Rose Valley and Red Valley: the classic afternoon hike

Rose Valley (Güllüdere) and Red Valley (Kızılçukur) are neighbouring valleys between Çavuşin and Göreme, named for the pink-red colour the rock takes in low light, and the walk through them is the classic afternoon hike of the region. Along the way are rock-cut churches, among them the Column Church and the Haçlı church, and in places the trail has waymarks. Two of our 80 catalogue records name the valleys: Seki Cave Hotel in Çavuşin and Taşkonak Cave House in Göreme. This guide covers the route, the colours, the churches and the practical points. It gives no prices, hours or walking times.

Two valleys, one walk

Gül means rose and kızıl means red, and both names describe light, not a flower or a mineral: the soft tuff turns pink and red as the sun drops. Most walkers treat the two valleys as a single route, and maps and signs may use either name for stretches of the same walk, so do not be troubled if the name on a sign differs from the one in your guide. The catalogue records add little detail: Seki lists “Güllüdere and Kızıl Valley” within walking distance, and Taşkonak describes sunsets over Rose Valley from its roof.

The route and the direction

The walk connects Çavuşin and Göreme, and you can go either way. Many walkers start on the Çavuşin side and finish towards Göreme in the late afternoon, so the colours arrive near the end and the finish is where most hotels are: Göreme has 43 of the 80 records and Çavuşin 3. Others reverse it. Either way plan a lift or taxi for the return, and ask your hotel which route suits the day and how long it will take; this guide does not give times it cannot confirm. The 3-day itinerary puts the sunset at Kızılçukur at the end of day 1.

Churches on the way

The Column Church (Kolonlu Kilise) takes its name from its columns. The Haçlı church is named from the Turkish haç, a cross, and haçlı can mean “with a cross” or “Crusader”. Both are among the rock-cut churches usually mentioned on this route; others are cut into the walls. Reaching a church can involve steps or a short scramble, many are small, and which are open changes with conservation and safety work. Follow signs, do not enter closed or unmarked openings, and check the Ministry of Culture and Tourism source for the current position. For the old village and its large church at the Çavuşin end see Çavuşin Church of St John the Baptist.

Trail markers and getting lost

The main trails carry waymarks and signs at some junctions, but they fade, get knocked over or are missing, so do not rely on them alone. Side paths lead into smaller valleys and dead ends, and one wash looks much like another in flat light. Carry an offline map, keep the valley rim in sight, stay on the main trail and turn back if you are unsure. Tell your hotel which way you are going and when you expect to be back. A phone torch is worth carrying in case the afternoon runs late.

Sunset colours

The pink and red come from low sun on soft rock, which is why afternoon, and especially the last hour of light, is the right time. The walk is best planned so that the best stretch falls late, not so that you are caught in a narrow valley after dark. For other viewpoints and a month-by-month look at sunshine see where to watch the sunset. Evenings cool fast: the July average in Nevşehir runs from 28.5 °C by day to 13.7 °C at night, and in October from 18.3 °C to 6.8 °C.

Planning the afternoon

Work backwards from sunset. Ask the hotel how long the route takes at an ordinary pace, add the time for any church you want to see and an hour of slack, and start then; sunset time shifts with the season, so the start time does too. Eat before you go, since you cannot count on food on the trail, and keep the last stretch for the best light, not the steepest ground. A realistic shape for the day is a late lunch, the walk through the afternoon with one or two church stops, and a finish at a road where a taxi can reach you.

Who it suits

It suits active adults and older children who are comfortable on uneven ground and do not mind a long afternoon on foot. It is a poor fit for pushchairs and for anyone who needs level paths, and it is longer than Love Valley, so choose the easier valley for a short outing. Seki Cave Hotel is listed as pet-friendly; if you walk with a dog, ask the hotel about the paths first.

When to go

Month	Average maximum	Rainy days	What it means for the walk
April	16.0 °C	12	showers; washes can be wet and paths muddy
May	20.6 °C	13	green and pleasant; carry a rain layer
July	28.5 °C	2	hot; go late and carry plenty of water
September	24.5 °C	3	warm and settled, a good month
October	18.3 °C	7	mild; earlier sunsets, so start earlier

Source: Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM), Nevşehir, 1959–2025. In January the average minimum is −3.6 °C and paths can be icy. See when to visit and the weather page.

Practical points

• Footwear and water. Shoes with grip, a hat, and more water than you expect to need; there is little shade.
• Keep off the rock. Do not climb on chimneys or walls, and avoid fenced or recently fallen areas.
• Return. Agree the taxi or the lift before you start.
• Combining. Love Valley is the easier option for a short outing: see Love Valley.

Where to stay

Hotel	Town / area	What the record says about the valleys
Seki Cave Hotel	Çavuşin, 2. Küme Evler	Güllüdere and Kızıl Valley within walking distance; 16 rooms, fireplaces
Taşkonak Cave House	Göreme, Aydınlı	rooftop terrace with views of Rose Valley sunsets; 10 rooms
Atax Cave House	Çavuşin, Yukarı	no valley mention; names Göreme, Ürgüp and Avanos as nearby
Azure Cave Suites	Çavuşin	no valley mention; balloon and valley views, airport transfer

Atax Cave House, pictured at the top, serves breakfast on its terrace and lists a balloon view and family rooms; its record gives no distance to the valleys, so ask. All four are in the Çavuşin and Göreme sections of the hotel list; for Çavuşin itself see the village guide. 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.