Cappadocia – what is it and where, how to get to Cappadocia and how much it costs to fly in a hot air balloon, special features of flights in Cappadocia. I am telling you from my own experience of traveling to this amazing part of Turkey.
In the low season, 50-70 balloons fly into the sky at the same time. And from May to September – hundreds.
Yes, this show is worth seeing not on TV or in a picture. Cappadocia is an ideal place to take a hot air balloon ride over the valleys. And then every morning, go out to the hotel terrace and watch the balloon show take off at dawn. With such a complete set of pleasures, you will get the maximum effect from what you see. This spectacle will last a lifetime, you just have to close your eyes and evoke a memory.
Cappadocia is a different Turkey
For most tourists, a vacation in Turkey is certainly associated with the concept of all-inclusive with five-star hotels, swimming pools and sea beaches. This is also good, but these stereotypes are very far from the truth. Turkey is a huge and rich country with a variety of landscapes and tourist attractions.
History and nature have done a good job on the territory of modern Turkey. In addition to the four seas, it has mountains, valleys, cave cities, and ancient volcanoes. It was these prehistoric monsters in Central Anatolia that gave birth millions of years ago to a unique area, a true miracle of nature – Cappadocia.
The dream of traveling somewhere comes to me quite spontaneously, most often inspired by beautiful photographs from different parts of the world. The idea to go to Cappadocia came about when photos of Martian landscapes with hundreds of balloons flying over them appeared on the Internet.
Cappadocia is acountry of beautiful horses, surrounded by numerous volcanic formations. Volcanic activity boiled over millions of years ago, many of them have already collapsed and low mountains are a reminder of them.
Only one, the most powerful, Erciyas volcano rises almost 4000 meters above the Kayseri Valley. It is clearly visible not only from the airplane but also from the tourist center of Cappadocia, the town of Goreme. Millions of tourists come to this place every year, although not everyone knows about its existence, because a vacation in Cappadocia goes beyond the usual all-inclusive.
Recommended: Cappadocia – what else but hot air ballooning
When to go to Cappadocia
The tourist season in Cappadocia lasts all year round. Still, the best time to visit is April-May and September-November. At this time, prices for housing and balloon flights are lower. And the best weather for walking is not hot and there is no more precipitation. But in winter, Cappadocia is also a good idea, especially if you go skiing or snowboarding. On the volcano Erciyes – there is a good ski resort . So you can combine a wheelchair with a visit to Cappadocia and hot air ballooning.
If you haven’t been to Cappadocia yet, you should definitely go – it’s a stunning place and the same service, and this combination doesn’t happen often.
Find out where to stay and choose a hotel with views of the Cappadocia valleys and morning balloon flights here:
Hotels in Cappadocia – with the best views of hot air balloons
How to fly a hot air balloon in Cappadocia
A hot air balloon flight is perhaps the most memorable experience of a trip to Cappadocia. First, the visual experience: in good, calm weather, dozens of balloons take off into the sky over Cappadocia at dawn.
Secondly, to fly in a balloon and look at the valleys from a different perspective – from a height. This is a mandatory point of the program – to come to Cappadocia and not fly – but what’s the point?
To organize a flight, you need to contact one of the balloon agencies in Göremeand choose a day for the flight. By and large, there is no difference – all the “spoilers” are certified and offer practically the same prices and flight conditions.
What does the price of a balloon flight depend on?
The price for a flight depends on several factors:
- Season – during the low season (fall, winter and early spring), prices are low because there are few tourists and little demand for flights. The number of people in the balloon gondola depends on the type of basket, its volume and, accordingly, the number of people it can accommodate. The fewer people there are, the more expensive the flight is. The gondolas are designed for 16, 20 and 28 people, respectively.
- Additional services – if you want to arrange a buffet during or after the flight, a photo session with a professional photographer, and anything else the customer wishes. All this also adds value, but it is more often organized by individual travel agents.
In low season – from $80 per person, in high season – from $150 per person.
Flight features – how does it work?
Ballooning takes place only at dawn or at sunset. Most often, at dawn, because when the sun rises, the air currents are still weak and there is no strong wind. It should be taken into account when planning that flights are possible only if the wind speed is below 10 km/h. So, depending on the season when you plan to fly, you’ll need to wake up at least 2 hours before dawn, i.e. at night.
