Love Valley trail — Attraction in Avanos

Great hike if you want to be among the rocks and the mountains without the crowds or cars and buses.

We are staying in Göreme, close to the bus & taxi terminal, so we walked to the terminal and took a taxi to the Love Valley trail head, not the overlook that the tourists all visit. The trail head is easily marked on Google Maps and there is a sign at the entrance - Baglidere Vadisi. The taxi ride only took about 10 minutes or less and cost us 200TL.

Most of the trail is a wide road like path that is easy to follow, as you progress through the valley there were parts that had water run off that was not a problem to the trail. The first 10-15 minutes provide the amazing phallic rock formations that are just impressive to see in person. Many have openings that look like windows or doors that were used at some point in history.

The Love Valley trail turns into the White Valley trail where the rock formations are different, more mountain-like and quite beautiful as well.

Great to be on the trail alone most of the time, in a quiet area...

Easy visit, NO signage and trailhead is under construction (road refinishing). All previous reviewers comments about the trailhead parking being next to the 3 headed rock are still true for now. But road is being widened and refinished as of June 2025. Not sure what it will look like after completion (in order to park by the roadside). Busses and shuttles were stopped here as part of group tours so I’d imagine they’ll still leave some place to pull off the road. Otherwise, turning left on the dirt road going uphill at the 3 headed rocks will lead to a flat-ish plateau 10m up on either side where I guess you could park ‘pretty’ easily. A few brave souls drove 300m further down the dirt road where there is a small spot for 3 cars on the right, but I felt better parking on the roadside… it’s only a 20min mostly flat walk. But bring good shoes, there will be a bit of up n down around the rocks and a dry creek...

The Love Valley is incredible, perhaps the most bizarre place of all: here gigantic fairy chimneys rise several meters into the sky, resembling phallic shapes: hence the name Love Valley. A scenic route crosses the entire valley offering splendid views until reaching the most impressive pinnacles. Most "organized" tourists arrive at a panoramic point, where you can arrive by motor vehicle, and observe the particular formations from above... but if you are at least adventurous I recommend: going by car (5- 10 minutes) north of Goreme towards Cavausin; at the end Goreme sign, turn left and, after 300 m, park along the main road in front of three rocks on the right; take the dirt road and, covering a stretch on foot in about 10 minutes (800 m), you are at the beginning of the valley; from here you can expect a walk of about half an hour in the valley. A snack at Keles Cafè is highly...