{"id":17937,"date":"2023-04-05T09:53:20","date_gmt":"2023-04-05T09:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.battleface.com\/blog\/?p=17937"},"modified":"2024-03-27T15:51:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T15:51:33","slug":"hot-air-ballooning-in-cappadocia-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.battleface.com\/blog\/hot-air-ballooning-in-cappadocia-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon"},"content":{"rendered":"Approx read: <\/span> 5<\/span> mins<\/span><\/span>

If hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is on your bucket list, this one might be for you. <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Jump in and let\u2019s <\/span><\/span>take a magic ride amongst the clouds.<\/span><\/span>
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Info<\/span><\/span>
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Let\u2019s start at the beginning. First of all, it\u2019s important to know that Cappadocia is a region in Turkey, not a city or town. <\/span><\/span>It is pretty much smack in the centre of Turkey, about 3 hours southeast from Ankara, the capital. To get to <\/span><\/span>Cappadocia you\u2019ll need to travel Kayseri (Erkilet International Airport or ASR) or Nev\u015fehir (Nev\u015fehir Kapadokya Air<\/span><\/span>port or NAV). <\/span><\/span><\/span>There are several flights each day from Istanbul to Kayseri and Nev\u015fehir, and flights take a little over an hour. It <\/span><\/span>doesn\u2019t make a huge difference which one you choose. Both airports are only 30-40 minutes away by car from the <\/span><\/span>nearest towns.<\/span><\/span>
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The main tourist towns in the area are \u00dcrg\u00fcp, G\u00f6reme, Ihlara Valley, Selime, Guzelyurt, U\u00e7hisar, Avanos and Zelve. <\/span><\/span>The most popular place to stay seems to be G\u00f6reme, as the town has lots of tour companies, restaurants and hotels. <\/span><\/span>It is also pretty central, which means you can venture out to the Cappadocia landmarks with ease.<\/span><\/span>
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The currency is the Turkish Lira or TL and you can check the latest exchange rate using XE.com. There are not that <\/span><\/span>many places that exchange currency but most places do accept credit cards.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Weather<\/span><\/span>
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The best time to visit Cappadocia is March to June or September to November. There are fewer people and the <\/span><\/span>weather is milder during these times. June to August is the peak season so it can get crowded. It can also get cold <\/span><\/span>during the winter months from November to late February.<\/span><\/span>
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Dress code<\/span><\/span>
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Most people in Turkey are Muslim, yet Cappadocia (and Turkey as a whole) is not too conservative. To be respectful, <\/span><\/span>dress on the safer side and avoid anything too short or revealing. The temperature can be cold in the mornings, even <\/span><\/span>during the summer months, so bring a light jacket or coat.<\/span><\/span>
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Ballooning facts<\/span><\/span>
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The first commercial balloon flight was only 30 years ago. The industry has since blossomed, due to favourable <\/span><\/span>weather, better travel and the spread of social media. <\/span><\/span>Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is incredible not only because of the unique landscape but also because of the <\/span><\/span>sheer number of balloons. The balloons take off about 250 days a year, compared to about 60 days elsewhere in <\/span><\/span>Europe. April to November is the best time to hot air balloon in Cappadocia. The worst time is from December to <\/span><\/span>March, as flights are often cancelled due to high winds.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Cappadocia might be the only place in the world where so many balloons rise up almost every morning. Giving over <\/span><\/span>2000 people a day the experience of a lifetime. Up to 100 balloons have permission to take off before sunrise. With <\/span><\/span>another 50 taking off half an hour after sunrise.<\/span><\/span>
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There are age and height restrictions for joining a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia. Young children under the age <\/span><\/span>of 6 may not be able to join, and you must be over a certain height (approximately 4\u20196\u201d or 140 cm). This is to be able <\/span><\/span>to adopt the landing position and look over the edge of the basket.<\/span><\/span>
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Depending on which company you go with and how many people are in the basket, a hot air balloon ride costs be<\/span><\/span>tween 160and 260 euros per person. You might even be able to book the whole balloon for yourself for the extrava<\/span><\/span>gant price of 2500 euros!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Safety<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

Balloons, like aeroplanes, must be registered with the aviation authority. This means they are subject to regular safety <\/span><\/span>checks. Pilots must also undergo examinations, have a prescribed number of flight hours, pass flight tests and ace <\/span><\/span>medical checks. <\/span><\/span>Many hot air balloon pilots in Cappadocia have been flying for decades. Even so, there have been some accidents in <\/span><\/span>the past. Like getting into an aeroplane, accidents can happen even with the best pilots, ground crew and the safest <\/span><\/span>conditions. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Although there are measures in place to ensure your safety, hot air ballooning still carries some risk. Make <\/span><\/span>sure you choose a balloon company with experienced pilots who care about passenger safety. It\u2019s also important to <\/span><\/span>follow the pilot\u2019s instructions, as fatal accidents have occurred during landings. Not to worry though, experienced <\/span><\/span>pilots can often land the hot air balloon right onto the trailer \u2013 no bracing necessary.<\/span><\/span>
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If you\u2019re afraid of heights, you should know that the balloons can fly from about tree height to 3,000 feet above the <\/span><\/span>ground. Depending on the wind, the balloons can also travel very fast, reaching speeds of 2-22 KM per hour.<\/span><\/span>
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Cancellations<\/span><\/span>
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Flights do get cancelled if the weather fails to cooperate. On average, flights take place on approximately 250 days <\/span><\/span>of the year. But the Civil Aviation Authority can cancel flights for all balloons if there is rain, strong wind, fog, snow <\/span><\/span>or thunderstorms. Although forecasts are often made a day in advance, this is by no means a final decision. Weather <\/span><\/span>conditions can change without warning and you will often only find out your flight\u2019s cancelled at the very last minute.<\/span><\/span>
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What happens if your hot air balloon ride is cancelled? <\/span><\/span>The very first thing you should do is try to reschedule with the same company you booked with. But in most <\/span><\/span>cases (especially in high season), the flights for the next day are already booked. Email and call EVERY SINGLE hot air <\/span><\/span>balloon company in Cappadocia! Ask about seats for deluxe or \u201ccomfort\u201d flights (more expensive), flights at sunset <\/span><\/span>or after sunrise. Don\u2019t rely on your hotel to rebook for you, as they may only contact the few companies they have an <\/span><\/span>agreement with. <\/span><\/span>Keep a close eye on your email inbox, as most facilities will only hold your spot for an hour before giving it to the <\/span><\/span>next person on the waiting list. As soon as you receive a response, you should take the opportunity to claim the spot.<\/span><\/span>
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What else?<\/span><\/span>
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If you plan to stay a few days, don\u2019t forget to check out the underground cities, the myriad of viewpoints, open air <\/span><\/span>museums and archaeological sites. Or take the opportunity to stay in a cave hotel – rooms carved into mountainsides <\/span><\/span>or rock pillars. There are many to choose from, and people tend to always flock to the \u201cinsta-famous\u201d ones that cost <\/span><\/span>a fortune. A quick google search for cave hotels in Cappadocia should give you lots of options better suited to your <\/span><\/span>budget and taste. Cappadocia is a truly breathtaking place, both from the ground and from the air.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Saving Turtles in Turkey \u00a0<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n