Most people who search for "ATV rental" before coming to Cappadocia think they can take an ATV and explore the valleys on their own. In reality, the safe way to ride an ATV here is a guided tour: you ride the ATV yourself, and the guide leads the way along a permitted route. In this article we explain why, what the risks of riding without a guide are, and which option gives you the most freedom without compromising your safety.
Can you rent an ATV in Cappadocia?
Most of Cappadocia's valleys are protected, and motor vehicles may only use the routes permitted by the Cappadocia Area Presidency. Riding a motor vehicle into the valleys with fairy chimneys is forbidden. That is why ATV tours in the region follow set routes with a guide.
Why don't we rent ATVs without a guide? Because riding alone isn't safe. The risk of an accident on rough terrain is high; a guest can crash and end up in a difficult situation needing help, and their holiday can turn into a nightmare. What we want is for guests to ride with our guides, on controlled and the safest routes, and go home happy with great memories.
There are companies in the region that rent ATVs without a guide, but their prices are much higher than standard motorbike or car rental. If you are set on renting without a guide, make sure the ATV is well maintained and in good condition, and that its registration and insurance are complete. Otherwise, an accident could leave you with a very large financial liability.
The risks of riding without a guide
- Accidents and needing help: Dirt tracks have sand, mud and steep descents; the risk of an accident on rough terrain is high. If something goes wrong, there is no one with you to help.
- Insurance and financial liability: In an accident with an ATV whose registration or insurance is incomplete, you may be liable for all the damage to the vehicle and to others.
- Traffic fines: Small towns like Göreme are made of narrow streets, and many of them are one-way. You can get a traffic fine without even noticing.
- Entering forbidden areas: From the outside you can't tell which tracks in the valleys are open to motor vehicles. Entering the protected area can lead to heavy fines and legal action.
- Getting caught in the dark: Especially around sunset it gets dark quickly, and riding back on unlit tracks is dangerous.
- Getting lost: The valleys look alike and the tracks criss-cross. But in our experience in the field, getting lost is the least of the problems people riding without a guide may face.
What a guided tour gives you
- Safety first: The route is controlled and the guide is always with you; if something goes wrong, you don't wait for help.
- You ride: On a guided tour you ride the ATV yourself; the guide leads the way and keeps an eye on the group.
- A permitted and beautiful route: The route uses legal tracks, and you see the best spots in the valleys at the right time: the Love Valley, the Red Valley and the sunset and sunrise viewpoints.
- Training and equipment: You get a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and a short briefing and test ride before the tour. You can join comfortably even if you have never ridden an ATV.
- Photo stops: We stop at panoramic viewpoints, and our guide will happily take your photos.
- Transfer: Pick-up from hotels in Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar and Çavuşin is free on most of our tours.
A quick comparison
| Rental without a guide | Guided tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Who rides? | You | You (the guide leads the way) |
| Route | Unclear; risk of entering forbidden areas | Permitted route, best spots |
| Risk of getting lost | High | None |
| Training and equipment | Often none | Helmet, knee and elbow pads and a short briefing |
| If something goes wrong | You're on your own | The guide is with you |
| Insurance and documents | Up to you to check | Our responsibility |
| Traffic in town | Narrow, one-way streets; risk of fines | The guide knows the way |
| Sunset and balloon viewpoints | Hard to find | The right place at the right time |
If you want to choose your own route
What people considering a rental without a guide usually want is freedom: riding at their own pace rather than behind a large group. That's what our private ATV tour is for: it is reserved for your group only, you choose the route from Potuk Panorama, the Love Valley, the White Valley, the Mushroom Valley, Kızılçukur and the Kılıçlar Valley, and stops last as long as you like. You get the freedom, and you stay safe on a controlled, permitted route.
Is there a price difference?
The "ATV rental prices" quoted in the region are usually guided tour prices. Our prices are per ATV, and two people can ride one ATV; the price depends on the length and time of the tour. You can see the current prices of all tours on our prices page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride the ATV myself?
Yes. On a guided tour you ride the ATV yourself; the guide only leads the way. If you don't feel comfortable, you can continue as a passenger behind the guide.
Do I need a driving licence?
Under Turkish law you need at least a B1 class licence to ride an ATV. You don't need a licence to ride as a passenger.
Can I rent an ATV for a full day?
No, we don't run full-day or long tours. Our routes aren't suited to it, and riding an ATV for hours can be very tiring and demanding for guests. Our longest tours are 2 hours, which is more than enough to see the valleys of Cappadocia. If you want more time, you can make the stops as long as you like on the private tour.
To see the valleys of Cappadocia safely, with a guide and at their best, have a look at our ATV tour guide or go straight to our tours.
