Guide to taking a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, including essential things to know before booking and the best company to fly with.
A Cappadocia hot air balloon flight is undoubtedly the most unique experience you can have in Turkey, if not the world!
Almost every day, hundreds of colorful balloons slowly drift across the picturesque valleys of Cappadocia creating the most incredible sight during sunrise. It’s truly a magical experience that everyone should have at least once!
This guide will tell you everything you need to know before booking a Cappadocia hot air balloon flight such as the best time to go, prices, types of flights available, what to expect, and why Royal Balloon is the best company to fly with.
Top Pick
Best Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Company
I personally flew with Royal Balloon and I highly recommend them since they have over 5000 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and ensure the highest safety standards by employing only CAA licensed pilots.
Price includes 1-hour flight, insurance, hotel transfers, buffet breakfast, champagne or orange juice, and snacks.
***This article may contain affiliate links, which means that each time you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I was kindly invited by Royal Balloon, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.
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11 Things to know about Cappadocia Hot Air Balloons
Book your hot air balloon ride at least 2-4 weeks in advance
As the most popular thing to do in Cappadocia and Turkey as a whole, I strongly recommend that you book your Cappadocia hot air balloon ride at least 2-4 weeks in advance, especially if you’re traveling during the peak summer months of June to August.
You should also book early if you want to fly with a reputable company like Royal Balloon since they are one of the best and thus tend to sell out fast.
If you wait until the last minute, you might completely miss out on this experience or pay 2-3 times more than the normal price.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
The average flight duration is about 1 hour
While some companies offer flights that last 45 minutes, I don’t think this is enough to take photos and fully enjoy the view as time does fly by fast when hot air ballooning in Cappadocia.
I chose Royal Balloon as they offer three types of flights that last a minimum of 1 hour. The Royal King Flight is the most expensive option since it can accommodate a maximum of 8 passengers and lasts about 75 minutes.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A ROYAL KING FLIGHT
If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, the Royal Queen Plus and Royal Queen flights are perfect for you and last about 1 hour each. Both can accommodate a maximum of 16 and 20 passengers respectively.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A ROYAL QUEEN FLIGHT
Whichever flight type you choose, hotel pick-up and drop-off, an open buffet breakfast, champagne or orange juice, a commemorative medal, and insurance will be included in the price.
I booked the Royal Queen flight and got upgraded to the Royal Queen Plus flight. It was awesome since there were fewer people in the basket so more space to move around and enjoy a view of the Cappadocia valleys.
Overall, it should take a total of 2.5-3 hours from the time of pick-up to drop-off, including breakfast, a 1-hour flight, and champagne celebrations.
Balloons in Cappadocia fly year round
You can take a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia year-round thanks to the excellent weather conditions.
The balloons can fly about 260 days of the year making Cappadocia one of the best places in the world for hot air ballooning!
Most people prefer flying in summer but during winter, the valleys are all covered in snow which makes the landscape even more spectacular.
Flights can get canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions
The hot air balloons can get canceled if the wind is too strong or if it’s raining too heavily (about 2 out of 7 days in summer or 5 out of 7 days in winter).
For this reason, I recommend going in summer. Summer is also the peak season, so there will be more balloons in the sky, making for better-looking photos.
Overall, the best time for flying in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia is from April to October.
Most companies will let you know beforehand if your flight is canceled but keep in mind that you may not know until the day before or even a few hours before as the weather can sometimes be unpredictable.
If your flight gets canceled, it will be rescheduled for the next day if there’s a spot available, or else you’ll get a refund.
You can also ask at your hotel reception or check the flight status on the official website here.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
Plan for at least 3 days in Cappadocia
As mentioned above, hot air balloon flights can get canceled due to bad weather. So if you don’t want to miss out on this bucket list experience, I recommend spending at least 3 days in Cappadocia.
Also, make sure to schedule your flight for your first full day in Cappadocia so you can easily reschedule for the next day in case your flight gets canceled.
Related post: How to spend 3 days in Cappadocia?
The price of hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia isn’t the same year round
Depending on the season, hot air balloons in Cappadocia cost anywhere between US$ 150 and US$ 350 per person for a shared flight or up to US$ 4,000 for a private one.
The price will be much higher in summer (June to August) when there are more tourists. If you want to save money, I recommend flying during winter or the shoulder months of April/May or September/October.
One thing to note is that a hot air balloon flight is not cheap. If you think about it, you’re actually paying for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of the most incredible destinations in the world, a professional pilot with years of experience, insurance, hotel transfers, breakfast, etc, so it’s totally worth splurging on.
Be prepared to wake up super early
Since the wind conditions are more stable at sunrise, the balloons usually take off early in the morning. So be prepared to wake up super early (at about 3 a.m in summer) but it’s definitely worth it!
Another batch of hot air balloons also takes off after sunrise but there are usually fewer balloons at this time.
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is safe
Flying in a hot air balloon is very safe. Companies like Royal Balloon always ensure the highest safety standards since they are ISO 9001 certified and employ only the best and most experienced pilots who are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and have to pass regular flight checks.
Some of their pilots have over 2,000 hours of flight time, so you’ll feel totally safe during the flight.
