Ihlara Valley, which is among the largest canyons in the world and resembles an open-air museum due to its combination of historical and natural beauties, attracts its visitors with its walking paths and unique scenery. Ihlara Valley, which is located within the borders of Güzelyurt district of Aksaray and described as the “pearl of Cappadocia”, takes its visitors on a historical journey one by one with nature. Ihlara Valley, which hosts approximately 500 thousand domestic and foreign tourists a year, attracts attention from Far East countries such as Malaysia, Japan, China and Thailand in autumn and winter, and European, Arab and South American tourists in spring and summer. Visitors who come to Ihlara individually or through tour companies first descend to the bottom of the valley with a staircase consisting of 382 steps, accompanied by a unique view.
Pearl of Cappadocia: Ihlara Valley
Here, history and nature lovers, greeted by the sound of the water rising from the Melendiz Stream, have the opportunity to walk among colorful wildflowers and trees on three routes of 3.5, 7 and 14 kilometers on both sides of the stream. Visitors, who climb the stairs to many churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the rocks along the way, get tired by sipping their tea and eating in the gazebos built on the Melendiz Stream, as it was a religious center in the early stages of Christianity. Belisirma village, which is a resting place during the walk. Nature lovers who have completed their 7-kilometer hike in Belisirma can go to Selime town, either by taking the tour buses waiting for them at the exit or by choosing walking paths, and see Selime Cathedral, where the first noisy ritual of Christians was held. about 1700 years ago.
