Cappadocia (Kapadokya) is a breathtaking region in Turkey famous for its fantastic scenery, interesting rock formations, cave dwellings, canyons, and hundreds of hot air balloons that rise in the sky. Because of these numerous beauties, hiking in Cappadocia is a privilege!
There are many hiking trails in Cappadocia. However, if you have only a few days to visit this beautiful Turkish region, you probably won’t be able to explore all of them. That’s why I’ve listed the best hiking trails, along with their distance and duration, in this blog post!
Hiking Trails In Cappadocia
Here are the best hiking trails in Cappadocia you should see if you can’t explore all of them. Also, you might want to consider learning a couple of phrases in Turkish before you go! Using an app such as Ling is a great way to do it; it’s available on the Play Store and App Store.
1. Love Valley (Aşk Vadisi)
Love Valley is close to Göreme, and you can hike through it to Uçhisar Castle, a historical viewpoint site located on the top, which has a beautiful view. You can see amazing rock formations up close on this hiking trail. It’s an easy and peaceful hike to Uçhisar, and it takes 1–2 hours. The ending of the valley has a beautiful scenery of sandstones. It’s one of the most stunning landscapes I’ve ever seen.
Distance: 7.5 kilometers
Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
2. Rose Valley (Güllüdere Vadisi)
During the Rose Valley hike, you’ll see a unique area with sharp ridges that are tinted in pink. This pink becomes even more evident at sunset when the sun shines directly onto the valley, giving it that pretty shade of pink that so many people come to see. You can also see unique rock formations during the hiking trail, but what makes this landscape beautiful is that one side of the ridge is always in the sun while the other is in shadow.
Distance: 4.3 kilometers
Duration: 1.5 hours
3. Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi)
Pigeon Valley is the most popular hiking trail in Cappadocia. It’s located between Göreme and Uçhisar. This trail begins with a sharp descent and has a white dusty path. Within a few minutes, you’re already in the center of the valley. From that point, you can catch small glimpses of Uçhisar town or the Uçhisar Castle. During the hike, you’ll see ancient cave dwellings, paintings, and… pigeons. As the name suggests, a lot of pigeons live in this valley. As a matter of fact, in ancient times, pigeonholes were built into the cave walls for their domestication.
Distance: 3 kilometers
Duration: 1 hour
4. Red Valley (Kızıl Vadi)
If you’re hiking in Cappadocia, you shouldn’t skip Red Valley. The sharp sandstone has a vibrant red during the final moments of sunset every night. If you only have a few days in Cappadocia, it’s one of the best sunset spots; you can even drive straight to the sunset viewpoint to enjoy the view and relax at a café.
Distance: 3.3 kilometers
Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours
5. Ihlara Valley (Ihlara Vadisi)
Ihlara Valley has a river running in the middle of it and that is what makes Ihlara different from other valleys. Ihlara is closer to the city of Aksaray rather than Nevşehir, however, it is still considered a part of the Cappadocia region. If you don’t like hiking in uneven terrain, this valley has an easy route for you.
Distance: 10.5 kilometers
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
6. Meskendir Valley (Meskendir Vadisi)
The Meskendir Valley consists of soft-colored sandstones, and it has a short hiking trail for those who don’t enjoy a long hike. Even though it is a short route, it offers beautiful views of rock formations and hand-carved pigeon houses.
Distance: 4 km
Duration: 1 hour
7. Göreme Sunset Point
If you don’t want to hike for hours and see a beautiful panoramic view of Cappadocia, the best place you should visit is Göreme Sunset Point. This place is located in the town of Göreme, and you just have to hike up a small hill to get to the sunset point. You can also see the hot air balloon rides at sunrise from here.
Distance: 1km
Duration: 20 mins
8. Devrent Valley
Devrent Valley is a little different than the others. Devrent Valley is not the best place for hikers, but it is for creatives! There are a lot of unique fairy chimneys that everyone can see as different things by adding their imagination. The most popular one is the camel-looking rock, but different people have also claimed that it is a dolphin, snail, bird, and an old lady. What do you think it is?
Distance: 3km
Duration: 30 mins to 1 hour
Which Hiking Trail Is A Must-See?
If you have only a couple of days to spend in Cappadocia it means you won’t be able to see all of these hiking trails. Then I suggest that you should see the easiest trail, which is the Göreme Sunset Point. Also, the Göreme Valley is home to many fairy chimneys, cave dwellings, and rock formations, which you can explore as well.
Hey, did you know that Göreme is a UNESCO World Heritage Site? I think that makes Göreme a must-see destination for tourists visiting Cappadocia.
Ready For A Hike In Cappadocia?
If you are going to visit Cappadocia this summer, make sure to pack your hiking gear, sunglasses, and sunscreen! And always carry a big bottle of water because you want to stay hydrated in the scorching hot weather. Also, if you want to make your Cappadocia trip unforgettable, learn useful Turkish phrases to connect with locals and create memories in this fairy tale land.
