Last Updated on 4 February, 2024
The Cappadocia region in Turkey is one of the most popular places in the world for taking a hot air balloon flight. People from faraway places like China or the US come to Cappadocia, sometimes for only one or two days, to experience floating over the remarkable rock formations during sunrise. And I don’t blame them!
Although I didn’t have to travel to Cappadocia from that far and didn’t go there for just one day, the hot air balloon experience was something I was looking forward to the most.
The alarm went off way before sunrise, but getting out of the bed was no struggle at all. I love how being excited about something makes it easy to wake up even at a crazy early hour!
We got picked up by Butterfly Balloons, the company that we booked our flight with, who drove us to their office. We filled out the paperwork, and then we were offered a light breakfast of filtered coffee or tea with a selection of pastries and fruit. In the meantime, the pilots checked the weather conditions and decided on the best launch site for the flight.
Shortly after, we drove to the take off site where the crew gave us a full safety briefing explaining basic rules and safety measures. While we waited, we watched the hot air balloons being inflated and we even got to go inside of one for a brief moment. They were gigantic which I was so impressed by!
We then climbed into a basket, and just before taking off, our pilot Fatih announced: ‘We will move by the wind, where the wind takes us, we will go thereโฆ’
And just like that, the highlight of my trip beganโฆ
We gently drifted over and between fairy chimneys, pigeon houses cut into the unique rock formations. We even spotted a fox running!
We soared through the impressive valleys each with distinctive colours, features and formations.
We floated over the surrealistic landscapes and took in the breathtaking views of the fairyland from the above.
The sun started to make an appearance illuminating the sky in bright orange. This was the most magical sunrise I have ever seen.
The landing itself is quite an experience too. As you’re getting closer to the ground, you can’t help but wonder how bumpy the landing is going to be… In our case, I don’t remember it being too bumpy! Sometimes, the hot air balloons land on a trailer hooked to a pickup truck so that the basket doesn’t need to be put on it later. It’s quite funny to watch the truck drive around predicting where the hot air balloon is going to land and the pilot trying to chase the truck to land on it. I’m sure they weren’t just chasing each other and it was more strategic than that!
If there’s one time when you can clap when you land, it’s when you land in a hot air balloon! But given how long I haven’t been on an adventure, I’d be more than happy to have all the clappers on my plane if that meant things were back to normal and I was on my way to unknown lands making amazing memories again.
I don’t actually remember if we clapped or not after landing, but what I do remember is that we celebrated it! First, there was a small ceremony where people from our group were called one by one and handed in a personalised flight certificate (which left everyone in giggles as the pilot struggled to pronounce names). Then, the champagne was popped, sprayed, and of course, drank. Who wouldn’t want champagne at 8 o’clock in the morning?
After the mini party, Butterfly Balloons drove us back to our hotel just in time for second breakfast of the day!
Read More: How to Spend 4 days in Cappadocia, Turkey
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight?
Duration is a minimum of one hour and then someโฆ pilots do their utmost to make it one of the most memorable hours of your life. From your pick-up at the hotel through to drop-off, time equals approximately three hours; depending on your hotel’s location and the time of year, you will usually be back before 9am and will comfortably be able to join a daily excursion.
Where do they fly?
They change their take-off site every day according to wind speed and direction so they can show you the most charming valleys and hills of Cappadocia.
What should I wear?
You should wear long trousers and a top with long sleeves. Having layers is a good idea as it is cold at the beginning and warmer later. In the winter months, a hat and gloves are recommended.
How high up does it go?
Even though they will be flying very low for a while, they go up to 500m from the ground. When the wind is calm, they can go higher than 1,000m.
Can I fly any time of the year?
Yes, the hot air balloons fly all year round. However, from October to March, there will be more cancellations due to weather conditions.
When is the flight cancelled?
When the ground wind is faster than 10 knots, during heavy rain or fog, the flight will be cancelled. You will receive a full refund if they have to cancel your flight.
How far do they travel?
It can be between 4 to 20km depending on the speed of the wind on the flight day.
Is the landing bumpy?
Occasionally. They usually land very calmly but if the wind increases on landing there will be a bump and the basket will drag on the landing field until it comes to a halt.
When will I be picked up for the flight?
You will be picked up from your hotel about 45 minutes before sunrise and drive to their office for check-in and breakfast.
Will I see sunrise from the balloon?
They usually take-off with the sunrise and fly during the golden hour for photography. Sometimes, they might have to take-off later due to weather conditions.
Why do they fly so early in the morning?
The wind is not very fast, there are no thermals yet and it is not too hot.
How will I back to my hotel?
Their minibuses will be following the balloon during the flight and will drive you back to your hotels after the landing celebration.
How big are the baskets?
The numbers of people in the basket range from 16 to 20 depending on the balloon size. Butterfly Balloon baskets are Double-T, which means divided into 5 compartments. The central one is for the pilot and the tanks whilst the four corner compartments are for passengers, so even in our largest balloon, there will not be more than 5 in a compartment.
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