I might still taste the Turkish tea from our pre-flight buffet breakfast when we reached the site. Unfolding the envelopes, each balloon operator had their own spot. The early ones were all set, their gigantic bubbles already in full form. As the personnel terminated flames, I walked around to not feel the February cold. four layers of wintertime wear, yet I was nearly shaking as well as starting to dread the ex-lover-reminiscent temperatures up there.

Cappadocia is commonly understood for its stunningly tough landscape. however over the past few years, it has ended up being synonymous with hot air ballooning. “Most tourists come to Cappadocia just to trip the balloons,” our pilot Suat Ulusoy shared proudly. “This is one of the three biggest ballooning sites in the world. The others are Loire Valley, France, as well as Serengeti, Tanzania.”

Getting prepped up!
On a high!
Flying balloons for over 20 years, Suat is the most senior pilot here. “Not by age, however by experience,” he clarified. The history of these drifting bulbs in this part of the world can be traced back to pilots Lars-Eric Möre as well as Kaili Kidner, who operated the very first industrial traveler balloon for a German travel company in 1991. before that, locals relied heavily in agriculture as well as pottery to make a living. Today, tourism powers the region’s economy.

Hot air balloons in Cappadocia
Hot air balloons in Cappadocia

To be thought about a fantastic ballooning destination, you requirement to look at three factors. First, the availability as well as reliability of operators. as well as right here in Cappadocia, there are lots of them. All you requirement to do is look as much as the sky at dawn as well as you’ll see.

Second, balloon-friendly conditions. Cappadocia uses balloon excursions year-round, nearly daily in summer. “You were lucky,” stated one of the locals we talked to, pointing out that it snowed so difficult for three days before our trip. as well as it’s true. It was snowing when we shown up in Cappadocia, however the skies cleared up the next day. “I personally liked the view during winter, when the hills as well as columns are covered in snow,” he added.

The only downside, he said, is that wintertime weather condition is rather unpredictable. From January to February, there’s a danger that rides be canceled. one of our guides even pointed out that he had seen tourists cry over not being able to do the tour, considering that a few of them came right here just for that.

Téli csodaország! Cappadocia when covered in snow.
Cappadocia Sunrise
The third aspect is the view, what’s in store for you when you’re up there. appeal is plentiful here, too. From above, Cappadocia is an limitless sea of rock formations, from towering pillars that nature thoroughly molded into huge chimneys for over 2000 years to spires that the early Christians carved with to produce dwellings as well as churches centuries ago. The trip likewise enables a look of a few of central Anatolia’s mighty peaks, where the sun would emerge from in a breathtaking celestial display.

A royal Ride

From above, we might see excursion vans as well as trucks tracking their corresponding balloons. roads cut across nearly barren lands that, at the time, nurtured only naked apricot trees as well as grape shrubs. We went where the wind took us — “We can only manage the going up as well as down,” stated Suat — as well as discovered ourselves in between cliffs, above little towns, as well as among lots of other balloons bring mind-blown tourists. We saw mosques as well as cave cathedrals, fairy chimneys as well as genuine ones, as well as bare as well as snow-clad homes while listening to the conversations of ten other passengers with us. the words amazing, beautiful, as well as unforgettable ended up being a essential in their sentences.

We were drifting above towns.
The town below us.
But the word we heard the most during the entire trip was magical. This was particularly true when we approached the like Valley. “Don’t ask why it’s called such,” Suat joked. I didn’t ask, however I have a theory. I looked around as well as was greeted by imposing columns that developed over years of erection erosion. The whole site is like a homage to male fertility. Or perhaps I’m just a pervert.

Seriously, though, phalluses or no phalluses, the like Valley is so wonderful — there’s that word once again — that you’ll begin doubting if all that you’re seeing is real. It’s as though it came directly from the mind of Ray Bradbury or George Lucas.

The sight of this alien-looking valley was likewise the signal that the trip was about to end. The trip lasted for nearly an hour as well as a half, as well as it felt like minutes. You understand what they state about time as well as having fun.

Love Valley.
Love Valley.
Hot air balloons in Cappadocia
Royal Balloon is something that the personnel are incredibly pleased of. You can suggest that it’s their task as well as all, however you can tell in the method they talk about exactly how in a different way they do things. “We are not a mass balloon operator,” they claim, underlining the proposition of focusing on high quality rather than quantity. Our basket can fit 16 passengers, however there were only 12 of us, making the journey comfortable. All passengers are likewise insured with the very best policy.

Not to mention that they have a best 5 score on TripAdvisor, from over 1300 radiant reviews.

But the thing I liked the most about our trip was exactly how experienced Suat is as well as exactly how much he likes the place. As a professional pilot as well as historian, he understands every nook-and-cranny as well as past-and-present of Cappadocia as well as talked about it as though he’s explaining family. He fires humorous jokes as well in between bits of information. He made the trip not just satisfying however likewise enlightening as well as entertaining.

After a best landing, we gathered around for the awarding of the “I conquered Cappadocia” medals. It was a cheesy idea, however I can tell you that I’m going to keep it for the rest of my life (because I’m cheesy as fck too). Every single one of us was delighted as well as satisfied with the tour. We may have hit the ground however it kept us on a high even as much as now.

And with a glass of locally created sparkling white wine in one hand as well as a strawberry in another, we shared a toast for a Cappadocian experience that was safe, royal, unforgettable, as well as — wait on it — magical.

On the method down
Vins bragging about his medal, as well as Suat leading the toast. Egészségére!
The personnel of royal Balloon having a great time with a guest
Suat Ulusoy, royal Balloon’s chief Pilot
Royal Balloon
Address: Avcilar Mahallesi, Dutlu Sokak, No: 9, Göreme – Nevşehir / TÜRKİYE.
E-mail: royal@ Signroyalballoon.com
Website: www.royalballoon.com
Rates: EUR 150-175

Where to stay: Castle Inn uses a few of the very best accommodations in Cappadocia (with quick wi-fi connection). found not in Goreme however in quieter Ortahisar, Castle Inn uses a a lot more authentic experience. set in a recently brought back 150 year old Cappadocian house, the stay alone is rather unforgettable. They have a 5 score in TripAdvisor as well as was voted Traveler’s option in 2015.

Book here: Castle Inn Cappadocia.

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