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Last updated: 20 July, 2023
Expert travel writer: Jeremy Seal

Cappadocia tends to mean spending plenty of time underground, which is why taking to the air over this unique landscape makes for such a welcome change of perspective.

Flying low along these valleys is a magnificent way to appreciate the interplay of rocky outcrops, cave homes, vineyards and orchards, especially as the dawn light lends the local stone a surreal pink tint.

One of the world’s greatest balloon flights.

Price from: £75
Minimum age: 6
Age suitable: 10+
When: All year around
Duration: 4 hours

Getting there & doing it

The operators will collect you from your hotel. Most companies offer clients breakfast at the headquarters prior to travelling to the launch site, and a glass of Champagne afterwards.

After breakfast and briefing, they will transfer you to the take-off site, selected according to wind speed and direction. The gathering point is just north of Goreme, where (almost) all the balloon operators have their premises.

The trip from pick-up time to drop-off back at your hotel takes about four hours.

There’s usually a minimum age of 6, and sometimes children aged 6-12 go for half price. Most operators will offer private balloon hire available on request (but subject to availability, so plan ahead for this).

When to do it

Balloon flights run all year round, depending on the weather, with January and February the quietest months. Take-off depends on the season but is shortly after dawn, so prepare yourself for an early start.

Cappadocia’s climate makes for a low rate of cancellations caused by adverse weather. Just in case, arrange to fly at the beginning of your stay so you can reschedule in the unlikely event that your flight is cancelled due to adverse weather.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour Over Fairychimneys

Goreme

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour Over Fairychimneys
Flight over Cappadocia, Fairychimneys, Valleys, Caves. Discover Cappadocia from above, as best view of the world, enjoy your time!

Price: €125

Min age: 5

Rating 4.76 / 5 [462 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Hot Air Balloon Flight Over the Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia

Goreme

Hot Air Balloon Flight Over the Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia
Enjoy a unique hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys and rock cut churches. This exhilarating experience in Cappadocia is one of the best places around the world to fly with hot air balloons.

Price: €149

Min age: 4

Rating 4.92 / 5 [1087 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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One Hour Deluxe Hot Air Balloon Tour(Goreme Valley)

Goreme

One Hour Deluxe Hot Air Balloon Tour(Goreme Valley)
Hot Air Balloon Tours are one of the most popular activities in Cappadocia. Typically lifting off at sunrise, these rides last about an hour in the air and literally go wherever the wind may blow in the Goreme Valley. If you ever plan on getting into a hot air balloon someday, here’s a suggestion for you: do it in Cappadocia. Several dozen balloons go up each day, even in the winter, so people can see the incredible landscape from the air. To fully explore the region on foot would take months. There are many valleys as well as separate towns and outdoor attractions. Indeed, the best way to see Cappadocia is from the air. The balloon travels in existing air streams so there is no motion and at times, it is possible to forget that your feet are firmly off the ground

Price: $150

Min age: 0

Rating 4.55 / 5 [230 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Cappadocia Balloon Ride and Champagne Breakfast

Goreme

Cappadocia Balloon Ride and Champagne Breakfast
Discover the stunning landscape of the Cappadocia region of Turkey from a hot-air balloon! Admire Cappadocia's beautiful scenery of tall, volcanic rock spires and high plateaus from the air on either a 1-hour or 75 minutes flight. Your Cappadocia hot-air balloon flight includes a complimentary pre-flight light breakfast and convenient round-trip hotel transportation.

Price: €170

Min age: 6

Rating 4.96 / 5 [3745 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride / Turquaz Flight

Goreme

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride / Turquaz Flight
Fly with the most boutique hot air balloon operator in Cappadocia and enjoy the comfort of small baskets with longer duration of flight time. What Turquaz offers; -Safe Flight -Better Quality -Light Breakfast at the office -More Space Per Passenger -Best Operation

Price: €180

Min age: 6

Rating 4.98 / 5 [1140 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Cappadocia Hot Air Balloons by Butterfly Balloons

Goreme

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloons by Butterfly Balloons
We will collect you from your hotel around sunrise (it really is the best time of the day)  and take you to our office in Goreme. Our pilots check the weather conditions and decide on the best launch site for the preferred flight path. Once at the launch site there will be a full safety briefing and you will have first hand experience of the balloon inflation. The crew will help you into the basket and when everyone is happy and comfortable, the moment you have dreamt of...up, up and away! Below you, a unique landscape, a combination of natural beauty and a deep and complex history. Before we return to your hotel, we celebrate our flights with champagne and passengers each receive a personalized commemorative flight certificate and medal with our sincere thanks for sharing the best part of our day. As we can not start to fly without having their(The Civil Aviation Authority) daily permission we can't guarantee to take off before sunrise.

Price: €200

Min age: 6

Rating 4.95 / 5 [1475 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Comfort (Small Group) Cappadocia Balloon Ride

Goreme

Comfort (Small Group) Cappadocia Balloon Ride
Your tour begins with hotel pickup an hour before the sunrise Experience a 1-hour hot air balloon ride across the Cappadocian scenery during sunrise and after you land partake in a traditional champagne ceremony where you will receive your commemorative flight certificate. The medium-sized balloon has a maximum capacity of 20 passengers. 

