Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, has been drawing visitors from around the world who want to see the unique landscape of the area for themselves. Thousands of years of erosion has given shape to the area’s volcanic rock formations which has been utilized by local inhabitants for millennia. From carving out homes and churches to creating extensive underground cities, local citizens have long used the area to their advantage. And that includes utilizing pigeons to help their crops flourish. And with that, it’s no wonder how Pigeon Valley got it’s name.
History of Pigeons in Cappadocia
For centuries, local residents of Cappadocia figured out that pigeons were useful in several ways. Not only were they used as messengers and as a food source, but they also helped their crops. Well, pigeon poop helped to be exact. Long before modern day artificial fertilizers, residents found that crops flourished with pigeon droppings. The nutrient rich pigeon droppings, high in nitrogen, positively impacted the valley’s vegetation.
Sometime between the 4th and 15th centuries, thousands of pigeon houses called dovecotes were carved into the soft volcanic rock. Creating these homes for the pigeons made it easier for inhabitants to collect more of the pigeon droppings. This knowledge was passed down through generations and continued all the way through the Ottoman period in the 20th century.
The practice of building pigeon houses became widespread and over time the valley became known for these structures and earned the name “Pigeon Valley”.
Cappadocia is one of the most popular destinations in Turkey and luckily it’s very easy to get to by either driving, flying, or taking a bus or tour.
About the Cappadocia Pigeon Valley Hike
The Cappadocia Pigeon Valley is located between the towns of Goreme and Uchisar. The hike can be started from either location which is convenient for visitors staying in either town. The trail is approximately 4km or 2.8 miles long.
The Pigeon Valley trail is a mix of flat paths, small hills, and in some areas a little rocky. There is also a small stream of water in certain areas so you may find yourself having to navigate through the stream or taking some jumps from one rock to another. The water is just a small inconvenience and unless it’s raining hard while you’re hiking it won’t be any higher than the top of your shoes.
Along the hike you will see a variety of landscapes including fairy chimneys, rock formations, and of course the famous dovecotes (pigeon houses) carved into the soft volcanic rock. The valley is lush and green and depending on the time of year you’ll see a lot of wildflowers and orchards. And yes, you will likely see pigeons.
The Pigeon Valley Cappadocia hike is a fairly easy hike to take and it’s suitable for all ages. Because it’s such an easy hike to do, it’s one of the most popular. There are longer hikes in Cappadocia, such as the Love Valley Hike, if you’re looking for something more challenging. There’s definitely room in your Cappadocia Turkey itinerary for multiple hikes!
Pigeon Valley Hike Information
If you’re interested in hiking Pigeon Valley then you’ll want to take some notes on what to look for once you’re in Cappadocia. You’re not going to find a neon sign pointing to the starting point of the hike. There is a sign at the beginning of the hike but you won’t find any other ones telling you where to go to find that. And unless you have the All Trails app (highly recommended for all hikes) then it might be confusing.
Where does the Pigeon Valley Hike start?
There are two starting points for the hike, one starting in Göreme and the other starting in Uchisar. So whichever town you start at, your end point will be the starting point in the other town. The hike connects the two towns to each other.
If you do a search on Google Maps you will likely find that the route has you walking on the main road. You do not want to do this because you’ll miss out on the amazing things in Pigeon Valley Turkey. The hike is NOT on the road that cars drive on but Google wants you to go that way.
THIS is where you need to start your hike if you’re staying in Goreme. You’ll walk to this road and go to the end where you’ll see the start of the trail.
If you are starting your hike in Uchisar, you will walk to the start of the trailhead below.
We started our hike in Goreme and the road leading to the trailhead eventually turns into a dirt road right before arriving at the information board at the beginning of the trailhead. The pink arrow is the path that you want to start out on. There’s another path right next to it but I’m not sure if that takes you a different way to the end or not.
Best time of day for hiking Pigeon Valley
If you do this hike first thing in the morning (like 6am) then you might be lucky enough to see some of the hot air balloons in flight over the valley. They tend to dip down into the valleys a bit when they’re flying.
If you don’t want to start out that early then I would recommend saving this hike for an afternoon. Really, anytime of the day is good to take this hike but many of the other hikes in the area don’t have any kind of cover from the sun while Pigeon Valley has lots of shaded areas and trees where you can escape the heat.
Cost to hike Pigeon Valley
There is not an entrance fee to hike Pigeon Valley (at least not yet). Thankfully there are still a few things in life that are free.
How long does the Pigeon Valley Hike take?
The hike takes between 1-1.5 hours, depending on how often you stop. There are plenty of things to look at along the way from different rock formations to the pigeon homes. There’s even a waterfall. Don’t rush it. Enjoy and explore as much as possible. If you’re able, go off the path and get close to the rocks and look for hidden caves.
