Best of Cappadocia Day Tour: Valleys, Zelve & Underground City

Best of Cappadocia day tour: the key facts

This is a one-day guided group tour that mixes the best-known valleys of northern Cappadocia with an underground city. The route covers Devrent Valley, the Pasabag and Zelve open-air museums, Avanos with the Red River and a pottery workshop where you can try the wheel, an outside view of Uchisar Castle, a leather workshop and an underground city. Hotel pick-up and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, a licensed English-speaking guide, lunch at a local restaurant and all entrance fees on the route are included.

It suits first-time visitors with one free day in Cappadocia who want the main sights in one go. The price is from $57 per person. The tour runs every day with no minimum group size.

What time does the day start and end?

The FAQ says the day begins at 09:30 and ends at around 17:00, with pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Cappadocia. The overview describes it as running "from breakfast to sunset", which in summer would be much later than 17:00. Treat 09:30 to 17:00 as the planned times and ask for your exact pick-up time in writing, since it depends on where your hotel is. The booking form lists times from 08:00 to 14:00; choose the suggested slot unless we agree on another.

Which sights do we see, and what is left out?

You visit Devrent Valley, also called Imagination Valley, the rock pillars at Pasabag, the cave village at Zelve Open Air Museum, Avanos on the Red River with its pottery workshop, a panoramic view of Uchisar Castle from outside, a leather workshop and an underground city. The page does not say which underground city. The Goreme panoramic view and the Goreme Open-Air Museum are not on this route, and you do not go inside Uchisar Castle.

How is it different from the Red Tour?

The FAQ says the Red Tour is a separate route that includes the Goreme panoramic view and lasts one hour less. This Best of tour swaps that viewpoint for an underground city and adds the leather workshop. The FAQ also quotes the Red Tour from €44, "€6 cheaper than this tour", which does not match this page's price of $57 or our Cappadocia Red Tour listing, from $80 per person. Go by the price shown in your booking and confirm it in writing. Our Red Tour guide explains that route.

What are the workshop stops like?

There are two craft stops. At the Avanos pottery workshop you watch the potter and can sit at the wheel yourself. Next to it there is a leather workshop. Both are places where products are on sale. The page does not say how long each stop lasts. If you would rather spend more time at the valleys than in shops, ask the guide at the start of the day, and ask us before booking how long the workshop stops normally take.

How much walking is there?

The valley and open-air museum stops involve walking on uneven paths and some slopes; Zelve has paths between the carved houses. The underground city has narrow, low tunnels and steps, which can be difficult for anyone with back or knee problems or who dislikes tight spaces. If that applies to you, ask the guide whether you can wait outside. Wear shoes with good grip, a hat in summer and warm layers in winter, and carry water. Lunch is at a local restaurant; drinks with lunch are extra.

Can we combine it with a balloon flight?

Yes. The balloon is not included, but a sunrise flight is over before the 09:30 pick-up, so the two can fit on the same day. You can add a standard sunrise balloon flight, from $199 per person. Balloons fly only when the weather allows. A balloon morning plus this tour makes a very long day, so you may prefer to book the balloon for the following morning. Our balloon price guide compares options.

What if we have more than one day?

Add a second route that does not repeat this one. The Cappadocia Green Tour, from $80 per person, goes south to Ihlara Valley, Derinkuyu and Selime. If you want guided days arranged around your arrival at the airport, the 2-day Cappadocia tour without hotel, from $112 per person, covers the Red and Yellow routes. See our day tours from Goreme page and all Cappadocia tours.

Which guide language do we get?

The inclusions name a professional English-speaking licensed guide. The FAQ says you can choose English, Spanish or Italian, and that the price may differ with the language. If you need Spanish or Italian, ask for it and the final price in writing. Airport transfers outside the standard hotel route are optional and cost extra, so if you want to go on tour straight from Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport, ask for a quote.

How do I book this tour?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, or send us a WhatsApp message with your hotel name. We send you the details in writing: pick-up time, the underground city on your date, the guide language and the final price. You pay only after you have read and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.