Cappadocia Valleys on the 2-Day Tour: Pigeon, Uçhisar, Love and Red Valley

Why the valleys look the way they do

Cappadocia lies in central Anatolia, and much of it is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage area: Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia. The landscape was formed from volcanic tuff, a soft rock that has been worn over time into cones, pillars and ridges known as fairy chimneys.

People have carved homes, churches, dovecotes and refuges into that rock for centuries. Each valley on the tour shows a different side of it, from the pale slopes of Pigeon Valley to the warm colours of the Red Valley at dusk.

Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley takes its name from the small holes cut into its rock faces, made for pigeons. For a long time their droppings were collected and used to fertilise the fields and vineyards of the area, which is why the dovecotes were worth carving in the first place.

From the stop you look down and across a valley of soft, folded rock dotted with these openings. It is the first valley view of the trip and a good moment to get your camera out.

The panorama at the foot of Uçhisar Castle

Uçhisar Castle is not a castle in the European sense, but a great rock outcrop riddled with carved rooms, rising above the village of Uçhisar. It is one of the most recognisable shapes in Cappadocia.

The tour stops at the foot of the castle for the panorama. From here the view opens out over the surrounding valleys and fairy chimneys, giving you a sense of how wide the landscape is. The programme lists the panorama, so plan on enjoying the view rather than climbing the rock.

Love Valley

Love Valley is known for its tall, slender rock pillars, some of the most striking fairy chimneys in the region. They stand in groups along the valley floor, and their shapes have given the valley its playful name.

It is a stop that photographs well at almost any hour of the afternoon, and it comes after the onyx and sultanite centre, so it is a welcome return to the open air.

Sunset at the Red Valley (extra)

The last stop of day 1 is optional. For an extra charge you can watch the sunset at the Red Valley, where the rock takes on red and pink tones as the light drops. It is a calm, unhurried way to end a very long day before the coach takes you to the 3- or 4-star hotel, arriving around 19:00.

Like the other extras, it is paid on the trip. If you skip it, nothing else in the programme changes. All extras and their prices are on the price page.

The sunset extra is not included in the tour fare. Decide on the day. Prices and optional extras may change according to the selected date and availability — see the current tour page.

What to expect at a valley stop

These are viewpoint stops on a group coach tour. You get off, look, take photos and listen to the guide, then the coach moves on. They are not walking tours, and the programme does not include hiking through the valleys.

That makes the day suitable for most people who can manage a few steps on uneven ground. Wear shoes with grip, keep a layer to hand for the wind at the viewpoints, and protect yourself from the sun in summer. Our packing guide has more.

• Stay close to the guide so you hear the meeting time for the coach.
• Keep away from crumbling edges; the tuff is soft.
• Take photos early at each stop; the time there is part of a fixed programme.

Where the valleys fit in the two days

On day 1 the order is: Underground City, lunch (extra), Pigeon Valley, the Uçhisar Castle panorama, the onyx and sultanite centre, Love Valley and the Red Valley sunset (extra). On day 2, the valleys can be seen again at sunrise from the balloon-watching terrace (optional extra), or from the air if you arrange the optional flight and it takes place. The full day-by-day plan is on the itinerary page.

When you are ready, choose a Tuesday or Friday departure on the booking form. Nothing is paid online.