Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia: Is it WORTH the Price? Our Review!

🎈You’re in Cappadocia, Turkey… on a sunrise hot air balloon ride over spectacular valleys of fairy chimneys and you’ve paid a substantial price to do it!

Sounds like bucket-list travel at its best, but is it worth the 150 to 250 Euro price tag that comes with it? Read on to find out exactly what we thought… from our reservations about booking to our final thoughts and review on our hot air balloon experience over Cappadocia.

We’ll answer ALL your questions on what to expect from a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. If you have questions related to which tour to book or should you book in advance? We also cover things like how long a hot air balloon ride is, the hot air balloon price, the best time of year to visit Cappadocia, what to wear + MORE.

But also, if you’re like me and a little tame on adventure tourism activities, I’ll give you the rundown on how scary a balloon ride is or isn’t.

Skip through each section below to find answers to your questions and finish on our review at the end of this post. Find out exactly what you can expect from a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. And don’t miss my other posts on things to do in Cappadocia, or ideas on the best places to stay for picture perfect hot air balloon views.

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Price

The most important question first – the price – how much is a Cappadocia hot air balloon tour?

Currently, the price of a Cappadocia hot air balloon flight can go over 250 Euros per person, and in winter you can book for as little as 100 Euros. 

In short the price for your hot air balloon experience will vary greatly!  It all depends on your chosen tour operator and their basket size, how many passengers in the tour, the season you’ve booked, school holidays in Turkey, school holidays in Europe and plain old supply and demand.  

We recommend you do your homework. Also check the availability calendar below for a better idea of how busy tours currently are and book in advance to avoid black market tickets!

Is it Best to Book a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Advance?

This is a more difficult question to answer… as it really depends again on supply and demand.

A good way to gauge how busy it is, is to take a look here at the Booking Platform for Royal Balloons in Cappadocia. Skip through the months and you’ll get an idea of how busy the upcoming dates are.

I tend to air on the side of caution and book in advance, especially if I know it’s an experience I really don’t want to miss. As I mentioned above we had to change our travel itinerary, due to the simple fact that I had left it too late to book a hot air balloon ride and accommodation.

The positive thing about booking with a reputable tour operator in Cappadocia, is that if the weather doesn’t pan out they will try getting you up in a balloon for the following day. And if by the end of your stay, and the weather has truly not been on your side, then you will receive a full refund.

Best Hot Air Balloon Operators & Tours

Not every hot air balloon tour is value for money and so we recommend you look around. Things to look for are the popularity of these tours and the review rating. As such we have selected the best tours available on Get Your Guide and Viator below.

Best Hot Air Balloon Tours with Get Your Guide

Cheap is not always best, particularly when it comes to a bucket list hot air balloon ride in Turkey! But now I think I’m just stating the obvious 😁

Click the links here to see the best hot air balloon operators in Cappadocia. While most offer a very standard service, we recommend three. Turquaz Balloons, Discovery Balloons and Brothers Hot Air Balloon. We met with the team behind these three balloon companies and asked them a series of questions.

‼️ I was interested to discover that many hot air balloon companies will take up to 32 people in a basket. But not the three I’ve recommended above, they only take 16. As such, it’s a more intimate experience, but naturally won’t come at the cheapest end of the price scale.

They are not the biggest operation in town, but they are local, trustworthy and care about providing a quality experience. What’s more, the reviews online sing their praises.

Best Hot Air Balloon Tours with Viator

Once again here are Discovery Balloons and Turquaz Balloons on Viator, incase you prefer to use this as your booking platform. Both come with thousands of 5⭐️ reviews and varying prices to suit every budget.

As I mention above we recommend these simply because the service they provide is top notch.

How Long is the Hot Air Balloon Ride?

The hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia last for around an hour of flight time. The tour providers will pick you up from your accommodation shortly after 4am. The balloons lift off at around 5am and land approximately 6am. But of course this is also subject to change depending on weather conditions.

After landing, there is a quick ceremony with some sparkling grape, while the balloon is packed up. And the drivers will have you back to your hotel in time for breakfast before 8am.

How Often do the Hot Air Balloons Fly?

Because hot air balloons require little to no wind, it means they do not fly everyday. The Civil Aviation make a call the day before, or the morning of, as to whether it’s safe enough for the balloons to fly or not.

