Private Ihlara Valley Hike: From Ihlara to Selime
The whole Ihlara Valley on foot: down the stairway at Ihlara, along the Melendiz past painted rock churches, through Belisırma and on to the rock-cut cathedral of Selime.
Photo: Turkey Your Way
- Duration
- Full day (about 8 hours)
- Region
- Cappadocia
- Walking
- Demanding
- Starts
- Morning
Best for Returning visitors
Tour code CAP-D11
The essence
A private Ihlara Valley hike follows the whole canyon of the Melendiz on foot. You go down the stairway at Ihlara and walk past rock churches with painted walls to the village of Belisırma for lunch. In the afternoon, the path goes on through Yaprakhisar to Selime, where a two-storey cathedral is cut into the rock at the end of the valley. It is a day for walkers, with no underground city and no detours.
Highlights
- The whole valley on foot, from Ihlara to Selime
- The stairway down into the canyon
- Painted rock churches along the river
- Lunch by the water at Belisırma
- The rock-cut cathedral of Selime
Program
-
Morning
The Ihlara Valley hike begins
Down the stairway at Ihlara to the river.
Opening hours & dress code -
Late morning
The painted churches
Rock churches along the Melendiz, if open.
Opening hours & dress code -
Lunch
Belisırma
Lunch by the river in the village.
-
Afternoon
Yaprakhisar to Selime
The path through the lower valley.
-
Late afternoon
Selime Cathedral
The rock-cut cathedral at the end of the valley.
Opening hours & dress code
In depth
The Ihlara Valley is a canyon cut by the Melendiz river in Aksaray, within the borders of Cappadocia. A private Ihlara Valley hike walks it from end to end, with your own guide. For more days on foot, see all our hiking tours in Turkey.
The Start of the Ihlara Valley Hike
First, you go down the stairway of 382 steps at Ihlara to the floor of the Ihlara Valley. The canyon runs for about 14 kilometers, and its walls rise up to about 120 meters.
From our guides
Our suggestion Pause at the top of the 382-step stairway at Ihlara: from there, the river winds below between the cliffs.
The Painted Churches
Along the river, people cut more than a hundred churches into the rock, and today visitors can enter 14 of them. So your guide takes you into churches such as Ağaçaltı, Sümbüllü, Yılanlı and Kokar, if open, to see their painted walls.
Belisırma
At midday, you reach the village of Belisırma for lunch by the water. Then the path goes on through the lower valley past Yaprakhisar, where the rock churches continue all the way to Selime.
Selime at the End of the Ihlara Valley Hike
Finally, you climb to Selime, at the end of the valley. Its rock-cut cathedral is the largest in Cappadocia, and it dates from the 8th to the 11th centuries. It has two storeys, and its church is a basilica with three naves, the only one of this plan in the region. Your driver meets you there. Our team has guided travelers in Turkey since 2002, and we plan the walk around your pace.
For the underground cities and a shorter walk, see our South Cappadocia tour. Would you like to walk the whole valley? The painted churches, lunch in Belisırma and Selime at the end: walk the whole valley on the date you send.
Before you go
-
- Open
- Open daily; hours change by season, ask us to confirm
- Closed
- Open every day
- Dress
- Walking shoes; a light for the dark churches
- Entry
- Ticketed; we arrange your entry to the valley
-
Hours: your guide confirms them locally.
Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.
What’s included
Included
- A professional licensed guide, in the language you ask for
- A private vehicle and driver for the day, with pick-up from your hotel and a meeting at Selime
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“Everything was well organized, and Soner was always available whenever we needed anything.”
From your guide
What to wear
Walking shoes, a hat and layers.
Best time
Spring and autumn.
Photos
From the top of the stairway, the river winds below between the cliffs.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Morning. We collect you at your hotel in Cappadocia.
- Ends
- Your hotel
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in Cappadocia
- Walking
- Challenging: a full day on a river path, with the stairway at the start and steps up to Selime.
- Accessibility
- For walkers. Tell us your pace, and we can shorten the walk at Belisırma.
- Not suitable for
- Guests who cannot walk most of the day
- Cancellation
- Visiting status can change; we confirm it before your date.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Ihlara Valley hike?
The valley runs for about 14 kilometers from Ihlara to Selime, and we walk most of it at your pace.
How is it different from the South Cappadocia tour?
That tour visits an underground city and a short part of the valley. This hike spends the whole day in the canyon on foot.
Can we stop halfway?
Yes. Your driver can meet you at Belisırma, so you choose on the day.
Which churches do we see?
Churches such as Ağaçaltı, Sümbüllü, Yılanlı and Kokar, if open.
What is your cancellation policy?
Every trip with us is private, so we agree the cancellation terms with you by email before you book, and you find them in writing in your booking confirmation. The deposit is non-refundable.
How many steps are there at the start?
A stairway of 382 steps leads down from Ihlara to the floor of the valley.
What is Selime Cathedral?
The largest rock-cut cathedral in Cappadocia, from the 8th to the 11th centuries. It has two storeys, and its church is a basilica with three naves.