The pilot will also do a safety briefing before take-off so that you know exactly what to expect during the flight and how to adopt a safe landing position.
I’m not normally scared of heights but I was a bit apprehensive since I’d heard that hot air balloons can fly up to 900 meters above the ground. Luckily, the flight was very smooth and I barely felt anything as the balloon slowly glided across the valleys.
You should dress in layers as it can get cold
Since it can get quite chilly in the morning even during the summer months, be sure to dress in layers. For a comfortable ride, I recommend wearing a light cardigan and/or long-sleeve shirt, long pants, and flat-sole sandals or sneakers.
I don’t recommend wearing a dress, skirt, or high heels since you might struggle a bit while getting in and out of the basket.
As the balloon rose higher in the sky, it started to feel a bit cold but the heat from the burner along with my long sleeve top kept me warm during the flight.
There is a minimum age requirement to fly in a hot air balloon
Most companies won’t allow children under 6 years old to fly in a hot air balloon since they must be over a certain height to be able to look over the basket and also adopt a safe landing position.
Book your Cappadocia hot air balloon ride with Royal Balloon
There are many companies out there but the one that clearly stands out is Royal Balloon. Below are some of the reasons why Royal Balloon is the best company for hot air ballooning in Cappadocia:
- 5* rating on Tripadvisor
- Reputable company with a high safety record
- All Royal Balloon pilots are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and pass regular flight checks
- ISO 9001 certified
- Highest quality balloon fleet made in the UK
- Price includes hotel transfers in luxury minivans, buffet breakfast, celebratory champagne or orange juice, snacks, commemorative medal and insurance
- Excellent value for money
- Free gift when booking online
As its name suggests, you’ll get the royal treatment when flying with Royal Balloon. The pilots are super nice and professional and always go above and beyond to make their customers happy and feel safe during the flight.
My Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Experience with Royal Balloon
I woke up at 3 a.m and got ready for my 3.50 a.m pickup. My driver came in a luxury minivan and after picking up everyone else, we headed to the Royal Balloon headquarters for registration and an open buffet breakfast.
The breakfast was very delicious and consisted of a variety of cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and fresh fruits. We also got coffee, tea, juice, and water.
Soon enough, it was time to go. We still weren’t sure if the balloons would take off that morning since it had been raining earlier. The previous day’s flight had also been canceled so we all had our fingers crossed and hoped for the best as we drove to the take-off site.
Once we arrived, we took some photos and watched as the crew inflated the balloons. The excitement grew even more as the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority finally gave its approval for take-off.
One by one, we got into the basket with the help of a ladder. There were only 4 passengers in each compartment so we had enough space to move around and take photos. In total, there were 16 passengers along with the 2 pilots.
The take-off was so smooth that at first, I didn’t notice that we were already up in the air. We took off at about 4.50 a.m so we were among the first flying which felt extra special.
Silence fell over everyone as we were mesmerized by the view. We watched from above as the other balloons lit up the ground and start taking off as well.
As we slowly drifted across the rock formations of Rose Valley, hundreds of colorful balloons started to fill up the sky. I barely felt any rocking during the flight – it mostly felt like we were just floating in the air which was the best feeling ever.
Our amazing pilot, Tuğrul, expertly maneuvered the balloon over the valleys and at times, I felt like I could almost touch the rock formations. He also gave us some information about the valleys and pointed out the mushroom-shaped rock formations.
At one point, our balloon lightly grazed another one but since the pilots are always in communication with each other, we didn’t run into any trouble at all.
While we were flying low most of the time (this is to ensure a more enjoyable flight), our pilot took us even higher than the rest for a panoramic view of Cappadocia.
We didn’t fly over the town of Goreme on that day since the path taken by the balloon is totally dependent on the wind. I actually liked it better that way since the ride felt more peaceful and we could admire the little cracks and crevices of the fairy chimneys.
The pilot only has control over going up or down and can rotate the balloon so everyone got to enjoy a 360-degree view.
It was a bit cloudy on the day I took my Cappadocia hot air balloon ride but I still managed to witness the sun peeking through the clouds and gradually lighting up the sky and the hundreds of balloons.
After an incredible one-hour flight we landed safely on a large green field and spent some time taking photos.
The Royal Balloon crew then popped up the champagne and we ate some delicious chocolate-covered strawberries to celebrate. We also each got a medal as a way to remember this incredible flight with Royal Balloon.
Our luxury van was already waiting for us and we were each dropped off back at our hotel.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT WITH ROYAL BALLOON
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Is hot air ballooning in Cappadocia worth it?
Absolutely! 1000% worth it! Cappadocia is one of the best places for hot air ballooning! Floating over the incredible landscape filled with stunning rock formations while being surrounded by hundreds of other balloons is an absolute must-do!
Where to stay in Cappadocia?
Most people traveling to Cappadocia usually stay in the town of Goreme since it’s very close to all the main attractions with tons of restaurants. Hotels like Sultan Cave Suites and Zara Cave Hotel are some of the best places to stay with great views of the hot air balloons.
I had an amazing time with Royal Balloon from start to finish and can’t recommend them enough! If you have any questions about taking a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, please leave them in the comment section below.
Find Royal Balloon on Facebook and Instagram.
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