There are several unusual places in the world that every traveler should visit at least once in their life. One of them is located in Turkey, and it looks more like the surface of an unknown planet than a residential corner of the earth. This is Cappadocia, whose balloons today allow you to see the uniqueness of its intricate landscapes in large-scale angles. If you have always dreamed of going on an air trip, then it is better to make such a tour in Cappadocia. What are flights and how they are conducted, we will tell you in detail below.
When are flights performed
Hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia are organized all year round. However, it is most reasonable to go for a walk by air between the end of April and October – the time when Turkey is at the height of the tourist season. These months are characterized by warm weather, and the amount of precipitation is minimal, so air navigation takes place under the most comfortable conditions.
You can see Cappadocia and its individual attractions from a height of several hundred meters in the early morning with sunrise. Depending on the time of year, departure hours may vary. In summer, the air tour starts earlier (from 05: 00 to 06: 00), in winter-later (from 06: 00 to 07: 00). Most of the year in Cappadocia in Turkey is sunny, the cloud level is low, so almost all tourists manage to make incredible shots of the sunrise from a bird’s-eye view.
Hot air balloon flights are also available in winter. But in the period from October to March in Cappadocia, it often rains, accompanied by strong gusts of wind. And in the winter months, there are also snowfalls. Therefore, there are often cancellations of air trips. Weather conditions and flights in the city are strictly monitored by the state aviation service, which gives permission to climb or prohibits it.
How does the flight work?
When booking a hot air balloon tour in Turkey in Cappadocia, the price of which may depend on the tour format you choose, you are offered a certain set of services. Early in the morning, the company bus pulls up to your hotel and takes you to a light breakfast. At this time, preparations for the launch of the aircraft begin in the valley parking lot, during which the hot-air balloons are blown with hot air. When everything is ready for the flight, tourists are placed in baskets: their maximum capacity is 20-24 people.
At the height of the season, up to 250 colorful balloons can be seen in the sky in the morning, but there is enough free space for absolutely every ship. Many people, having seen so many hot air balloons, mistakenly believe that this is some kind of special balloon festival in Cappadocia, but in fact this phenomenon is quite common for the city in summer.
Take-off occurs simultaneously with the sunrise of the first rays of the sun. As a rule, the flight route is identical for everyone. The starting point is the area between the village of Goreme and the village of Chavushin. The boat sails over valleys with whimsical rock sculptures, apricot orchards and village houses, where you will be greeted by locals. Following the route, the balloon changes its height several times, sometimes falling to the level of the roofs of dwellings, then rising up to a distance of 1000 meters.
In the basket, tourists fly standing up, it has special handrails that you can hold on to. It is important that the pilot controls the vessel very carefully at altitude, without making any sudden movements. At the end of the aerial tour, at the moment of landing, you will be asked to sit down. The landing of experienced pilots is so smooth that you don’t even notice how you find yourself on the ground. Upon leaving the basket, travelers are met by team members, who, as a rule, treat the participants to a glass of champagne and take a joint photo as a souvenir. Also, at the end of the flight, all tourists are awarded medals and certificates of aeronauts.
Cost of flights
Now, how much does a hot air balloon ride cost in the Cappadocia region? Prices for this entertainment in Turkey are quite high, but at the same time variable. On average, the price tag for such an excursion is 130-150 € per person. Why is it so expensive? First of all, it should be taken into account that an aeronautical license costs companies 1 million euros annually. And only the cost of one balloon is a quarter of this amount. To operate the vessels, the company needs professional pilots, whose salaries are estimated at several thousand euros. Hence such a high cost, because the business should be profitable.
If you are looking for a lower price for a balloon flight in Cappadocia, then do not rush to buy a tour. Upon arrival in Turkey, you should not buy a ticket at the first available travel agency. To roughly understand the order of prices, you need to walk around the village of Goreme, go to several companies and ask about the cost. Then, with the acquired knowledge, go to the office that directly organizes flights (the list of companies with their prices is given below). The experience of tourists shows that you can buy the cheapest ticket only on the spot from the organizing companies, and it is more logical to purchase it in the evening, rather than in the morning, when the number of applicants increases.
