Ihlara Valley

Cappadocia

Rimmed by high cliffs that hide rock-cut churches, the lush Ihlara Valley is one of Cappadocia's most popular hiking destinations. Most visitors arrive on a tour and only amble the short church-filled middle stretch, but making time to hike the full length is well worthwhile.

Selime to Belisırma offers rugged cliff scenery. Belisırma to the Ihlara Vadısı Turistik Tesisleri (Ihlara Valley Tourist Facility) entrance is home to the most churches, and from there to Ihlara village there are little-visited churches.

It takes about an hour to walk from Ihlara village to the Ihlara Vadısı Turistik Tesisleri stairs, 1½ hours to walk from there to Belisırma, and another hour to walk from Belisırma to Selime.

During summer, start your walk early in the day to escape the worst of the heat.

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Kaymaklı Underground City

28.78 MILES

Kaymaklı underground city features a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep into the earth, though only four are open to the public. The…
Monastery Valley

6.1 MILES

The 4.5km Monastery Valley is full of rock-cut churches and dwellings cut into the cliff walls. Exploring it makes for a scenic stroll. From Güzelyurt's…
Derinkuyu Underground City

26.13 MILES

Derinkuyu underground city, 10km south of Kaymaklı, has cavernous rooms arrayed on seven levels reached by skinny long tunnels. When you get all the way…
Hasan Dağı

10.38 MILES

Hasan Dağı (Mt Hasan), Cappadocia's second-highest mountain, provides a challenging summit-bagging hike. The closest village to the 3268m inactive volcano…
Büyük Kilise Cami

6.08 MILES

Just after the Monastery Valley ticket office, you come to the large Büyük Kilise Cami (Mosque of the Great Church), which began life as the Church of St…
Direkli Kilise

2.69 MILES

This cross-shaped church has four columns, with lovely partially preserved frescoes of saints. The large adjoining chamber originally had two storeys, as…
Özlüce Underground City

25.05 MILES

To reach Özlüce underground city, turn right as you enter Kaymaklı village from the north and you'll be heading for the small village of Özlüce, 7km…
Güzelyurt Underground City

6.11 MILES

Entry into this underground city is beside the Monastery Valley ticket office. The restored complex ranges across several levels and includes one hair…

View more attractions

Nearby Cappadocia attractions

1. Selime Monastery

0.18 MILES

The monastery at Selime is an astonishing rock-cut structure incorporating a vast kitchen with a soaring chimney, three churches, stables with rock-carved…

2. Direkli Kilise

2.69 MILES

This cross-shaped church has four columns, with lovely partially preserved frescoes of saints. The large adjoining chamber originally had two storeys, as…

3. Bahattın'ın Samanlığı Kilise

2.7 MILES

Sitting on Belisırma village's cliff face, next door to the Direkli Kilise, this tiny church contains defaced but still vivid frescoes depicting scenes…

4. Kırk Dam Altı Kilise

3.41 MILES

Although badly graffitied, the frescoes are still gloriously vibrant, and above the entrance you can see St George on a white horse, slaying a three…

5. Yılanlı Kilise

3.73 MILES

Many of the frescoes are damaged, but it's possible to make out the one outlining the punishments for sinners, especially the three-headed snake with a…

6. Sümbüllü Kilise

3.81 MILES

Some frescoes remain, but this church is mostly noteworthy for its simple but elegant facade.

7. Karanlık Kale Kilisesi

3.85 MILES

This monastery structure includes a chapel with a dramatic carved, cross-patterned ceiling and pillared chambers with geometric red and white decoration…

8. Eğritaş Kilise

3.87 MILES

Hardly anyone bothers to go to the Eğritaş Kilise, which is a shame because although the frescoes covering its half-collapsed, barrel-vaulted chapel are…

View more attractions