Kizilcukur – Gulludere – Column Church – Goreme

Characteristics of the Route:

The route follows the paths with all the colours of the region and, with a comfortable descent, leads to Gulludere Valley, which takes its name from the rhododendron plants that bloom in early spring. In autumn, the valley greets travellers with delicious hawthorns, rosehips, apples, and apricots. While enjoying nature, the road leads to a church disguised as a dovecote. Since the volcanic tuff structure of the region erodes very quickly, the structures built or carved into ignimbrite, the building block of Cappadocia, cannot be dated precisely. Hence, this church, whose time and purpose of construction are not known clearly, draws you into history at an unexpected moment. After visiting this unpeered church, the dirt road continues and ends at the campsite with a swimming pool.

Connected Routes:

Goreme – Kiliclar – Kizilcukur

Cavusin – Bozdag – Kizilcukur

Goreme – Guvercinlik Valley – Uchisar

Goreme – Aydinkiragi – Gorkundere –  The Church of the Evil Eye – The Symmetrical Church – Ortahisar

Goreme – Zemi – Gemil – Ibrahimpasa

Notes to Travelers:

There is no entry fee to the churches on the route.

You can find beverages suitable to your taste such as tea, coffee, and fruit juice in the modest cafes in Kizilcukur. You can visit St. Theodoros Trion Church and St. Simeon's hermitage, located on the church, free of charge.

Make sure your water bottle is full as you won't find water on the route.

You can see Iris galatica (kaba navruz), one of the endemic flowers of Cappadocia, in March, Iris caucasica in April, and Thymus cappadocicus throughout the spring.

You can visit the churches on the route free of charge.

You can find beverages suitable to your taste such as tea, coffee, and fruit juice in the modest cafe you will see in the valley.

At the end of the route, in Kizilcukur, you can visit St. Theodoros Trion Church and St. Simeon's hermitage, located on the church, free of charge.

It is possible to see Thymus cappadocicus and Eruca cappadocica, endemic plants of Cappadocia, until the end of summer.

When you go down to Zemi Valley, you will see Maider Lopez's live performance area from the Cappadox Festival 2015.

At the end of the route, you can visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, an old monastery. There is an entry fee to the museum and the museum card is valid.

You can use the water, toilet, shower, and facilities in campsites, which also have a modest swimming pool. Many camps also provide kitchen services.