Green Cappadocia Underground City and Valleys Tour. Lunch incl.

Go below ground, then walk beside a river. This 7-hour-45-minute tour packs several of south Cappadocia’s best sights into one day, including Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery, and Pigeon Valley. I like the strong mix of nature and history, and I like that hotel pickup, lunch, a guide, transport, and selected entrance fees are bundled into a price of about $54.42 per person.

The small-group limit of 15 people is another plus, especially at the underground city where a smaller group is easier to keep together. The main caution is pace: you spend a fair amount of time in the vehicle, and parts of the walk can feel rushed or less impressive than expected. Stops at an onyx or jewelry shop can also take time away from the major sights.

Key points at a glance

• Derinkuyu reaches about 60 meters underground: You pass narrow corridors, kitchens, storage rooms, churches, wells, and ventilation shafts in a city once able to shelter up to 20,000 people.
• The Ihlara Valley walk covers about 4 kilometers: The route follows the Melendiz River, but the walking portion may feel long if you expected a gentle sightseeing day.
• Selime Monastery is one of the day’s strongest stops: Rock-cut churches, rooms, and broad views make this a memorable part of the route, though the visit can be short.
• Lunch is served at Belisirma: The setting beside the river is pleasant, but food quality and portion size can vary, and drinks are not included.
• The tour includes scenic overlooks and commercial stops: Pigeon Valley and Goreme Panorama are excellent for photographs, while the onyx stop is less important to many people.
• Good walking shoes matter: Expect stairs, uneven ground, low ceilings, slopes, and around 10,000 steps according to one detailed account of the day.

What this south Cappadocia tour actually covers

Cappadocia is easiest to understand when you see both sides of it: the soft volcanic rock shaped into strange forms above ground, and the underground spaces carved by people below it. This tour gives you both in one long day.

You leave Goreme at about 9:30 a.m. in an air-conditioned vehicle. The advertised group size is no more than 15 people, though the exact vehicle and group arrangement can vary. The drive to the southern sights takes you away from Goreme’s central valleys, so this is not a quick hop between nearby viewpoints. You should expect several hours of road time, balanced by a full set of major stops.

The tour is offered in English. Guides named in individual accounts include Melissa, Eda, Erin, Ufuk, Emre, Edanur, Murat, Guray, Ahmet, and Kazim, who also led a Chinese-language departure. Guide quality can shape the day. Several guides were praised for clear explanations, humor, patience, and help with photographs, while a few accounts describe limited commentary between stops or weak handling of group details.

That variation is worth keeping in mind. The itinerary is good, but the guide makes a real difference at archaeological sites where context turns a pile of rooms into a meaningful visit.

Goreme Panorama and the Pigeon Valley view

The first sightseeing stop is usually Goreme Panorama, about 2 kilometers from central Goreme. From the viewpoint, you can see Pigeon Valley and, on a clear day, Mount Erciyes, which rises to 3,917 meters.

This is an easy photo stop, with benches and space to pause before the longer day begins. The view helps you see how Cappadocia’s valleys fit together, rather than experiencing each rock formation as an isolated attraction.

Pigeon Valley gets its name from the pigeon houses cut into the soft rock. Local farmers once valued pigeon droppings as fertilizer, so the small openings in the cliffs had a practical purpose. The stop here is brief, around 15 minutes, but it gives you a good final or early view of the region’s unusual stone formations.

Keep an eye on the schedule. One account says Pigeon Valley was skipped after delays caused by a vehicle problem, while other accounts describe it as an unexpected and welcome overlook. That tells you something practical: the stop is part of the planned route, but a breakdown, traffic, or a late start can affect the final timing.

The onyx stop: useful context, but not a highlight for everyone

The itinerary includes about 30 minutes at Kapadokya Onyx. You may learn about black onyx, the stone’s hardness, and how it is used in jewelry and decorative work.

