Cappadocia Day Tours

Cappadocia's two classic full-day tours divide the region in two. The Red Tour covers North Cappadocia around Göreme, Uçhisar and Avanos, with fairy chimneys, viewpoints and a pottery workshop. The Green Tour goes south to Derinkuyu Underground City and Ihlara Valley.

Both tours include a licensed English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, entrance fees to all sites on the programme, an open buffet lunch and hotel pickup. The comparison below helps you choose.

H2. Red Tour vs Green Tour at a Glance

The table compares the two tours side by side: where they go, how much you walk and who each one suits.

Red Tour: The Highlights of North Cappadocia

The Red Tour Cappadocia starts with the view over Göreme from Göreme Panorama, then visits the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ and the animal-shaped rocks of Devrent Valley. In Avanos, you watch a live pottery demonstration and can try the wheel yourself. After lunch, the tour continues to Uçhisar Castle, one of the highest points in the region, a walk through the Rose and Red Valley and the rock-cut houses of Çavuşin Village.

Please note that the Göreme Open-Air Museum is not part of this tour's programme.

Green Tour: Underground City and Ihlara Valley

The Green Tour Cappadocia begins at Göreme Panorama and then goes underground at Derinkuyu, where you explore the tunnels, rooms and ventilation shafts of an ancient underground city. Next comes Ihlara Valley, a green canyon with a river and rock-cut churches with frescoes, where you walk along the valley floor. Lunch is at a local restaurant by the Melendiz River, and the day ends at Pigeon Valley, named after the pigeon houses carved into its cliffs.

Which Day Tour Should You Choose?

Both tours are full days with a guide and lunch, so the choice comes down to what you want to see and how much walking you enjoy.

Choose the Red Tour for the Classic Sights

Choose the Red Tour if you want to see the fairy chimneys and viewpoints that Cappadocia is famous for, close to where most hotels are. The stops are near each other, so there is less time on the road.

Choose the Green Tour for History and Nature

Choose the Green Tour if you are curious about the underground cities and would enjoy a walk through a green canyon. The sites are further from Göreme, so you spend more time travelling between them. The underground city has narrow passages and stairs, so it may not suit people who dislike enclosed spaces.

Do Both If You Have Three Days or More

The two tours do not repeat each other apart from the first stop at Göreme Panorama, so doing both on different days gives you a full picture of the region.

Plan the Rest of Your Day

The day tours return you to your hotel at the end of the programme. On other days, add a sunrise hot air balloon flight or a sunset activity such as horseback riding or an ATV tour from Cappadocia Outdoor Activities.

Prices and Booking

Current prices are shown on each tour page. You pay a 20% deposit online and the rest at the start of the tour. You receive a full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours before the start; see our Cancellation & Refund Policy for the details.