Pigeon Valley: from Uçhisar down to Göreme

Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi) runs between Uçhisar and Göreme, and the usual walk starts at Uçhisar, on the higher ground, and descends towards Göreme. On the way you pass dovecotes cut into the rock walls and, in one place, a tree hung with evil-eye beads. Five of our 80 catalogue records mention the valley, three in Göreme and two in Uçhisar, and between them they show how it looks from both ends. This guide covers the direction of the walk, the dovecotes, the terrain and the return, and it says what each record states. It has no prices, opening hours or walking times.

Why “pigeon”?

The valley is named for the dovecotes cut into its walls: small openings and ledges in the rock where pigeons nested. The droppings were traditionally collected as fertiliser for fields and vineyards, which is why so many were made. Look for the small openings in the cliff faces rather than for any single large structure; some are above reach and some are close to the path. The dovecotes are part of how people used the soft rock, in the same way as the churches and houses elsewhere in the region, and the Uçhisar guide says more about the valley’s place in the village.

The walk, downhill

Start near Uçhisar Castle, which stands on the higher ground, and walk down into the valley towards Göreme. The descent is easier on the knees and the lungs than the reverse, and it finishes where most of the hotels are: Göreme has 43 of the 80 records and Uçhisar 19. A natural plan is the castle first, in the morning or towards sunset, then the valley.

The reverse direction, from Göreme up to Uçhisar, is also walked. It is uphill, and it ends at the castle, which suits those who want to reach the view as a reward. In either direction no record states a walking time, so ask your hotel for the time at an ordinary pace and for the best point to join the path.

What you will meet

• Dovecotes. Small openings and ledges cut into the cliff faces.
• The evil-eye tree. A tree hung with evil-eye beads (nazar boncuğu), a landmark for photographs. The beads are placed by visitors and are not offered as a souvenir; leave them where they are.
• Orchards and vineyards. The valley floor was used for growing, which is the other half of the dovecote story.
• Views back. Looking up, the castle rock stands over the head of the valley.

Terrain and safety

The path is uneven. Expect loose gravel, steps worn smooth and short narrow sections, and take care after rain, when the clay is slippery. There is little shade in summer: in Nevşehir the average July maximum is 28.5 °C with about 12 hours of sun a day, so go early or late. April has about 12 rainy days and October 7 (MGM, 1959–2025). In January the average minimum is −3.6 °C and the steps can be icy. Do not climb into the dovecotes, and keep away from fenced or recently fallen rock.

Who it suits

The walk suits people who like a point-to-point route and have settled the return before they set off. Children who enjoy walking can manage it with a parent who checks each steep step first. It is a poor fit for pushchairs and for anyone who needs level ground, and Love Valley, whose floor is mostly flat, is the easier choice for a short outing. Photographers tend to like it because the dovecotes and the castle rock give the frame something to hold, and because light from the side makes the small openings in the cliff faces easier to see.

Choosing the hour

Midday in summer is the hard time: there is little shade and the path is open to the sun. Early morning gives cooler air and softer light on the rock, and late afternoon does the same, with the walk finishing as the colours change. In spring and autumn the middle of the day is comfortable, but carry a layer, because the valley cools quickly once the sun drops behind the ridge. Whatever the season, start with enough daylight left to finish on the path and not in the dark.

Getting back

How you return depends on where you sleep. If you stay in Göreme and walk down from Uçhisar, you finish at the door. If you stay in Uçhisar, you need a taxi or a lift back from Göreme. If you walk the other way, the taxi waits at the Uçhisar end. Sort this out before you leave, not at dusk. The 3-day itinerary places Pigeon Valley and the castle together on day 3, with a taxi for the return.

The five records that mention it

Hotel	Town (area)	What the record says
Göreme Inn	Göreme (Orta)	at the mouth of Pigeon Valley; terrace; valley and balloon views
Koza Cave Hotel	Göreme (Aydınlı-Orta)	10 rooms; guest-only morning rooftop over balloon launches above Pigeon Valley
Design Cave Hotel	Göreme (not listed)	Pigeon Valley, Love Valley and the Open-Air Museum within walking distance
Kale Konak Cappadocia	Uçhisar (not listed)	17 rooms; terrace restaurant with panoramas of Cappadocia and Pigeon Valley
Karlık Cave Suite	Uçhisar (not listed)	17 rooms; views of Güvercinlik Valley and Mount Erciyes; foot of the castle

Balloons above the valley

Koza’s record says its rooftop overlooks the balloon launches above Pigeon Valley, so the valley is part of the morning picture as well as the walking one. Whether a flight goes up on a given day is decided each morning: balloons flew on 340 of 579 recorded days, 59% (1 January 2025 – 2 August 2026, the date at which our flight calendar ends). See balloon flight days for the month-by-month picture.

Where to stay

At the Göreme end, Göreme Inn is at the mouth of the valley and Koza Cave Hotel has the guest-only rooftop. At the Uçhisar end, Kale Konak Cappadocia and Karlık Cave Suite both have 17 rooms. Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys Selfie Cave Hotels, pictured at the top, is in Uçhisar’s Tekelli neighbourhood, lists balloon and valley views and a restaurant, and puts the castle about 400 m away. For a neighbouring walk see Love Valley, and for Göreme’s neighbourhoods the Göreme guide. All records are on the hotel list. After choosing, you can book through gocappadocia.com, the regional booking platform created through the combined efforts of 175 Cappadocia hoteliers, with a best-price guarantee; this guide takes no commission.