I would treat this as a commercial pause, not a major cultural sight. Several accounts describe the jewelry stop as a sales opportunity that could have been replaced by more time at a valley or monument. If you are interested in local stonework, it may be worthwhile. If not, browse politely and avoid feeling pressured to buy.

Some people also report a Turkish delight or local-products stop during the day. These additions may vary, but they can make an already full schedule feel tighter. If your priority is photography, walking, and ancient sites, ask your guide how much time is planned for shopping.

Going below ground at Derinkuyu

Derinkuyu Underground City is the day’s most unusual stop. Carved into volcanic rock, it extends about 60 meters below the surface and includes several underground levels. It once had room for as many as 20,000 people, along with animals, food, water, and supplies.

Inside, you see ventilation shafts, kitchens, storage rooms, wells, churches, and a school. The city was used as a refuge during periods of war and invasion. The striking part is not just its age. It is the planning required to keep a large community alive below ground, with air movement, water access, food storage, and defensible passages.

The guided visit lasts about an hour. That is enough time to understand the layout, but you should not expect a slow, quiet museum visit. Corridors can be narrow, ceilings low, and stairs uneven. You will bend, climb, and sometimes wait for the group to move through tight sections.

If you are claustrophobic, have trouble with stairs, or dislike uneven ground, think carefully before booking. The tour requires moderate physical fitness, and suitable walking shoes are specifically recommended. A guide such as Edanur can make a big difference here by keeping the group calm and explaining what you are seeing, but no guide can make the passageways wider.

For many people, this is the strongest part of the day. It feels like a real place rather than a reconstructed exhibit. The underground city also gives a useful counterpoint to Cappadocia’s famous fairy chimneys and open valleys.

Walking the Ihlara Valley beside the Melendiz River

After Derinkuyu, the route continues to Ihlara Valley. The canyon was formed by volcanic activity from Mount Hasan and erosion from the Melendiz River. The valley is about 10 kilometers long and reaches roughly 100 meters deep in places.

The planned walk covers about 4 kilometers, or 2.5 miles, along the river. This is not a quick viewpoint visit. You walk among trees, rock walls, and water, with the setting changing sharply from the dry open scenery around Goreme.

The walk has two sides. I like that it gives you a different view of Cappadocia, one shaped by running water rather than only by wind and volcanic rock. It also breaks up the vehicle time and gives you a chance to move after the underground city.

But several details matter. Some accounts describe the walk as too long, while others felt the route was too short or did not reach the most interesting cave churches. Churches in the valley may be closed because of collapse or renovation risks, and access can change. If the churches are closed, the walk itself may feel less rewarding than the advertised idea of exploring ancient religious spaces.

The exact entrance arrangement also deserves attention. The tour information says Ihlara Valley admission is included only if that option is selected, with a listed fee of €16. Confirm what you are paying for when booking. If an entrance fee is collected, you should receive the corresponding official visit, not simply a short riverside walk near Belisirma.

The ground can be slippery or uneven. Bring shoes with a firm sole, and do not assume this is a flat stroll. One detailed account counted about 10,000 steps across the whole day, including stairs and climbs at the underground city and Selime.

Belisirma lunch beside the water

The village of Belisirma is the lunch stop, with restaurants beside the river. The setting is one of the more pleasant parts of the day. After the valley walk, sitting near moving water is a welcome change from the bus and the underground passages.

Lunch is included, but drinks are not. The meal is described as traditional Turkish food, with lentil soup receiving particular praise. Other accounts call the meal simple, modest in portion, or disappointing. That is a useful warning for anyone expecting a memorable food experience.

I would view lunch as fuel rather than a reason to book the tour. Bring some water and budget for drinks. Prices for beverages have been criticized, and the tour does not provide drinks as part of the included package.

The 45-minute lunch break can also feel short. You need time to eat, use the facilities, and rejoin the group, so do not count on a long, relaxed meal beside the river.

