Cappadocia, Turkey
Explore an 85-meter-deep ancient underground city and a 14-kilometer volcanic canyon packed with Byzantine rock churches. Most visitors combine both on a guided Green Tour.
4.9 from 1,273 traveller reviews on Viator
Tickets & tours
Guided tours bundle these two distant sites and solve complex transport logistics.
Most bookedGreen tour is also known as South Cappadocia tour because of its itinerary covering all the main attractions of the South Cappadocia. You will visit the largest...
Top ratedWe especially stop on Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu Underground city. We take care of all our guests with their small...
Small group✅An exclusive experience crafted for just 12 guests per day. Intimate, personal, and dedicated entirely to you. Advance reservation is strictly required. ✅Our tours are...
Explore
Two massive historical sites separated by an hour of driving.
Derinkuyu plunges 85 meters down into volcanic rock across 8 illuminated levels.
Sheltering thousands during ancient invasions.
Plan your visit
Guided tours take 8 to 9 hours. Driving yourself takes at least 5 hours including transit.
Visit in April to June or September to October for optimal canyon hiking weather.
Book a tour from Göreme or rent a car. Public transit is slow and requires multiple transfers.
Expect to pay €13 for Derinkuyu and €15 for Ihlara if traveling independently.
These two sites form the core of Cappadocia's popular Green Tour. Derinkuyu is the deepest known underground city in the region. You will descend steep, narrow stairs through 8 illuminated levels. The complex includes ventilation shafts, wineries, and a cross-shaped church. See Packing Guide for advice on navigating the tunnels.
An hour drive west brings you to Ihlara Valley. The Melendiz River carved this 14-kilometer canyon. Over 100 rock-cut churches sit inside the canyon walls. Around 14 are open to the public today. Accessing the main entrance requires descending nearly 400 steep stairs.
Coordinating transport between the two sites is difficult without a car. Most visitors choose a guided tour starting in Göreme or Ürgüp. Tours usually include a lunch stop on the river in Belisırma. Read Tour vs Driving to decide how to travel.
We look for tours that handle the 1.5-hour driving gap between sites.
Smaller groups move faster through narrow underground tunnels.
We check if the €28 combined entry fees and lunch are included.
From Viator
1,273 reviews of the original green tour on Viator
Our guide, Jacob, was exceptional in explaining the culture, the heritage along with the history in a immersive story telling narration. The experience was great and I would highly recommend it.
Everything was perfect! We had a wonderful experience in Cappadocia. The tour was well organized, the places we visited were absolutely beautiful, and we enjoyed every moment. It was a memorable experience, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Cappadocia.
Mehmet Kirindi was our guide. He waited for me when i needed a slower pace and made sure i didn't miss anything. He gave me a hand when needed. I enjoyed everything along with the younger people in the group. We all had a pleasant time together.
The Green Tour in Cappadocia was an amazing experience! The hike was beautiful with incredible scenery the entire way. Our tour guide Mehmet was fantastic — friendly, knowledgeable, and made the day really fun. Everything was very well organized and stress-free. Highly recommend this tour if you want to experience the natural beauty of Cappadocia! Kind Regards, Teresa and Natalie from Canada!
Interesting and well guided tour of rock formations and underground city etc........................
The tour guide was fantastic; he was informed and respectful . I have been on many tours with my wife who leads high school student trips with professional tour guides and our guide was among the best.
Fab tour! Our tour Guide Erai was knowledgeable, professional, simply excellent! Great value for money… I would recommend 100%
It was a great experience!! We had so much fun exploring all the sites and we learned alot. The tour guide was humble, knowledgable and patient.
The tour was fantastic; they took great care of us, happily answered all our questions, and described the places we visited. If you're coming to Cappadocia, this tour would be a great choice.
Travel tips
Tour vs DrivingCompare guided Green Tours with renting a car for your visit.Read 
Derinkuyu vs KaymakliChoose the right underground city based on your comfort and mobility.Read 
Beat the CrowdsLearn the best times to visit Derinkuyu without the tour bus crowds.Read 
Packing GuideEssential gear and clothing for exploring Derinkuyu and Ihlara Valley.Read 
Ihlara Hiking DistancesFind out how far you need to walk in Ihlara Valley.Read 
Museum Pass ValueCalculate if the Turkiye MuseumPass is worth buying for your trip.Read Entry costs €13 in recent listings. Ihlara Valley entry is €15. Both sites are included in the Turkiye MuseumPass. Children under 8 get in free.
Derinkuyu is deeper, reaching 85 meters down. Kaymakli is wider and feels slightly less confined. See Derinkuyu vs Kaymakli to decide which suits you best.
The entire valley is 14 kilometers long. Most visitors hike a 3 to 4-kilometer section from the main entrance to Belisırma. This takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
You can enter without a guide. However, guided tours provide context on how 20,000 people lived underground. Most visitors go with a Green Tour guide.
The city plunges 85 meters into the earth. There are 8 illuminated levels accessible to the public today.
No. It requires navigating very low, narrow tunnels. It is not recommended for those with severe claustrophobia, bad backs, or mobility issues.
Book your tour early to secure hotel pickup and avoid transport headaches.
