Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride (Review): All You Need To Know

Before visiting Cappadocia, we weren’t entirely sure if we would do the hot air balloon flight as the whole experience is usually hyped on social media, and it is pricey. However, we decided to go for it, and we’re so happy we did. The Cappadocia hot air balloon tour is still one of our favorite travel experiences ever.

Even though we didn’t have the most amazing weather conditions (we didn’t get that magical Cappadocia sunrise during our flight), it was still an amazing experience that we would recommend to everyone.

A hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is on many people’s bucket lists for a reason and is definitely the best thing to do in Cappadocia.

So, here is our honest review of our Cappadocia hot air balloon ride experience. We also included all the frequently asked questions and first-hand tips for the best possible experience and easier planning.

Why are balloons so popular in Cappadocia?

Cappadocia is one of the world’s most popular places for hot air balloon flights, thanks to its unique landscape and perfect weather conditions all year round. There are roughly about 260 flying days in a year in Cappadocia!

You can hardly find a place in the world with so many balloons taking over the sky so often, and that’s why Capadoccia is so magical. There are over 150 balloons flying simultaneously in Cappadocia. It’s as if a hot air balloon festival occurs every day in Cappadocia.

Is a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia worth it?

If you ask us, experiencing Cappadocia from a hot air balloon is 100% worth it! It is actually one of the best things to do in Turkey. As someone who wasn’t sure whether it was worth it or just overhyped, we would now recommend it to everyone.

Flying in a hot air balloon is a unique experience itself, and doing it over an incredible landscape like Cappadocia with so many balloons in the air with you is sure to be one of those lifetime memories.

Arijana once took a hot air balloon ride in Croatia, but that one can’t top the one in Cappadocia. 😊

Prices of Cappadocia hot air balloon rides

Hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia cost between $150 and $300 per person, depending on the season, the number of people in the basket, and the company you choose. Private flights in a balloon of your own, of course, cost way more than that.

• Check the most recent hot air balloon prices here.

During the height of the pandemic, prices were relatively low, but in 2022, they seemed to go back up with the influx of tourists. Luckily, they only returned to the approximate price they were before.

Types of hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia

Most companies in Cappadocia offer different flight options based on the number of people in a basket. One balloon basket in Cappadocia can hold anywhere from 8 to 28 passengers.

Flights with 28 people will be cheaper than the ones with 20 (and less). However, you don’t need to bother with that too much, as there’s limited space for moving around the basket either way.

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Each basket is usually separated into three main segments, with the middle being reserved for the pilot. Each side is again split in half and can fit up to five people.

There’s also the option of having a private flight, but that is quite expensive. However, if you can afford that and want a private experience, why not?

We were lucky and had only nine people in our basket, which was perfect. We were all couples except one solo person, meaning everyone had private space. This is the tour we booked.

Duration of hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia

Hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia usually last about 1 hour, but if you book a special flight, the time can go up to 75 or even 90 minutes. 

The whole duration of the hot air balloon flight tour is between 3 and 4 hours from the pickup.

What is included in a Cappadocia hot air balloon tour?

Most Cappadocia hot air balloon tours include pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, breakfast before the flight, a professional pilot, a one-hour flight, a landing ceremony with snack and drink, insurance, and a small gift or certificate.

Tips before booking the hot air balloon tour in Cappadocia

1. Book a hot air balloon flight in advance!

We can’t emphasize this enough! Book your Cappadocia hot air balloon flight as soon as possible!

Hot air balloon rides are the most popular activity in Cappadocia and Turkey, so you should book well in advance to secure your spot. Some of the companies even have free cancelation available (like this one), so don’t wait! 🥰

Even though over 100 balloons fly in Cappadocia every day, the flights often get fully booked, especially during the high season.

2. Best time for hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia

One of the reasons hot air balloon flights are so popular in Cappadocia is the perfect year-round weather conditions. 

