Dreaming of a surreal morning in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey?
If you are or if you’re simply wondering what the hype is about, then you’re in the right place. We will be answering all the burning questions we’ve received on our Instagram DMs and letting you in on some tips. This will ensure that you have a fantastic time without any hiccups that are usually associated with hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia.
1. Cappadocia: Where is it? How to get there? Where to stay?
Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey that is home to otherworldly volcanic landscapes. Most people stay in the town of Goreme, followed by Urgup and Uchisar.
Flight: You can get here by taking a flight from Istanbul or any other Turkish city with an airport. Cappadocia has two airports: Kayseri and Nevsehir airports. Get the cheapest flight fares here.
You can then board a shuttle bus to your hotel. Ensure that you’ve requested that your hotel reserve a space for you on the bus. This costs between €4-10 per person.
Bus: If flights are out of your budget, opt for an overnight bus journey which takes about 11 hours. Book your bus here!
Hotels: Some fantastic hotels to stay at are: Local Cave Hotel (has a beautiful pool), Charming Cave Hotel (amazing terrace for hot air balloon views), Museum Hotel (luxury)
How to get around: There is no public transport in Cappadocia. The best way to get around is by renting a car (this is what we did). If you don’t want to do that, you will have to opt for guided tours!
Hot air balloon tours:
2. Is a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia worth it?
We kept asking ourselves this question while planning our trip to Turkey. We were hesitant for two reasons: we had already been on a hot air balloon ride before during our Egypt trip and the balloon ride in Cappadocia was very expensive.
In the end, we made a decision to just go for it and we are so glad that we did. The experience was magical and surely my favourite during our time in Turkiye, if not my husband’s. Here are a few reasons why you should go on a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia:
- The aerial view of Cappadocia’s unique landscape is simply breathtaking! You’re going to remember it forever.
- There are about 100 other hot air balloons in the sky at the same time! It is a sight to behold. You won’t see these many balloons flying together anywhere else in the world. 2,000 people experience this magic each day!
- The hot air balloons in Cappadocia not only go high up (allowed to 6,000 ft) but also fly very close to the fairy chimneys. Nowhere else in the world will hot air balloons go so close to the landmarks below.
Check out this video of our Hot Air Balloon experience in Cappadocia.
3. That’s great, but how much does a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia cost?
Hot air balloon rides are expensive, to say the least. But remember you’re paying not only for the actual ride but also for things that go on behind the scenes: logistics, the extensive pilot training and experience, the cost of the balloons, the trucks used to carry them, gas, insurance etc.
Balloon flight costs start at about Euro 150 and go up to Euro 350 (INR 13,000-30,000) or more depending on the season (higher in peak/shoulder season and lowest in winter), balloon capacity and length of the flight. We paid Euro 190 each (INR 16,500 each) for a 16-person flight in August. This was actually the cost of a 20-person flight but because we made an online payment we were upgraded. This 16-person flight actually cost Euro 250 at the time.
We booked through Royal Balloon and are experience with them was excellent. Check their availability your dates below.
4. Woah, I’m not willing to spend that much, I’m wondering if I should skip the hot air balloon ride?
While it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it is in no way necessary. Don’t be pressured by anyone saying – ‘but how can you not go for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia?’ Everyone’s choices and experiences are different. If your budget doesn’t allow it, you can still experience the beauty and magic of a balloon-filled scenery in the following ways:
- See the hot air balloons from your hotel rooftop: Stay in a hotel that is famous for hot air balloon views from their rooftop like Charming Cave Hotel, Sultan Cave Suites, Mithra Cave Hotel, Koza Cave Hotel and see the balloons go up from there at around 5:30 AM. This was my husband’s favourite moment from Turkey- even more than the balloon ride itself.
- Chase them in the valleys: The balloons get super close to the valleys depending on the direction they are flying that day and you’ll get epic photos too. Here are some good spots: Goreme Sunset Point, the official viewpoint in the Love Valley, Sword Valley, and Sunset viewpoint in Rose Valley. Read this blog post to decide where to see the balloons.
5. Can I go on a hot air balloon in Turkey if I am afraid of heights or have motion sickness?
I am terrified of heights and have motion sickness myself but neither of those really hit me on either of the hot air balloon rides I have been on. Hot air balloon rides are quite smooth and slow; I didn’t feel the movement at all except while landing. Plus, the basket edges were high enough to feel safe inside.
While it is perfectly fine for most people, reconsider going only if you’re very very scared of heights. If you have motion sickness, you need not worry at all.
6. What about the safety of hot air balloons?
- In order to fly a commercial hot air balloon in Cappadocia, pilots undergo extensive training and examinations, fly balloons for a prescribed number of flight hours, pass flight tests and ace their medical checks. Though do note that because of the immense demand for balloon pilots in Cappadocia, the training period has reduced from a few years to six months or so. Therefore, you should ensure you go with a reputable balloon company with very seasoned pilots.
- The balloons are under the authority of Turkish Civil Aviation and they make the final decision on weather conditions and whether the flight takes place that day or not—not the tour company.
