Discover Belisırma: Hiking Trails and Rock Churches

Belisırma combines hiking trails in the Ihlara Valley with a remarkable landscape of churches. Among other things, trekking and hiking trails start here; on the trails that begin in Belisırma, visitors can explore spaces and churches carved into the rock. This brings outdoor activity in the valley and cultural discoveries together as distinct focal points. If you are travelling with your family, you can decide together whether to focus your day’s plans more on the trails or on the churches and their history.

The Ihlara Valley and its trails

The Melendiz River runs through the 14-kilometre-long Ihlara Valley. In places, it has carved a gorge 100 to 120 metres deep; it flows towards the wider valley where Belisırma is located. This landscape provides the setting for walks and rock-cut spaces. Those who choose the valley will find not just a place name as a starting point, but also a distinctive natural setting whose river and gorge shape the character of the surroundings.

A hiking trail that runs along the Ihlara Valley ends in Belisırma. Visitors complete this tour there by taking the road that climbs out of the valley. Trekking and hiking trails also start in the village, among other places. These details provide different reference points for planning a tour: trails that start in Belisırma and the end of the valley hiking trail. This makes it possible to decide in advance what role Belisırma should play in your hiking day.

You can hike in the Ihlara Valley at any time of year. Visitor numbers are highest in May. This seasonal information can help you choose when to travel, according to your preferences. Belisırma is a particularly appealing destination when looking for a holiday apartment if you want to combine hikes in the valley with its churches and rock-cut spaces. This lets you choose your destination based on the experiences that matter most to your travel group.

Churches and cultural discoveries

Saint George’s Church, also known as Kırkdamaltı Church, is located in Belisırma and is considered the highest-altitude church in the region. It was built by Amirarzes Basileios and his wife Tamara, and decorated between 1283 and 1295. Its names, construction history and period of decoration make it a particularly specific destination for anyone interested in the history of churches in the Ihlara Valley.

The Direkli Church also has architectural details that help distinguish the rock churches from one another. Carved into the rock opposite Belisırma, it lies 50 metres north of Bahattin Samanlığı Church. Its floor plan is cruciform; its features include a central dome, three mihrabs and six pillars. Ala Church is located within the boundaries of Belisırma in the Ihlara Valley and is associated with religious and cultural tourism. Churches in the area also feature Byzantine wall paintings. Those interested in sacred architecture and wall paintings will find several different aspects of the cultural landscape to explore here.

Hiking and cycling as travel interests

In addition to the hiking trails, there is a three-day cycling festival route that runs in June through Güzelyurt, the Ihlara Valley, Belisırma, Selime and Hasandağı. Around 300 cyclists from Turkey and various countries around the world take part in the festival. The route offers another way to discover Belisırma: the village is associated not only with hikes in the valley, but also lies along this multi-day cycling route.

The Ihlara Valley has an entrance by the ticket office in Belisırma, as well as Entrance No. 1. These provide useful points of reference for getting around, alongside the village’s role as the start and end point of trails. Belisırma is a good place to search for a holiday apartment if you want to include a combination of valley hikes, rock-cut spaces and churches in your travel plans.

More destinations: Harmandalı Municipality, Sultanhanı, Gültepe Village, Aksaray, Ihlara Valley, Güzelyurt and Ortaköy.

Back to the main travel overview: Aksaray.