Cappadocia Whirling Dervishes ceremony with Optional Transfer
Description
The Sema ceremony represents the mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through love and his search for truth and perfection. It is believed that once man has returned from his spiritual journey, he can love and be of service to all creatures surrounding him. Tonight, you have the opportunity to experience an authentic Cappadocian ceremony and witness an ancient Turkish ritual. You will be collected from your accommodation in Cappadocia and transported by luxury air-conditioned transport to the caravanserais, (caravan places). These abodes were built when trade across Turkey in medieval Seljuk times was dependent on camel trains. The buildings provided accommodation for the merchants and stabling for their animals. Today these ancient structures are the site of The Sema. The ceremony lasts for one hour and during this time your friendly and professional English-speaking guide will talk you through the ceremony and introduce you to Serbet, a traditional religious libation
Tour Options
Itinerary
The whole ceremony takes around one hour and we offer 'Serbet', a religious drink, after the ceremony. Turkish Heritage Travel picks you up from your hotel in Goreme or other towns of Cappadocia half an hour earlier, which will give you enough time to see the parts of the caravanserai prior to ceremony.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up from hotel lobby
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(281)
There was a combination of folk dancers and a meal. The food wasn’t particularly good - but that was okay. The dancers were good, and that was fun. But the dancers were pushy for extra money, and after the first few tips, reduced our enjoyment
Dear Guest, Thank you for your honest feedback! Really glad the dancers made a good impression. We completely understand that persistent requests for tips can take away from the enjoyment and we will address this with the team directly. Hope to welcome you back for a more relaxed experience someday! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
Very inspiring and interesting activity. Pick-up on time and Ozan made explanation on cultural background. Recommended.
Dear Guest, Thank you for the kind words! Really glad the pickup was smooth and that Ozan's cultural insights added that extra layer of meaning to the experience. He will be happy to hear this. Hope to welcome you back again someday! Kind regards 🧿 Tourmania Team
The whirling dervish show is advertised on Viator as being at a caravanserai. However, it is actually in the basement of a hotel. Also, there was a problem with the transportation to the event with the driver, insisting that we had not paid for a hotel pick up. However, the dance itself was very moving and a very interesting cultural experience.
Good experience, great and puntual pick up.
Great service we had a great time! I recommend this experience to everyone!
The listening experience was beautiful and spiritually calm, with a special thanks to the girl who treated me with sophistication and understanding and gently postponed my ticket. But the performance lasted only 35 minutes, which is short for a spiritual experience of this depth and could have been deeper if longer The Sema ceremony was a calm and spiritual experience. Special thanks to the kind young woman who treated me with great professionalism and kindly rescheduled my ticket. However, the performance lasted only 35 minutes, which felt too short for such a meaningful and profound spiritual experience.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for sharing your thoughtful feedback with us. We’re pleased to hear that you found the Whirling Dervishes (Sema) ceremony calm and spiritually meaningful, and we truly appreciate your kind words about our colleague who assisted you with care, understanding, and professionalism. Your appreciation will certainly be shared with her. We also value your honest comment regarding the duration of the performance. Your feedback is important to us, as it helps us better understand our guests’ expectations and continue improving the overall experience. We hope to welcome you again in the future for another meaningful cultural and spiritual experience. Kind Regards, Tourmania Team
We chose to go by ourselves. The communication came shortly after our reservation and everything was smooth. We ran a bit late to the venue but got in without any issues. The performance (more like a ceremony) was tranquil and sacred. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to experience sema.
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for sharing your thoughtful feedback with us. We are pleased to hear that the communication was clear and smooth, and that everything went well even though you arrived a bit late. It’s wonderful to know that you experienced the Whirling Dervishes ceremony as tranquil and sacred, just as it is intended to be. Your recommendation means a lot to us, especially for guests who wish to experience the true essence of sema. We hope to welcome you again for another meaningful cultural experience. Warm regards, The Tourmania Team
The dance is basically only twirling and walking as slow as humanly possible. It really is a 10 minute experience drawn out to one hour.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We would like to clarify that this experience is a religious ceremony (Sema ritual), not a dance or entertainment show. The movements, including the whirling and slow pace, are an essential and symbolic part of the spiritual ritual. The duration of the ceremony is clearly stated on the product page before booking, allowing guests to decide if this experience matches their interests and expectations. We understand that this type of ceremony may not appeal to everyone, but it is important to approach it with an understanding of its cultural and religious significance. Warm regards, 🧿 Tourmania Team
What a privilege to be allowed to observe this sacred ceremony. The venue is small, so the experience is intimate and impactful. Highly recommend!
Dear Guest, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you found the Whirling Dervishes ceremony a meaningful and intimate experience. It’s fantastic that you felt the privilege of witnessing this sacred tradition. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another memorable Tourmania experience! Best regards, The Tourmania Team
Ozan was awesome the atmosphere was electric and it was a fantastic party I got to do the dancing with the belly dancer it was so fun!!
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing time at the Cappadocia Whirling Dervishes Ceremony. It’s great to know Ozan and the vibrant atmosphere made the evening unforgettable — and that you even joined in the dancing! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again for another fun experience. Warm regards, The Tourmania Team
