Hot-air balloon flights over Cappadocia

The operators will collect you from your hotel. Most companies offer clients breakfast at the headquarters prior to travelling to the launch site, and a glass of Champagne afterwards.

After breakfast and briefing, they will transfer you to the take-off site, selected according to wind speed and direction. The gathering point is just north of Goreme, where (almost) all the balloon operators have their premises.

The trip from pick-up time to drop-off back at your hotel takes about four hours.

There’s usually a minimum age of 6, and sometimes children aged 6-12 go for half price. Most operators will offer private balloon hire available on request (but subject to availability, so plan ahead for this).

Balloon flights run all year round, depending on the weather, with January and February the quietest months. Take-off depends on the season but is shortly after dawn, so prepare yourself for an early start.

Cappadocia’s climate makes for a low rate of cancellations caused by adverse weather. Just in case, arrange to fly at the beginning of your stay so you can reschedule in the unlikely event that your flight is cancelled due to adverse weather.