Cappadocia Green Tour (Derinkuyu Underground & Ihlara Canyon)
Venture 85m underground and hike along the lush Melendiz River canyon
Experience Overview
The Green Tour is the ultimate adventure for travelers who crave dramatic contrasts. From the intricate subterranean tunnels of Derinkuyu — where 20,000 early Christians sought refuge with underground stables, wine cellars, and church halls — we journey to the verdant depths of Ihlara Valley. There, we hike alongside the murmuring Melendiz River between towering canyon walls, inspecting cave basilicas before enjoying fresh trout or lamb cooked over wood fires on floating riverbank pavilions. We conclude at Selime Monastery, the monumental rock cathedral that inspired legendary film landscapes.
“In Derinkuyu level 4, look closely at the stone walls with your phone flashlight to spot the original soot marks from olive-oil clay lamps used over 1,400 years ago by Byzantine families.”
— Yücel Açık (National Licensed Tourist Guide)What is Included
- ✓Licensed Professional Tourist Guide (Yücel)
- ✓Full hotel roundtrip transportation in Mercedes Minivan
- ✓Derinkuyu Underground City admission ticket
- ✓Ihlara Valley national park entrance fees
- ✓Selime Monastery entrance ticket
- ✓Riverside lunch in Belisırma village
What is Not Included
- ✕Lunch beverages
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Guide tips
Detailed Expedition Itinerary
Hotel Pickup & Scenic Countryside Drive
Head south across the volcanic plateau toward Derinkuyu, passing agricultural villages.
Derinkuyu Underground City Exploration
Navigate down 8 subterranean levels. Inspect ancient missionary schools, ventilation shafts, church chambers, and 500-kg circular stone barrier doors.
Ihlara Canyon 4 km River Hike
Descend 380 wooden stairs into the canyon. Walk alongside the Melendiz stream beneath weeping willows, visiting the rock-cut Ağaçaltı (Under-Tree) Church.
Riverside Lunch on Water Platforms in Belisırma
Kick off your shoes and dine on traditional Anatolian dishes on shaded wooden platforms hovering directly over the river current.
Selime Rock-Cut Cathedral Monastery
Climb the colossal rock fortress monastery with its massive carved columns and kitchen chimneypieces.
Pigeon Valley Panoramic Lookout & Evil Eye Tree
Last scenic photo stop overlooking Uçhisar Castle and the thousand ancient cliffside dovecotes.
Sights & Valleys Visited on this Tour
3 Included SightsDerinkuyu Underground City
85-meter deep subterranean metropolis built to shelter 20,000 citizens
Ihlara Canyon Valley
14-kilometer lush gorge with Melendiz River and rock-hewn early Christian basilicas
Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi)
Deep lush canyon carved with thousands of ancient dovecotes and evil eye trees
🎒 What to Bring with You
- •Light jacket or fleece (Derinkuyu remains a chilly 12°C / 54°F year-round)
- •Comfortable running or hiking shoes for the 4 km river trail
- •Water bottle and small backpack
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Ratings & Traveler Reviews
This rating score (4.95 / 5.0) is compiled from verified traveler feedback on Yücel Açık's official tourHQ licensed guide profile (TR59093), Google Reviews, and direct bookings via Trip Cappadocia.
“I have known Yücel for several years and have been on more than one tour with him and other colleagues as part of my studies of the churches of Cappadocia. Yücel is a magnificent guide, always helpful and very efficient. He knows how to listen to the needs of groups and guide them towards the best choices. He is a very responsible person who pays close attention to the human side of things, as well as being highly knowledgeable and passionate. I wholeheartedly recommend him as a guide for any tour and will certainly try to repeat the experience.”
“Yücel is great! He knows a lot about history not just about the site you are visiting, but also about the culture of Turkey and the Anatolian land. I strongly suggest him to anyone seeking authentic intellectual guidance.”
“A successful human bridge between Turkish culture and our international guests. I wanted to give my husband a memorable experience for his birthday. Yücel guided us through Göreme and Ihlara in fluent English. As the only Turk in our multicultural group, I felt so proud of how deeply impressed all the foreign guests were by his cultural explanations and stories.”
“We were recommended to Yücel by our friend Hande Tekin and contacted him upon arriving in Cappadocia. Yücel is one of a kind! His knowledge of the land and history is second to none; he takes his time to explain the nitty-gritties of the history and value of each spot and tells candid stories from local folklore and legends. Yücel has a great sense of humor and is very helpful. We really enjoyed our tour as he kept us engaged throughout the day and involved everyone even though we were a multicultural group. Being fans of history ourselves, Yücel had insightful answers to all our questions. Overall it was a wonderful experience and his organization was top notch. A definite recommendation to anyone visiting Cappadocia!”
“My friends and I would have never expected to enjoy both the green tour and the red tour so much, largely thanks to Yücel. We loved them because he made us truly enjoy every moment. We were never bored; everything he taught us was interesting, funny, and captivating. We will never forget Cappadocia, and all our best memories are related to him—the best tour guide we could ever get! Thank you for all the laughs, insights, and unforgettable moments. Ciao from Italy!”
“Selam! My sister and I started our travel in Istanbul and came to Cappadocia. On our second day we joined the green tour and met Yücel. He guided our group and everybody was delighted by the end of the day. Other than being a great guide, he is truly a teacher—you can easily feel his pedagogical passion during the tour. His historical knowledge is immense and every single question was answered thoroughly. Warmest greetings to Yücel from Japan!”
