Famed for its phallic rock formations, Love Valley is one of the most popular hiking trails in Cappadocia. This complete guide covers all the essential information, including how to get there, when to visit, and where to stay – plus some of my personal tips.
As you most-likely already noticed on Instagram, Cappadocia has increased its reputation as one of the world’s top travel destinations, which is no wonder given its unique moon-like landscape, and the hundreds of iconic hot-air balloons that float above it daily.
But something most travellers overlook, is that Cappadocia is actually a haven for those interested in hiking and history, as the historical region is home to a wide array of excellent hiking trails and valleys.
Arguably the most popular of those trails runs through Love Valley, an incredibly picturesque valley that is famed for its phallic rock formations and rough mountain ridges.
To help you make the most out of your time in Love Valley, I gathered and bundled all the essential information.
Here’s my complete guide to Love Valley, where I share my take on the trail – as well as first-hand advice on how to get there, when to visit, and where to stay – that being said, enjoy the hike!
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A complete guide to Love Valley, Cappadocia
Where is Love Valley
Love Valley in Cappadocia is a fascinating valley that is situated only just outside of Göreme, Cappadocia’s most popular region among travellers and locals alike.
Defined by a bundle of distinguishing rock formations, rough mountain ridges, and a lush, wide-open valley, Love Valley is deemed to be one of the best hiking trails in Cappadocia.
The reason for this is not just Love Valley’s enchanting beauty, but also its convenient position close to other popular attractions in Cappadocia, including Uchisar Castle and Pigeon Valley.
Entrance fee | The cost of visiting Love Valley in Cappadocia
Unlike other popular places in Cappadocia, including Pasabag Valley, Göreme Open-air Museum and Zelve Open-air Museum, entry to Love Valley is actually free.
How to get to Love Valley, Cappadocia
The beginning of the Love Valley trail is situated roughly 3 km outside of Göreme, and for that reason, it is best reached by car, especially if you’re short on time. The journey by car should take around 10 minutes.
Alternatively, you could opt for a short ride with one of the many well-priced taxis that service the area.
For those interested in walking to Love Valley, keep in mind that it takes around 45 minutes – plus you’ll have to walk next to the main road for most of the journey.
I was fortunate enough that the friendly people at Charming Cave Hotel were more than happy to give me a ride, which turned my stay there into an absolute winner.
Start of the Love Valley trail
Love Valley is situated between Göreme and Uchisar and can easily be reached from both of these destinations. However, for the best experience, I recommend starting the hike on the Göreme side of the trail.
One word of warning though – if you mark ‘Love Valley’ on Google Maps, you’ll be directed to the Love Valley viewpoint, which is located above the actual hiking trail.
Luckily for you, I’ve already done the research regarding the exact start of the trail.
Where | Love Valley, Cappadocia
Love Valley in Cappadocia | The trail from Göreme to Uchisar
Nestled between Göreme and Uchisar, Love Valley is a scenic valley that is renowned as one of the absolute highlights on any trip to Cappadocia.
The attractive valley is distinguished by multiple groups of phallic rock formations, which are said to be the number-one inspiration for the name of Love Valley.
Standing tall upon the dusty soil of Love Valley, these ancient rock formations are now considered world-famous for their similarity to the shape of masculinity.
These iconic rock formations are settled in the heart of Love Valley, at roughly 15 minutes from the start of the trail.
As with so many popular sights in Cappadocia, you’ll find a small cafe among these rock formations, turning it into the perfect stop for a coffee or fresh juice.
Besides these peculiar penis-shaped rock pillars, Love Valley has much more to offer, and therefore I’d highly recommend following the 2-hour trail in the direction of Uchisar.
Along the way, you’ll stumble upon a series of fascinating cave dwellings and tunnels, as well as a sea of wave-shaped sandstone surfaces, adding a balancing touch of feminine energy to the valley.
After taking in the breathtaking views, it’s time to exit the valley via the trail on the left side.
At the end awaits a friendly vendor that seduces you to stop for a freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, which to us, came as a welcoming surprise.
From the juice vendor, it’s barely 10 minutes of walking before you reach Uchisar, where you’ll be able to climb Uchisar Castle or head back to Göreme by following the Pigeon Valley trail.
Distance | +/- 4 km (2,5 miles)
Duration | Around 2 hours
Effort | Easy
Tip | Around the rock formations are lots of sketchy trails that seem to bring you to the viewpoint. I would strongly advise you not to follow them. Some come to a dead-end, and climbing down is quite a challenge (I spare you the details).
