Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley takes its name from the numerous man-made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Pigeons have been used as food and fertilizer for infertile lands since ancient times in the Cappadocia region. Although pigeons no longer play such an important role in the region, their cliff dwellings are still maintained by local people and they can be found atop rock pillars and inside excavated cave houses and churches throughout the region, but they are particularly numerous in this valley.

Kaymaklı Underground City

One of the largest and best-preserved underground cities in the region is Kaymaklı Underground City, thought to have been founded by the first Christians as a shelter to hide from persecution.

In Kaymaklı Underground City, a complex system of tunnels, rooms and galleries has been excavated deep into the volcanic tuff rock. There are eight floors in the city, but today only four are accessible to the public. The underground city can accommodate 3,000 people and is more than 85 meters deep. As you explore Kaymaklı, you will come across low, winding passages, steep staircases, and rooms that have seen various uses.

Ihlara Valley

Ihlara Valley (or Peristrema Valley; Ihlara Vadisi in Turkish) is a 15 km long and 150 m deep canyon located in the Güzelyurt municipality of Aksaray province, in the southwest of the Cappadocia region of Turkey. There are approximately 50 rock-carved Christian churches and many rock-carved buildings in the valley.

Lunch in Belisırma Village

A good lunch will be prepared for everyone in this village

Selime Monastery

One of the most unexpected surprises in Cappadocia is the wonderful rock-carved monastery located in Selime, 28 km from Akhisar, at the end of the Ihlara valley. Selime hosted the Hittite, Assyrian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Danishment, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. One of the most important features of the Selime castle-monastery is that many prominent clergy were raised here. The military headquarters of the region was also located here. While the monastery dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries, the frescoes in the building date to the end of the 10th century and the beginning of the 11th century. Depictions include the Ascension, the Annunciation and the Virgin Mary.

Narlıgöl Crater Lake

Narlıgöl, also known as Nar Lake, is a volcanic crater lake located approximately 45 kilometers away from Aksaray province. The lake is located at an altitude of 1,363 meters, covers an area of 0.7 square kilometers and has a depth of 21 meters. The water of the lake is brackish due to the presence of thermal facilities on the surrounding hills.