- Pilots give you a full safety briefing so you know what to expect
- Hot air balloons, like aeroplanes, are registered with the aviation authority and subject to regular safety checks
That being said, balloon accidents do happen all over the world but they are rare. More accidents happen while driving a car, TBH! Just make sure you choose an experienced balloon company with seasoned pilots.
If you’ve decided to go ahead with a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, then here are a few more things to know!
Tips for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia
1. Go to Cappadocia with a few mornings in hand because hot air balloon flights can get cancelled
Each morning, the hot air balloon companies are given permission to fly by the Turkish aviation authority. This permission is dependent on wind conditions. A decision is made by the authorities the night before or the morning of. If the wind speed is more than 10 km per hour then balloons will not fly and your booking will be cancelled. You can check the wind speed on Wind Finder to understand what this might look like for your dates. On average, hot air balloons fly 250-280 days in a year.
2. The number of mornings you need in Cappadocia depends on the season.
The best time for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia is between April and November because wind conditions are mostly stable while the worst time is the winter period between December and March!
While planning your Turkey itinerary, consider the season and decide the number of days you should stay in Cappadocia to increase your chances of going on a hot air balloon ride.
Summers (June-August): At least 2 mornings.
Shoulder season (Sep-Nov, April-May): At least 3 mornings
Winters (Dec-March): More than 3 mornings. Our hot air balloon pilot told us that if you come in winter, then the scenery is magical but sometimes balloons don’t fly even 7 days in a row. So consider this while deciding on the number of days you stay in Cappadocia if visiting in the winter.
We think that 3 days is the ideal time to spend in Cappadocia no matter the season! If you miss the ride, you miss it. There is no point staying for a long time with nothing to do.
3. Book your hot air balloon ride for the very first morning
It goes without saying that your ride should be booked for your very first morning in Cappadocia because if cancellations happen then you can reschedule for the next morning and so on.
4. Go for the sunrise flight
There are two timings of flights. Up to 100 balloons can take off before sunrise and another 55 about half an hour after sunrise. People usually prefer the sunrise flight (which starts when it is still dark) because of the golden hour light and the higher number of balloons. By the second flight, the light becomes quite harsh.
5. 1 hour flight time is enough
The length of the flights varies between 1 hour to 2 hours and obviously, the price varies accordingly. We think that 1 hour of flight time is quite sufficient.
6. Book a balloon with fewer passenger capacity
The number of people on the balloon varies in these lot sizes: 8,16,20,24,28. Remember that these balloons are always divided into compartments/baskets in which usually 4-5 people stand.
We’ve suffered dearly in Egypt. The balloon was small and with 4 of us in one basket, it was tough to see anything or shoot pictures with ease because we were just struggling for space.
So this time we made sure we booked a balloon with just 16-20 people! There were still 4 people in each basket but there was a lot more space.
Skip the 24-32 person balloons no matter how cheap they are. Overloaded balloons, whether large or small, are also unsafe because passengers may not be able to take the landing position in case of a windy landing as there may not be enough room to do so.
Stick to the 8-20 person balloons.
7. Book your hot air balloon in Cappadocia months in advance
Hot air balloon rides are the reason why so many people visit Cappadocia and so should you save space in one as early as possible. Balloons by reputable companies may fill up months in advance.
In fact, while planning our hot air balloon ride with Royal Balloon as early as 2 months in advance, we weren’t able to book a balloon for our date of choice because it was sold out. So we had to book one for our last morning in Cappadocia which wasn’t really a wise decision. Thankfully, all went well.
If you leave the booking to the last moment, you may not have a choice as to the company and balloon size. Plus, prices may soar and you’ll be more susceptible to scams and exorbitantly priced black market tickets.
8. Choose a reputable company
As mentioned above point, certain companies are better than others depending on the age of the company, the experience of pilots, equipment etc. Here are a few reputable companies you can choose from. I am not mentioning prices as these vary by season!
- Royal Balloon: They have 3 flight categories: Royal Queen (1 hr 20 people), Royal Queen Plus (1 hr 16 people), and Royal King (75 mins 8 people).
- Voyager Balloons: Standard (1 hr 20 people), Comfort ( 1 hr 16 people), Exclusive (90 mins, 4 people max)
- Turquaz Balloons: Turquaz Flight (1 hr 20 people), Comfort flight (1 hr 16 people), Private (75 mins, 4 people max)
- Butterfly Balloons: Butterfly Flight (1 hr 16 people), Butterfly Flight for 8, Butterfly Beyond (90 mins 8 people).
9. Book the ride online or via your hotel
You can book the hot air balloon in Cappadocia via your hotel or online.
Online: I would 100% recommend you to book online with a reputable company as soon as your Turkiye trip is planned so you are guaranteed a spot in the balloon of your choice.
The good thing about booking with a well-known company is that if the ride gets cancelled on your day, they will try to accommodate you the following day based on availability. If by the end of your stay in Cappadocia, you aren’t able to go up, then you will receive a full refund. However, know that online payment refunds may take some time.
