Cappadocia Red Tour: Goreme, Fairy Chimneys & Zelve

About this tour

This full-day Red Tour covers the northern side of Cappadocia, the region in central Turkey known for its cone-shaped rock formations. You'll walk through the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open Air Museum with its rock-cut churches, see the cluster of fairy chimneys at Pasabag, and explore the three connected valleys of the Zelve Open Air Museum, an old cave village lived in until the 1950s. An English-speaking guide fills in the history, and hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Cappadocia are included.

Guide Languages

English

Highlights

• Tour the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open Air Museum and its rock-cut churches
• See the cluster of fairy chimneys at Pasabag
• Take in wide views from natural clifftop viewpoints
• Hear Cappadocia's history from a knowledgeable local guide
• Sit down to a traditional lunch of local dishes
• Walk through Zelve's three connected valleys of unusual rock formations
• See ancient cave homes, churches and monks' cells carved into the rock
• Learn how Zelve went from a Byzantine monastic hideaway to a working village
• Explore tunnels and passages cut straight into the stone
• See a rock-cut mosque sitting among the old Christian churches

Places You Will Visit

Included / Excluded

Good to Know Before You Go

The Red Tour runs as a full day, usually starting around 08:00 in the morning and wrapping up in the late afternoon or early evening depending on the day's pace and traffic. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes made for walking outdoors, since the ground at these sites is uneven and there are plenty of steps. Bring layers so you're ready for the temperature swings through the day, and add a hat, sunglasses and sun protection in summer or a jacket in the cooler months. At the churches and other religious sites, modest clothing is the respectful choice.

Zelve Open Air Museum spreads across three valleys of cave dwellings, churches and a rock-cut mosque, and most people spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours walking through it. There's little in the way of food or drink inside, so it's worth carrying your own water and a snack.

Check the official site for current visiting times before you go.

Weather in Cappadocia

Today 68°F20°C 45°F7°C Rain 0%

Tomorrow 67°F20°C 49°F10°C Rain 0%

Sun, Oct 25 69°F21°C 48°F9°C Rain 0%

Mon, Oct 26 71°F22°C 52°F11°C Rain 0%

Tue, Oct 27 70°F21°C 52°F11°C Rain 35%

Wed, Oct 28 57°F14°C 48°F9°C Rain 51%

Thu, Oct 29 54°F12°C 50°F10°C Rain 57%

Local time 3:44 AM, UTC+03:00

Available Days / Times

• Monday : 09:00, 09:30, 10:00
• Tuesday : 09:00, 09:30, 10:00
• Wednesday : 09:00, 09:30, 10:00
• Thursday : 09:00, 09:30, 10:00
• Friday : 09:00, 09:30, 10:00
• Saturday : 09:00, 09:30, 10:00
• Sunday : 09:00, 09:30, 10:00

Last updated: Oct 22, 2026