When you travel, you sometimes find places that look like something out of a fairy tale.
Cappadocia is one of those places. But what is the Cappadocia Blue Tour everybody is talking about? This guide explains just that – and what you will (or won’t) like about the tour.
Located near the center of Turkey, about 300 km from Ankara, 500 km from Antalya, and 800 km from Istanbul, Cappadocia is an otherworldly region that is home to unknown wonders of ancient buildings, valleys, and underground cities.
Cappadocia’s iconic landscape offers tons to do and see. Prearranged day tours are an excellent way to explore the hidden highlights of this magical region. While red and green tours are popular, the Cappadocia Blue Tour is perfect for those who only have a little time. Since you travel with only a group of four, the Blue Tour makes for an idyllic trip for people who don’t like to travel with 25-plus strangers.
This article will uncover all the details of the Cappadocia Blue Tour, from the stops to what you can expect and whether it’s worth it. Let’s get to it.
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Overview Of The Blue Tour Turkey
The Blue Tour is one of the best ways to explore South Cappadocia’s main attractions. The expedition usually starts early in the morning (around 9-10 am) and lasts till evening. The 8-hour-long tour is conducted in the presence of a professional tour guide who helps you understand the history of the place. The tour companies also provide drop-off facilities.
A typical Capadoccia itinerary of the Blue Tour is more or less the same. Some companies like to include an optional balloon flight, but most stick to the following stops.
- Red and Rose Valley hike
- Cavusin Cave Village
- Lunch in Cavusin
- Tour to Underground Cities
- Fairy Chimneys
- Pigeon Valley
- Uchisar Castle
The order of the stops might vary depending on the site’s availability. Each stop’s average time is usually between 30-45 minutes.
Highlights Of The Blue Tour Cappadocia
After the hotel pickup, you’ll hike along the region’s most mysteriously beautiful Red and Rose Valley. The hike would be concluded at the Cavusin Cave Village, where you can marvel at the rock castles, followed by a local lunch.
The trip to the underground cities will allow you to descend towards the earth’s center and explore the cities along with stables, storage rooms, refectories, cellars, churches, and wineries. The following two stops will mesmerize you with the beauty of architecture, i.e., the Pigeon Valley and Uchisar Castle, where you can find yourself getting lost in abandoned homes, old Greek houses, and spectacular views of dovecotes.
Hiking Along The Red And Rose Valley
Whichever tour company you choose, your first stop will always be the Red and Rose Valley on Cappadocia’s Blue Tour.
The trails in these valleys are the most incredible in Cappadocia. Since the hike takes about 2-3 hours to complete, it’s not something you would want to do in the heat of the day.
You can enjoy the landscape’s beauty during the cool morning hours. Both valleys are linked, which is why people confuse the two. The cave dwellings, stunning red tinge to the rocks, fairy chimneys, and churches will make this hike worth it.
Trip To Cavusin Cave Village
Famous for its beautiful churches, incredible hiking opportunities, and abandoned rock houses, Cavusin is a quiet village dominated by its cliff. People in this region work in the agriculture industry, making it a fun spot to explore.
Rose, Meskendir & Red Valley
One of the oldest cave churches in the region, St John the Baptist, is also located here (built by the Greeks), which you can enter via a footbridge. Interestingly, the Cavusin village is the starting point for hikes into Rose Valley, Red Valley, and Meskendir Valley. Cavusin is also a stop where some of the best local food in Cappadocia is available.
Lunch In Cavusin
The next stop would be lunch in Cavusin village. Located on the Goreme and Avanos roads in Cappadocia, Cavusin has some of the most authentic cuisines in Türkiye.
The region’s food attracts tons of tourists all year round. The Cappadocia Blue Tour treats its travelers with delicious Cavusin delicacies. After a long hike at the Red and Rose Valley, Cavusin’s local food refreshes every cell in your body. However, the drinks are not included with the meals in the Blue Tour package.
Tour Underground Cities
The Blue Tour Cappadocia takes you to one of the most iconic places in Cappadocia. You guessed it, the underground cities. Located several floors beneath the ground floor, these cities are one-of-a-kind.
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli attract tourists because of their unique architecture and genius construction. Carved into the soft volcanic material, the underground cities have everything from stables and ceramics to churches and cellars. Regardless, these cities are best navigated via tour guides.
Fairy Chimneys
The impressive rock formation settled between Urgup and Ortahisar; Fairy Chimneys are also widely known as The Three Beauties. The three towers, with a flat surface on top, are quite a backdrop for your praiseworthy Instagram pictures.
However, not all tour packages include it, so make sure you book the tour that includes a trip to Fairy Chimneys.
Pigeon Valley – Pigeon Houses
Connecting Goreme with Uchisar, Pigeon Valley is one of the last stops on your Cappadocia Blue Tour. This valley is relatively small compared to the Red and Rose valleys. However, the size doesn’t take away anything from its significance.
The numerous pigeon houses are at the heart of the valley’s history. This is yet another perfect picture spot for your Instagram account.
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Cappadocia Blue Tour Costs
The Blue Tour Of Cappadocia is worth every penny if you tour Cappadocia only for a limited time. You’re with a few people you can enjoy the tour with, so this is perfect for people who are not big fans of crowded coach tours.
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