In an average year, the hot air balloons will fly 220-250 days. So your odds are pretty good if you plan a four night stay in Cappadocia.

Just as a reference, on our first visit to Cappadocia we stayed in Göreme for four nights and the balloons flew on three of the mornings we were there. While the second time we visited, we stayed for six nights, and they didn’t fly at all due to wind. This really does show how experiences can vary.

What is the Best Month to Visit Cappadocia?

Obviously the odds of the balloons flying will depend greatly on what time of year you visit Cappadocia. Weather conditions for hot air balloon tours in Cappadocia are best between April and November.

During the winter months you may see dramatic photos of valleys filled with snow, and this is a beautiful time to visit, not to mention a cheaper one. However, with greater unpredictably around weather systems in winter, you can expect to see the balloons fly less frequently. Naturally, it’s also a lot colder so you’ll need to make sure you are rugged up. Also the timings would vary given that the days are shorter.

We definitely recommend sticking to the months that lead into or out of summer – April to June and September to November. That way you’ll avoid the much hotter temperatures of Cappadocia. If you can, it’s also a good idea to avoid peak times in and around school holidays and national holidays. Cappadocia gets super busy and the hot air balloon rides book out in advance.

💥 TIP – We had to adjust our Turkey road trip itinerary completely as we hadn’t booked accommodation for Göreme and a hot air balloon flight in advance. So check your dates don’t coincide with peak times and book in advance!

How Many Days in Cappadocia is Enough?

Given that hot air balloons fly on average two thirds of the days out of a year, then I’m going to say three nights in Cappadocia gives you a good chance of getting up.

However, there is so much to see and do in Cappadocia that ideally I would recommend at least four nights. This gives you an even better chance of getting a hot air balloon ride and it means you get to explore more of what Göreme and Cappadocia has to offer.

What to Wear on a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia?

Forget fancy… you can save that for the mornings when you go to the viewing points to watch the balloons fly over the valleys.

Instead, you want to wear comfortable, practical and warm for your Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon flight.

Getting in and out of the hot air balloon basket requires a little climbing. It is chilly in the dark cold mornings and if you feel the cold then you’ll want to be wearing something warm. Then when they fire up the gas burner in the hot air balloon you might find yourself getting hot.

So I recommend you wear a few layers, and bring a small bag to put clothes in if you find you start getting too warm. Especially, with kids!

Do Balloons Fly at Sunset in Cappadocia?

The wind conditions for flying are better in the morning. This means that hot air balloon rides are not available at sunset in Cappadocia.

Can Children Ride in a Hot Balloon Ride?

Yes, children can fly in hot air balloons from the age of six and above. In some cases the operators have higher age restrictions and in some cases they allow younger children to fly. It really depends on who you fly with. We flew with our girls at the ages of seven and nine and it was no problem at all. I have had friends who flew with their five year old. The best thing to do is ask before you book.

And you also have options if you have really young kids or toddlers and you don’t want to take them on a hot air balloon ride. Many hotels in Göreme offer a babysitting service for families in this situation, all you need to do is ask around before booking your hotel accommodation.

Are Hot Air Balloons Scary?

Strangely, for someone who loves travel so much I’m a bit of a nervous flyer. So I was concerned that I might have a panic attack flying in a hot air balloon. And actually my experience was not scary at all.

You might also be reassured by the following –

• Hot air balloon pilots undergo an extreme amount of training
• There is both a pilot and co-pilot onboard
• Civil Aviation make the final decision on whether or not weather conditions are suitable for the hot air balloons to fly
• Pilots give you a safety briefing on what to expect during the flight
• Balloons fly to a maximum altitude of 1800 metres (6000 feet)

Perhaps it is the smooth flight of the balloon or the soundless drift… if I felt any anxiety, it only lasted for a minute or two. So no, in my opinion flying in a hot air balloon is not scary.

What to Expect on a Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia

Naturally you’ll need to expect an early morning start.  Mini vans buzz around town between the hours of 4am and 5.00am picking up balloon riders.  You’ll need to be ready waiting because they don’t like to wait.  

When everyone is onboard they either head out of town to the allocated launch point for that tour provider.  Or in the likes of Turquaz and Discovery Balloons, you’ll meet at their office. You’ll be provided a lovely light breakfast, a morning tea or coffee. At this point they’ll remind you that this is the last toilet stop, before loading back into the vans and driving to the launch point.