How to NOT get lost in Pigeon Valley
If you’re unsure where to go next in Pigeon Valley (there are multiple pathways that lead to different things), always look for the pink markers. They are dots, arrows, or X’s marked on the ground, rocks, and trees. If you see any of these then you know you’re on the right path.
Is the Cappadocia Pigeon Valley Hike difficult?
No, the Pigeon Valley hike is one of the easier hikes in the Cappadocia region. It’s mostly on flat ground and it’s only at the beginning and end of the hike that is a little rocky, has a slight hill (nothing crazy) and the stream of water that might get your shoes dirty or wet.
After the Pigeon Valley hike
If you start your hike in Goreme like we did, when you arrive in Uchisar you might want to go ahead and visit the Uchisar Castle since you’re there. You definitely can’t miss it because it’s the tallest mountain in town!
Tours that include Pigeon Valley
If you want to see Pigeon Valley but would rather have someone else lead the way so you don’t have to think about where it starts or ends then you can do that with a tour. Just know that not all tours will hike the entire trail but this Cappadocia Green Tour will.
In addition to hiking Pigeon Valley, you’ll also be taken to the Goreme National Park, the Kaymakli Underground City, the Belisirma Village, and the Ihlara Valley. It’s an all day tour that even includes lunch. It’s a great way to see a lot in one day without having to figure out where to go.
Tips for Hiking Pigeon Valley Cappadocia
Anytime you hike you want to be prepared for unforseen issues. Even with easy hikes things can go wrong. I’m probably not going to tell you anything you don’t already know but it’s all worth a mention.
What to bring on your Pigeon Valley Turkey Hike
If you’re visiting outside of the winter months, it can get pretty hot in Cappadocia. I swear the temperatures in the upper 70’s and low 80’s felt so much hotter in Turkey than it does at my home in Texas. Don’t underestimate it.
You’ll definitely want to bring some water with you and you should plan on having at least 2 bottles. It goes fast! Even if I eat breakfast or lunch before I go on a hike I like to bring some kind of snack such as a granola bar or some kind of trail mix. It’s just nice to have something to boost your energy if you need it.
*I ALWAYS bring a stash of snacks from home when I travel. I put several granola and protein bars in a gallon size ziplock bag along with some trailmix and other small snacks.
Cappadocia gets a lot of sunshine so you’ll want to make sure you have some sunscreen and your sunglasses.
And finally while it’s nearly impossible these days to be without your phone which will likely be a smart phone, it’s worth mentioning to not forget your camera. You don’t want to miss documenting what you see on the hike!
Useful apps for hiking in Cappadocia
I mentioned it earlier but the All Trails app is a great app to have when you’re hiking. It does cost around $35 per year but you can use it without cell service. If you’ve ever been hiking in an area without cell service or clear trails, you will understand the panic that comes over you when you think you’re lost. HA!
The chances of you getting lost on the Pigeon Valley trail are almost zero but there are additional paths you can take while on the hike. It is easy to get confused to which path you were just on or which direction you need to be heading when you’re not familiar with the area. Everything starts to look the same after a while. On the All Trails app it will show you all of these extra paths to take and you can see exactly where you are and where you’ve been. It’s worth the money.
Other popular hikes in Cappadocia
Love Valley Hike
There are a lot of hikes in the Cappadocia region and they are all unique and interesting. The Love Valley hike is another hike that connects the towns of Uchisar and Goreme to each other. It’s much longer than the Cappadocia Pigeon Valley Hike and there is very little shade or tree cover so it’s one that you might want to start in the morning before the sun gets too hot.
Rose Valley and Red Valley Hike
The Red and Rose Valley hike is two hikes in one if you want or it can be done separately. If you have a car you can drive to the Panoramic View Point which is located about 9km from Goreme.
The view point overlooks the Red and Rose Valley, which is a spectacular view. You’ll start off on the Red Valley Trail and about halfway through the hike it connects with the Rose Valley Trail. You’ll hike on that trail until it connects back up with the Red Valley Trail before landing back at the starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Pigeon Valley?
Pigeon Valley earned it’s name due to early inhabitents creating homes for pigeons out of the soft volcanic rock in the valley. And with that they were able to utilize the abundance of “pigeon poop” to help fertilize the crops.
Is there an entrance fee to Pigeon Valley?
No, access to Pigeon Valley is completely free.
Are there still pigeons in Pigeon Valley?
Yes there are still pigeons in Pigeon Valley. You’ll see the dovecotes all over the valley where the pigeons live.
How long is the Pigeon Valley Hike?
The hike shouldn’t take any longer than 1-2 hours.