Even though flights in Cappadocia are possible the whole year, the ideal time to do a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia is from April until November. It’s less likely that the flights will get canceled during this time (but not impossible!). 

3. Flights can be canceled (they’re weather dependent)

Since ballooning is a weather-dependent activity, your Cappadocia hot air balloon flight may be canceled at the last minute.

About an hour or so before the flight, pilots and the ballooning team, in coordination with Civil Aviation, check the weather and decide if flights can happen. If flying is not permitted that day (because of different weather conditions such as rain, storm, or strong winds), they cancel all the flights.

It’s common in the ballooning world for flights to be canceled at the last minute, not a day or so before, as it’s tough to predict the conditions. This is never the company’s fault but a safety precaution.

If your flight is canceled due to bad weather, you can get a full refund or reschedule it for the next day (if available). That’s why we recommend taking a hot air balloon tour on your first day in Cappadocia and leaving at least a day or two to spare.

This is standard practice for most balloon companies in Cappadocia, but always double-check!

4. You have to wake up early

Hot air balloons in Cappadocia fly every day, all year round. The wind conditions for flying in Cappadocia are the best for sunrise, so all the balloons will take off early in the morning before or shortly after sunrise.

Most flights in Cappadocia start around 5:00-5:30 a.m., depending on the season. This means you can be picked up from your hotel as early as 4 a.m.

The balloons in Cappadocia take off in two rounds, and at times, over 150 balloons fill the sky above Goreme.

We were in the first round, and honestly, in our case, it wasn’t the most ideal time as it was still very dark during the take-off, and due to a cloudy sunrise, we didn’t get the best photos.

The light conditions would be much better if we took off in the second round. This was at the beginning of October, so it’s probably not a big deal if you visit during summer. On the other hand, the other mornings we were in Goreme looked much better. Still, we had a great time, and you shall, too. 🙂

5. What to wear for a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia?

There is no dress code for a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia, but you’ll be the most comfortable in comfy pants and a shirt or sporty clothes. It’s also advised to have closed-toe shoes and no heels. This type of clothing will serve you better in case of a bit more rough landing.

You can also take a hat if you stand close to the burner, as it can be a bit hot for your head (especially if you’re tall). That’s the reason why almost all pilots wear hats during the flight!

Also, it can be a bit chilly during the mornings in Cappadocia, so having something with long sleeves is useful to keep you warm.

If you’re taking a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia in spring, autumn, or winter, you’ll need to wear something warm! We recommend layers. We were in Cappadocia in October, and we all had jackets during our flight.

6. Who can go on a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia?

Hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia are suitable for everyone except young children, women in their 28th week and beyond in pregnancy, and wheelchair users.

You should also be able to stand for at least one hour in the basket.

Many balloon companies don’t allow children younger than 5 or 6 years on flights as they may be too short to see over the edge of the basket, so they’d need to be held for at least 1 hour. It can also be dangerous for them during the landing.

If you’re not sure whether your child can join the flight or not, you can always contact the company and check. In general, kids over 110 cm tall can see over the basket.

6.1. If you’re afraid of heights

You can still enjoy the hot air balloon flight, even if you’re scared of heights. If you’re terrified, then you should probably skip it, but otherwise, it’s completely safe and different from, let’s say, standing on the edge of a cliff. You’re perfectly safe standing in the basket.

Matej has a slight but genuine fear of heights, and this was his comment:

“If you’re a bit unsure about taking a balloon flight in the first place like I was, be assured that it’s completely safe, and you have nothing at all to worry about. I first felt a bit uneasy, but soon after, I relaxed. I’m so glad I went for it and can’t wait to do more of them.”

Matej

While we’re already talking about flying and heights, you might want to check out paragliding in Oludeniz. That’s the next thing we did just a week after our balloon flight in Cappadocia, and it was incredible!

