Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour – All You Need to Know

Cappadocia is a beautiful region with many a novel structure inhabiting its terrain. One particular structure that is quite famous in Cappadocia is the fairy chimney, a unique spire formed over millions of years. Trekking through this land is a fantastic experience of course, but, even better, is flying across it. One of the most popular attractions in the region is the Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour and we’re here to give you a rundown of everything you need to know about it. 

An Introduction to the Tour

The Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour runs throughout the year though the months between March and November are generally considered as tourist season. The points of departure and routes the tour takes change daily depending on the day’s weather with the prices for the activity varying by the season. 

The main hotspots for the tour are in Urgup, Avanos and Goreme, as they are considered to be the most beautiful localities in Cappadocia. Including pick-up and drop-off, the tour lasts roughly 3 hours so there’s plenty of time to explore your chosen locale when it’s done. 

Another important detail you ought to know is that, for this event, you better be early to bed and early to rise as cold weather is the most optimal for a Hot Air Balloon flight thus the tours are scheduled to start at sunrise.

It’s also best to be prepared for cancellation as neither you nor the operators can control how the weather’s gonna turn out and it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to flying on a balloon high in the sky. 

Getting on the Tour

As stated above, tours begin at sunrise, so you better be up and ready by 5 in the morning as 5 to 5:30 is the common pick up time that Cappadocia Balloon companies will come for you. Upon reaching the departure site, you’ll be treated to a quick breakfast as the operators ready up the ballons and confirm all the passengers.

After a little lesson on flight safety, the balloon ascends to about 400 to 500 meters from the ground giving you the opportunity to gaze upon the stunning lands from a bird’s eye view. This little excursion lasts about 1 to 1 and a half hours though, the whole event, from pick-up to drop-off, will deduct about 3 hours from your day. 

Upon landing, you will receive a flight certificate to mark the completion of your little sky journey and serve as a nice memento of the time. It’s a fantastic experience, all in all, one that is sure to leave you with a ton of wonderful memories and photos to enjoy. 

Wearing the Right Outfit

With Cappadocia being 1000 meters above sea level and the tours staring at sunrise, not to mention being up in the air in an open vehicle, things are definitely going to be quite cold. It’s best to carry a jacket with you and if you’re visiting in winter, you should double up on that with some thicker clothes as well. 

Also, you’ll be on your feet the whole ride so make sure to wear shoes that really maximise your comfort. 

Safety Frist

Riding on a hot air balloon can seem a bit scary to some, but there’s no need to fret my dear reader, these balloons go through strict checks and maintenance by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation periodically to make sure your journey goes off without a hitch. All pertinent safety information is also effectively relayed to the passengers before the flight.

When it comes time to land, you’ll need to be in the landing position until specifically instructed and, in general, always be quick to heed any instructions given out by your pilots. The landing will depend on weather conditions and the terrain of the area, with the ideal locations having as few bounces and little friction as possible. 

After the Ride

After seeing all these beautiful sights from up on high, you’ll definitely have a couple that you’d want to explore in greater detail and also, on the ground level. You can set out on your own after the ride but you want to be more efficient in your exploration, a guided tour is a much better bet.