It is important to keep in mind that the price of a hot air balloon tour in Turkey in Cappadocia is affected by a number of factors:
- Duration. The air tour usually takes from 40 to 90 minutes. And the longer it is, the higher its cost.
- The number of seats in the basket. The number of passengers directly affects the price tag. The fewer tourists on board, the more expensive the price for the tour.
- Pilot experience. It is obvious that a professional in his field works for a decent salary, which should pay off due to the increased cost of tickets.
- Season. In winter, prices for air tours are lower than in the summer months, which is logically explained by a drop in demand.
- Departure time. Some companies offer to fly the balloon in the afternoon, which allows them to reduce the price tag for the tour. But, first of all, daytime panoramas will not show you the rising sun, and, secondly, during the day it is more windy, and, accordingly, less comfortable to fly.
Where to book a flight
Today, there are several dozen companies on the market offering to go on a hot air balloon trip in Turkey in Cappadocia. And among them, the largest number of positive reviews have:
- Royal Balloon. Organizing company in Turkey. The price of the tour is 150 €. Duration-1 hour. Official website — www.royalballoon.com.
- Gorgeous Tour. Travel agency, offers several options for excursions: price per hour -140 €, for 1.5 hours – 230 €, individual tour-2500 €. Official website of the company — www.gorgeousturkeytours.com.
- MyTrip Travel. Travel agency in Turkey. The price of the tour is 150 €. Duration-1 hour. Website — mytriptravelagency.com.
- Hereke Travel. Travel agency in Turkey. A 45-minute tour costs 130 €, while a 65-minute tour costs 175 €. Website — www.hereketravel.com.
- Butterfly Balloons. Organizing company in Turkey. The price per hour is 165 €. Website — butterflyballoons.com.
- Turkiye Balloons. Organizing company in Turkey. The cost of a 60-minute air tour is 180 €. Website — www.turkiyeballoons.com.
- Urgup Balloons. During the hot air balloon season in Cappadocia, the organizing company offers several excursion options: 60 minutes in a basket for up to 24 people – 160 €, 60 minutes in a basket for up to 16 people-200 €, 90 minutes in a basket for up to 12-16 people-230 €. Official website — www.urgupballoons.com.
- Kapadokya Balloons. The organizing company. The price is 150 € per hour. Website — kapadokyaballoons.com.
- Enka Travel. Travel agency in Turkey. Its range includes various offers starting from 150 € for a 70-minute flight. Official website — www.enkatravel.com.
- Cappadocia Voyager Balloons. Organizing company in Turkey. Price for a one-hour tour is 130 €. Website — voyagerballoons.com.
All prices are per person. All offers include a complimentary breakfast and a shuttle service to and from your Cappadocia hotel.
Useful tips
If you are fascinated by the photos of balloons in Cappadocia in Turkey, and you are ready to go to this unique place, then you should pay attention to our practical recommendations.
- Many tourists mistakenly believe that it is better to dress warmer for a tour in winter. But in reality, during the flight, the basket has a fairly comfortable temperature, which is provided by a gas burner that works throughout the entire tour. It will be cool only on the ground, so you can bring a warm sweater and put it on after landing.
- The best months for a hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia in Turkey are April, May, June, September and October. We do not recommend flying in July and August, because the weather is hot, which together with the gas burner on the ship will turn your long-standing dream into torture. Well, in the winter months, there is a high probability that your air tour will simply be canceled due to rain or snowfall.
- If you are not going to fly, but want to see the so-called balloon festival in Cappadocia, when two and a half hundred colorful balloons hang in the air, then it is best to go to the place in the summer months.
- Some companies offer aerial tours after lunch, but we do not recommend buying such a tour, as the wind increases during the day, which prevents you from gaining sufficient altitude and is generally unsafe.
- It should be borne in mind that most companies do not accept pregnant women on board because of the risk of impact during landing. Also, not all companies allow you to take small children with you, so you should coordinate this information in advance.
Conclusion
Cappadocia, whose balloons have made it famous all over the world, is a must-visit at any age and at any time of the year. This mysterious area with cosmic landscapes will open up a completely different Turkey and give you the opportunity to enjoy unique bird’s-eye views. Well, to make your trip go perfectly, be sure to use the information from our article.
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