Selime Monastery and the best rock-cut views

Selime is one of the day’s most rewarding places. The monastery and cathedral are carved into a dramatic cliff, with churches, living spaces, and defensive areas connected through the rock.

The complex helps you picture how early Christian communities used Cappadocia’s soft volcanic stone. Instead of looking at a single cave room, you move through a whole religious and residential center with views over the surrounding valley.

The stop is scheduled for about 45 minutes, although some accounts describe receiving only 25 minutes. That is not much time for climbing, exploring, and taking photographs. The terrain is uneven, and the site includes steps and slopes, so the clock can move quickly.

Admission to Selime is not listed among the included entrance fees. Check the booking option and the day’s arrangements before you pay. The tour description lists entrance fees for the underground city and Ihlara Valley only when the relevant option is selected, so the wording is not perfectly clear for every site.

Even with limited time, Selime is difficult to replace. If your guide gives good historical context, the monastery can become the emotional high point of the day.

Transport, timing, and group size

The tour runs from about 9:30 a.m. until roughly 5 p.m., depending on traffic, stops, and the distance back to Goreme. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for Goreme hotels, which removes the need to arrange a taxi or find a meeting point.

The air-conditioned vehicle is a real benefit during hot weather. It also gives you somewhere to rest between walking stops. A few accounts mention waiting for the air conditioning to start while the driver took breaks, which can be uncomfortable on very hot days.

A group limit of 15 is small enough for a guide to answer questions and keep the day moving. Still, group management has not always been perfect. Keep track of your belongings, remember the vehicle location, and make sure the guide knows when you return from a stop. One account describes groups nearly being left behind, so do not assume a headcount will always catch every delay.

The tour is generally praised for punctual hotel pickup and drop-off. It is also worth knowing that vehicle trouble can happen. A reported breakdown created a long delay and led to shortened stops. That is not necessarily something the company can prevent, but good communication and a clear plan matter when the schedule starts slipping.

Is $54.42 good value?

At about $54.42 per person, the tour can be good value if your chosen booking option includes the main entrance fees. You get transportation, a professional guide, lunch, and access to several major sites in one day. Renting a car would give you more control, but you would need to manage directions, parking, admissions, and the long route yourself.

The value drops if you are charged separately for admissions that are unclear, lose major time to shopping stops, or receive only a short version of the Ihlara Valley visit. The tour is strongest when the guide keeps the schedule tight, gives proper explanations, and preserves enough time at Derinkuyu and Selime.

Check exactly what is included before paying, especially the €14 Derinkuyu fee and €16 Ihlara Valley fee listed as optional additions. Drinks are never included.

Cancellation is flexible if your plans change: you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to you if you have one full day for south Cappadocia and want the main sights handled without driving. It suits people who enjoy archaeology, cave architecture, moderate walking, and changing scenery.

It is less suitable if you want a relaxed day with long photo stops, dislike commercial visits, or have difficulty with stairs, low ceilings, and uneven paths. If ancient churches are your main reason for visiting Ihlara Valley, confirm their current access before booking.

My booking call

I would book this tour for the combination of Derinkuyu and Selime. Those two sites give you the clearest sense of Cappadocia’s human past, from underground refuge to cliff-carved monastery.

I would book with realistic expectations about the rest. The day is long, the valley walk takes effort, lunch is basic, and the shopping stop may test your patience. Ask about entrance fees, church closures, and the exact walking route before you pay. If the operator confirms the full advertised route and you are comfortable with the pace, this is a practical way to see south Cappadocia in one day.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes, or about eight hours, including pickup and drop-off.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from Goreme hotels are included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included at a restaurant in Belisirma. Drinks are not included.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum group size of 15 people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

How much walking is involved?

The itinerary includes a 4-kilometer walk through Ihlara Valley, plus stairs, slopes, and uneven ground at Derinkuyu Underground City and Selime Monastery. Moderate physical fitness is recommended.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.