A Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia

It has long been a travel dream of mine to experience a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. A trip to Turkey felt like the perfect opportunity to indulge. The region of Cappadocia is one of the most famous and well-known ballooning destinations in the world. Flying over landscapes of fairy chimneys, the famous Love Valley, and the Red and Rose Valleys are all reasons to choose this destination. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when booking a hot air balloon.

Add extra days to your trip

Booking a balloon tour depends heavily on the weather. Your hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia has a high probability of being cancelled at least once. It is best to book your ride at the beginning of your time in the region to account for this. This way, you have time to reschedule.

Although it’s frustrating to shift your itinerary, it is important to remain flexible. Cancellations are strictly safety-related.

Monitor the weather

The wind completely guides the direction of hot air balloons. The pilot can control the balloon’s height above ground, but not its route. Because of this, wind speed plays an important role. If the winds are too strong, or gusting too high, balloons may not take off.

Choosing a season

Although the ballooning season in Turkey is year round, accounting for the weather will give you the highest chance of taking flight. The best conditions are between April and June, or September and October. We chose the end of April for our trip. Luck was with us! The tour operator canceled all tours in the 5 days leading up to our scheduled day. 

Book in advance

It is possible to make a last-minute booking for a balloon tour, but this is not a cost-efficient plan. A hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia can be expensive. From the spring of 2024, a basket of 12+ people cost around $250 per person. Prices fluctuate based on how early you book and the size of the basket. The more people in a basket, the cheaper the flight. Private balloon tours start at about $500 per person. These prices can go up if you intend to book last minute, i.e., within a week or two of departure.

*Tip from our pilot: the pilots with the most experience operate the larger balloons. If heights make you nervous, then booking a basket with 20+ people might help to ease your mind.

Picking a hot air balloon tour company in Cappadocia

Choosing a tour company was the most challenging part of my preparation for the trip. There are many tour operators in Göreme and the surrounding towns. You can book tours through the companies’ own websites or through third-party websites like GetYourGuide and Viator.

Royal Balloons is one of the most famous and longest operating in the region. They also gained popularity for their fantastic safety rating. On the downside, they also have higher prices than the average balloon company and book up far in advance. Butterfly Balloons, Goreme Balloons, Kapadokya Balloons, Turquaz Balloons, and Discovery Balloons are also popular choices.

How I made my decision

After a lot of research, I felt there was not much of a difference in quality between the most popular companies. They are all required to meet certain safety standards and have reported no major accidents. One month prior to our trip, I booked the most affordably priced operator that still had options available.

My experience with Discovery Balloons was excellent! The booking included pickup and drop-off directly from our hotel. The tour coordinators were professional and organized. Our pilot had over 10 years of flying experience. We really enjoyed watching the balloons inflating in the dark hours of dawn, and of course the adrenaline that came with lift off. The post-flight champagne toast, led by our pilot, was also a nice celebratory touch at the end.

A hot air balloon ride in Turkey is a magical experience. I would absolutely do it again if given the chance. I hope these tips will help you as you plan your trip!

Do you have multiple days planned for your trip to Cappadocia? Check out these day trip options, such as the Cappadocia Green Tour or the Cappadocia North Tour.

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