Ihlara-dalen i Kappadokien - fantastisk plats i Turkiet

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia is a stunningly beautiful valley with dramatic rock formations, intense greenery, an array of historic mountain churches and cosy restaurants where you can sit and rock on the water.

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The Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia

The Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia attracts both foreign and domestic tourists, who enjoy a day in the great outdoors. The valley is about 15 kilometres long, and here you can choose to hike the desired distance. Afterwards you can take a break at one of the charmingly bobbing restaurants.

The Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia stretches between Selime and Ihlara. On the map below we have marked Belisirma, where we started and where we also had our lunch.

View of the Ihlara Valley

We arrived in the Ihlara valley by car and stopped first so we had a view of the valley, at Belisirma. A beautiful and dramatic landscape!

In the 6th century AD, Byzantine monks settled in the valley. They carved houses and churches out of the easily worked rock. tough, formed by the eruption of the Mount Hasan volcano.

Hiking in the Ihlara Valley

You can do a longer hiking tour in the Ihlara Valley, and you can easily spend a full day here. From what we understand, it's on many Turks' bucket list to come here one day, and we can certainly understand why. The environment here is amazing!

For our part, we didn't have much time, so we went for a short walk starting from Belisirma.

The environment here is truly peaceful and relaxing. You can enjoy nature and the pleasant sound of moving water.

Churches and buildings in the mountains

As well as enjoying the scenery, you can, if you wish, check out the small buildings and churches in the mountain, carved by the Byzantine monks. There are churches near Belisirma, in Byzantine style, and churches near Ihlara, which also show influences from Persia and Syria.

If you instead go all the way to Selime (a two-hour hike from Belisirma) you can see the large and fascinating mountain monastery of Selime.

READ MORE: Selime Monastery in Cappadocia - mountain cathedral in Turkey

Klostret Selime — Monastery of Selime in Cappadocia

Cosy restaurants along the river

There are plenty of cosy restaurants along the river, in and around Belisirma. The first one we saw was called Belisirma River Restaurant. So wonderfully charming with these little bobbing places to sit, with cushions, rugs and low fabric-covered tables.

We first passed by here early in the morning, before our little hike, so there were plenty of available tables to choose from. In high season, and as it gets closer to lunchtime, this place can get crowded.

Soon we realised that there were many similar restaurants, all looking equally inviting. Which one would we choose for lunch?

Lunch at Aslan restaurant

When it was time for lunch, we sat down at restaurant Aslan (which, by the way, means lion in Turkish, just like the lion in the book and film Narnia!) So cosy and charming! Behind us the water rippled and around us the big green trees hung down to the water. Ducks swam by and the occasional cat peeked hopefully by.

A guy sat down in front of us and presented a simple menu (top picture) and we all chose chicken or seabream for the main course. For starters we were served soup, bread and salad. The drink was mineral water, as beer and other alcoholic drinks are not allowed in the valley.

The food was very good and we had a very nice break here.

Film from the Ihlara Valley

Here you can also watch a short film from the Ihlara Valley.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

If you visit the Ihlara Valley, don't miss the Selime Monastery! In addition, there are many other interesting sights in Cappadocia. Here you will find open-air museums and underground cities, such as the the underground city of Derinkuyu.

Another classic adventure in Cappadocia is hot air ballooning. over the dramatic landscape. We also recommend staying overnight in a cave hotel, as well as taking a horseback ride or trying Turkish food and wine.

Have you visited the Ihlara Valley in Turkey?

Have you visited the Ihlara Valley in Turkey? Did you know that you could find this kind of nature, and mountain churches, in this part of Turkey?

Facts about the Ihlara Valley

Country: Turkey
Region: Anatolia
Area: Cappadocia
Provins: Aksaray
District: Güzelyurt
Location: The valley stretches between the towns of Ihlara in the south and Selime in the north.
Name: Ihlara Valley or Peristrema Valley. Ihlara Vadisi in Turkish and Ihlara Valley in English.

Description of the valley

Length: 15 kilometres
Depth: Up to 15o metres
Attractions: Some 50 mountain churches and other buildings carved out of the rock. From Ihlara there is a staircase leading down, with almost 400 steps.
Churches near Ihlara: Ağaçaltı Kilisesi (Church Under the Tree), Yılanlı Kilise (Snake Church), Sümbüllü Kilise (Hyacinth Church).
Churches near Belisirma: Direkli Kilise (Church of Pillar), Karagedik Kilisesi (Church of the Black Gap), Kırkdamaltı Kilisesi (Church of Forty Roofs, or Church of St George)

4 Comments

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BP says:

How delicious! Nothing surprises me anymore. It is absolutely fantastic there. The cosy restaurants are so cute. I wonder if I would ever get up from the "carpet" again? The food looked almost Indian - yummie, yummie:-)

26 October 2021 - 19:45

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Cappadocia is really delicious! Sitting and eating on the floor was cosy, but you can tell you're not used to it 😂.
  
  27 October 2021 - 8:11
  
bmlarsreseblogg says:

So many beautiful things you have shown from Cappadocia. I think I had only seen the hot air balloons and the rock formations before. Now this area has really sailed up on the list of dream destinations..... This valley was just so nice and what cosy places to eat.....

26 October 2021 - 21:21

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Same here, we had seen the balloons, but we did not know everything else that is here. Fantastic destination indeed! 😍👍
  
  27 October 2021 - 8:12

Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia - amazing place in Turkey

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia

View of the Ihlara Valley

Hiking in the Ihlara Valley

Churches and buildings in the mountains

Cosy restaurants along the river

Lunch at Aslan restaurant

Film from the Ihlara Valley

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Have you visited the Ihlara Valley in Turkey?

Facts about the Ihlara Valley

Description of the valley

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4 Comments

BP says:

Helena says:

bmlarsreseblogg says:

Helena says:

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