Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia: Is it Worth it?

So, you’re heading to the stunning country of Türkiye (Turkey) and are considering booking a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. If that’s the case, you may have a few questions prior to paying for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We’ll bet that one of them is whether it’s actually worth the money or not. Is it really as unforgettable as it seems on social media, or are people just overhyping the experience?

Don’t worry, we’ll answer all of these questions below based on our own personal experience. For completeness, we’ll also provide you with useful information on the best companies to fly with, how the morning of your flight will look, what to wear, what to bring with you and if it’s actually safe to fly in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia.

If you’d like to see what we got up to during our stay, then make sure to watch our Cappadocia video on our YouTube channel. For more Türkiye videos, check out our Türkiye Series.

Is a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia Worth it?

Okay, we’ll give you the answer to this question straight away. Based on our own personal experience, it’s 100% worth booking a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. After all, it’s considered one of the best places to fly in a hot air balloon in the world.

I think deep down we knew that it would be worth every penny. However, paying about 250 EUR for an hour long activity (that’s only the actual flight time of course) when you have no idea what to expect can understandably feel a bit risky.

Now, since we’ve already had the experience, we can wholeheartedly say that our money wasn’t wasted and that we’ll never forget flying above one of the most unique landscapes in the world at sunrise.

Best Hot Air Balloon Companies in Cappadocia

We can’t emphasize enough that booking with a reputable company will make your experience even better. Apart from the obvious safety reasons (we’ll talk about safety later on), you want a company that’ll take care of you from start to finish.

It’s the little things that will make your experience unforgettable; such as your pilots knowledge and level of expertise, a nice breakfast buffet in the morning, a safe landing right onto the trailer of the pickup truck, and some champagne at the end of your flight, to mention a few. So choosing a company based on what they offer and how much experience they have flying should be your priority too, instead of trying to save on an experience that just won’t be as good.

Here are a few well-known and trustworthy companies we recommend checking out. We went with Turquaz Balloons and really enjoyed the experience from start to finish.

• Royal Balloon
• Butterfly Balloons
• Cappadocia Voyager Balloons
• Turquaz Balloons
• Discovery Balloons
• Rainbow Balloons

Is Riding a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia Safe?

Accidents can happen whether you’re paragliding in Fethiye or zip-lining in Costa Rica, so hot air balloon accidents do occur. However, they aren’t very common in the grand scheme of things. The balloons all have to go through strict inspections and are subject to the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority’s regulations.

The balloons will only take off if they get authorisation from the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority. This means that if the weather conditions aren’t safe, your flight will get cancelled. Don’t worry though; the balloons do take off throughout the majority of the year. However, just to be safe, we recommend booking your ride the first day you arrive in Cappadocia. That way, you can always rearrange if necessary.

Pilots have to have a license, and must train for years before they can take commercial flights. This is the reason why we highly encourage you to book with a reputable company, who make sure that all the boxes are ticked for a safe flight.

And let’s face it, if there were a lot of accidents, it would have a negative impact on tourism. So, safety really is paramount for the balloon companies.

Cost of a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia

The general cost of riding a hot air balloon in Cappadocia can be anywhere between 150 EUR to 300 EUR. However, you can pay much more than that too. Now, the price will vary based on quite a few factors. Firstly, there are many different companies offering rides. As mentioned above, we suggest picking a high profile one; they will obviously be able to charge a higher price though. However, there are other factors that impact the cost of a hot air balloon flight too.

One of them is the time of year you’re visiting. This isn’t surprising, as off season and peak season prices normally differ anywhere in the world. Another factor that can impact the price is the size of the group. The more affordable flights usually take 20 people in a basket. Anything less than that and you’ll likely see an increase in the price tag.

An important factor you’ll want to consider is what time the flight sets off. Most people want to take off as the sun comes up. This is undoubtedly the most special time to fly. However, you can also choose flights just after sunrise, which tend to be a bit cheaper.

Lastly, the price can vary depending on what’s included in your package. Will you get breakfast before your flight? Will you be handed a glass of champagne, strawberries, or even some cake to celebrate at the end? Yes, all these little perks will take your experience to the next level, but of course aren’t absolutely necessary for you to have a safe and unforgettable flight above Cappadocia.

Top Tip. Make sure to book your experience way in advance because the popular companies sell out very quickly, especially in the high season.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight

Now, let’s quickly run through what to expect from a sunrise hot air balloon ride. First things first, you’ll have to set a very early alarm the night before. This will vary slightly depending on what time sunrise is. We visited at the end of September and were picked up from our hotel around 5:30AM. Then, we were taken to the office to check-in.

Depending on who you’re flying with, the company may set up a breakfast buffet before you head out. It was definitely nice to get a quick bite to eat, despite it being super early. Then we hopped into a minivan, which took us to the take off location. The co-pilot/tour guide told us more about the flight, a bit of history about the company, and what to expect as we made our way to the launch site.

Once at the take off location, you’ll witness how the balloons are unpacked, assembled and then inflated. This part was actually pretty cool to witness. We were even allowed to walk inside the balloon briefly. Then, we had a health and safety briefing where we had to practice what to do during a bumpy landing.

After that, it was time to take off. The balloons can ascend up to 300m, so we were pretty high in the sky at times. However, our skilled pilot also took us down into the valleys, and flew us incredibly close to some of the fairy chimneys.

Our landing was pretty smooth, and we ended up coming to a stop right on the vehicle trailer that transports the balloon baskets. You may have a different experience, so always listen and follow the instructions. Once we were out of the basket, we were greeted by a glass of champagne, some strawberries and some cake to celebrate our experience. We were also given a certificate and a medal too. Then it was time to head back to our hotel, just in time for a second breakfast there.

What to Wear and Bring with You on a Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia

Depending on the time of year, it will probably be a bit chilly in the morning, so we recommend wearing layers. It can get quite warm in the basket, so you’ll want to be able to put on or take off a layer when needed. It’s recommended to wear flat shoes. Also, bring some sunglasses, as it can get a bit bright.

Make sure to bring your camera and/or phone to be able to take photos and videos of your experience. We also suggest bringing some cash for tips. Other than a few personal items that can fit into a small crossbody or bum-bag, you really don’t need anything else.

Final Thoughts on Riding a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia

Going on a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia had been on our bucket list forever. Whilst it can feel like an overhyped activity thanks to the amount of social media posts you see all over the internet, in our opinion it’s totally worth the hype. Seeing the insane landscape of Cappadocia from a bird’s eye perspective during sunrise was a truly magical experience that we will never forget. For this reason, we highly recommend splurging on this once-in-a-lifetime activity if you ever have the chance.

Have you ever been to Cappadocia and taken a hot air balloon flight before? If so, what was your experience? If not, would you add it to your bucket list? Let us know in the comments below.