After reading a lot of reviews and being very confused, we booked the Royal Balloon 20-person Royal Queen Flight directly via their website. Because we made an online payment we were upgraded to their Queen plus flight which had just 16 people in it.
Royal Balloon is a Get Your Guide original tour operator so you can book via GetYourGuide as well if you don’t wish to go through the hassle of emails. Check availability below:
Hotel: Hotels are usually affiliated with a set number of companies with whom they can book your ride. The advantage here is that you can make bookings in cash. Note that some hotels might charge a slightly higher rate or might ask you to prepay! Do not go for it immediately. Check prices online too and make the best choice.
The hosts at Charming Cave Hotel were super helpful. We booked Charming Cave Hotel via booking.com for our Turkey trip. Through the booking.com chat, they sent a list of companies with basket sizes and prices beforehand. The advantage of booking a hot air balloon through them was that payment was to be made only if the balloon would actually fly that day – meaning our money wouldn’t get stuck and we wouldn’t have to wait for a refund on cancellations.
10. If the ride gets cancelled, start calling and emailing!
The first thing you should try to do is reschedule with the company you booked with. However, they will probably already be sold out, especially during the peak season. So next, you should e-mail and call all reputable hot air balloon companies in Cappadocia to ask about space on any of their flights.
Here are some email IDs to keep in BCC for this purpose.
royal@royalballoon.com; fly@turquazballoons.com; fly@butterflyballoons.com; fly@voyagerballoons.com; fly@turkiyeballoons.com, fly@kapadokyaballoons.com; info@atlasbalon.com; info@anatolianballoons.com
If this isn’t working out for you or if is too much of a hassle, then you can even go through your hotel.
11. Pregnant women and kids below 6 years may not be allowed.
Usually, pregnant women and children below 6 years of age may not be allowed on the balloon. This is for safety reasons. Pregnant women may not be able to take landing positions or/and it might be unsafe for them if the landing is bumpy.
Children below the age of 6 are not allowed because they may be unable to understand the preflight briefing and may not be tall enough to see over the side of the basket unaided by a parent or guardian.
12. Be prepared for a 4 AM morning
Sleep early the night before. Your pick-up time will be informed to you one night prior by email or by your hotel. We were the first to get picked up at 3:50 AM. Yes, that early!
13. Wear pants and comfortable shoes
For a hot air balloon flight, you should dress in comfortable clothes. Pants are recommended as you’ll have to climb onto the balloon basket and then climb back out.
Wear walking shoes/sports shoes as you’ll be on your feet the whole time.
14. Carry warm layers no matter the season
It is quite cold in the morning before sunrise so wear something warm. This is the case even in summer. Once the gas burner in the hot air balloon gets fired up, you might find yourself feeling hot so be ready to take your jacket off as well.
So it is best to wear one light jacket in the summer and wear layers in winter! Front opening types are better because you might not have space to pull your jacket/sweater over your head.
If you’re tall, you can even consider taking a cap/hat along because the gas might feel too hot on the head.
15. Carry only a small bag + selfie stick/Insta 360 X3
There isn’t a lot of space in the basket so ensure 2 things:
- Carry only a small bag with essential items like your camera, phone, wallet, etc. If you carry a large bag, you and all others in your basket will have issues moving around or standing comfortably
- As space in a balloon is less, it is extremely difficult to get good shots of yourselves. You can definitely ask others in your balloon for shots. You can also be self-reliant and carry a long selfie stick that attaches to your phone or GoPro. Another fantastic option is to carry a wide-angle camera like an Insta 360 x3 with an invisible selfie stick that will be able to capture your entire balloon even and the stick will be invisible.
16. You won’t go up hungry
After you’re picked up from your hotel in a shuttle bus, you’ll be taken to the balloon company office where you’ll be served a light buffet breakfast – tea, coffee, juice, bread, spreads, cakes, etc. After breakfast, you’ll be divided into groups and taken to the take-off site.
17. Stand in the corner of the balloon
Choose any corner basket and stand on the outer corner. These are the best spots on hot air balloon flights. You might have to stick your ground to get this spot else others may try to have you shifted (this has happened to us twice) because it really is the best spot. If you do get it, don’t be a hog and share it with people in your basket. We switched places with our basket mates several times so everyone could also get good photos.
18. The landing may be bumpy
Hot air balloons fly in the direction of the wind. The trajectory is mostly dependent on wind speed and direction so landings take place on any large open area. The landing usually is done on the company’s balloon truck and can be slightly bumpy. Be prepared for this. Remember to follow the instructions of the pilot thoroughly for a safe landing! Taking the landing position is very important. You’ll learn about this during your briefing.
19. Celebrate with champagne
After the balloon landing, there will be a celebration with champagne as well as a non-alcoholic beverage for teetotallers. You’ll also be given a medal/certificate and maybe even some souvenirs.
20. The whole affair takes about 3-4 hours.
We started from our hotel at 3:50 AM and were back by 7:15 AM. Mostly the 60-minute flight experience takes about 3.5 hours from start to finish! Add more time if you’re opting for a longer flight.
READ NEXT>>>>>>> The Ultimate 10-Day Turkey Itinerary
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