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Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia

Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia

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?

Hot Air Balloons, Cappadocia, Turkey

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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.

Float like a Butterfly...

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.

Book your Cappadocia balloon flight here

Up, up and away...

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.

Ballooning over Cappadocia

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.

Book your Cappadocia balloon flight here

The rock formations close-up


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…

Views over the valleys of Cappadocia

Cappadocia Rock Formations

Book your Cappadocia balloon flight here

Hot Air Balloons Cappadocia

Hot Air Balloon Flight Cappadocia

Book your Cappadocia balloon flight here

Hot Air Ballooning Cappadocia

Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia – what you need to know

Ballooning-Cappadocia

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 […]

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