Our Cappadocia hot air balloon experience

Here’s a simple explanation of the process of going on a hot air balloon tour in Cappadocia:

1. Hotel pick-up
2. Registration and breakfast
3. Driving to the take-off spot
4. Quick balloon preparation
5. Take off & fly above the incredible landscape for about 1 hour 🙂
6. Landing
7. Landing Ceremony
8. Hotel drop-off

We decided to fly with Royal Balloons (check them here) as they are one of Cappadocia’s best and most reliable companies with over 14 years of experience. Here is our experience with them.

Hotel pick-up and breakfast

We got picked up by a luxury van at 5 am in front of our hotel and brought to their office in Goreme, where we had an open buffet breakfast. There were a lot of different foods, fruits, and drinks, but we were so excited that we couldn’t eat much. 😁

Fun fact: We flew into Cappadocia the night before, so our first real sight of Cappadocia was from a hot air balloon!

Flight preparation

We completed the registration, and once the aviation authorities gave the green light to fly, we jumped into the vans again and got taken to the take-off spot in Goreme.

It was pitch dark, as this was at the beginning of October, and the only thing you could see was balloons glowing up. It was fascinating seeing countless balloons illuminating the valley. 

We didn’t wait long, as everything was well organized and moving quickly. After a few minutes, the balloon was ready, and we jumped into the basket (there’s a ladder that makes it easier to get in).

And that’s it! We were ready to take off!

Take off and flight

The take-off was very smooth, and we started gliding peacefully through the air.

It was terrific to see so many balloons take off. The only downside of our experience was a very cloudy morning which meant no light until almost the end of our flight. We don’t have too many photos as it was too dark for our cameras and phones.

On the other hand, our pilot, Tolga, brightened up the morning! He’s an amusing guy and entertained us the whole flight. He’s also a tour guide, so he told us a lot about Cappadocia and, of course, had to answer all our questions about ballooning there. 

Seeing Goreme from the air was a mesmerizing experience, as we usually get to know this perspective only through our drone. 😁 Many people were on the viewpoints and their hotel terraces waving to us while having their photoshoots. We flew just a few meters above them at times.

One of our favorite moments was flying very low above the rocks while our pilot, Tolga, played the Titanic song. 😅 Check it out in the video.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side, and the sun decided to peek through the clouds just a bit before landing. We were also a bit unlucky with the wind as it took us a bit away from the other balloons (which isn’t ideal photo-wise), but those are the things you can’t control.

Nonetheless, we enjoyed our flight and would highly recommend this experience to everyone.

Landing

We were preparing for a bit harder landing, so we all had to duck and hold for the basket, but in the end, it turned out to be a soft one.

Fun fact: Sometimes, the balloons can land with the basket on the side, so it’s crucial to brace yourself before any landing, just in case. But don’t worry, even when it does land like that, it’s not dangerous.

Landing Ceremony

After landing, there is a landing ceremony, which is a tradition and a standard practice in the ballooning world. It is celebrated with some champagne (since the first people who flew in hot air balloons were French), orange juice, and strawberries dipped in chocolate (our favorite!).

We were also given medals to celebrate and always remember our flight – a unique gift from Royal Balloons.

Our landing spot was close to Ortahisar Castle, which we also flew over. Afterward, we got a ride back to our hotel.

This was Matej’s first hot air balloon ride and Arijana’s second time. We both absolutely loved it and had a fantastic experience. Arijana did her first flight during a Croatia Hot Air Balloon Rally in Zagorje, Croatia, in 2017.

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Video of our experience

Common questions

Here are some of the common questions you might have before taking a hot air balloon tour in Cappadocia.

If we forgot something important, please leave a comment. It helps us to update the article and make it even more useful for other readers. Thank you! ❤️

Can you take a camera in the hot air balloon?

You can and should take a camera with you on a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, as the landscape is stunning and so unique, so it’s a perfect opportunity to capture it from a bit different perspective.

Is hot air ballooning in Cappadocia safe?

A ride in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia is perfectly safe! All pilots in Cappadocia must be experienced, and most companies employ pilots with many years of flying experience.