When you get there, the balloons lie side by side already half inflated, and it doesn’t take long till you are bundled in fours or threes into the basket partitions. With the balloon pilot and co-pilot both onboard it’s one two three and up you go.

And ofcourse the biggest factor in all of this is which way the wind is blowing.  Over several days of watching balloons fly over Cappadocia we saw them take several different directions depending on the wind direction. We had lift off at 5am and were landing by 6am. 

When the balloons have landed, and the pickup team and ground crew arrives, the balloon is loaded onto the back of a truck.  Then everyone is unloaded and it’s time for a quick celebration drink.  By 8am you are back at your accommodation ready for breakfast!

What Happens if the Hot Air Balloons Don’t Fly

On this one I speak from experience. During our second visit to Cappadocia we were all prepared for the big day. Following an early start and light breakfast at the meeting office, we headed to the launch point.

As we pulled up we saw the teams assembling the balloons, they had begun to fill them with air. This was an impressive sight actually, their size is much bigger in person. But then after 10 minutes, came the sad news from Civil Aviation that the hot air balloons would not fly today.

My heart went out to all the visitors who had only booked one night, this was essentially their only chance. The team apologised and explained that they would receive a refund. However those that were staying another night, space depending, would go back onto the list for another chance tomorrow morning.

✅✅✅ So listen… I really can’t stress enough… book early! And stay at least three nights!!!

Is Cappadocia Worth the Hype? An Honest Review

I was apprehensive about forking out the Euros they were asking. So if you are thinking the same then you’ll want an honest review. Is a hot air balloon over Cappadocia really worth the hype?

The Cons

I believe we have Instagram partly to blame for a glorified version of Cappadocia of hot air balloons and fairy chimneys. Which is a shame really, as I believe Cappadocia is SO much more than hot air balloons.

As a result, travellers flood into Cappadocia for beautiful photos of hot air balloons. And herein lies the catch 22.

If these travellers didn’t pour in, the same number of balloons wouldn’t fly every day. And let’s be honest, some of the magic of Cappadocia is in watching the sheer number of balloons fly over the valley.

So lots of tourists, means lots of balloons, higher demand and higher prices. But ultimately more balloons also means more magic.

The Pros

From a sustainable perspective, there is certainly worse ways to explore a place! We felt in terms of responsible tourism, the whole experience was relatively positive. Hot air balloons fly on propane gas, which provides less threat to the environment than other gases. And overall there was little to no unnecessary waste created from the whole experience.

But one of the biggest pros for me, was the magic of it all. Cappadocia has long been a destination I’ve wanted to visit. And it has to be said, long after we parted ways with our 150 Euros per family member, the money paid is forgotten but the memory of our hot air balloon ride remains.

Final Thoughts on a Hot Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia

In a nutshell, is a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia worth it. Yes I believe it is.

Would I go so far as to say it’s worth the hype? Probably not, but I’m not the kind of traveller to get swept up in hype.

This said, a hot air balloon flight is extremely special, and if you are lucky enough to experience it just once in your life then you should. IF that once coincides with a trip to Cappadocia then I say don’t think twice… go for it!

Pro Tips for a Great Hot Air Balloon Experience

1️⃣ Tip One – Plan your flight for your first day in Cappadocia.  Don’t wait till midway through your trip because the weather might not be in your favour.  We met several people devastated that they could not get their balloon ride.  Firstly because weather conditions weren’t suitable and secondly because they were sold out. 

2️⃣ Tip Two – Be sure you are in the first group of hot air balloons. A hundred balloons take off for the sunrise flight and around 50 take off at the second flight 45 minutes later. You get the wow factor if you are in the first flight as the bulk of the hot air balloons float in the sky all round you.

3️⃣ Tip Three – And probably the most important… don’t take the cheapest option! I highly recommend you buy your tickets through a reputable company, not the black market. That way you ensure the best outcome for yourself and your experience.

More on Turkey

If you are planning to see more of Turkey then don’t miss our other posts in this series…

• 15 Best Cave Hotels with a View in Cappadocia
• 15 Magical Things to do in Cappadocia
• Road Tripping Turkey
• How to Plan Your Visit to Pamukkale
• 4 Days in Istanbul
• 16 Awesome Things to Do in Kas
• How to Visit Anzac Cove & Gallipoli

Pin this post for later or drop a comment below on your thoughts about taking a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey.

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