Zelve, a few kilometres northeast of Çavuşin, is one of the largest abandoned cave villages in Cappadocia. Three deep valleys with steep tuff walls are honeycombed with dwellings, churches, stables, and a mosque, used continuously from the early Christian period until 1952.
A loop trail of about a kilometre takes in all three valleys. You can climb into many of the rooms, look at faded wall paintings in the small chapels, and squeeze through tunnels connecting the valleys. Wear good shoes and bring a torch for the darker tunnels. The site is much less crowded than Göreme but at least as interesting.