Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia

There are many beautiful phenomena in the world that everyone must see at least once in his life. One of them is in Cappadocia, a unique region located in present-day Turkey. It is world-famous for its spectacular “lunar” landscapes, formed by nature millions of years ago. The landscape of this area is more reminiscent of the surface of an uncharted planet than of a corner on Earth. It should also be noted that Cappadocia is the site of the annual international festival “Cappadox”. It is a large-scale celebration of music, gastronomy and contemporary art, during which hundreds of balloons fly into the sky. The action is truly spectacular – we heartily recommend it!

When are the excursions?
Ballooning in Cappadocia takes place all year round. The only reason for their cancellation is bad weather, in connection with which the state supervisory service issues a corresponding order. However, it is best to go for a ride in the air from April to October, when in Turkey is warm sunny weather with less precipitation. However, in this period falls and the high tourist season, so wishing to fly in balloons will be quite a lot. As for the winter, it is also interesting, but visibility will be worse because of the dense clouds, snow or rain.

Air travel takes place twice a day – in the early morning (from 5 to 6 am in summer and from 6 to 7 in winter) and in the afternoon. Experienced tourists are advised to choose the first option. Firstly, this is the only way you can admire the gorgeous sunrise, and secondly, in the afternoon in this area there is often a strong wind, so your flight may not take place.

How does the flight work?
When you book a hot air balloon flight, you get a free transfer to and from your hotel. At a specified time a bus arrives at your hotel and takes the tourists to the company’s base. After separation into crews, distribution of business cards of pilots and a light breakfast with tea and coffee teams are transferred to take-off sites. They are located in the valley between the villages of Guereme and Chavushin. Here the participants of the flight will be given a detailed briefing where they will learn how to use the auxiliary equipment and how to behave in the basket. When everything is ready for the flight, passengers are distributed to balloons (capacity – from 2 to 20 people). Tourists stand and hold on to special strong handrails.

The balloons take off with the first rays of the sun – at the height of the season there are more than 200 balloons painted in bright colors in the sky. The route of all of them is identical. First the craft flies over fields of fanciful lime sculptures, tall cliffs, village houses and an apricot orchard. Then the balloon changes altitude several times, now soaring toward the clouds, then dropping almost to the level of the rooftops.

What happens after landing?
Experienced pilots land so gently that you won’t even realize you’re back on land. Upon exiting the basket, travelers are greeted by members of the team, treat everyone to champagne and take a group photo as a keepsake. In addition, at the end of the flight you will be given a medal and a personal diploma or certificate of a balloonist. The whole trip lasts from 1 to 4 hours. During this time the balloon manages to move away from the take-off point by several kilometers. A group of people are waiting for the balloon to land at a designated place. The cost of the ride includes insurance, but it is worth noting that accidents in the air are extremely rare.

What do I need to know before flying?
Deciding to take a bird’s eye view of Cappadocia, heed these helpful tips:

• Dress warmer – it’s quite cold in the sky, even despite the heat coming from the burner;
• Try to get some sleep – the transfer to the hotel arrives around 4am;
• Avoid alcoholic beverages – tourists in a state of intoxication may not be allowed on board;
• Some companies do not allow pregnant women and children under 6 years old to board – this fact should be clarified at the stage of booking tickets;
• Give preference to comfortable sports clothes and shoes. Sunglasses and a hat will also come in handy;
• Bring a camera or camcorder with a powerful lens – it will allow not only to consider the local landscape, but also to shoot it as a memory. But even if you don’t plan to take part in the flight itself, believe me, the pictures in front of hundreds of flying balloons will be the best in the album;
• If you are prone to motion sickness, take a special pill;
• But don’t overeat or drink a lot of liquids before the tour – the aerial journey takes at least an hour, and there are no toilets in the sky.