Underground City Tour, Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a land of wonder, with scenery that could be off the set of a sci-fi movie, and yet it is real, and you’re here. We will start the day by collecting you from your hotel and travelling to the Underground City.

The Underground City of Derinkuyu.
When you first think of an underground city maybe your mind conjures up an image of large multiple caves, but here in Derinkuyu it is that and much more, with 8 floors, of homes, stores, places of worship, schools, stables, communal meeting rooms and dining halls and long passages between areas with large stone doors that could be closed off to prevent any attack, it is the deepest of any the caves in Cappadocia. Upon the surface, there are homes with over 600 hidden doorways that lead to the city below.
After the 3^rd floor, all the lower floors are accessed by vertical ladders, and there is also an impressive 15000 ventilation shafts. As of today, it is suspected that only half of the caves have been excavated and explored.
Evidence shows the caves existed pre the Hittite era

Trekking The Ihlara Valley
There are three dormant volcanoes in Cappadocia, and two of them are in the Ihlara Valley, popular with hikers for several years now, as this is one of the best ways to see all of the amazing churches that were carved out of the mountain rocks by early believers in Christianity. The valley is relatively fertile and green due to the Melendiz River running through it.

Lunch on the river at Belisirma.
All the restaurants in this natural area are situated along the riverbank, with traditional-style Turkish seating. This is a laid-back place with a relaxed atmosphere, with the water literally running underneath you. Your lunch here will not only be delicious but will be a moment remembered in time

Guvercin Valley
This is a delightful green basin and translated means Pigeon Valley, and as the name says, this really is a valley of pigeons, everywhere you look, thousands of pigeon holes have been carved into every surface of the rock in every direction. As an ancient source of both food and fertilizer, the pigeon was in an integral part of life for thousands of years, and to this day, the local farmers swear that the abundance and quality of the Cappadocia crops are all down to the pigeons.

Selime Monastery
At the far end of the Ihlara Valley, tucked away, is the mighty and impressive Monastery of Selime. Unexpected and amazing, and as with the rest of this strange landscape, completely carved from the rockface, inside the high ceilings are elaborately carved, showing the skill of the craftsmen who built her between the 9^th and 8^th centuries BC.

Goreme Esentepe
Your last stop on your tour today is the never-ending panoramic view over Goreme, North Cappadocia. Everyone who comes to this place leaves with stunning photographs that some may think look photoshopped, but this is real and is like nowhere else on earth, the colours of the rocks, the skies, and sometimes a sky full of balloons, all bombarding your vision with continuous delight. The perfect ending to a wonderful adventure in Cappadocia