The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Cappadocia is hot air balloons! The magnificent scene of 100+ balloons rising above the city each morning was our inspiration for visiting Cappadocia during our honeymoon. But is it worth venturing out to Cappadocia just for hot air balloons? And if so, what is the best way to enjoy it? This guide will help answer all your Cappadocia balloon-related questions.
Is Riding the Balloon Worth It?
Let’s start with the most important question! Is the balloon ride worth it?
My take- If there’s one place in the world to check off your bucket list and dream of riding a hot air balloon, Cappadocia is it! This experience blew me away more than I expected. It was a magical Disney-like experience floating in the air during sunrise and seeing 100+ hot air balloons rise over the valley together. I was worried that the experience would get boring quickly, but the scene was so incredible that there truly was never a dull moment. I would say this is 100% worth it
When Can You Ride the Hot Air Balloon
You can ride the balloons at any time of the year. Keep in mind, however, that inclement weather or strong winds can cancel your ride. This is much more common in the winter, so your odds of being able to fly are reduced during the off-peak weather season (winter months)
How Much Does Riding the Balloon Cost
The downside of the balloon experience is the cost. A reputable balloon company will cost somewhere between $250-$350 a person (depending on the season)! Through our hotel recommendation, we booked with Butterfly Ballon. The cost per person was a hefty $350 (we went in September), but they are known to be one of the better companies to fly with.
Experience With Butterfly Balloons
We had a fantastic time with Butterfly Balloons and would highly recommend them. Their flights never have more than 16 people and they even offer an 8-person flight option. The pilots are also well-trained and provide an entertaining flight experience. Our pilot did a great job navigating the ride to ensure we had the best views for as long as possible. He also gave us some extra time in the sky, which was a nice bonus! The balloon was also equipped with a 360 camera and photos/videos were sold for ~$20 after the flight. Last, but not least, we got to end our ride with a celebratory champagne toast which was the perfect final touch to an amazing ride!
What About the Cheaper Companies
You may see some significantly cheaper hot air balloon tours during your research. Be very careful with these. Often they are not scams but ratherballoon rides that don’t offer the same experience as the more reputable companies. Some may fly in different locations away from the main spectacle, while others may fly for a very short time or at lower heights.
If you plan to book, I highly recommend booking with a company that is recommended by your hotel or a trusted source. This ride is truly once in a lifetime, so you want to make sure you do it right!
What to Look for Before Booking
If you do want to book on your own. I recommend asking and looking into the following things
- Are the drivers certified/insured
- Where does the balloon fly
- How many people per basket (16 is ideal. Probably don’t want more than 20)
- Where does the balloon leave from (Gerome or Love Valley is where you want to be)
- Does the company take any pictures
- What heights do the balloons fly to?
Avoid Booking Your Ride for the Last Day in Cappadocia
While it might be tempting to end your trip with a bang. I highly recommend against saving your balloon ride for the last day. You never know when bad winds or weather can postpone your ride, so having a buffer day after your booking will give you that much better of a chance to fly!
Other Useful Tips!
- Dress Warm! It can get cold early in the morning so make sure you have a hoodie or layers to stay comfortable during the ride
- Bring a wide camera lens if you want to capture photos of the surreal scene
- Take pics, but also don’t forget to soak in the moment. It is very easy to get carried away clicking at every turn and change in scenery (I am guilty of that!). But don’t forget to take some time to just look around and marvel at what you are witnessing. Life is truly amazing up there!
How Else to Enjoy the Balloons
Along with riding the balloons, there are a few other ways you can embrace this magical scene that Cappadocia has to offer:
- Enjoy the morning view of Balloons Rising: This is something you want to do (even if you plan to fly on the balloons). As cool as it is flying on the balloon, it may be equally as amazing to see the whole thing from a distance. Many hotels have rooftops where guests come out before sunrise to observe the balloons each morning. It’s a scene like no other. I’d recommend doing this any morning that you get the chance to do so. No place on earth will offer a morning setting like this, so may as well embrace it!
- Photo Shoot with the Balloons: If you like photoshoots or want to try one, Cappadocia could be the place to do so. Because it was our honeymoon and because it was a dream destination of ours, we decided to try it out. We booked via Airbnb Experiences and had an overall good experience Tip: Make sure to look at the photographer’s editing style before selecting your photographer. While we did love our photographer, I personally did not jive with his editing/color profile as much as I had hoped. That being said, the photos still came out well and we are glad we did it.
- Enjoy breakfast on a rooftop with balloon views. Some hotels offer this though they can be pricey (100+ dollars a person). We opted to skip this and just watch from the rooftop!
Overall Experience of Cappadocia's Hot Air Balloons
It was all truly magical and one of the most amazing settings I have ever seen. While you certainly can see or fly on Hot Air Balloons in other destinations, I don’t know of any place where you can see 100+ balloons rise together every single morning! More than anything else, this is what sets this experience apart. Despite the beautiful valley views and the peaceful sunrise, it’s the sheer amount of balloons that make this one-of-a-kind. Flying and witnessing Cappadocia’s balloon spectacle may go down as one of the top 10 things I’ve ever experienced in my travel life, so I hope you get the chance to do so.
