Best Things To Do in Southern Cappadocia: Is the Green Tour Worth It? (Itinerary, Price and Review)

If you’re planning a trip to the land of fairy chimneys and hot air balloons, you’ve probably heard of the color-coded tours. One of the best things to do in Cappadocia, Turkey is to go on the Green Tour which is a whole day itinerary that includes sightseeing, attractions, shopping and lunch.

After Istanbul and before my road trip through the Turkish coast, I spent 5 days in Cappadocia to explore its UNESCO World Heritage Site and do the hot air balloon ride, which has been on my bucket list.

I had to decide between the popular Red Tour and the Green Tour. Since I wanted to see the famous underground city and do some hiking, I opted for the Cappadocia Green Tour (also known as the South Tour).

Here is my complete guide and review of the experience, including the stops we visited, the price, and whether I think it’s worth your time and money.

Why do the Green Tour in Cappadocia?

The main reason to choose the Green Tour is to explore the southern part of Cappadocia, which is much harder to reach on your own without a rental car.

I actually had a rental car but still decided to book the tour because I didn’t want the stress of planning it all out and driving to these far away.

While the Red Tour covers the central highlights near Göreme (like the Open Air Museum), the Green Tour takes you further out to explore the region’s deep history and dramatic landscapes.

If you are interested in hiking through massive canyons, seeing the the world’s deepest underground cities, and learning about the ancient history of how locals hid from enemies, this tour is for you.

Also, you love exploring deep history like these underground cities, you should definitely add the ancient wonders of the world to your travel bucket list too.

My Experience on the Green Tour in Cappadocia

Cappadocia Green Tour One Day Itinerary

I booked the tour directly through my hotel, the Karadut Cave Hotel.

The Green Tour is a great way to visit some of the best attractions and things to do in Cappadocia in a day without having to plan and drive yourself.

Here is a breakdown of every stop we made. At least even if you don’t do the tour, it still serves as a great travel itinerary to do yourself.

Pick-up

The pickup time was between 9:45 AM and 10:00 AM so I had time to enjoy breakfast at the hotel. A comfortable van picked me up right at the hotel entrance, and I was happy to see it was a small group.

We were only 10 people in total: four locals and six international travelers, which made it feel more like a private tour than those big bus excursions.

Göreme Panoramic View Point

Our first stop was the Göreme Panoramic Viewpoint (Esentepe). This is one of the best spots to get a bird’s-eye view of Göreme and its surrounding valleys.

The view here is absolutely massive. You can see the entire town of Göreme, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, nestled among the rock formations.

It’s the perfect place to snap those wide landscape photos where you really see the scale of Cappadocia, especially if you’re not doing the hot air balloon ride.

Pigeon Valley

Next, we headed to Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi).

As the name suggests, this valley is famous for the thousands of pigeon houses carved directly into the soft volcanic tuff. Historically, locals used pigeons for communication and their droppings as fertilizer for the vineyards.

You will see flocks of pigeons everywhere here, and the views of the fairy chimneys with the carved holes are distinctively Cappadocian. There was even a camel here for photo ops!

Kem Art Center

Much like any organized tour, there is usually a shopping stop (or two) with the Cappadocia Green Tour as well. Ours was at the Kem Art Center, a jewelry workshop and showroom.

To be honest, I usually dread these stops, but this one was actually educational. I learned about a special stone unique to Turkey called Zultanite.

What’s special about Zultanite is that it changes color based on the light source. It shifts from kiwi green under sunlight to raspberry red under candlelight. It was fascinating to watch the color change in real-time during the demo.

The staff was informative about the different stones and, thankfully, not pushy at all. They explicitly told us, “If you don’t want to buy anything, that’s totally fine,” which I really appreciated.

Derinkuyu Underground City

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the highlight of the Green Tour for me! Derinkuyu Underground City is the deepest excavated underground city in Cappadocia.

It is mind-blowing to think that this massive subterranean network could shelter 20,000 people along with their livestock and food supplies. Currently, only about 8 floors are open to visitors, which represents just 8% of the total city.

We explored the kitchen area (you can still see black soot on the walls from ancient fires), the winery where they crushed grapes, food storage rooms, and even a barn for animals.

Travelling Foodie Warning: This stop is not for the claustrophobic. We had to crawl through a tunnel that was 105 steps down, about 55 meters below ground. The passages are narrow, low, and dark. I even hit my head once!

Ihlara Valley

After the tight spaces of the underground city, we drove to Ihlara Valley for some fresh air and hiking. Be sure to wear good hiking shoes.

Ihlara is a stunning 14km-long canyon formed by the Melendiz River. It is unique because, unlike other canyons, people actually lived inside the canyon walls.

