Hike Through the Ihlara Valley

This 16 kilometer long valley located near the town of Guzelyurt is a long gorge cut out of volcanic rock produced from the eruptions of Mount Erciyes. The crowning glory of the gorge is the meandering Melendiz Stream.  Because of the availability of water and the ability to create hidden cave churches and homes, the first Christians settled here to escape persecution by Roman soldiers.

Wikipedia - Ihlara is a township with own municipality in Aksaray Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is situated at about 40 km (25 mi) from the province seat of Aksaray and near the town of Güzelyurt. The township is famed for the nearby valley of the same name, Ihlara Valley, which is a 16 km (10 mi) long gorge cut into volcanic rock in the southern part of Cappadocia, following several eruptions of Mount Erciyes. The Melendiz Stream flows through the valley.

What makes the valley unique is the ancient history of its inhabitants. The whole canyon is honeycombed with rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period.

Due the valley's plentiful supply of water and hidden places, here was the first settlement of the first Christians escaping from Roman soldiers. In the Ihlara Valley there are hundreds of old churches in the volcanic rock caves. The most known churches are Ağaçaltı Church with cross plan, Sümbüllü Church, Pürenliseki Church, Kokar Church, Yilanli Church, Karagedik Church, Kirkdamatli Church, Direkli Church, Ala Church, Kemerli Church and Egritas Church.

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Where I Stayed...
Pashahan Hotel
Roma Kalesi Arkasi No7-50180
Goreme/Nevsehir/Turkey
Tel: 90 384 271 2283
Website: www.pashahan.com
Email:[email protected]

How to Get There - Get to Cappadocia in Turkey and book a tour or rent a car.