Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia is a good example of how man and nature can coexist in harmony with each other, and particularly when it comes to dealing with pigeons. Despite being a popular attraction, you won’t find this site being featured in all of our existing Egypt and Turkey Tours but it can be added to any of our itineraries if requested.

Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia, Turkey.

As millions of people have already discovered, Turkey is undeniably one of the most fascinating countries in the world to visit. Whether you want to soak up the sun at a spectacular seaside resort, or whether you want to immerse yourself in the country’s historical past and rich cultural diversity, a holiday in Turkey is always a memorable one.

With so much to do, and so many fabulous places to see in Turkey, where do you actually begin? Many people end up staying in Istanbul which itself has enough delights to keep one enthralled; amazed and very busy for several weeks. However, failure to venture further afield would result in you missing out on so many opportunities, with Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia being one of them.

Welcome To Cappadocia

Cappadocia is home to many of the most magnificent tourist attractions in Turkey, and also so much natural unspoiled beauty. In fact, the name “Cappadocia” is now often used as a term for describing areas of unprecedented natural beauty. But, it’s not only the unspoiled beauty that attracts so many visitors; it’s also the sheer number of attractions.

As is to be expected, we can’t include all of these attractions in our current range of Egypt and Turkey Tours. Instead, we suggest that you draw up a list of the attractions in Cappadocia that you really want to visit, and then we customize your preferred itinerary accordingly.

Pigeon Valley In Cappadocia

The most popular attractions, most of which are in close proximity to Goreme, are the carved-from-rock churches, the underground cities; the fairy chimneys; the Natural Castle at Üçhisar and of course Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia.

The Natural Castle at Üçhisar is the most intriguing sight imaginable. It is essentially a fortress which has been carved into the mountain, along with countless rooms connected by tunnels and stairs. Due to erosion, many rooms are no longer accessible. One of the most striking oddities you’ll notice is that many of the rooms are now used as pigeon houses by local farmers. This relationship between man and bird is even more apparent when you visit Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia.

Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia got its name because of all the pigeon houses which have been carved into the mountain. You really need to see this in order to believe it because there really is that many of them. Many were also painted white in order to attract as many pigeons as possible, but why did the locals want so many of them in the first place?

There is some speculation that their droppings were used for making explosives, but many people question this. What is known is the fact that pigeons were routinely used as messengers. Nonetheless, it seems a bit hard to believe that so many birds were required for this purpose alone.

A more plausible reason would be that the farmers in the area relied on the pigeons for a good quality natural fertilizer for their orchids and vineyards.

Hiking The Pigeon Valley In Cappadocia.

No visit to the area is complete without hiking at least one of the valleys such as Devrent Valley or Pigeon Valley for example. The Nice thing about hiking Pigeon Valley is that you get to see all the carved-from-rock pigeon houses at the same time.

The valley stretches between Goreme and Uchisar so it’s worth bearing in mind that if you start the hike from Goreme, you’re going to end up in Uchisar. Many people like to start the hike from the opposite side of where they are based. So, if you are staying in Goreme, arrange to be taken to Uchisar, and then hike back to Goreme.

A Real Gem Along The Way

As you make your way along the trail, you’ll eventually reach a point where a tea garden suddenly seems to appear out of nowhere. Being a weary traveler in a strange land, you’d be forgiven if you are at first a bit skeptical of stopping at the tea garden which has become known as Hasan’s Tea Garden.

Whatever you do, don’t continue on your way until you taken a break and enjoyed some refreshments and some excellent company. The owner is a great entertainer, and a stop at the tea garden is likely to be just as memorable as all those pigeon houses you’ve been photographing and exploring along the way.

You can book your exclusive high quality Egypt and Turkey tours which will include visits to most of the country’s top attractions, along with a visit to Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia. You really are just a few mouse clicks away from an adventure of a lifetime.

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