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Last updated: 18 March, 2024
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.

Logistics

Price from: £75
Minimum age: 6
Age suitable: 13+
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.

Who to go with: organised tours

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

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: €160

Min age: 6

Rating 4.96 / 5 [4088 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: €180

Min age: 6

Rating 4.95 / 5 [1528 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride / Turquaz Balloons

Goreme

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride / Turquaz Balloons
Fly with the most boutique hot air balloon operator in Cappadocia over the Goreme National Park. What Turquaz offers; -Safe Flight -Better Quality -Light Breakfast -More Space Per Passenger -Best Operation

Price: €114

Min age: 6

Rating 4.98 / 5 [1369 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: €125

Min age: 4

Rating 4.92 / 5 [1091 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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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: €70

Min age: 5

Rating 4.75 / 5 [641 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Destination guides

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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.