Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia
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Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is still high up on my list of top travel memories. Cappadocia in central Turkey, is known for its valleys, unique rock formations and underground cities.
Rose Valley with its pink-hued rocks which deepen as the sun descends; Pigeon Valley; Ihlara Valley, Rose Valley and Goreme Valley, home to the Open Air Museum.
The beauty of the valleys can be appreciated in two ways, either by pulling on a sturdy pair of boots and hiking through them or by drifting, gently above them at sunrise during a hot-air balloon flight on a Cappadocia balloon tour. Which would you choose?
A Dawn Flight
Not many things will get me up at 5am – the prospect of a stunning sunrise? Possibly. Flying off to a new destination? Always. But on our second day in Goreme, when the alarm started screeching, I was out of bed like a rocket.
I knew today, and our Cappadocia balloon tour, would be one of the highlights of our Turkey trip. This is one the best Capadoccia tours you can do, although, I admit, it was a pity not to have had more time in our Fairy Chimney.
After a quick coffee, pastries, fruit and signing of forms at the Butterfly Balloon meeting point 16 of us set off in a minibus to a high plateau overlooking Goreme.
Balloon Tours in Capadoccia
We arrived at the take-off area to the sight of dozens of hot air balloons, in various stages of inflation, and watched mesmerised as they lifted gently into the air and floated into the rising dawn.
Dwarfed by these giants, excitement growing by the second, we watched balloon after balloon gently tilt, lift from the ground and with a whoosh of ignited gas drift into the volcanic landscape.
Our balloon was one of the last to lift and the sight ahead of dozens of balloons in different colours, sizes and varying heights as they drifted into the pink dawn was spectacular.
As the ground sunk away we floated low, brushing the tips of the trees in the valley. As we rose higher we enjoyed a birds-eye view of the landscape which gave us a good orientation of the area – useful for hiking the next day.
Kaan, our pilot, was skilled to within an inch of clipping the tree tops with the guy ropes trailing from the balloon above us. We soared higher, the roar of flame cutting through the quiet.
There was no breeze as we were travelling at the same speed as the wind; all was calm, peaceful and serene. Fairy chimneys loomed and passed by and the panorama below gave us plenty to muse over.
Check out where we stayed in Cappadocia, one of the quirkiest rooms ever – a fairy chimney in a gorgeous boutique cave hotel
I could have stayed drifting in our hot-air balloon forever and walked on air for the rest of the day – but I’ll let the pictures do the talking…
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- Going up…
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- Inside the Blue Bubble
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- Deflated
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia – what you need to know
Suzanne Jones is a full-time travel blogger and writer at The Travelbunny website which she started in 2011 during her time as a professional travel planner. This serial traveller enjoys exploring new destinations, culinary encounters and the outdoors. When she’s not indulging her wanderlust or writing about her adventures you’ll most likely find Suzanne, camera in hand, enjoying coastal walks on England’s South Coast.
Suzanne also runs Hello Sussex a website which showcases the best of East & West Sussex. Read more about Suzanne here…
Shannon Kircher
Saturday 7th of May 2016
What an awesome journey! My husband and I are headed to South Africa this fall and I would love to go hot airballooning there. He's a bit finicky with heights but it sounds like an amazing way to see the landscape! Did everyone in your basket seem pretty comortable the whole time? Thanks for sharing, Suzanne!
Suzanne Jones
Sunday 8th of May 2016
Everyone was fine and enjoyed the ride - if you go try and make sure it's a company who doesn't try and get as many people in as they can. We had a bit of space as numbers were restricted...
Sally - My Custard Pie
Tuesday 3rd of May 2016
I don't have enough superlatives! Always a little afraid to go in a hot air balloon but I'd do this at the drop of a hat. Good to know that all companies are not the same too. Seriously planning to do this now so will make a note of that company. Beautiful pics (what lens did you use?) - the rock looks like melted candlewax
Suzanne Jones
Wednesday 4th of May 2016
This trip is high in my travel highlights list! I used a combination of compact camera and Nikon D5000 - I think with the original 18-55m lens. I've since got a better lens so will obviously have to go back!
May EatCookExplore
Monday 25th of April 2016
What spectacular landscapes. I've always wanted to visit. Love your pictures.
Suzanne Jones
Monday 25th of April 2016
It's a fascinating place to visit - loved staying the night in a fairy chimney!
David
Sunday 15th of November 2015
We just did a hot air balloon ride over the valley of the kings in Cairo. We wish we would have done one in Bagan Myanmar but they costed 600.00 USD per person! Crazy but i'm sure worth it.
Suzanne Jones
Sunday 15th of November 2015
My husband took the hot air balloon ride over Bagan last month - sadly it was a work trip and I couldn't accompany him :( Photos were amazing...
The Perfect Turkish Breakfast | The Travelbunny
Tuesday 5th of May 2015
[…] garden – always keen to try something a bit different we booked up for the day of our dawn balloon flight. After that 5am start we knew we’d be especially […]