Whirling Dervishes for a Day in Cappadocia + Best tours advice

Suppose you would like to add some spice to your cultural trip and experience a different perspective on life and spirituality with the Whirling Dervishes Show or Ceremony (Mevlevi Culture Tours) in Cappadocia. In that case, this majestic tour is for you. The one-hour show will gift you this unforgettable mystical, magical, and fascinating experience!

On this tour, your experience will be like no other. You’ll immerse yourself in Sufism, an 800-year-old mystical movement seeking the discovery of truth and unity with God through devotion and love. UNESCO declared these shows “Masterpieces of the Word and Heritage of Humanity” in 2008.

An exquisite whirling dervish show in an enchanting atmosphere accompanied by live mysticism music intertwined with history, enabling you to listen to your soul!

Top Rated Whirling Dervishes Show Tickets

If you are looking for the best Whirling Dervishes Show in Cappadocia, trust our recommendations, save time and money, we have you covered. Below are some of best experiences you can find! Feel free to book online in advance, and make an eco-friendly option of online tickets.

Here we rounded up some heads up before you dive into this unforgettable experience, giving you the meanings of some terms and concepts. Let’s read on to learn more about them.

Who are Dervishes or Sufis?

They’re the followers of Celaleddin Rumi (Mevlana)-the famous poet of the 13th century. Not everyone can perform the whirling dervish ceremony; they must complete rigorous spiritual and physical training that takes them on a spiritual journey. A Sufi (Sema) is a person who prays, whirls, sings, and says prayers in ceremonies.

Rumi’s most famous teachings are based on peace, love, progress toward goodness, acceptance, and seeking divine truth directly with God by getting rid of personal passions.

The Sufi (Sema) community developed certain practices that focused on self-control that led to mental and mystical enlightenment and the disappearance of the self or deserting your ego, representing a spiritual journey toward perfection.

What to Expect?

Whirling dervishes follow the teachings of the poet and mystic Jalaluddin Rumi, who lived in the 1300s. They are part of the Mevlevi order, a Sufi Muslim group. Many people perform the whirling dance, or Sema, as a way to get closer to God. There aren’t many chances to see this spiritual practice up close like at a spinning dervishes show.

When whirling dervishes put on a show, they are following a rite that is full of history and meaning. As a symbol of the ego’s tombstone, the actors wear traditional white robes and tall felt hats. As you spin in a circle with one arm raised to the sky and the other down, the Sema dancers carefully plan their moves to show how heaven and earth are connected.

Traditional instruments like the ney flute and the kudum drum play live music while the spinning dervishes parade. As a meditative and trance-like environment helps the dancers with their spiritual practice, the music is an important part of the Sema.

To learn about the history and customs of Turkey, you can go to a whirling dervishes show in Cappadocia. This could help you learn more about the spinning dervishes’ culture and spiritual practice. Your hosts may talk about the performance’s historical and cultural background.

It’s very spiritual and peaceful to watch a whirling dervishes show. There is something special about the music, the dance, and the mood that can be both awe-inspiring and life-changing.

Typical Show in Cappadocia

A whirling dervishes show in Cappadocia is a unique and unforgettable cultural experience that showcases the spiritual traditions of Turkey.

The fascinating Whirling Dervish Shows are one of the most popular shows among domestic and foreign visitors. The whirling takes place in Mevlevihanes, yet it is possible to perform dervishes in various venues with different concepts.

The whirling dervishes wear conical hats, representing the tombstone. The cardigan on their back indicates the grave, whereas the white linen refers to the shroud.

Crossing their arms before starting to whirl is a traditional and holy thing for spinning dervishes to do to show that God is one. In a way that looks like prayer, they raise their right hand to the sky and point their left hands to the ground, making an eye of God. In the background, mysterious music plays. This stance shows that Mevlana is “giving the people what he received from God.”

Overall, seeing a whirling dervishes show in Cappadocia is a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable culture experience that gives you a unique chance to see a spiritual tradition that has been passed down for hundreds of years. A whirling dervishes show in Cappadocia is sure to be an unforgettable experience for anyone interested in culture or just looking for something different and important to do.

The divine Dervish shows in Cappadocia’s caves will fascinate you with their unique beauty!

About Typical Whirling Dervishes Tour

You can watch the Whirling Dervishes Show in 2 ways:

Option 1: 15 minutes Dervish Show, which is held at the end of your full-day tour.

Your full-day tour begins with sightseeing across Cappadocia’s valleys and underground cities, combined with many other natural activities, blended with a nice dinner and a whirling dervish show.

Option 2: A 1h-long full Cappadocia Whirling Dervish Show is held in 2 different sessions,

18:00 – 19:00 or 21:00 – 22:00, in the nostalgic and mystical atmosphere of Saruhan Kervansarayı. The show consists of 7 different parts of a mystic cycle to perfection and will be performed by 5 musicians, 5 whirling dervishes, and 1 whirling dervish-lead.

Typical Whirling Dervishes-Tour Itinerary Details

Duration: 1 hour ( pick the best: 18:00 – 19:00 or 21:00 – 22:00)
Complimentary Hotel Transfer (be ready 30 min before)
Easy Cancellation
Full refund within 24h cancellation

Included

Complimentary hotel Pickup&Dropoff
Tea after the show

Top Rated Whirling Dervishes for a Day in Cappadocia Options

We believe that booking your Whirling Dervishes for a Day in Cappadocia tour with one of the below companies and online not only guarantees a world-class experience but also provides the convenience of flexible booking, free hotel transfers, and the assurance of thousands of satisfied travelers who have shared their positive experiences through online reviews. It’s the smart choice for a hassle-free and memorable adventure in Cappadocia.

Here we only suggest the proven ways and top rated ones with travelers’ comments. You can feel free to book one of the below top selling tours.

1. Whirling Dervishes Show in Cappadocia with Hotel Pick Up

This is one of the best with badge of excellence in Viator. You’ll attend a traditional Sema ceremony at a historic caravanserai and watch the sacred ritual for yourself.

Your English-speaking guide will be there throughout the 1-hour ceremony to explain the traditions, and you’ll also have the opportunity to try ‘Serbet’, a sweet cordial drink enjoyed by the Sufis. Pickup and round-trip transfers from your hotel is available.