We do not sell balloon flights. Balloons fly around sunrise with licensed operators, subject to weather and flight approval. That is before the day tours’ 09:30–10:20 hotel pickup, so a guest who books a flight independently can still join a tour afterward if the balloon returns on time. Leave a practical margin: a delayed landing, transfer back to the hotel or a missed pickup can make a morning tight.
Start with Red to get oriented
Red is a useful first day because its stops sit around Cappadocia’s central landscape. The published route includes Devrent Valley, Paşabağ, Zelve and Avanos. At Devrent, look across the sculpted rock shapes; at Paşabağ, walk among the clustered fairy chimneys; Zelve adds cave dwellings and churches. Avanos changes the subject from geology to pottery and town life.
The stops are separate, with short drives between them, rather than one long continuous walk. Still, expect uneven, dusty ground and exposed viewpoints. Wear sneakers or walking shoes with a tread. Take a hat and water in warm weather. A long skirt or wide trousers can be awkward on steps and narrow paths, so choose clothes that let you climb and sit comfortably.
Red includes the Paşabağ and Zelve ticket as one admission. A ticket to one of these does not cover Göreme Open Air Museum, which is a separate place and is not on this itinerary. If you have an extra morning or afternoon after the two tours, you can plan Göreme separately rather than trying to add it between scheduled stops.
Full route, pickup details and what is included: Cappadocia Red Tour (Small Group) — Paşabağ, Zelve & Devrent.
Red then Green: prioritize the gorge and a longer walk
Green is the more walking-focused pairing. Its published itinerary includes Kaymaklı Underground City, a walk in Ihlara Valley and Selime. The valley walk is the main reason to choose this combination: it takes you away from the central rock formations and down into a river gorge. The distance and exact route can vary with the operating plan, so ask about the day’s walking section if distance matters to you.
Kaymaklı adds low, narrow and sloping passages, with stairs between the areas open to visitors. The Ministry’s official page says four levels have been excavated and opened for visitors. You will not be walking through every level of the wider settlement. Some passages require bending and careful footing. If low spaces make you anxious, or knees make stairs difficult, choose South or do Red plus a non-tour day instead.
This order suits travellers who want to see central Cappadocia first and spend their second day on a bigger landscape change. It also places the more physically varied day second, so judge your energy honestly. If you know that you feel best early in a trip, reverse the order: Green first, Red second. Either way, both tours collect between 09:30 and 10:20 from hotels in Göreme, Uçhisar, Ürgüp and Avanos.
Red then South: add village paths without a full Ihlara day
South is a good alternative if you want some walking but do not want Ihlara’s longer excursion. Its route climbs to old Çavuşin, with a view over Red Valley, then visits Özkonak Underground City and the Pigeon Valley and Ortahisar viewpoints, about 3 km on foot in all. The paths around the old village can be rocky or sloping. The distance sounds modest, but loose surfaces and heat can make it feel longer than a paved town walk.
Özkonak gives the day its underground section. It is not the same site as Kaymaklı, and the South tour goes to Özkonak while Green goes to Kaymaklı. The official page describes galleries connected by tunnels and notes that the site has not been fully cleared. Do not choose South solely because you expect an easier underground passage: the route still includes constrained spaces and stairs.
Pick Red plus South if the valley hike, Çavuşin and a second underground city sound like a balanced two-day plan. Pick Green instead if Ihlara is the priority or if you would rather give most of the second day to the gorge and Selime. Our Red, Green and South comparison lays out the route differences in one place.
Order the days around your legs and evenings
Both routes are full-day outings with hotel pickup between 09:30 and 10:20. Keep the previous evening simple, especially before Green: have dinner near your hotel, set out walking shoes and a light layer, and avoid planning a late arrival from another region on the same night. A balloon flight is optional and independently arranged; you do not need one for either day to make sense.
After Red, an easy evening can mean a meal in Göreme, Ürgüp or Avanos, depending on where you stay. After Green, leave room to rest before adding another activity. South may feel less demanding than Green for some travellers, but it still combines a walk, site visits and transport. Do not book a separate late excursion without checking its meeting point and finish time against the day’s actual schedule.
For a third day, slow the pace rather than forcing another full itinerary. Visit a site independently, spend time in the town where you are staying, or leave a weather buffer. The Cappadocia tours overview links the full-day options. Compare the actual stops, walking and included tickets before selecting; the route name alone is not enough to judge effort.
Shoes, layers and a small day bag
Wear closed walking shoes or secure trail-style shoes with a grippy sole. Red’s paths are mostly short but can be uneven. South has the valley hike. Green includes the valley walk and underground stairs. Smooth sandals, new shoes and shoes with a slick sole are poor choices. If you use a walking aid or have recent knee pain, ask the operator about surfaces and route length before booking.
Morning temperatures can feel cool, particularly outside summer; by midday, exposed viewpoints may feel hot. A removable layer is more practical than one heavy coat. In warm months, bring a hat, sunscreen and water. Carry medication you need, a phone, and a little space for personal items. Lunch is included on all three day tours, but drinks with meals are not listed as included, so plan accordingly.
Leave your suitcase at the hotel. These are out-and-back sightseeing days, not transfers between towns. A small backpack or crossbody bag keeps your hands free on uneven paths. Before departure, confirm your hotel lies in one of the listed pickup towns and check the exact lobby meeting instruction on your tour confirmation.
Tickets and tour inclusions
The official 2026 foreign-visitor tariffs list Zelve-Paşabağ at €12, Kaymaklı at €13, Ihlara at €15 and Özkonak at €6. These are site admissions for independent planning, not prices for our tours. The day-tour inclusions list the relevant entrance tickets, a licensed English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and lunch. Red includes the shared Paşabağ-Zelve ticket; Green includes Ihlara Valley, Selime and Kaymaklı; South includes Özkonak.
Check the current official tariff close to your visit because admission lists can be updated. Göreme Open Air Museum is €20 on the same official 2026 list, but it is not a listed stop in these Red, Green or South itineraries. If you want to visit it, set aside separate time and confirm its current opening and entry information.
The tour day and ticket are different decisions: the site ticket does not tell you how much you will walk, and the route description does not mean every Cappadocia museum is included. Read both the stops and inclusion list. Private versions follow the Red, Green or South themes, with private guide and vehicle details stated on their own pages.
