Pigeon Valley
Güvercinlik Vadisi
A hiking valley between Göreme and Uchisar. Its cliffs are carved with ancient pigeon houses, and a viewing platform at the valley mouth is hung with blue evil-eye charms.
Pigeon Valley takes its name from the dense rows of man-made pigeon houses carved into its cliffs. For centuries locals raised pigeons and collected their droppings as fertilizer for vineyards and orchards. Pigeon egg whites were even used to mix paints for church frescoes. The trail runs from the southern edge of Göreme to Uchisar, about 4 km in total, taking 1.5-2 hours one way. It passes white tuff rock, orchards and streams. Most sections are gentle, though there are steep slopes near the Uchisar end. The viewing platform at the valley mouth is free, and the 'Evil Eye Tree' hung with blue eye amulets is a popular photo spot. Entry to the valley is free. It has many forks, so use an offline map. Bring water and sun protection, and expect slippery paths after rain.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Uçhisar Castle
- Göreme Town & Cave Hotels
- Love Valley (Hot Air Balloon Viewpoint)
- Göreme Open-Air Museum
- Rose Valley / Red Valley
- Çavuşin
- Ortahisar Castle
- Paşabağ (Monks Valley)