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Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) Fairy Chimneys In Cappadocia

Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) Fairy Chimneys In Cappadocia

Pasabag Valley is one of the most popular spots in Goreme, Cappadocia with its epic fairy chimneys and cave dwellings.

PASABAG VALLEY IN CAPPADOCIA

In this blog post, I will share with you everything you need to know about visiting Pasabag Valley.

MY EXPERIENCE AT PASABAG VALLEY

Very busy: I was quite impressed by Pasabag Valley but you need to be prepared for crowds, big crowds. Of course, if you came at sunrise or sunset times, it would be less crowded but during the day it is quite busy. There were several popular photo spots within the Pasabag Valley and it was actually impossible to shoot them with no people in.

That didn’t bother me but it’s important to tell you. If you are looking for an off-beat adventure this is not it. There were at least 15 huge tour buses parked in the parking lot. In comparison, Zelve Open-Air Museum just 1km further up the road and arguably more impressive was a place we shared with just a handful of local couples. It seems to be the most popular spot to visit the fairy chimneys although they are all over Cappadocia so it is a bit of a tourism hotspot rather than a unique spot.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN CAPPADOCIA

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a large swimming pool in front of a stone building

PASABAG ‘FAIRY CHIMNEYS’ VALLEY TOUR

There is a tour of Cappadocia called the ‘Historic Red Tour‘ that includes many of the highlights around Cappadocia. It includes a visit to Pasabag Valley and is the best value tour in Cappadocia. It is a great way to enjoy a guided look at the most important locations in Cappadocia. The tour is also pretty reasonably priced.

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Full-Day Cappadocia Tour

  • Visit Devrent Valley
  • Customizable
  • Hotel Pickup

Crowds aside, Pasabag Valley is well worth a visit. The fairy chimneys truly are quite amazing. Often a rock, sits atop the chimney, ominously balancing its way through storms and heavy winds. Amongst the valley, you’ll find lots of cave dwellings, which are often double and triple stories. You are able to venture inside to explore the different levels.

The best way to explore Pasabag Valley is to first do an entire lap of the paths within the valley, checking out all of the dwellings and fairy chimneys. After you have explored the valley, head up to the landing or second level to get a view from above the valley. It is pretty safe and although there was a sign saying not to go up there, we definitely didn’t set the trend and followed at least 30-40 people already up there. 

From up the top, you get quite a great view looking down into the valley and there are several little ledges great to chill out and also pretty epic photo spots. Be careful though as the sandstone is very slippery and often crumbles so stay away from edges you aren’t sure of.

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When you book your Turkey Rental Car online, I personally recommend and always use Discover Cars. They search for both local and international companies, so you get the best deal!

PASABAG VALLEY TIP: I advise you to visit Pasabag Valley and Zelve Open-Air Museum in the same morning or afternoon as they are quite close. We went first to Zelve and then walked back to Pasabag Valley. The walk between the two is about 1.5km and is very scenic with more fairy chimneys and rock formations to marvel at along the way. Devrent Valley is also just around the corner from Zelve Open-Air Museum, which is something to consider visiting.

The roadside views along the walk from Zelve to Pasabag Valley

History: Pasabag Valley was once home to a community of hermits. A hermitage of Simeon monks lived right here in Pasabag Valley. In one of the three-headed fairy chimneys, there is a chapel dedicated to St. Simeon with antithetical crosses decorating the entrance. Saint Simeon was living in isolation near Aleppo during the 5th century when his name grew in popularity as people started spreading rumors he was capable of miracles. He wasn’t a fan of all the attention and decided to love on top of a 2m high column and later moved to the top of a 15m column.

The hermits of Cappadocia hid away from the world by cutting out the fairy chimneys instead of living on top of them like Saint Simeon. They would hollow out the chimneys from the bottom to the top, in the process creating rooms that could be up to 15m high!

HOW TO GET TO PASABAG VALLEY (FAIRY CHIMNEYS)

The most popular region for tourists to stay while exploring Cappadocia is a town called Goreme. Uchisar is the other nearby town, which is also an option but Goreme is the popular choice by far. Goreme is packed with hotels, restaurants, and cafes, while Uchisar is a little quieter. 

From Goreme town center to Pasabag Valley, the distance is 7km, which takes 14 minutes by drive. 

We decided to walk there but after only five minutes of walking, we were picked up by locals and they dropped us all the way to Zelve Open-Air Museum which we would visit first before Pasabag Valley.

There are a few other modes of transport in Cappadocia that I will detail below, although I suggest walking and trekking because there are lots to see on the way to each attraction, and locals will pick you up and drop you further down your route. 

ENTRANCE FEE FOR PASABAG VALLEY

There was a ticket office and a turnstile but we just walked in as did everyone else. It was seemingly free… I hope! No, it definitely was free as of 2019 and everyone just walked straight in and out, which was nice.

WHERE TO STAY IN GOREME, CAPPADOCIA

Where I stayed: Design Cave Suites Cappadocia – I was lucky enough to stay at the Design Cave Suites in Goreme. The location was great and I walked to all attractions. The rooftop garden was awesome for sunrise balloon watching. The buffet breakfast spread was amazing as were the cave-style room designs.

Best Cave Hotel with Pool: Local Cave House Hotel– This cave hotel rose to fame because of its incredible pool. Make sure you click the link and check out how epic the pool backdrop is, with those classic Cappadocia rock formations in the background and traditional cave rooms it is a top pick.

Cave Hotel with Best Roof View (and dogs): Sultan Cave SuitesThis cave hotel became famous because of its epic rooftop area for sunrise viewing. Guests can lay out on traditional pillows and carpets while watching the hot-air balloons flying above. The hotel dog might also join you for a photoshoot on the roof!

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HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE REST OF MY CAPPADOCIA BLOG POSTS?

Click on one of the articles below to check out all of the places you should visit while in Cappadocia!

The big guide! This post has all of my favorite activities, which I personally did while in Cappadocia for ten days: 24 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN CAPPADOCIA

The hiking guide! Find out about all of the best hikes in Cappadocia with details, directions and lots of photos: 8 AWESOME HIKES IN CAPPADOCIA

Thinking about flying in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia? Read this first: CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOONS: THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU FLY

Have you heard about the castles in Cappadocia? Check these out:

THE UCHISAR CASTLE VIEWPOINT

ORTAHISAR CASTLE VIEWPOINT

CAVUSIN CHURCH, VALLEY & CASTLE

Not sure where is the best region to stay? Wondering which hotel provides the best value? Check out this guide that will help you decide: WHERE TO STAY IN CAPPADOCIA: THE BEST HOTELS & HOSTELS

OR… I write a post about the 12 BEST CAVE HOTELS IN CAPPADOCIA that you might find interesting.

I’ve written a blog post for almost all of the places I’ve visited while in Cappadocia. You can find every single one of these articles right here: CAPPADOCIA ARCHIVES