Rose Valley small vineyards are surrounded by steeply eroded walls of tuff. The tuff was deposited in the form of ash by nearby volcanos between 11 and 3 million years ago.
The trails that loop around Rose Valley ( Gulludere Valley ) are easily accessible to all levels of walkers and provide some of the finest fairy-chimney-strewn vistas in Cappadocia. As well as this though, they also hide fabulous, little-visited, rock-cut churches boasting vibrant fresco fragments and intricate carvings hewn into the stone.
With its tufa hills creased into folds, surrounded by vineyards and orchards, and fairy chimneys of all sizes standing like stone minarets in an extraordinary natural landscape, the Rose Valley is a remarkable sight. The valley is dotted with hidden chapels decorated with beautiful frescoes, such as the 7C Church of Three Crosses, which houses a Christ Pantocrator flanked by angels, and the 8C-9C Church of St John, adorned with a portrayal of the Apocalypse.
Follow the signs from the Rose Valley trailhead to the Kolonlu Kilise (Columned Church). The rock facade here is easily overlooked. Take the trail through the orchard and the steps that lead off to the left to clamber onto the nondescript rock face. Once you’ve scrambled through the entrance and the lower chamber you’ll find a white stone nave studded with sturdy columns carved out of the rock. From here, backtrack through the orchard and follow the main trail to the Haçlı Kilise, where the shady cave-cafe at the entrance is the perfect pit stop for a walking break. The church, accessed by a rickety wooden staircase, has frescoes dating to the 9th century on its apse and a large cross carved into its ceiling. Head north from here and take the right-hand path to reach the Üç Haçlı Kilise, with its stunning ceiling relief and damaged frescoes featuring an enthroned Jesus.
One of the nicest and most most beautiful places to go walking in Cappadocia in Rose Valley . Start at Sunset point (near Ortahisar) and hike down through first Red Valley and then continue on the Rose Valley.
From the end of Rose Valley you can either walk to the nearby Cavusin Village. There you can visit the old part of the village which is crumbling away and too dangerous to still be inhabited because of the chance of falling rocks. Or you can continue on the Goreme (around another 45 minutes walk).
Rose Valley,
You can walk from the Goreme Open Air Museum through to Cavusin along the Rose Valley – just fantastic. The walk takes about 3 hours, and there are regular buses from Cavusin back to Goreme.
My wife and I left the kids in the hotel and caught a taxi to the top of the valley so that we could just walk down. A really great walk with amzing colours etc. A bit harder than we were told by the hotel and I would suggest older people might not be happy on some bits of it.
We took a very pleasant walk through the Rose Valley, meeting the occasional walker – it can be lovely walking weather in April.
Serious hikers may not want to hear this, but we rented four wheelers and got to see Rose Valley, as well as a number of incredible and memorable stops. Rose valley is an amazing area where you can see rose colored sands and geological features. Spectacular. Whether you hike, ride a motorcycle or take a quad.
It was a long walk, but quite enjoyable since our group and even our tour guide made it fun. We didnt see much of the rock formations due to the heavy fog that day.
This is a great 4k hike to get acquainted with the magic of Cappadocia. Catch a bus back to Göreme (if that is where you are staying) because it would not be an especially fun walk along the highway.
As its name suggests, the valley has a rose hue from its stone layers, which are hard to miss when in Goreme.
An easy walk through a gorge although trainers on the feet are worth thinking about, as a couple of areas depening ion rain can get boggy. The gorge has Pigeon houses all of the way down the latter ones dating from about 1880 and still being used.
A shady gorge so should be ok later in the season, you follow…
The Rose Valley is a beautiful walk. There are three churches if you can find them. Further up the trail (past the red valley start) there is a tea room run by on lovely old man. Apparently he is 92 years old and a real cave dweller, living here with no electricity and no hot water.
Make time to visit the Rose valley as the landscape are extraordinary and the colours breathtaking. You will feel like you are in a place like nowhere else on earth and start planning your return trip.