A shuttle service from the airline company picks up tourists at the hotel. Most often, these are comfortable minibuses for 18 people that pick up each client at his or her hotel, regardless of which village in Cappadocia the tourist is staying in: Goreme, Uchisar, Nevsehir, and others.
Tourists are taken to a gathering place – large stationary tents where each person registers, signs a contract with the company and insurance policies (each person is insured for a balloon flight). While some are being checked in, others can enjoy a morning breakfast. It’s a classic buffet with hot drinks, which is great because getting up in the morning and getting fresh air awakens a good appetite.
Then everyone gets back into the same minibuses and goes to the balloon launch sites (balloons are raised from different points in the Göreme Valley). First, everyone waits for the balloon to fill with hot air from the gas burner. As the balloon gradually rises, everyone is loaded into the gondolas and the balloon gradually lifts off the ground.
How long does the flight last?
The flight lasts for one hour, during which time the sun gradually rises from the horizon. The flight passes over the valleys that float smoothly under the feet of tourists, causing sighs of admiration and sometimes even tears of delight (the author is a sinner, he shed a tear). Just to see the balloons above the pink tuff rocks covered with pink light, you should come here at least once in your life. It’s worth it!
What happens after the flight?
The flight ends where the balloon lands. Where are you? It depends on the wind direction on a particular day. While the balloon is flying, all the vans and cars carrying the balloons and gondolas follow the balloons, constantly communicating with the pilots by radio.
The ball gently lands on the ground, and the happy people get out of the basket. And at that moment, they are initiated into the air force. This is a well-known tradition when champagne is uncorked and poured into glasses. Each newly minted aeronaut gives a piece of his hair, which is set on fire and drunk with a glass of champagne. Everyone is given a personalized certificate – that’s it, you are now a real aeronaut!
Getting to Cappadocia
It’s very simple – Cappadocia has two full-fledged airports, where Turkish Airlines and the Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus fly. These are Kayseri and Nevsehir airports.
The nearest airport is Nevsehir Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (40 km from Goreme). A little further away is Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR) , 75 km from Göreme. There are direct flights from Istanbul and Ankara at noon. Most international travelers will fly to Kayseri via the new Istanbul International Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW).
From the airport, the best way to get to Goreme (and get around the fascinating region) is to rent a car. Check out the best deals from various Turkish or European car rental companies on the aggregator Rentalcars.com.
I recommend reading: Rent a Car in Turkey
If you don’t plan to rent a car, write to the hotel of your choice to arrange a transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Where to stay in Cappadocia
As for accommodation, there are plenty of hotels in Goreme and neighboring towns to suit every taste and budget. You need to understand that tourism in this area is the main source of income, and the quality of hotels here is high. Tourists prefer hotels in the form of caves with beautiful views of the valley.
Hotel prices usually include breakfast, and it’s enough to fill you up until the afternoon. For dinner you can choose from numerous restaurants, and there is a choice and variety of cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, European and of course with local Turkish cuisine.
We lived in a hotel Sakli Konak Cappadocia located in the village of Uchisar, not far from the fortress of the same name. I can safely recommend this place to base yourself while exploring Cappadocia. Wonderful hosts with whom you can talk about over a glass of tea, a very intimate and cozy hotel, and a small but stunning restaurant on the terrace, where guests from other hotels prefer to have lunch and dinner.
Very tasty cuisine, exquisite service and a quiet pleasant atmosphere. Prices are lower than in many restaurants in Goreme. The room rate ($25 per day per room) included a classic Turkish breakfast with several types of cheeses, olives, homemade jams, Turkish omelets, pastries, vegetables, and fruits. After such a breakfast, we would roll out from behind the table and be full for half a day, returning to dinner.
Useful articles and links:
- Wadi Rum Desert – a branch of Mars in Jordan
- Skiing in Turkey – a guide to the resorts of Erciyes, Uludag, Palandoken
- Pamukkale, Turkey – what to do in two days
- Hagia Sophia takes payment for entrance from tourists
Find train tickets in Europe conveniently on Trainline
Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com
