadocia Green Tour

Fairy chimneys, cave churches, and troglodyte villages: discover the awe-inspiring rock formations of Cappadocia on an English-language guided tour of this magical area of Turkey.

Highlights of the Northern Cappadocia Tour

1. Devrent (Imagination) Valley

   Marvel at unique rock formations shaped by natural erosion. Spot whimsical shapes like kissing birds, dolphins, and even Napoleon’s hat.

2. Göreme Open-Air Museum

   Explore ancient rock-carved churches, chapels, and monasteries. Admire vivid Biblical frescoes that have withstood centuries.

3. Uçhisar Castle

   Witness the remnants of a once-thriving troglodyte settlement. Enjoy panoramic views of Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys.

4. Pasabag (Valley of Monks)

   Get up close to iconic fairy chimneys or “hoodoos”. Learn the fascinating history behind these formations.

5. Handicraft Workshops

   Visit local workshops showcasing traditional crafts like carpets, silver, and gemstones.

Tour Details

• Duration: Approximately 6 hours
• Includes: Pick-up and drop-off at your chosen meeting point
• Note: Stops at workshops depend on the time and availability

 

Duración

 

Tour programme:

Ortahisar is host to both old and modern picturesque stone houses, small streets and lovely churches. The most famous building is the Ortahisar Castle, which is 86 m high and has also been used extensively throughout the Roman era as a fort and later as an lodging center. It has today been restored and the peak can be reached by staircase. The castle has an outstanding view of the fairy chimneys of Hallaç Dere Valley and the Mount Erciyes. An underground tunnel links it to the Ishak Kale (also referred to as the Castle of Jesus Christ) which is about 350 meters away. The town descends straight from the foot of the castle into a deep gorge.

Mustafapasa is known as Sinaso, where Turks and Greeks initially lived side by side and the sounds of the church bells was blended with the Mosque’s call to prayer, and it still has ancient Greek stone buildings, full of architectural icons. Many houses with original drawings on their walls can still be viewed and the town includes some of the most significant historic churches in the area. It is possible to explore the city. After the demographic swap negotiated in the Treaty of Lausanne, the Byzantine Greeks fled the settlement and the Turks took over their homes.

Keshlik Monastery, In a Paradise-like green valley, the Monastery complex contains the Church of the Archangel, the Chapel of St. Stephan, a large dining place, living area, and a sacred pool of water. In a room guarded by two millstone walls, the monks and their visitors could hide from the danger and the hidden passage and the spy-hole beside the room would have enabled one of the senior Monastic Order leaders to listen quietly during conversations! The Archangel Church is one of the few cave churches in the 20th century which were used by the local community.

Taskinpasa, named after Tashun, Turkish scholar, teaching at Medrese (Madrasa or islamic high school) that has now been abandoned. The Medrese building and the surrounding mosque and tombs are some of the finest examples of the district’s Seljuk architecture. In order to keep the top rooms warm, the village houses adopt the standard plan with stables on the first level.

Sobesso, an archeological site recently discovered that was once a prosperous Roman-Byzantine settlement, with excavations still ongoing. We are also very excited because in this area nothing this large has previously been discovered. The ruins of a synagogue, tombs, a bath and the Roman mosaic have already been unearthed.

Soganli Valley dates back to the 10th – 13th centuries and has ten separate churches with relatively well-preserved wall paintings. The popular doll is the icon of the community, but it was a horrific incident that created the image. A local woman lost her baby and made a ragdoll to take its place because she was unable to cope with the loss emotionally. The women of the village later developed to create such toys, when the men were grazing their livestock in the mountains. If you are a collector of dolls, Soganli doll is a must have. Have lunch in Soganli Valley, taste the different types of Turkish foods including the Sac Tava..

Derinkuyu Underground City offers all the facilities that other underground resorts throughout Cappadocia can offer, including wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, wineries, refectories and chapels. A spacious space with a barrel-vaulted ceiling is exclusive to the Derinkuyu complex on the second level. The space is recorded to be used as a religious school, and studies are in the rooms on the left. There is a vertical staircase between the third and fourth floor. This path continues to the lowest cross altar. It seems that the wide 55 m ventilation shaft was often used as a well. The shaft also supplied water for the above-ground villagers and for those in isolation when the outside environment was not available.

The Valley of Pigeon is home to thousands of pigeon dwellings carved into the rocks. It is an extraordinary view: a phallic landscape straight from a Salvador Dali drawing. The conical shapes were the product of millions of years earlier volcanic eruptions. Centuries of wind, rain and other forces of nature have devoured tufa, a smooth, soft stone, on volcanic rock. Many of the cones, called fairy chimneys, have caves and labyrinths.

Cappadocia has onyx mines where the best quality of onyx is found (maximum quality is green brown veined onyx, accompanied by beige gold-veined). Local craftsmen are specialists in jewelry design as well as exquisite vases, chess sets and many other elegant items and souvenirs. Before you see many beautiful onyx products, watch a demonstration of how this very hard and frail stone is cut, formed, and polished.

Other traditional and valuable items are usually available in workshops, including hand-beaten copperware, silicone pipes and gems crafted from precious and semi-precious stones, silver and 22 and 24 karat gold. Hittite jewelry and typical Turkish silver bracelets are the local specialities. The low prices will shock you!

The most stunning landscape around Göreme is Goreme Panaroma. It is formed by its steady lava flow, its ash and tuff rocks, dating back to the Neolithic period. It passes through deep valleys formed by strong erosion. Its  real lunar landscape distinguishes itself from its vast geological formations. The rather common morphological formations in Cappadocia is the product of the tube deposits forming the most unusual pyramids and cones after thousands of years of continuing erosion.

Additional Information

• This tour runs everyday.
• The maximum number of visitors per group is 18.

What is included:

• Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Göreme, Ürgüp or Uçhisar
• Comfortable, AC, non-smoking minivan transport
• Expert, qualified and certified local guide
• Lunch
• Museum entrance fees and sights shown on the program

What is not included:

• Drinks at lunch
• Not obligatory, though, customary tips
• Travel insurance for the individual