Riding a hot air balloon in Cappadocia is one of those things that you see a photo of and think “Wow.” Like many other travellers before me, it has been on my bucket list for a while. So this month I decided to go to Turkey and tick it off, and I am happy to report it is as amazing as it looks. For those also thinking of making the trip, here is a first-hand recount of my experience on Sept. 9, 2024.
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Booking a ride
I booked my sunrise hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia over a month in advance through Klook. The day before the ride, I was contacted by a company called Skyway Travel to confirm the booking. The pick-up time for my lodging ended up being at 5:25am. I was grateful it was a bit later than expected, as I was one of the last to be picked up.
On the day
The morning of the flight, the shuttle came on time to pick me up. The van was already mostly full and the driver did one more pick-up before promptly heading to the lift-off point: Aşk Vadisi (Love Valley). We were given a small bag containing water and light breakfast snacks to enjoy on the way.
The moment we turned into the valley, we could see countless massive balloons lying on the ground, waiting to be inflated in the dim pre-dawn light. This scene in itself was already magical and excitement among passengers began to swell.
We alighted from the vehicle and instructed stand in front of a blue-and-white-striped balloon bearing the words “KapadokyaBalloons.com.“ As we later learnt, this company would be our operator for the ride. In the distance, we would see dozens of other balloons with other groups of other people ushered toward them. The balloons periodically came alight as the pilots released flames to inflate them. In front of us, the flames were dazzling and we could hear their roar as the balloon gradually began to stand upright.
Take-off
Once the balloon was inflated enough to pull the basket upright, we were guided to climb into the compartments one by one. Each compartment could hold around three to four people, with the maximum capacity of the basket set at 28 people. Our pilot Mustafa got into the middle compartment, where he expertly released flames to set the balloon adrift. The takeoff was so smooth and gentle I didn’t even realise we had lifted off until I looked down.
A magical hour in the skies
As our balloon rose higher and higher, we could see countless other balloons doing the same over the valley. The sky was soon peppered with balloons creating the magical scene often shown in photos.
As the first rays of sunlight began to break, the horizon was streaked with yellow and red, and the rugged landscape of Göreme below began to take shape.
We could also see the unique designs of some 160 other hot air balloons that we shared the skies with that morning.
At one point, our balloon came so close to a village below that we could call out to a family sitting below watching the sunrise.
As the sun continued to rise over the valley, we could feel its heat as it cast the valley in a warm light.
Landing
After spending a magical hour drifting peacefully over the fairy chimneys and cave dwellings of Cappadocia, it was time to return to earth. We were instructed to put away our smartphones and cameras and adopt the landing position. This involved facing in the opposite direction as the pilot, grabbing onto ropes on the side of the basket, and getting in a crouching position. In the event the basket tipped upon impact, we were to fall on our backs.
There was no need to worry though, because our pilot was such a pro that the basket did not even tilt back. The landing was again so gentle I barely noticed until men on ground began securing the basket with ropes. They clapped and congratulated us on a successful trip, and helped us to climb out one by one.
After the ride
Staff began deflating the balloon, and we could run over and help them stamp it down while getting pics. They then popped bottles of non-alcoholic champagne and gave us a certificate for completing a ride with them.
After a few more photo ops, we boarded our van again and were dropped off at our respective lodgings. I arrived back at my cave suite at around 8:30am, in time for breakfast and a quick nap before being picked up for the Green Tour at around 10am.
Is it worth taking a hot air balloon in Cappadocia?
A resounding, whole-hearted YES. While it certainly doesn’t come cheap, especially during the peak season of September and October, it is 100% worth it. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should not be missed. The ride itself is more gentle than an elevator, and watching the sunrise over Cappadocia with dozens of other balloons is magical beyond words.
I was extremely happy I was able to tick off another item on my bucket list, and that it met all expectations and them some! You can book the same package I did on Klook here. The combo deal with the Green Tour made the experience slightly more affordable despite it being peak season. You can also combine it with the Red Tour and other activities to get a discount.
Tips
- Hot air balloon flight prices are highest during the months of September and October. However, these are also the months in which you have the highest chance of being able to fly. It is also a pleasant temperature to be up in the air before and after the sun has risen. Check BalloonScanner.com for the best deals and forecast weather conditions.
- It is often cheaper to fly over Çat Valley or Soganli Valley but Goreme is the best if you want to also capture the sight of over a hundred other balloons in the skies. No regrets paying extra for it.
- There are in general two flight time options: sunrise and early morning. While you may lose some sleep, take the sunrise one for some truly amazing colours.
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