All pilots and balloons have to be licensed and pass regular flight checks.

Ballooning is safer than airplanes and helicopters. Besides that, it’s a weather-dependent sport, so in case of bad weather (too strong wind, rain, etc.), all the flights are canceled, and flying isn’t allowed.

How to get to Cappadocia for your balloon flight?

Getting to Goreme in Cappadocia, where the hot air balloon rides happen, is easy as it’s well connected to most other Turkey destinations.

Fly into Cappadocia Nevsehir or Kayseri airport and catch a taxi or shuttle to Goreme, where you will most likely stay. You can also rent a car at one of the airports and drive to Goreme.

The airport shuttle service in Cappadocia is effective and frequent. The shuttle from Kayseri to Goreme takes 70 minutes, while the shuttle from Nevsehir takes 40 minutes. A reliable driver picks you up at the airport right after landing.

Since Cappadocia’s airports are not very big, it’s easy to see the shuttle bus waiting for you when you get off the plane and exit the terminal.

In case you’re not flying to Cappadocia, it’s easy to get to Goreme by bus from Antalya, Ankara, and even Istanbul. Check bus lines.

How do hot air balloons fly?

A hot air balloon or so-called ‘gentle giant’ is an aircraft that flies with the help of hot air (hence the name).

A gas heater heats the air inside the balloon, making the whole balloon rise since the hot air is lighter and less dense than the cold air around it. Once the air inside the balloon cools down or is let out, the balloon slowly goes down.

Can you control the direction of a hot air balloon?

There are no steers on a hot air balloon, and therefore, you can’t operate it as efficiently as, let’s say a car. The balloon goes wherever the wind takes it. By heating and cooling the air inside the balloon, professional pilots navigate it in a suitable direction. Today, advanced technology helps a lot with that, and it’s much easier to know in which direction and at what speed the balloon will fly.

How high do hot air balloons fly in Cappadocia?

Hot air balloons can fly super low, which often happens in Cappadocia, or they can go high up to 1000 meters. Experienced pilots are already so good and precise at flying that they can go just centimeters away from trees or rocks, especially in Cappadocia.

So, during your flight in Cappadocia, you’ll mostly fly low, but at some points, you’ll fly high as well.

While flying high is absolutely amazing, the best part is flying low, as you can observe everything from much closer. 😊

Who is a “chase crew”?

The “chase crew” follows the hot air balloon’s flight path the whole time, ready to rush to the landing spot once the pilot announces it to help with the landing process. The exact landing spot is impossible to know right away, as it depends on the wind direction.

Cappadocia has several common landing spots, and pilots know the area very well. They can roughly estimate the landing spot by analyzing the wind.

Ballooning is an exciting sport, and Arijana once even had the chance to be a part of a balloon team in Croatia.

Can a hot air balloon flight replace seeing Cappadocia on foot?

While a Cappadocia hot-air balloon ride is absolutely amazing and gives you a different perspective of Cappadocia, it can’t replace a tour of Cappadocia. You never know where exactly you will fly (the direction depends on the wind), and it’s a completely different experience, so we still recommend exploring Cappadocia on your own.

Final thoughts

Cappadocia is one of the most unique places we visited, so it would be a shame to skip a hot air balloon ride there! As someone who wasn’t sure if we should do it or not, and with the weather not working in our favor, we certainly enjoyed this experience.

And we’re so happy that Matej’s first hot-air balloon flight was exactly in Cappadocia! Where should we do it next? 😁

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Continue reading

• 2-Week Turkey Road Trip Itinerary
• Best Places To Visit in Turkey
• Cappadocia
  • Renting a car in Cappadocia: How-to & Is it really needed?
  • Sunrise & Sunset Viewpoints in Cappadocia
  • Red Tour Vs. Green Tour Cappadocia
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• Paragliding in Oludeniz
• Istanbul
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• Fethiye and Oludeniz
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  • Tlos Ruins
• Kas
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