Day hike · Cappadocia
Meskendir – Güllüdere – Kızılçukur (Rose and Red valleys)
The name lists places along the way, not necessarily the start or the finish.
Secret Meskendir valley and its tunnels, then the red and pink hues of Kızılçukur and Güllüdere down to Çavuşin.
The route in numbers
- Distance
- 10.8 km
- Ascent
- 233 m
- Descent
- 389 m
- Walking time
- ≈ 3 h 30
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Altitude
- 1039–1249 m
- Route type
- One way: the finish is 5.6 km from the start as the crow flies, so plan your return
Along the way
- Small tunnels of the Meskendir valley
- Red Valley: red rock streaked with white flows
- Rock churches of Güllüdere (Üzümlü, Haçlı)
- Old village of Çavuşin below the plateau
When to go
April–June and September–October; in winter, snow and slippery tuff.
Water and supplies
No marked water point: carry your supply; refill in the villages.
Things to watch for
- Highly branched valley network
- Switchback climb before the Rose Valley
This page describes the trail as our team walked it; it is not a substitute for a map, a guidebook or a qualified guide. Paths, waymarks, water sources and weather change, so check conditions locally before you set out and choose a day that suits your experience.
More hikes in Cappadocia
Our trips in Cappadocia
Our trips in this region:
- Trails of Cappadocia
- Cappadocia, Call of the Hidden Valleys
- Cappadocia – Istanbul
- Cappadocia & Taurus, from fairy chimneys to the Aladağlar
- Cappadocia & the Lycian Coast
Our self-guided trips include the MyAv road book.