Destinations Middle East
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Matt Harding
Cappadocia, a region in central Turkey, is known for its rock formations and stunning landscapes, which were formed 60 million years ago after a series of volcanic eruptions. For the best views of this grandeur, Made in Turkey Tours recommends a hot air balloon ride, something the region is actually quite famous for.
While hot air ballooning is popular in many different places in the world where the climate is dry and hospitable, Cappadocia is exceedingly well known for its skies being filled with hot air balloons. The activity in the region evidently attracts some one million tourists every year.
More than 100 hot air balloons float upwards every day, an incredible sight that provides great views from the ground, too. But going up in one is a sure treat with spectacular views of the region’s famous “fairy chimneys,” which are special rock formations that dot the region and look strikingly like their whimsical namesake.
What to expect on a flight
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Like many other similar operators, Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia offers a few different packages, including the standard, the deluxe, and a private balloon flight. Their standard flights feature 24 to 28-person capacity balloons and deluxe flights carry between 16 and 20 passengers. The number of people who can fly depends on various different variables such as altitude and climate.
Flying in a hot air balloon is a mainly low-level activity with most of the time spent not far above the ground. However, hot air balloon rides can take passengers all the way up to about 3,000 feet in the air, according to Hot Air Flight.
Turkey Travel Planner suggests booking your flight well in advance to be sure you’ll have a place in the best balloon. They also suggest reserving the first flight of the day, which means you’ll be among the first in Cappadocia to see the sunrise that morning.
Do your research
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Those looking to add a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia to their bucket list should consider going sometime between April and October. This period is regarded as the best flying weather, as the skies are cloudless and it is less windy. Some companies fly in winter as well, so if you want potentially smaller crowds, that would be the best time to go. However, Turkey Travel Planner reports that flights are most likely to be canceled due to poor flying conditions in January and February, so take that into account when you book your hot air balloon flight as well.
Cappadocia has over two dozen balloon companies and hundreds of balloons, per Turkey Travel Planner. They recommend a handful of operators that offer small-basket balloons for a more personalized experience, including Voyager Balloons and Butterfly Balloons, among others. Once you do your research and book your flight, it’s time to enjoy this unique flying experience.
