These route names are convenient labels, not official geographic boundaries. Operators can arrange stops differently, so compare the actual itinerary before choosing. TurkeyVia’s published routes are based on product ids 311–316: Red visits Devrent, Paşabağ, Zelve and Avanos; Green combines Kaymaklı, Ihlara Valley and Selime; South features old Çavuşin, Özkonak and the Pigeon Valley and Ortahisar viewpoints.

Names are where travellers most often get confused. Many operators call the Ihlara Valley and Kaymaklı day the South tour, or use colours other than ours. Our South Tour is a different day, closer to Göreme; Ihlara is on our Green Tour. Check the stop list rather than the colour.

What the Red route actually covers

The Red day is the most concentrated introduction to Cappadocia’s central landscape. In TurkeyVia’s itinerary, the day begins at Devrent Valley, moves to Paşabağ, continues to the Zelve open-air site, and includes an Avanos pottery workshop and a carpet weaving centre. It suits travellers who want varied stops without committing to a long valley walk.

At Devrent, the main activity is looking closely at weathered formations from paths and viewing points. Paşabağ is known for its grouped fairy chimneys, and Zelve adds cave dwellings and churches that help explain how people used the soft volcanic rock. These are separate places; don’t expect one continuous trail between them.

Avanos gives the day a human-scale stop after the exposed valleys. Pottery is associated with the town’s clay-working tradition, and a demonstration is a useful way to understand the craft. The Red day has two workshop stops, the Avanos potter and a carpet weaving centre, about 30–45 minutes each. They are part of the programme and there is no obligation to buy; if shopping holds little interest, treat them as short cultural stops rather than the reason to pick Red.

Walking adds up to about 2.5 km, broken into short sections rather than a sustained hike. Surfaces can still be dusty, rocky or uneven, so sandals with smooth soles are a poor choice. Take water, a sun covering and shoes you can walk in for several hours.

What Green adds, and when it is worth the drive

Green is the farthest-reaching of these three day routes. The published plan visits Kaymaklı Underground City, walks a section of Ihlara Valley beside the Melendiz River, and includes Selime Monastery. The value is the change of scale: you spend time below ground, then in a long river gorge, then among rock-cut religious buildings.

At Kaymaklı, expect low ceilings, narrow passages and stairways. You do not need specialist fitness, but anyone uncomfortable in confined spaces should consider that before booking. Wear closed shoes, move carefully on steps, and follow the route direction at the site rather than trying to squeeze past other visitors in tight sections.

Ihlara is the route with the most sustained walking. TurkeyVia’s itinerary follows the valley path for about 3.5–4 km to Belisırma, with a riverside lunch there. The Green day also includes onyx and leather workshop visits, with no obligation to buy. The path is not a paved city promenade. If you have knee problems, mobility limitations or a young child who tires quickly, ask how much walking is planned before committing.

Green is worth the longer driving day if the gorge and underground city are high priorities. It is less suitable if your main interest is Cappadocia’s central fairy chimneys, or if you would rather spend most of the day near Göreme. In that case Red is the more efficient use of daylight.

The South route: a middle ground with a hike

South is not simply a shortened Green. The published TurkeyVia itinerary climbs to the abandoned cliff village of old Çavuşin, with a view over Red Valley, then visits Özkonak Underground City and the Pigeon Valley and Ortahisar viewpoints. Expect roughly 3 km on foot over the day, some of it uphill. It offers a walking segment and an underground site without the long drive to Ihlara.

Çavuşin’s old settlement has paths around rock-cut spaces and the village’s historic buildings. The footing can be rough, and the ascent or descent may feel more demanding than the distance suggests. Walk at a steady pace and avoid taking the route in smooth-soled shoes.

Özkonak is a separate underground-city experience from Kaymaklı. If you already visited Kaymaklı, seeing another subterranean site may feel repetitive unless you are especially interested in how underground spaces were organized. If you have not visited one yet, South is a practical option when combined with its valley walk and village stop.

The Pigeon Valley and Ortahisar stop is a viewpoint, not an equivalent substitute for the longer Ihlara gorge. The day also includes onyx and leather workshop visits, about 30–45 minutes each, with no obligation to buy. Think of South as a balanced day close to the main accommodation area, not as a route that covers every southern landmark in depth.

Entrance fees and what the tour includes

For 2026, the official foreign visitor tariffs listed for Cappadocia include Göreme Open Air Museum at €20, Zelve-Paşabağ at €12, Kaymaklı at €13, Ihlara Valley at €15 and Özkonak at €6. Fees can change, and sites sometimes operate separate ticket rules for special areas, so check the relevant official page shortly before you visit.

TurkeyVia’s published Red, Green and South day tours list entrance fees to museums and sites as included. That helps make a guided day simpler to budget, but read the current inclusions on the tour page when booking because products and routes can be updated. A self-guided day means buying the applicable tickets yourself.

An official MuseumPass Türkiye page says the pass covers more than 350 Ministry museums and archaeological sites, is valid for 15 days from the first museum visit, costs €165, and allows one entry per site. Check its live list before buying: a pass only helps if the places you plan to enter are covered, and some sites or special sections may have separate rules.

A realistic two- or three-day order

For two full days based in Göreme, a straightforward pairing is Red on the first day and Green on the second. Red gets you oriented among the central formations; Green then takes you farther out to the gorge and underground city. Reverse them if Green’s longer walk will feel better while you are freshest.

For three days, add South if you enjoy hiking and want a second underground site, or keep one day open for a slower schedule; how many days in Cappadocia sets out the trade-offs. A free day lets you revisit a valley, explore Göreme, or make a short independent visit without stacking another long minibus day. It also gives you flexibility if weather changes your plans.

The tours normally pick up from hotels in Göreme, Uçhisar, Ürgüp or Avanos between 09:30 and 10:20, depending on the hotel's area; the exact time is sent the day before. Confirm the pickup area for your accommodation. If you are staying beyond those towns, ask about a meeting point instead of assuming door-to-door service.

Group or private: choose by pace and logistics

A shared departure suits a solo traveller or a pair happy with the published route and a common schedule; a private day suits slower walkers, small children or a party that wants its own pace on the same route. Our private or group tour guide compares the two side by side.