Activities
Sunset ATV safari
- 2 hours
- 16:30
- Up to 8 people
- Hotel pickup
Two hours of quad riding on the valleys' dirt tracks around sunset. Safety briefing, helmet and a small group of up to 8 included.
From€50 / person
Classic open-top jeep safari
About 2.5 hours in a classic open-top jeep through the valleys: Pigeon Valley, Love Valley, Çavuşin and a sunset point. No walking needed, with a guide.
- Duration150 minutes
- Start time16:00
- Group sizeUp to 10 people
- Guide languagesTürkçe, English, Deutsch, Русский
- DifficultyEasy
- PickupFree from your hotel
Overview
The first thing you notice as you set off is that there are no doors and no roof. The wind takes your hair, the engine changes its note with the slope of the valley, and a puff of dust lands on your cheek and is gone. The classic jeep safari is the easiest and most cheerful way to enter Cappadocia's valleys without the tiredness of walking.
The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and can run in the afternoon or at sunset. Groups of up to 10 travel in a convoy of vehicles, and the guide talks at the stops. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are free, and a tea or water is included in the price.
Highlights
- Open-top classic jeep through the valleys
- About 2.5 hours, at sunset or in the afternoon
- Pigeon Valley, Love Valley, Çavuşin, Rose Valley
- Into the valleys without walking
- Tea or water included
- Groups of up to 10, with a guide
- Free hotel pick-up and drop-off
The route: along the valley rims
The route follows dirt roads around Göreme. The first stop is on the edge of Pigeon Valley, facing the carved dovecotes. Rows of small windows climb the slopes, and your guide explains that these were dovecotes, and that pigeon droppings were prized as fertiliser for the vineyards. Then you drive between the long, upright rocks of Love Valley, and your guide explains with a smile where the name came from, in words fit for children. At Çavuşin you see the old village, partly evacuated because of rockfall risk: houses with collapsed upper storeys, empty window frames and a church façade that still stands. The last stop is the sunset point in Rose Valley, with waves of rock below and a reddening horizon ahead. At each stop you step out for photographs while the guide gives a short briefing on the place, then leaves you to yourselves.
From tuff to fairy chimney
The landscape begins millions of years ago, when the region's volcanoes spread ash that piled up and hardened. Wind and rain slowly wore this soft rock, tuff, away; harder pieces on top shielded the rock below, and that is how fairy chimneys were born. Because tuff carves easily, people spent centuries cutting homes, stables, churches and dovecotes into it, rooms cool in summer and mild in winter. On the safari you see the same story at different scales: small niches in Pigeon Valley, tall shafts in Love Valley, a partly evacuated village in Çavuşin. Look closely at the stops: porous, sandy tuff and the hard cap on top are easy to tell apart, and a chimney's shape shows how hard its layers were. Children enjoy it as a game: count who spots the pointiest or widest-capped chimney. At one stop your guide shows how it works on the rock itself. With this knowledge the valleys become something you can read, not just a backdrop; soon you are decoding the rocks yourself.
Guide and vehicles
At the stops the guide explains, briefly and vividly, how the rock formed, how people used it and what is changing in the valleys today. The vehicles look like old models but are well maintained, and the drivers know these tracks with their eyes closed. Each vehicle has a few rows of seats, and groups are seated so that a family or a party of friends can sit together wherever possible.
Entering the valleys without walking
This is the most comfortable way into the valleys for people who find walking hard or just don't feel like it. Grandparents, families with children, friends who dislike long hikes and anyone who wants many photo stops tend to be happy with it. Boarding takes a step up or a helping hand, and the driver assists anyone who needs it. The stretches between stops are short, and you get out roughly every ten to fifteen minutes. That rhythm suits children who tire of sitting still, too. The ride is bumpy because the roads are dirt, and we don't recommend it for pregnant women or anyone with serious back problems. If you need a child seat, write your child's age in the booking note and we'll look at it together.
Sunset or afternoon
The sunset tour is the most requested: the light goes honey, then copper, and the tuff rocks turn pink. The afternoon tour has its own charm, with low light, long shadows and a few stops that are a little less busy. In summer both are possible; in winter the tour time moves earlier with sunset and the evening cools fast. Whichever you choose, the guide reads the weather and reorders the stops: on a cloudy sunset you might skip Rose Valley for a slope where the rocks are better lit.
What to wear
In an open car the wind feels cool, and even in summer a thin jacket helps. Sunglasses are good against dust and wind, and a hair tie or bandana helps with long hair. Closed shoes are enough, and boots aren't needed. The wind may take your hat, so choose one that ties on.
Itinerary
- 16:00Hotel pick-up
Your guide and vehicles collect you at your hotel. Times shift with the season and sunset; this is a sample timeline.
- 16:30Pigeon Valley
The first stop faces the carved dovecotes, with a short story of the valley from your guide.
- 17:15Love Valley
A dirt road through the long upright rocks, with a photo break.
- 17:45Old Çavuşin village
A view of the old village, partly evacuated because of rockfall risk.
- 18:15Rose Valley sunset point
Tea or water while you watch the sunset; the rocks turn from pink to copper.
- 19:00Return to the hotel
The vehicles drop you at your hotel. Hotel to hotel can take about three hours.
Included / excluded
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (free zones)
- Approximately 2.5-hour safari in open-top classic vehicles
- Guide and experienced driver
- Tea or water served
- Photo stops
- Mandatory travel agency and passenger insurance coverage
Not included
- Personal expenses
- Optional tip for the guide and driver
What to bring
A thin jacket, sunglasses, a hair tie or bandana, closed shoes. Choose a hat that ties on. For phones and cameras a wrist strap is safer than a neck strap.
Important information
No payment is taken when you send a booking request; you pay on the day, in cash (EUR, USD, TRY) or by card. Requests are usually confirmed within 1–2 hours and always within 24 hours. The vehicles are open-top and the roads are dirt and bumpy. Not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with serious back problems. Groups are up to 10. If you need a child seat, put the child's age in the booking note. Route and stops may change with road conditions. If rain or ground conditions are unsuitable, the tour moves to another day. Children aged 0 to 5 are free; the child price applies from 6 to 12.
Meeting point and pickup
Timed to sunset or afternoon (roughly 14:30–18:00 by season); pick-up time confirmed the evening before. Pick-up and drop-off are free. We send your pick-up time on WhatsApp the evening before.
Hotel pick-up (Göreme, Uçhisar, Çavuşin, Ortahisar, Ürgüp, Avanos)Open in mapsFrequently asked questions
Will I have to walk?
No; you step out of the vehicle only briefly for photographs, a few steps on flat ground, with almost no slopes or stairs.
Is it suitable with children?
Yes; children usually love it. Ages 0 to 5 are free and 6 to 12 pay the child price. If you need a child seat, add their age to the booking note.
Is sunset or afternoon better?
Sunset is the most popular because of the light. The afternoon is a little less busy and the low light is lovely too; both are enjoyable.
Is the ride very bumpy?
The roads are dirt and uneven in places. It's comfortable for a healthy person, but we don't recommend it for anyone with serious back problems or for pregnant women.
Cancellation policy
You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the tour. No-shows are not refunded. If we cancel because of weather or ground conditions, we'll either move the tour to another day with you or refund it.
Similar tours
Activities
Kızılçukur sunset horse ride
- 2 hours
- 16:00
- Up to 8 people
- Hotel pickup
A ride of about two hours in Kızılçukur at sunset, with separate paces for beginners and experienced riders. Up to 8 guests.
From€55 / person
From€60 / person
Booking request