CAPPADOCİA (B,L)
GREEN TOUR/ SOUTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR (Daily Departure)
Our driver and guide pick you up from the hotel at 9.15 a.m. 09.30 tour starts.
Goreme Panorama
First place in the tour is a Panoramic view of Goreme. You get information about history, a formation of Cappadocia while watching the fairy chimneys. Following the information, free time for the photograph.
Derinkuyu Underground City
After driving for about 30 minutes, arrival to Derinkuyu Underground City. This underground city was firstly used by the late Romans as a shelter against potential Arabian invasions later by the local people as a natural deep freeze. Derinkuyu is the deepest underground city in Cappadocia region. With the clear explanations of your guide, you will spend almost 1 our here.
Ihlara Valley - Hiking
Ihlara Canyon is 52 km. away from Derinkuyu Underground City. Approximately 45 minutes later, you will be at the entrance of Ihlara Valley.
Ihlara Valley was formed by the volcanic actions of Mt. Hasan, next to Ihlara Valley. Afterward, Melendiz River eroded the valley for millions of years besides the layers cracked and fell down. Eventually, 80 meter- deep canyon was composed. Whole Valley is 14 km. length. In the past, generally Christians lived in the several parts of the Valley; also they carved churches and painted them. You will hike about 3,5 km. in the valley by visiting St. Daniel Church. Hiking will last 1h 15m. Then you will arrive in the Restaurant for Lunch.
Lunch
1 hour for the lunch in the valley, next to the River in a local restaurant with traditional Turkish foods. Lunch will be over with seasonal fruits.
Yaprakhisar Panorama (Star Wars Movie Set)
After lunch, our guide will take you to a unique place, Yaprakhisar. You will see the best examples of conical fairy chimneys. Since the area is very similar to Star Wars Film Set, Yaprakhisar is known as “Star Wars Movie Set”.
Selime Monastery
Our tour will go on with another movie- set-like place, Selime Monastery. At first look, the monastery looks like a castle, but shelters, churches, chapels, bedrooms, storages and big cathedral proves us it's being a monastery. You get information about the monastic life in Cappadocia near the spectacular scenery of Selime Village.
Pigeon Valley
Climbing to Selime monastery will exhaust you, probably. But till you arrive in Pigeon Valley, you will have about 1 hour to rest. Also, our guide will mention about some traditions, cultures, and stories about Anatolia on the way. Upon arrival at Pigeon Valley, pigeons will meet you on the top of the valley. Pigeons have always been important for Cappadocian people. Their eggs and droppings were used for different purposes. For this reason, local people carved houses for them on the slopes of the valley. You will see the reason why people call them “houses” when you see them.
Onyx Stone Factory
The Last place in the tour will be a visit to the onyx factory in Uchisar. Onyx is a volcanic stone which has various colors and contains different minerals in. As being a volcanic area, Cappadocia has some onyx deposits. In the factory, a master will give you information about the steps of onyx shaping and you will watch a shaping show. Our tour will finish with a transfer back to the hotel around 17.30 p.m.