Balloon ride in Cappadocia: a fairy tale flight

Balloon ride in Cappadocia: a fairy tale flight

A balloon ride in Cappadocia offers passengers an incomparable perspective on the unique landscape of the region with fairies, high -towering boulders and rugged valleys that are littered with caves

We had already spent three days to explore the moon -like surroundings of Cappadocia. We had hiked, driven, "crashed" and ridden in the Göreme National Park (the modern composition zone of the historical region of Cappadocia) and were soon ready for a complete, unhindered view from above.

A balloon trip in Cappadocia is one of the most popular activities in the area, so it is important that you book in advance. We booked Balloons in advance at Voyager, one of the most experienced companies in the region with over 18 years of flight experience.

A hot air balloon flies better in cooler weather because there is less wind and the hot air "rises" better. For this reason, balloon drivers usually fly shortly after sunrise or before sunset.

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We had to get up early to be picked up at 4 a.m. to the Voyager offices in the center of Göreme, where we had a breakfast buffet and lots of coffee.

After that, it was time to wait while the pilots took a close look at the weather forecast. If the wind or other unfavorable weather conditions are too strong, balloon rides cannot take place.

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We had to wait a little more than an hour when the display on the map gradually changed from red to yellow to green. Many cups of coffee later we got green light and could get started!

We drove to the starting place, where dozens of balloons were inflated to prepare the flight. After a short safety briefing by the pilot, we were helped into the basket.

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The basket is divided into five subjects: four outer and a central one for the pilot. Each compartment holds four to six passengers, which means that there are usually 20 to 24 passengers in total.

We recommend holding back and finally getting in so that you can get the corner area that offers the best view. However, it is part of the good tone to offer your basket passengers a position exchange so that you too can enjoy the view.

We had undertaken a balloon trip over Luxor in Egypt, so we knew what would expect to us in terms of start, flight and landing, but were not prepared for the wonderful view. Maybe it's the best if we let the look speak.

During the one -hour flight, the friendly pilot told us a lot about what we saw and liked to answer questions about the landscape, history and technology of balloon ride.

The pilot can control the height of the balloon by using a gas burner to change the temperature of the air inside the balloon for the ascent. The pilot can also open a ventilation to let hot air escape and to sink.

It is also possible to turn the balloon with the rotary openings to get a complete panoramic view while gliding through the air.

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We flew as high as 1,000 m (3,000 ft) and as deep as on tree height, where the pilot carefully maneuver the balloon along the contoured floor underneath. Sometimes I had the feeling that we would scratch the summit, but the pilot, always confident, would always prove its value.

During the landing (a surprisingly smooth matter) we were greeted with champagne (available with an alcohol -free option) and a memory flight certificate - the perfect completion of an unforgettable balloon ride in Cappadocia.

Then we went back to our hotel to have a little breakfast before we spent another day exploring this country of fairy tales.

Balloon ride in Cappadocia: the essentials

What: A balloon trip in Cappadocia above the Göreme National Park.

Where: We stayed at the Hotel Esbelli Evi in ​​ürgüp. The hotel was beautifully restored since the owner Suha Ersoz bought the abandoned cave house in 1987. It was opened in 1990 with five guest rooms from caves, a vaulted living room made of stone and a breakfast room.

Today Esbelli Evi has 10 spacious suites and four standard cave room that use the original caves together with traditional curved rooms made of hewn stone.

There are several stone terraces with a wide view of the landscape of Kappadocia and the city of ürgüp - perfect for a drink in the late afternoon after an eventful day.

The hotel has a relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere that ensures a relaxed, authentic experience. The hotel also offers many modern details (laptops for guests and free WiFi throughout the hotel) as well as free fresh coffee, snacks and cold drinks throughout their stay. To mention unnecessarily that we totally fell in love with each other.

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The small town of ürgüp is more calmer and more charming than the more popular and more tourist göreme. Ürgüp has a handful of restaurants as well as hammams and a number of souvenir and handicrafts. Our favorite restaurant was the delightful Dimrit Café and Restaurant.

When: The best travel time for Cappadocia is spring (April to mid -June). Summer can be unbearably hot while snow can fall in winter! Autumn (mid -September to October) is also a good option, but the days are shorter and the probability of rain is higher.

Like: We booked our Kappadocia balloon trip at Voyager Balloons and would highly recommend it. We chose the standard flight, which includes the champagne breakfast. An advertising campaign is currently underway for the rest of the year for € 130 ($ 150) per person.

We arrived in Göreme with a night bus from Denizli after visiting Pamukkale. Minibuses run between Göreme and ürgüp, but since we were tired and it was very early, we grabbed a taxi for 25 teaspoons ($ 9).

Since we were traveling independently, it made sense to rent a car (35 USD per day) for the duration of our stay, as we wanted to have freedom to explore all the different sights in Cappadocia.

The hotel arranged everything for us and the car was brought to us on our first morning. We returned the car on departure at the local airport (Nevşehir Kapadokya), which was perfect because we flew back to Istanbul before we took our return flight to Great Britain. The airport is a 45-minute drive from ürgüp.

In order to get to Cappadocia, high -speed trains and buses are available. High -speed trains combine Istanbul with Ankara and Konya via Eskişehir. From Konya you can continue to Kappadocia by bus or rental car (232 km; 4 hours). Further information and booking options can be found on the Turkish State Railway website.

A night bus from Istanbul is the cheapest way to get to Cappadocia for about 85 tl ($ 30), but it is a long ride of 730 km (454 miles) that lasts 10-12 hours. Several companies operate night buses, including Metro Turizm and Nevşehir Seyahat.

There are domestic flights between Istanbul and Nevşehir Kapadokya (NAV) airport. We paid $ 50 for a simple flight back to Istanbul. Ataturk Airport in Istanbul is international and has connections to a number of domestic goals Turkey everywhere. Book through Skyscanner to get the best prices for international and domestic flights.

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Lonely planet Turkey is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less busy roads.

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