Cappadocia Red Tour

If you want to see the famous churches and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia but don’t know where to start, or you have limited time and want to make the most of your time, then the Cappadocia Red Tour is for you. The Red Tour, also called area tour, gives you the opportunity to visit the most popular destinations among numerous uniquely beautiful sights in Cappadocia. Cappadocia Red Tour will be an unforgettable part of your vacation.

During this interesting excursion you can get acquainted with all the incredible sights that abound in the surroundings of Goreme village. This national park in Turkey is within walking distance of important UNESCO World Heritage sites. Therefore, you don’t have to do long long-distance pedestrian crossings in this wonderful Cappadocia Red Tour excursion in Goreme.

All are located around the city of Goreme, within a radius of several kilometers. The Red Tour program is very carefully organized to provide you with maximum comfort and enjoyment from this pastime.

Please note that we have ‘no hidden costs’

Tour days: Daily

Tour duration: 09:30 – 16:00

Cappadocia Hotels Transfer: Pick up from your hotel

The Cappadocia Red Tour is a classic excursion through the northern region of Cappadocia, covering the most famous attractions of Cappadocia such as the Goreme Open Air Museum and some of the beautiful Cappadocia Valleys. On this tour you will be amazed to see incredible cave churches carved into the rock itself, so-called fairy chimneys shaped like mushrooms, a valley known as the Valley of Imagination with a vast landscape of rocks, the camels , snakes, seals and dolphins resemble. It is said that there is a stone that looks like the Virgin Mary is holding Jesus in her arms.

Transfer: At 09:00 a comfortable bus will pick you up from your hotel. Along the way, a highly qualified English speaking guide will inform you about the history and beauty of the local nature and the tour program.

Visit to the highest point of Cappadocia: At the beginning of our exciting journey you will drive to the highest point of Cappadocia. It is located at the top of the beautiful ancient city of Uchisar, which has managed to preserve its national flavor and primitiveness.

Here you will stop at the foot of the authentic Uchisar Rock Fortress, carved into the tuff. In this rock there were living quarters on different levels, and even an ancient water supply was built.
Next to the fortress there is a viewing platform from which you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire Goreme Nature Reserve. This is a world famous complex of ancient rock architecture, as well as a variety of unique phenomena of wild nature.

Goreme Cave Churches and Monasteries: You will visit several picturesque sheltered valleys and visit very interesting historical sites. From the sixth century to the end of the ninth century, one of the largest Christian centers operated in this place. More than four hundred churches were built here and a female rock monastery was founded.

Carved into the tufa, it consisted of six floors, each with its own purpose. This unique building is called Jungfernkloster. On its territory you can see a dining room, a kitchen, storerooms, as well as many cave churches.

There is St Basil’s Church, the Maltese Crusaders, Apple, St Catherine, Jesus Almighty, St Barbara and the Serpent Church. And also the Church with Sandals and the Dark Church from the 13th century. Many of them have beautiful frescoes and well-preserved old murals that have been preserved.

Valley of Love: One of the valleys you will visit is called the Valley of Love. We assure you that it is a pleasure to walk in this interesting area. There is a large natural collection of unusual natural figures.

These amazing stone structures were created by nature from volcanic rock. As you examine the textured forms of these rock formations, you will marvel at these unusual creations. These are stunning giants, powerful cones that are often compared to mushrooms. These impressive giants are expertly carved from stone.

For millions of years, its hard surface was affected by a torrent of rainwater and wind that reached hurricane strength. As a result of a long process of the influence of natural forces on these rocks, large columns appeared with a wide and long base, decorated on top with a hat in the shape of a cone.

Some specimens grow together, but there are also many that stand as separate tall rocks. It turns out a whole forest of stone giants, under which you can curiously walk. You will absolutely be amazed and definitely want to take pictures against the background of such attractions.

This gives the entire valley a pleasant pink color under the sun’s rays. And at sunset, the natural colors thicken, become more saturated and shimmer with shades of coral. The entire tranquil landscape of the valley can be viewed from the viewing platform to which we will go.

This picturesque valley lies between Goreme town and Chavushin village. This is where you go.

Cavushin (Cavuşin): Chavushin is famous for the complex of abandoned houses in the rock. One of these buildings houses one of the oldest temples in Cappadocia – the Church of St. John the Baptist. It is known that this church was covered with frescoes in the 5th century.
Until 1953, people lived in these rock houses, but due to landslides, earthquakes and erosion, they had to abandon their homes.
You will definitely enjoy walking around old places and imagining how people used to live there.

Avanos – The City of Potters: Afterwards, drive to the town of Avanos, where a delicious Cappadocian lunch awaits you at the restaurant. Avanos is called the ceramic capital of Cappadocia and the city of potters. It is a renowned center for pottery. The technique of making the local pottery has been passed down for hundreds of years, dating back to Hittite times.

The red clay, processed by local master potters, is extracted from Turkey’s longest river (800 km) called Kyzilirmak, which flows through Avanos town.

As clay craftsmanship has developed, the traditional methods have been improved and gradually changed. For several centuries, generations of local potters have perfected the efficient technology for the production of various ceramic items.

Their high quality and artistic value are widely known and recognized throughout Turkey and many other countries. Nowadays even fluorescent paints are used here for modern decoration of clay products.

You will visit the pottery workshop, where you will be shown how experienced master potters work. Looking at all kinds of ceramic products, you can get acquainted with the results of their creativity. Many of them can certainly be described as sound masterpieces.

Valley of the Monks: Afterwards visit the breathtaking Pashabag Valley or as it is also called “Valley of the Fairies” or “Valley of the Monks”. There are a large number of unique stones in the form of two- and three-headed boletus, also known as fairy chimneys. One such mushroom houses the Church of St. Simeon. There is a cell and a chapel inside.

Saint Simeon lived here as a hermit for about fifteen years. This is stated in ancient legends. According to these statements, the monk Simeon the Stilite was born in one of the villages of Cappadocia in the 5th century. For many years he devoted himself to the idea of ​​spiritual asceticism in this stone church.
In constant prayers, he observed a strict fast and helped large numbers of people to be healed. Saint Simeon possessed the gift of casting out evil spirits and performed many spiritual miracles. Then the believers, who wanted to withdraw from the world, following the example of the monk Simeon the Stylite, began to settle in the Valley of the Monks and form a settlement there.

Valley of Fantasy: The next part of our route is no less exciting. You will visit the deviant valley – this is the Valley of Imagination or the Valley of Imagination as it is also known. As you walk through this magical valley, you can see animal-like rock formations that look like a sculpture zoo created by nature itself.

Visit to the city of Urgup: Further along the route, an excursion to the symbol of Cappadocia awaits you – the city of Urgup (Ürgüp), also known as the main fortress of Cappadocia. This famous tourism center has an ancient history.
It was the largest city in the entire Cappadocia region during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods and was called Bashhisar, meaning the main fortress.

Here you can see the so-called Three Beauties – these are three “mushrooms” of the largest size of all natural creations existing on the territory of Cappadocia.

Also in Urgup you will be offered the opportunity to taste natural wines from the region. Afterwards, climb to the viewing platform and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire national park and its various attractions.

Return to the Hotel: After a fascinating excursion at 16:00 with the same transport, you will travel comfortably to your hotel.