Private Cappadocia Ihlara Green Tour

Our tour begins with a descent towards the center of the earth, with a trip to the underground city. There are more than 200 underground cities in Cappadocia up to 8 floors. These troglodyte cave-cities were excavated as early as Hittite times and expanded by early Christians and others over the centuries, as various invader armies targeted Central Anatolia in search of captives and plunder. Underground cities surprise every traveler with its amazing ancient engineering. It is a privilege to get to know about this ancient sight.

We drive to Ihlara Valley which can be considered as a canyon as well. We will be walking for about 4km through the canyon to Belisirma village, the ancient name of which is Peristrema. The walk is on a path set by the Melendiz River. There are hundreds of churches carved in the volcanic tuff rocks such as Agacaltı church. Ihlara is a great get-away for travelers who enjoy hiking in nature. The valley stands almost like an oasis in the middle of vast Anatolian steppes.

Selime Monastery is one of the most unexpected surprises in Cappadocia. It is a wonderful rock-cut monastery in Selime town. The frescoes that can be seen inside the cathedral dates back to the 10th and 11th century, some of which depicts scenes like Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Baptism among many others. The complex charms all travelers with its fascinating views while exploring numerous cave dwellings from medieval era.

A short break to enjoy a classic viewpoint of Cappadocia stands at Pigeon Valley. Thousands of pigeon houses carved into the rocks at the valley’s façade can be seen here. It is also one of the best panoramic lookouts of the town of Uçhisar.

We visit a local gemstones workshop where local artisans are experts at making items of jewelry as well as beautiful vases, chess sets, and numerous other attractive artifacts.