Pigeon Valley ( Güvercinlik Vadisi ), just outside Goreme in Cappadocia, is one of Turkey’s most beautiful landscapes. The unique rock formations known as fairy chimneys, or peri bacalar, which are made from wind and water erosion on soft volcanic rock, rise high from the valley floor like chimneys and are dotted in their tops with birdhouses. Some reach at tall as 130 ft Pigeons live in these dovecoats carved into the rocks and cliffs. Years ago the pigeons were used to carry messages from this remote region, and their droppings have long been used by local farmers for fertilizer. Today, however, there are fewer Pigeons in the valley.
Pigeon Valley is a great place for hiking. The whole area around Goreme is made up of valleys with almost no fencing and there are well-marked trails. The mildly hilly trail through Pigeon Valley is free of charge and about 2.8 miles long running between Goreme and Uchisar.
Pigeon is ideal for walking as the trek is relatively easy. Within the valley are man-made caves which make for excellent exploration. Alternatively if walking is not your idea of fun, still head to the top of the valley at sunset where the vibrant orange colors moving down behind the mountains produce wonderful holiday pictures. The valley earned its name from the hundreds of pigeons that have made their homes in the rocks.
Pigeon Valley ( Güvercinlik Vadisi ) Goreme-Cappadocia
we just stopped by and looked at a panorama, but assume this would be a pretty cool hike
You can hike through this valley but most only see it from overlooks. Holes carved into the rock for pigeons gives its name. Worth the quick stop and see.
This valley was very interesting w/ all the pigeon holes made to keep the pigeons in the area. Very neat rock formations – nice place to explore, like all the areas we found in Cappadocia!
You can see the whole valley from the Uchisar village and castle but it's worth going through the valley as a trekking trip if you have time.
We recommend to visit Pigeon Valley.
We visited during jeep safari. Was very interesting, unique place.
It was the best of the valleys in Goreme. There is a petra style church installation of some antiquity and some unrestored church with frescoes in good repair. One turkish lire to get in. Almost nobody goes here. The frescos were amazing to see.
It was wonderful to see all of the pigeons. So amazing that they make the homes in the rock. There are quite a few valleys and each one vary from one another. Amazing to see!!!
Pigeon Valley is unique, and a very different place to anything ive seen (even in Turkey) definately worth visiting if in Cappodocia
We Western to see Pigeons Valley from a landscape point, so we didn't passed it actualy. It worths visiting it. In the past was full of Pigeons, nowadays you can see lots of Pigeons houses made in the rocks.
Nothing is marked – there are many trails in many directions -really quite dangerous suggest you take a local with you – I have done it twice and was glad to be back safey both times