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 didn't walk through the valley as such but walked around the little stalls and watched the pigeons. The Jewellery store across the road had some amazing although expensive pieces. A must see as there are rooms and rooms filled with different themed jewellery. You can buy an "evil eye" pendant and hang it on the wishing tree that overlooks…
beautiful hike through here and well worth doing if you have the time. It's smaller than the other valleys so you can visit this valley if you only have an hour or two.
Walked Love Vallely and Pigeon Valley recently in a clockwise direction from Göreme. If it had not been for our hostel manager's advice before setting out we would have had no idea where to walk at all. There is just NO signage in the direction we walked. To add to this, there are multiple unsigned forks in the track where…
we woke up ın the mornıng to see the baloons the vıew ıs very good ıf you watch them from pıgon valley
Pigeon Valley is fabilous, there are many pigeon house in the valley
People brought pigeons to this valley many centuries ago to populate caves so the droppings could be used as fertilizer for crops. The openings they carved for the pigeons, as well as the entrance doors for people are visible just everywhere in the mountains along the valley. And of course, pigeons are still plentiful. Walk the valley and enjoy…
The way is marked at the beginning and at the end. If you are starting from the Uchisar side then turn when you see a bunch of wooden dove coats. This is an easy walk.
It was amazing walk which I found to be so refreshing on such a beautiful sunny day.
It is just very interesting to see different kinds of pigeon holes or rocks there. You can picture how people live there in the old old days
I you are visiting anywhere near the sites of Goreme, you can't help but go through Pigeon Valley. There's some nice hiking, fairy chimneys, colored rock, and cave dwellings here. It's pretty accessible, in many places, for those who have a hard time walking. I wish I had more time to explore here.