DAILY TOURS: People and Nature

We will start our tour enjoying an amazing panorama of Göreme, watching the fairy chimneys while the guide gives you information about history and formation of Cappadocia. 
Then, you will drive to visit one of the highlights, the Underground city of Derinkuyu, the widest underground city of Cappadocia region; it was carved out underneath a rock hill. The first three floors were probably carved out by Hittites about 2000 B.C. After that; Assyrians, Lycians, Persians, Kimmerians settled down in the region. The Romans occupied the region in the beginning of the 1st Century B.C. Roman empire accepted Christian Religion in 376 A.D. In the underground city there are some main galleries and inside them same sub division were carved out make the city very complicated to make the enemies confused. There were also some wide areas where some of the important matters were talked and ceremonies were hold. The ventilation shaft is vertical and passes all floors down like on the elevator in an apartment. The depth of the ventilation shaft is about 120 meters in total. The underground city was originally carved out as eight floors; however four floors are visit able. In war time about 5000 people found refuge in.

Then, continue to one of the remote valleys to Ihlara Valley (Ancient Peristrema). The Valley was formed by the volcanic actions of Mt. Hasan and later, the Melendiz River eroded the valley for millions of years. What is unique about this valley is the ancient history of its inhabitants. The whole canyon is honeycombed with rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period. Due that the richness of the watering possibility and its hidden form and easily to hide structure it was the first settlement place of the first Christians escaping from the Roman soldiers. In the Ihlara Valley there are hundreds of antic churches caved in the volcanic rocks and we will visit one of them, the Church of St. Daniael. We will hike about 3,5 - 4 km (2 - 2,5 miles) for 1h30m - 2h 
At the river bank, near the refreshing stream we will stop for a lunch at one of the local Turkish restaurants. 

After the lunch, the guide will surprise you by an unique place called Yaprakhisar, recently became known as Star Wars Movie Set due to the landscape very much similar to that of Star Wars Film Set with the best examples of conical fairy chimneys.
From here, a short drive take you to another movie-set-like place, the Selime Monastery dated back to the 13th century.
At the first sight the monastery looks like a castle but it was a monastery complex of cave rooms, chapels and classrooms, all creating a fascinating and formidable structure. Return to the hotel