In the heart of Turkey, Cappadocia rises like a fairytale land, a place where lunar landscapes and rock formations sculpted by the wind and water reveal a thousand-year-old story. But for those seeking to discover this region in a truly spectacular way, a hot air balloon ride represents the ultimate experience. Imagine waking up before dawn, climbing into a basket, and gently ascending above the valleys and stone houses as the first rays of the sun transform the landscape into a vibrant canvas of colors. The panoramic views offered by the hot air balloon reveal Cappadocia in a unique manner, giving you an unforgettable perspective on this magical corner of the world.

1. How to choose a balloon flight
2. Why Royal Balloon
3. Flight categories
4. How was our flight
5. Balloon flight prices
6. Tips for balloon flights
7. What do our young explorers say

How to choose a balloon flight

Choosing the best tour operator for your balloon ride is essential to ensure a safe and memorable experience.

• First, check the company’s reputation by looking at reviews on travel platforms like TripAdvisor, Get Your Guide or Google Reviews, where other tourists share their experiences.
• Make sure the operator has all the necessary licenses and adheres to international safety standards.
• Another important aspect is the experience of the pilots. An experienced pilot with knowledge of the area will be able to skillfully maneuver the balloon and provide fascinating information about the landscape below.
• Compare the packages offered by different operators, considering the duration of the flight, the services included (such as transportation to and from the hotel, breakfast, and champagne upon landing), and the price.
• Lastly, make sure the operator has a clear plan for managing weather conditions, offering you the possibility to reschedule the flight if conditions are not favorable.

Why Royal Balloon

After thoroughly researching the market, we chose Royal Balloon as the most capable operator for providing the safe and dreamlike flight we desired. Royal Balloon is one of the most renowned and highly regarded balloon flight operators in Cappadocia, offering an unparalleled experience thanks to their commitment to quality and safety. The pilots are highly experienced, with thousands of flight hours, and they will provide not only a safe flight but also a fascinating insight into the history and geography of the region.

Royal Balloon stands out for its meticulous attention to detail, offering premium services such as private transfers to and from the hotel, breakfast at the luxurious Royal Stone Houses hotel before the flight, and a champagne ceremony upon landing. The reputation of Royal Balloon is supported by numerous positive reviews and awards in the tourism industry, making it the ideal choice for those seeking to experience an unforgettable adventure filled with magic, in the heart of the spectacular Cappadocia.

Flight categories

Royal Balloon offers three flight packages, tailored to provide an experience that meets everyone’s expectations.

• Royal Queen Flight includes 60 minutes flight in a basket with a maximum of 20 passengers, an English-speaking pilot, luxury minibus transfer from your hotel, insurance, breakfast at the Royal Stone Houses hotel, discounts for children aged 6 to 11 years old (with a minimum age limit of 6 years), champagne upon landing, and a complimentary eco-friendly bag from the organizers. Inside the bag we found a branded cap, a medal, a bookmark, and a car air freshener. A very nice touch 🙂
• Royal Queen “Plus” Flight includes everything in the Queen Flight package, but with a basket accommodating a maximum of 16 passengers, providing a more spacious experience.
• Royal King Flight includes everything in the basic package, plus a 75-minute flight in a basket with a maximum of 8 passengers and a branded Royal Balloon polo T-shirt.

How was our flight

In short, fascinating! It’s worth a thousand times over! Yes, it may be expensive, but it’s truly something entirely special!

We woke up in the middle of the night, at 4 a.m., because we had breakfast scheduled for 4:30 at the hotel. We drove from Ürgüp, where we were staying, because afterward, we were planning to continue our journey with our car. However, for those who don’t come by car, Royal Balloon provides transportation from the accommodation to the hotel. After a self-service breakfast, we boarded the minibus and were taken to the takeoff site. Once there, we were greeted by dozens of immense balloons, occasionally illuminated by the fires that heated the air, an impressive show of flames and vibrant colors. We climbed into our basket and patiently awaited takeoff. The basket is divided into 4 compartments, for 4-5 people each, plus the one in the middle for the pilot.

We didn’t even feel the balloon lifting off, it all happened so smoothly. We just noticed the ground slowly drifting away from us as we floated in the morning glow, surrounded by a sky full of balloons. As the sun appeared on the horizon, the first rays of morning bathed the rocks and valleys of Cappadocia in a reddish-golden light, creating a magical and almost unreal atmosphere.

