A Cappadocia ATV tour is a guided valley ride starting in Göreme that lasts between 30 minutes and 2 hours. You can ride under the balloons at sunrise, through the colours of the Red Valley at sunset or at any time of day. In this guide you will find which tour suits you, which valleys are on the route, the age and licence rules and how to prepare for your ride.
We have been running ATV tours in Göreme for 7 years and have welcomed more than 10,000 guests to the valleys of Cappadocia. Below are the answers to the questions our guests ask us most.
Where does a Cappadocia ATV tour take place?
Our tours start in Göreme. Most of Cappadocia's valleys are protected, and motor vehicles may only use the routes permitted by the Cappadocia Area Presidency. That is why ATV tours follow set routes with a guide; renting an ATV and exploring on your own risks entering forbidden areas and can lead to heavy fines.
Pick-up from hotels in Göreme, Uçhisar, Ortahisar and Çavuşin is free on most of our tours; if you are staying in Ürgüp or Avanos we offer a paid transfer that costs less than a taxi. If you are coming by your own vehicle, you can get directions to our starting point.
Which ATV tour is right for you?
The tours differ by length and time of day. A quick overview:
| Tour | Length | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset ATV Tour | 2 hours | Timed to sunset | Seeing Cappadocia's most beautiful colours; our most popular tour |
| Sunrise ATV Tour | 2 hours | Before sunrise | Watching the balloons take off from inside the valleys |
| 2-Hour ATV Tour | 2 hours | Daytime, several departures | Seeing more valleys and riding longer |
| 1-Hour ATV Tour | 1 hour | Daytime, every hour | Busy schedules that still want the ATV experience |
| 30-Minute ATV Tour | 30 minutes | Daytime, every half hour | First-timers and families with children |
| Private ATV Tour | 2 hours | At a time that suits you | Choosing your own route and avoiding the crowds |
You can see all current prices in one table on our Cappadocia ATV tour prices page.
Sunset tour
Our most popular tour. It is timed to the sun and ends at sunset, so the start time changes throughout the year. The route passes the Love Valley, the White Valley or the Mushroom Valley and Güllüdere on its way to a sunset viewpoint. Depending on weather and track conditions, that viewpoint is Kızılçukur, the Kılıçlar Valley or Potuk Panorama; this is exactly when you understand why the Red Valley got its name.
Sunrise tour
It starts about an hour before sunrise. In the Kızılçukur and Kılıçlar valleys you watch the balloons being prepared for take-off, then see the sunrise and the sky filling with balloons from the Red Valley Panorama.
What if the balloons don't fly? Balloon flights depend on the weather. If a flight cancellation is announced in advance, we let you know; if you like we move your tour to another morning, otherwise we cancel it. If flight permission is not given while we and the balloons are already in the field, we don't give up on the tour: we use the remaining time for a ride on our regular routes. Even without balloons, you get your money's worth.
Daytime tours: 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours
They start at different times during the day. The 30-minute tour is a practical introduction covering the Love Valley and Potuk Panorama. The 1-hour tour makes longer stops at the same places. The 2-hour tour visits more valleys, such as the White Valley or the Mushroom Valley, Güllüdere and Kızılçukur.
Private tour
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. On request we also go to Paşabağları (the entrance fee is not included in the tour price).
Which valleys are on the route?
- Love Valley: home to some of Cappadocia's best-known fairy chimneys. At the stop you can get food, drinks and use the toilets, and leave a memory on the wishing trees.
- White Valley and Mushroom Valley: this is where you see the famous mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. In rainy periods the White Valley cannot be entered because of deep mud, and the route continues through the Mushroom Valley.
- Güllüdere Valley: a quiet valley known for the pink tones of its rocks.
- Kızılçukur and Kılıçlar valleys: the most impressive view of the tour, with rocks that turn red at sunset; at sunrise, the balloons' take-off area.
- Potuk Panorama: a viewpoint overlooking Uçhisar, Göreme, Çavuşin and Avanos at once.
The route may change depending on the weather, track conditions and the pace of the group.
How does the tour work? Step by step
- Booking: choose the date and time on our website or via WhatsApp. No prepayment is needed; payment is taken on the day of the tour.
- Pick-up: if you chose a transfer, we pick you up from your hotel.
- Preparation: you receive a hair net, helmet, knee and elbow pads. Our guide introduces the ATV and has you do a short test ride.
- The tour: you ride into the valleys as a group behind the guide, with photo stops at panoramic viewpoints.
- Return: at the end, the dust on your clothes is blown off with an air compressor and you are dropped back at your hotel.
How much time should you plan? Allow about 30 minutes before the tour for preparation and 30 minutes after for dust cleaning; if the group is small, these can shrink to 15 minutes. For a 2-hour tour, for example, about 3 hours (excluding transfer) is enough.
Age limit, driving licence and safety
Guests aged 10 and over can join the tour; children under 10 cannot take part in ATV tours. Under Turkish law you need at least a B1 class licence to ride an ATV, so please bring your licence with you.
Our ATVs have automatic transmission and are easy to ride. Even if you have never ridden an ATV, the briefing and test ride before the tour are enough. If you don't feel comfortable, you can continue with our guide; we told how this works in our guest Elis's story.
Can I join without a driving licence? Yes, you don't need a licence to ride as a passenger; you can do the tour behind a licensed family member or friend, or behind our guide.
Who do we not recommend it for? We do not recommend ATV tours for pregnant guests or for people with spinal problems such as back or neck conditions. Health comes first.
What to wear and bring
The tours run on dirt tracks, so there may be dust and mud. Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes. On the sunrise tour, mornings are cool even in summer; bring a jacket. A mask or buff against the dust in summer and gloves and a hat in winter are a must. A small zipped bag is handy for your phone and keys; in hot weather, bring water.
How are prices set?
Our prices are per ATV, and two people can ride one ATV; whether a child or an adult rides does not change the price. The price depends on the length and time of the tour. Current prices for all tours, and any promotions, are on our prices page. When you book directly with us, you pay no middleman commission.
Weather and cancellations
ATV tours run in every season. On rainy days some valleys cannot be entered because of mud, and the route changes accordingly.
In heavy rain, hail, storms, lightning or after very heavy snowfall, the tour may not take place. In that case you can move your booking to a later or an earlier day; we are flexible about this.
A tip from our guide
- Ask your guide for help with photos. If you want photos with your ATV or with your loved ones, our guide will be happy to take them.
- Don't underestimate the dust in summer. Always bring a mask or buff. Some guests don't want to wear a mask before the tour and regret it later.
- Don't forget your gloves in winter. The same regret applies to gloves in winter: cold you barely notice while walking feels much stronger on your hands on an ATV.
Ready to explore Cappadocia by ATV? Have a look at our tours and pick the time that suits you.