The best time of the year to visit Love Valley in Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a place that is extremely attractive, and I’m pretty sure that it will blow your mind at any time of year.
However, for those planning to mark off some of the area’s best hiking trails, I would strongly advise a visit just before, or after the peak summer months of June, July and August.
Not only is Cappadocia remarkably hot during the peak summer months, but it’s also the most popular period among travellers, and therefore by far the busiest time of the year.
For that reason, I would highly recommend planning your trip for the off-season months of March to May, or September to November.
I visited Cappadocia in early November, and was fortunate enough to enjoy excellent circumstances during my entire trip – perfect for sunny and adventurous hiking days!
The best time of the day to visit Love Valley in Cappadocia
Love Valley is easily combined with a visit to Uchisar Castle and Pigeon Valley, and accordingly, best visited right after sunrise.
On top of that, Love Valley is bathed in the most gentle morning hues during a morning visit, adding up to the beauty that marks the valley.
Another great benefit of arriving in the early morning is the fact that you’ll be sharing the valley with significantly fewer people. Not to mention that the circumstances are far more pleasant for photography and hiking.
For those who prefer to start their day at a slower pace, plan your visit in the late afternoon.
By avoiding the middle of the day, you’ll still be able to enjoy the valley with a smaller crowd, as other visitors start their journey back to Göreme or Uchisar by this time.
What to pack for Love Valley, Cappadocia
Even though the trail is fairly easy, I’d still recommend bringing a few essentials that will support you during the hike.
One of these essentials is the Grayl GEOPRESS, a purification bottle that has instantly become my favourite travel item after receiving it lately. The sustainable Grayl reduces your travel footprint and allows you to fill up on water directly from the source, without the worry of ending up sick.
For optimal comfort and grip during the hike, a pair of decent sneakers will do, yet I believe hiking boots are not an unnecessary luxury.
Another thing I advise you to bring is some fruits and a few (healthy) snacks, especially if you’re planning to combine Love Valley with a visit to Uchisar Castle and Pigeon Valley.
Where to stay in Cappadocia
When it comes to accommodation in Cappadocia, Göreme is by far the most popular town from which travellers start their discoveries, and after visiting recently, it is easy to understand why.
The historic town is encircled by iconic fairy chimneys, has no shortage of brilliant cafes & restaurants, and is teeming with the most authentic accommodations, including budget-friendly hostels, family-run hotels, as well as a great number of classy luxurious suites.
Charming Cave Hotel | I was fortunate enough to spend a total of 6 days at Charming Cave Hotel, an authentic family-run hotel, situated at the heart of Göreme. Alongside the most stunning rooftop terrace in Cappadocia, Charming offers a wide array of cave-style rooms, all marked by amazing design and refined details. All bookings come with an incredible breakfast, and organizing a balloon flight is as easy as it gets.
Kelebek Special Cave Hotel | One of the most luxurious options in Göreme, Kelebek Special Cave Hotel provides spacious cave-style suites, a traditional Turkish bath, and a large outdoor swimming pool. Although this extra luxury comes at a cost, I believe, it’s a great value for the money, especially for those who are keen to take it easy after an adventurous day of exploring.
Artemis Cave Suites & Spa | Right in the centre of Göreme town, Artemis Cave Suites & Spa offers traditional-designed rooms, a spacious terrace, as well as excellent in-house spa facilities. Rooms starting at just €47,- a night make Artemis one of the best options in Cappadocia.
Alternatively, use booking.com to find accommodations in Göreme, Cappadocia.
Safety in Turkey | Travel insurance
While Cappadocia is completely safe for travellers, I always aim to enter a foreign country with my travel insurance sorted out, and I highly advise anyone else to do the same.
Where we prefer to assume that everything runs smoothly during our travels, the reality is often that something can go wrong at any given moment – when that happens, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full COVID-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
Book | Find out your Heymondo Travel Insurance quote here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
Book | Find out your World Nomads Travel Insurance quote here.
Keep on reading with these in-depth Turkey guides
After spending 3 weeks in Turkey, I’ve made plenty of in-depth guides that might interest you too.
13 Wonderful things to do in Cappadocia
A guide to a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia
A hiking guide to Red and Rose Valley
A complete guide to Love Valley in Cappadocia
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