During the flight, the pilot gently guides you through valleys and over plateaus, sometimes getting close enough to the ground to observe fascinating details, and at other times ascending to higher altitudes to provide a panoramic view of the entire region. We believe we had the best pilot there is. He knew exactly which route to take to give us the best views of Cappadocia’s iconic valleys: Rose, Love, Rocket, and in the distance, the rock-carved towns of Uchisar and Ortahisar. He also knew precisely when to ascend to show us how the first rays of the sun gently caress the tips of the fairy chimneys, then illuminate the towns in the valley and the rock-carved formations.

I mention this because many people don’t know that most of the flight takes place at altitudes of 300-500 meters above ground. Due to the stronger winds at 1000 meters altitude, balloons cannot stay there for long, otherwise the flight would be over in 15 minutes. This requires an experienced pilot who knows exactly when to raise the balloon to catch the perfect sunrise lights. We saw other balloons that ascended quickly after takeoff, in semi-darkness, only to later descend for the rest of the flight. These are small details that make the difference between a nice flight and a perfect one. Thank you, Ahmet!

I don’t know when an hour of flight passed, but we arrived at the landing site sooner than we thought, where we were greeted with champagne, juice for the kids, strawberries dipped in chocolate, and a medal for each one of us, to celebrate this unforgettable experience. The kids were the most thrilled about the medals; they said they had something to brag about at school 😀 From here, you can also purchase (for 30 euros) photos and the entire video of the flight, taken with a 360 camera provided by the Royal Balloon team.

Balloon flight prices

Based on my search for the perfect operator, I noticed that all operators have similar prices, with differences of 10-30 euros between them. However, I did not see any offering discounts for children. Generally, in most places across the country, children over 8 years old pay the adult price; there is no reduced price. Well, Royal Balloon offers discounts for children between 6 and 12 years old. Thus, the price, in May 2024 when we went, was 270 euros per adult and 230 euros per child. But prices vary depending on the month and frequency. Nonetheless, I recommend booking your flight in advance because good operators get fully booked several months ahead, especially during the season. You can check out this link for some discounts 🙂

Despite the price, more than 100 balloons take off every day in good weather, a sign that indeed this experience is worth every penny.

Tips for balloon flights

• Take an extra layer of clothing. Cappadocia is at an altitude of 1000 meters (you wouldn’t guess), and the balloon rises another 1000 meters, so it gets quite cold, even in summer.
• If you don’t have breakfast provided, have a small snack before takeoff; it’s not ok to fly on an empty stomach. Don’t forget to bring water as well.
• The balloon basket is quite high, so if you’re flying with children, you’ll need to hold them in your arms or on your lap so they can see outside.
• I recommend booking the flight in the first few days of your stay to allow for time flexibility in case the flight needs to be postponed. Out of the 6 days we stayed in Cappadocia, the balloons only flew on 3 days.
• Balloons don’t have fixed takeoff and landing points. Flights depend on the wind direction, making each flight different and unique.

What do our young explorers say

Mihai: ”When we took off, I felt really nervous. I held onto the handles continuously until we got up high. I liked how he pulled the lever that made the fire come out. I enjoyed looking down because the view was absolutely amazing. The guy who flew the balloon was very nice, telling us when and what to do, how to stand, and explaining what we were seeing. He also told us when to hold on tight for the landing. I liked the landing because it jolted us and swayed us left and right. The other balloons looked very cool when we saw them from above, from our balloon. And that’s about it. It was really awesome!”

Alex: “The balloon flight was really cool and interesting. There were many balloons, and I loved seeing the formations from the balloon, and especially how the pilot pulled the lever and the fire shot up. We had a great route where we could see the houses carved into the rock and the formations, both from below and above. I recommend it for other kids because it’s amazing to see the sunrise and, after the sun rises, how the balloon lifts you up and you see the formations from above and the flat-topped mountain. I also have a tip for those who fly: enjoy the flight to the fullest and take lots of photos.”

In conclusion, I want to say that a hot air balloon flight is truly a bucket list experience that you shouldn’t miss if you visit the region. You know those stunning photos on the internet with a ton of colorful balloons filling the sky? Multiply that by 360 degrees, and you might get an idea of what this experience is like. Although I tried to imagine it, the actual experience was far beyond what I could have ever imagined 🪂.

*This article was created in collaboration with Royal Balloon Cappadocia *

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Happy exploring!