Private Goreme-Ihlara Tour

Discover the stunning Ilhara valley and the Unesco World Heritage Site at Goreme with its early Christian churches cut out of the living rock on this comprehensive full-day private tour.

After being picked up from your hotel, we'll drive to Ilhara canyon, a 16km long gorge carved out by the Melendiz stream and the eruptions of Mount Erciyes volcano. Due to the valley's plentiful supply of water and hiding places the valley was settled by early Christians escaping from persecution by the Romans. You'll be able to admire hundreds of old churches cut into the living rock.

After a walk along the valley floor, following the course of the Melendiz river, we'll have lunch at the nearby settlement of Belisirma before visiting the sprawling Selime Monastery, carved out of the rock by Christian monks in the 13th Century.

After a traditional lunch in a local house we'll drive on to Goreme where we'll visit the Open Air Museum. Here you can wander around the remains of Byzantine churches cut into the living rock and admire the colourful mediaeval frescoes. The final stop before returning to the hotel is a photo stop in Pigeon Valley where you'll admire hundreds of cave dwellings cut into the sheer cliffs.

Languages
English. Other languages available on request.