We hiked down into the valley and walked along the river. It was a peaceful trek surrounded by greenery and towering cliff faces. The sound of the flowing river made it a very relaxing walk compared to the dusty landscapes above.

Aslan Restaurant

By the time we finished the hike, I was starving. We stopped for lunch at Aslan Restaurant, located right on the river in the village of Belisırma.

The setting is beautiful! You are dining literally next to the water. The tour lunch included soup, salad, a main course, and fruits. I chose the trout (Alabalik), which is the local specialty here.

The fish was decent: fresh and simple. For a tour lunch, it was pretty good. Drinks and extra desserts (like baklava) are not included in the tour price and cost extra.

Nar Lake

Our next stop was Nar Lake (Narlıgöl), a crater lake that looks like a hidden oasis.

This is a volcanic crater lake, also known as a tectonic lake. The guide explained that it was created by a meteorite or volcanic activity (local lore varies, but scientifically it’s volcanic) that hit the land, and water sources filled the crater.

The water is about 21 meters deep and is sulfurous and salty, so fish cannot survive in it. It was a quick photo stop, but the landscape looked like something from another planet.

Beyzade Kuruyemis & Locum

Our final stop was a sweet finish at Beyzade Kuruyemis & Locum, a local shop for Turkish delights and spices.

We got to taste different varieties of Turkish delight (Locum). My favorite was the apricot chocolate, which they said was a specialty of the shop. They also had fresh spices and teas, including the famous Cappadocia coffee.

Again, the staff was friendly and let us sample as much as we wanted without forcing us to buy.

How much is the Cappadocia Green Tour?

I paid €50 (approximately $55 USD) for the tour, booking directly through my hotel.

While walking around Göreme town, I saw travel agencies advertising prices as low as €43. However, I preferred the convenience of having the hotel arrange it for peace of mind.

Prices can vary depending on the season and the agency, but generally, you can expect to pay between €45 and €60.

You can also book discounted tours online via GetYourGuide and Klook.

What is included in the Green Tour Cappadocia?

For the price, the Green Tour is quite comprehensive. Here is what was included in my tour package:

• Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: Door-to-door service.
• Professional Tour Guide: Our guide was fluent in English and very knowledgeable.
• Transportation: A comfortable, air-conditioned van.
• Entrance Fees: All necessary attraction tickets like Derinkuyu Underground City.
• Lunch: A full meal at Aslan Restaurant (excluding drinks and extra desserts).

Note: Our tour skipped the Selime Monastery, which is usually part of the travel itinerary, so I was a little disappointed by that. The guide told us that because it was winter, it wasn’t recommended to visit at that time.

Is the Green Tour in Cappadocia worth it?

Yes, absolutely. The Cappadocia Green Tour is the most efficient way to see the remote southern sights.

If you tried to do this on your own, you would need to rent a car, pay for gas, navigate unfamiliar roads, and buy individual tickets, which could potentially cost more and take longer.

It gave me great peace of mind to not worry about logistics. Plus, having a guide in the Underground City is essential. Otherwise, you’re just looking at dark caves without understanding the incredible engineering behind them.

However, if you have mobility issues or claustrophobia, you might want to reconsider. The hike in Ihlara Valley and the tunnels in Derinkuyu require a decent level of fitness.

Which is better, the Cappadocia Red Tour or Green Tour?

This is the most common question I get!

• Choose the Red Tour if: You want to stay close to the center, see the most iconic fairy chimneys, visit the Open Air Museum, and have a more relaxed day with less walking.
• Choose the Green Tour if: You want adventure, hiking, nature, and history. It covers the Underground City and Ihlara Valley, which are totally different experiences from the central rock formations.

If you have two days, do both. They complement each other perfectly.

If you have a rental car like me, what I did was join a Green Tour and do a self-guided tour of the Red Tour attractions myself since they are much easier and closer to drive to.

Where To Stay in Cappadocia with Green Tour Pick-Up

I stayed at the Karadut Cave Hotel in Göreme, and it was the perfect base for my trip. Both Green Tour and Hot Air Balloon Ride do hotel pick-up and drop-off here.

It’s an authentic cave hotel located just a short walk from the town center, so it’s quiet but accessible. The rooms are carved into the rock, keeping them cool in summer and warm in winter.

The best part? They have a lovely terrace where you can watch the hot air balloons in the morning while enjoying a complimentary breakfast with a couple of traditional Turkish food. The staff was incredibly helpful with booking my tour.

Are you doing the Cappadocia Green Tour?

I hope this gives you a clear idea of what to expect on the Cappadocia Green Tour. It was a long day (about 8 hours), but I learned so much and saw landscapes I’ll never forget.

If you have any questions about the tour or Cappadocia, let me know in the comments below! You can also read about my Cappadocia hot air balloon experience.