Price: $250

Min age: 6

Rating 4.70 / 5 [265 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Cappadocia Balloon Flight at Sunrise

Goreme

Cappadocia Balloon Flight at Sunrise
We love living in Cappadocia and serving you with the true Cappadocian Hot-air Balloon tour. As long as the weather conditions permit, our tours take place seven days a week and 365 days of the year. Cappadocia region is in the middle of the Continental climate which means there is a big difference in temperature between the day and the night time. The cold air during the night forms in the valleys and around the fairy chimneys. The air mass starts to get warmer as the sun rises and flows through these valleys just like a river. This air stream is what makes the hot-air ballooning possible. There is no mechanism for the purpose of ”steering” on a hot-air balloon, and the pilot moves simply by ascending and descending through the wind along with its current. And Optional: Cappadocia Full-Day tour after balloon flight (Incl: Professional guide, Lunch, Luxury Vehicle, Goreme Open-Air Museum, Devrent and Pasabagi Valley, Avanos and more...)

Price: €300

Min age: 7

Rating 4.68 / 5 [25 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Soganli Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise

Goreme

Soganli Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
Float over the other-worldly landscape of ancient Cappadocia on a hot-air balloon ride. Watch the sunrise over the mountains, soar over Soğanlı valley, and enjoy an air-conditioned hotel pickup. Take to the skies in a hot-air balloon ride over Soğanlı valley, Cappadocia. Marvel at spectacular views and see the sun rising as you take postcard-perfect photos from the balloon basket. After a convenient, pre-dawn pickup from your hotel, hear a safety briefing from your pilot and enjoy a hot cup of coffee and some snacks. Watch the balloon inflate before climbing into the balloon's basket, lifting off, and drifting peacefully over Cappadocia. Float over Soğanlı valley to take in the early morning sunrise over the mountains, illuminated in stunning golden hues. Snap some photos of the iconic Cappadocian landscape. After about an hour, land gently and return to your hotel.

Price: €319

Min age: 4

Rating 4.36 / 5 [33 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight Experience over Cappadocia

Goreme

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight Experience over Cappadocia
Enjoy a unique hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys and rock cut churches. This exhilarating experience in Cappadocia is one of the best places around the world to fly with hot air balloons.

Price: €379

Min age: 4

Rating 4.33 / 5 [39 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight over Goreme

Goreme

 Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight over Goreme
There is no doubt that the best way to start your day in this region is to enjoy a 1-hour hot air balloon flight over the unique lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia. Your adventure will start approximately 1½ hours before sunrise when you are picked up from your hotel and taken to the balloon company office for registration Once the green light is given by the Turkish Civil Aviation authority, you will be taken to the designated take-off point. Here you will watch the final stages of balloon inflation before get basket. Your flight will be for approximately 1 hour as your pilot guides the balloon over the scenic valleys. As the sun rises and the golden rays of sunshine light up the unique rock formations, you will be astounded by the beauty. And to witness 100 or more other balloons sharing this moment with you is truly breath-taking. Back on the ground, enjoy a traditional champagne celebration and receive your flight certificate to remind you of your experience for years to come.

Price: €390

Min age: 6

Rating 4.96 / 5 [32 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Best of Cappadocia with Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

Goreme

Best of Cappadocia with Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
Explore Cappadocia’s attractions on a full-day guided tour and Cappadocia hot air balloon flight on same day. Get the most from a day in Cappadocia with a sunrise hot air balloon ride and full-day tour on this 12-hour experience.

Price: €499

Min age: 4

Rating 4.88 / 5 [43 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Budget Hot Air Balloon Ride over Cappadocia

Goreme

Budget Hot Air Balloon Ride over Cappadocia
Enjoy a unique hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys and rock cut churches. This exhilarating experience in Cappadocia is one of the best places around the world to fly with hot air balloons.

Price: €750

Min age: 4

Rating 4.96 / 5 [110 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Cappadocia with Optional Hot-Air Balloon Ride from/to Istanbul

Istanbul

Cappadocia with Optional Hot-Air Balloon Ride from/to Istanbul
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT CAPPADOCIA? - Cappadocia Looks Like Another Planet! - Cappadocia has Fairy Chimneys! - Cappadocia is so picturesque and full of magic, that words are not enough to describe its beauty. - Not the magical carpet, the Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia is INSANE. Sometimes weird can be truly beautiful. Cappadocia’s weird landscape is what makes it magical. Its strange beauty is unique and I doubt if you will ever see a place like this anywhere else on the planet. Perhaps Mother Nature was on LSD when she created Cappadocia. Don't miss your chance to have the experience of a lifetime! Important Notice: Hot-air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia is for children under 6 years not allowed.

Price: €859

Min age: 0

Rating 4.96 / 5 [53 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Cappadocia

Central Anatolia, Turkey

A snowy mountain in the flow of the sun.

Surreal shaped landscapes rich in troglodytic ruins, walking trails and delightful cave hotels in the ancient heart of Anatolia.