Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi) runs west from Göreme toward Uçhisar, following a route that has been used for centuries. The valley takes its name from the thousands of carved niches in the cliff walls — dovecotes that local farmers maintained for pigeon droppings, which were the principal fertiliser for the vineyards and orchards of Cappadocia before chemical alternatives arrived.
The walk from Göreme to Uçhisar takes about 90 minutes and is largely flat. It is one of the more popular routes in the region because it connects two places worth visiting and follows a clearly marked trail. At the Uçhisar end, the rock castle rises dramatically above the valley — worth climbing for the view back over the chimneys toward Göreme.