Trekking in Cappadocia Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival & Meskendir Valley Exploration

You will meet at the office for a tour briefing. The first day remains flexible and will be adjusted to your arrival time. A short 10-minute transfer brings you to Meskendir Valley for an easy and scenic 3 km walk, ending in the charming village of Çavuşin, where your hotel is located. Lunch will be served upon arrival.

In the afternoon, visit the Zelve Open-Air Museum, an impressive rock-cut settlement with a unique landscape. Continue on foot to Paşabağ, famous for its three-headed fairy chimneys and St. Simon’s Hermitage carved into the rock. The 20-minute walk back to the Zelve area offers beautiful views and striking geological formations along the way.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Çavuşin
Distance: 3 hours, 8.20 km, 113m of ascent, 262m of descent
Meals: Lunch, dinner

Day 2 Red & Rose Valleys to Göreme

Start the day with a traditional Turkish breakfast before setting off into the fairy chimney landscape. The trail climbs through red rock formations to the Bozdağ Plateau, offering panoramic views. A steady pace is recommended for the 480-meter uphill section.

The route then descends into Red Valley for a relaxed outdoor lunch at a local café. Afterward, visit a historic chapel and a rock-cut church before continuing through Rose Valley. The trail leads toward Göreme via Swords Valley, known for its striking rock formations. The hike ends in Göreme, where the next two nights are spent, with the chance to see hot air balloons at sunrise.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Göreme
Distance: 4.5 hours, 9.11km, 409m of ascent, 340m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3 Love Valley, Uçhisar & Pigeon Valley Loop

After breakfast in the peaceful setting of Göreme, set off toward Uçhisar. The route begins with a gentle descent along a soft trail into Love Valley, known for its distinctive fairy chimneys and surreal landscape. From there, continue on to Uçhisar. In Uçhisar, visit the historic castle for panoramic views across the region. Enjoy free time to explore the town’s charming streets before stopping for lunch at one of the local restaurants.

In the afternoon, walk through Pigeon Valley, named after the pigeon houses carved into its cliffs. Once used for communication and natural fertilizer, these structures reflect the area’s rich heritage. The trail passes vineyards and orchards before returning to Göreme, completing a rewarding day immersed in Cappadocia’s natural beauty and history.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Göreme
Distance: 5.5 hours, 13.6 km, 431m of ascent, 431m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4 Göreme, Zemi Valley & İbrahimpaşa

Göreme, surrounded by fairy chimneys, feels like a landscape from a storybook. Its frescoed cave churches and the sight of hot air balloons rising at sunrise create a truly memorable atmosphere. A short 20-minute walk from your hotel brings you close to these highlights before continuing into the peaceful greenery of Zemi Valley. The trail winds through a narrow corridor of trees, then ascends to Gemil Hill and continues along dirt roads past the cultivated fields surrounding İbrahimpaşa. This charming village, once known as Babayan, is home to an elegant stone bridge built in 1938–39 by Osman Usta and local villagers, later restored in 2001.
Overnight Location: Hotel in İbrahimpaşa
Distance: 5 hours, 12.9km, 484m of ascent, 356m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch box, dinner

Day 5 Balkan Valley to Mustafapaşa via Ortahisar

Start in İbrahimpaşa, a village rich in character and history. The route leads into Balkan Valley, a hidden landscape of tunnels, caves, and centuries-old churches carved into the rock.

After a scenic 6 km walk through this striking terrain, arrive in Ortahisar, home to its impressive rock-cut fortress. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before climbing Ortahisar Castle for panoramic views across the region.

From there, continue along a dirt road into the peaceful Uzengi Valley, known for its vineyards, natural springs, and dramatic rock formations. The day concludes in Mustafapaşa, a beautifully preserved town with a strong Greek heritage. Its stone houses and quiet streets create an atmosphere rich in culture, architecture, and history.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Mustafapaşa
Distance: 5.5 hours, 14km, 333m of ascent, 413m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch box, dinner

Day 6 Derinkuyu Underground City & Ihlara Valley to Avanos

After breakfast in Mustafapaşa, the day unfolds with visits to some of Cappadocia’s most iconic sites. Begin at Derinkuyu Underground City, a vast multi-level refuge carved deep beneath the earth. Descend through its tunnels to discover ancient churches, storage rooms, and communal spaces that once sheltered entire communities.

Continue to the spectacular Ihlara Valley, an 11-kilometer canyon shaped by the Melendiz River and known for its rock-cut churches decorated with frescoes from the 11th to 14th centuries. The walk starts in Ihlara Village, following a scenic 7 km riverside trail to the village of Belisırma.

Cross a stone bridge and continue along the quiet river, passing cone-shaped fairy chimneys before reaching the impressive Selime Monastery, a vast rock-hewn complex carved into the canyon walls. At the end of the hike, a transfer brings you and your luggage to Avanos for the final part of your journey.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Avanos
Distance: 5 hours, 11.4 km, 327m of ascent, 424m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch box

Day 7 Riverside Avanos & Departure Transfer

Avanos, set along the banks of the Kızılırmak River, is known for its warm hospitality and long pottery tradition. Before departure and your transfer to the airport, enjoy some free time at the cafés and traditional workshops lining the streets near the river.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast