Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride: Everything You Need to Know

A Cappadocia hot air balloon ride is one of those experiences where the landscape and the cuteness of the colorful balloons come together into a dreamy, breathtaking picture. Have you seen those hundreds of perfectly captured photos on Instagram, the ones with the balloons floating over Cappadocia at dawn? I’m guessing you have.

This popular activity in Turkey got famous not only because of the dreamy, adventurous experience, but mostly because of the possibility of taking such incredibly beautiful photos. All the social media fever can at times over-shadow the experience itself. So let me tell you something, guys: a hot air balloon flight is a truly incredible thing that makes you feel like you’re floating.

The sun is getting ready to rise and shine again over Cappadocia. Almost every morning it’s joined by 150 colorful balloons, creating that picturesque, iconic image people all over the world crave to see. When we were planning our trip to Turkey, Cappadocia was at the top of the list. I wanted to see this unique place with my own eyes and, of course, finally fulfill my forever dream of flying in a hot air balloon.

There’s something magical about it. Ever since I watched “Up” I’ve been dreaming of being lifted into the sky by a colorful bunch of balloons, but since that’s rather a risky (and not very likely) business, one giant balloon had to do the trick. Have you seen the film?

Dreams are for making them come true, right?

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Our flight got cancelled (why you need a spare day)

The day of making this dream finally arrived when we booked the flight. We arrived to Cappadocia welcomed by beautiful landscape around and a sunny weather.

As you can suspect, we left the hotel as soon as possible and went exploring the town. Then, to my surprise, the weather rapidly changed and it started raining and got quite cold. Very soon we learnt that our flight next morning had been cancelled due to weather, well…all the flights were annulled.

We were offered a flight the next day that was good for us and since we only had one extra day available, we really hoped the weather would get better. This is the biggest advice I would give you, if you want to experience a hot air balloon flight: stay in Cappadocia for at least two nights (or longer of course even better), just in case your flight does not happen. The following day we were picked up from the hotel and happily waited for the flight. Soon we were told that it might not happen again, but as the wind calmed down we got permission to fly.

The pilots started inflating the balloons, which grew big and round high above the ground. They were much bigger than I ever imagined. We jumped into the baskets and slowly rose up in the air. It was very quiet and peaceful. The day was starting and the whole world was waking up. We could see the cars and people little like ants. Many early risers were posing on the ground for photos with the balloons in the background, including newly wedded couples.

It seemed to be a trend these days to have a wedding photo session with Cappadocian balloons. The silence was only broken by laughs of the group and jokes of our pilot, Halis. I could see that he loved his job and this tiny land of Cappadocia and he wanted us to fall in love with it, too. He maneuvered our balloon calmly staying close enough to other balloons (so we could admire the beauty of over 100 colorful balloons floating above the ground), yet with enough space to observe the scene.

Slightly terrifying, mainly exhilarating experience reminded me that we were totally at the mercy of nature. Halis took us on a ride by eroded rocks that looked like giant Swiss cheese, fairy chimneys and pigeon houses.

Book your Cappadocia balloon flight in advance. This company has thousands of amazing reviews.

Book the balloon ride in advance

Taking a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia is one of the most popular activities in Turkey and very likely there will be no places available on a short notice. I recommend booking your ride well in advance. There are many providers, but this one has nearly 5k reviews with nearly 5 star rating.

Stay in Cappadocia for at least two nights and book your flight for the first morning you are there. Flights are at times cancelled due to weather conditions, so b y staying more time you will have a better chance to be able to fly. Besides, there is so much to see around that you won’t be bored.

When to go to cappadocia?

Here’s the slightly annoying truth: balloons fly all year in Cappadocia, but whether yours goes up on the morning you want is another matter entirely. It comes down to the wind, and the wind doesn’t check your itinerary.

Spring and autumn tend to get the calmest, kindest flying conditions and the fewest cancellations, which is why everyone and their camera turns up then.

Summer, when I went, is reliable and warm but busy, and you’ll be sharing your sunrise with a lot of other baskets. Winter is its own kind of magic, snow dusted fairy chimneys and all, but the weather gets moody and flights are called off more often, so it’s a gamble you’ll want that spare day for.

Whenever you go, the same rule applies: give yourself at least two mornings, book the first one, and treat an on-time flight as a lovely bonus rather than a promise.

what my experience of Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride looked like

• The balloon flight is even more incredible with the colours of sunrise, that’s why the tours start early in the morning. The driver picked us up from the hotel at 3:30am (the tour operators will normally pick you up between 3:20 and 3:50).
• We were taken to the Voyager office, where we had some time for a quick breakfast and were given the numbers of vans that were going to take us to the take off place, which might be different every day.
• The excitement grew during the trip to the take off place, but when we finally arrived and saw the place full of balloons ready to be inflated, I could not stop my happiness. We waited a while as it was too windy and we did not get permission to fly (this can happen and all the flights might be cancelled either a night before or the very morning), but after 30 minutes of impatient waiting, we got the permission and started boarding the basket. We missed the sunrise, that can be normally seen when you are already up in the sky, but the view of Cappadocia was still breathtaking. I could even say that the light was much better to take pretty pictures.
• The flight lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes. Normally the flight lasts one hour, however due to the previous waiting, our lovely pilot Halis decided to give us a little compensation of extra time. Of course, we all were very grateful.
• After landing we all got certificates and a glass of fizzy wine. To a surprise to all of us, we were witnesses of a marriage proposal of an Argentinean couple and a little surprise that the company prepared for the future bride (not a bad idea of a proposal, so if any of you are planning dropping a question, you might as well steal this idea and let Voyager know, so they can take care of the rest). You can only imagine the face of surprise!
• When all the emotions settled and we all had enough, we were taken back to our hotels. And the best thing yet…there was still time for one of the best breakfast we had during the trip in Ansia Hotel.

Tips for a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia

• Wear layers. I flew in summer, but Cappadocian weather might be capricious, although up in the air it was much warmer than on the ground. I was glad to have a light jacket with me during the whole time waiting and after landing.
• Wear flat shoes and comfortable clothes to be able to jump over the edge of the basket to board and unboard (just please do not it up in the air). I wore a dress and it was a bit tricky for me.
• Have a camera fully charged and a sim card with lots of space. I promise you, you will take lots of pictures and videos.
• Bring GoPro or a selfie stick to be able to take photos of yourself. We did not take any of these and asked others a few times to take photos. Whatever you bring, make sure is comfortable to hold to avoid it slipping off your hand.
• Bring sunglasses.
• Board the basket first or last to have an unobstructed view.

Questions to ask before booking a hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia

• Size of the basket and number of people in it matters. Ask the provider about it.
• How skilled are the pilots?
• Will the pilot fly low and high or only high?
• What is the breakfast like?
• Will you be able to see the chimneys up close?
• Will your flight take off with other balloons?

 

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