Kayaşehir Underground City Tour: Devrent Valley and Avanos

Cappadocia is more than fairy chimneys: there are stories underground and in the craft workshops of its small towns too. This Kayaşehir underground city tour, with Devrent Valley and Avanos, shows you three different sides of the region in one day, with a guide to explain each of them.

Kayaşehir Underground City

The day starts at Kayaşehir, one of the quieter underground cities of Cappadocia. As you walk through tunnels, rooms, food stores and living spaces cut deep into the rock, your guide explains how people lived here and how they protected themselves thousands of years ago. The passages are narrow in places, so anyone uneasy in enclosed spaces can keep this part short.

Devrent Valley

Next comes Devrent, also known as Imagination Valley. Wind and rain have shaped its rocks over millions of years into figures that look like a camel, a dolphin and other animals. A short walk spent spotting the best-known shapes is one of the most enjoyable moments of the day, and the soft colours of the valley make for good photos.

Pottery in Avanos

The last stop is Avanos on the banks of the Red River, a town where pottery has been made from the river's red clay for centuries. In a local workshop you watch the potters shape handmade ceramics on the wheel and learn how the pieces are glazed and fired.

Practical information

Your guide and driver meet you at the front door or reception of your hotel at the tour start time. Entrance fees are included, so only tips are extra. The underground city has stairs and low ceilings, so wear comfortable shoes.

To round off your trip, browse more experiences on our Cappadocia (Göreme) tours page, and find somewhere to stay among our hotels in Göreme.