CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BOAT BALLOON: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMPANY?

The most famous place to soar high above the landscape is Cappadocia. Since the first images of colorful balloons floating above the lunar landscape and over the fairy chimneys, it has been a dream for us. Cappadocia hot-air balloon flight is an experience you will always remember. We learned that not all flights were created equally.

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight

While relaxing in Istanbul, Dave booked his first hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia using the Internet. After looking through the many tour companies available, we settled on the most costly. This opportunity only exists once in a lifetime, so we decided to use it wisely.

They offered a discount because it was low season, so we paid EUR140 to be put on the comfort tour. This included larger baskets and more space. We were happy with our decision and eagerly awaited our first flight over the fairytale chimneys.

We knew we would have the best hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia.

We were picked up at the Kayakapi Cave Hotel on time. However, when we were served breakfast, we were disappointed to see only a few pastries, cookies, and some tea and coffee.

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour

We have done hot air balloon tours numerous times around the globe, and they always provide a good meal, so it was a surprise to see such a small breakfast during our Cappadocia tour.

We’ve always eaten breakfast after balloon rides, so this may have been a snack. We didn’t seem too upset by either, as we were there for the flight and not the food.

We waited in vain for the vans to finally take us to our launch pad. We had heard that a celebrity wedding was being held and were anxiously waiting for them to arrive. (Damn rich people ruining the day for everyone else!)

It was already late when we finally got into the van to drive to the launch pad. We arrived at the launch pad to find other full balloons and others in the air.

It’s all about the Launch Area

We were already seeing the sun rise over the horizon.

Dave said to me that we would miss the sunrise. I shared my frustrations with our guide, and he said, “You advertise you are the best; that is why your prices have been much higher than others. So why aren’t we taking off last?”

Voyager Balloons claims they have the most skilled guides and can fly low through fairy chimneys. They are experienced and can mix it up in places other companies cannot.

Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia

Cappadocia’s Fairy Chimneys are amazing. They remind us of the hoodoos of Alberta.

We didn’t fly through the fairy chimneys. I thought they were referring to seeing them. We did see quite a bit.

The Second Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight was Better than the First.

We didn’t get the epic shots everyone sees of hundreds upon hundreds of Cappadocia Balloons flying through the air together on this flight.

We were consistently higher than the balloons or right in their midst.

The low season meant there were only 100 balloons instead of 150. The flight was disappointing because we didn’t pass through any caverns or even near any spires.

I want to spend less time on the Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Experience. We had another chance; that second flight was everything we wanted from Cappadocia.

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride Number Two!

We had two opportunities to fly over Cappadocia, Turkey. Our hosts organized our second morning in Cappadocia at a conference in Istanbul. Royal Balloons was booked for them, and this flight was worse than I had expected.

I was disappointed. I was sure I had booked with the best. How could it be better? We weren’t all going to be in comfort balloons; we were going to a regular-sized room. I was glad to be climbing again.

Already the morning started much better than it did the previous day. The hotel restaurant served a full breakfast buffet with tables to enjoy a bite to eat before we flew.

Although many people were inside the building, we were divided into smaller groups. Once we had filled our bellies, we were sent to different vans.

We took off from a different spot than the balloon ride the previous day and were delighted to see the sun rising as we took off. As we grew, we could see the fantastic Cappadocia landscape, filled with colorful hot air balloons.

Royal Balloons was a wonderful experience. The Cappadocia Balloon-filled sky I had expected was before our eyes. It was as if hundreds of balloons were floating in the sky above tall chimneys and jagged spires.

Fairytale Chimneys Of Cappadocia

The pilot took his time as he rose in the air, stayed low, and got so close to fairy chimneys that we felt we had run into them. We all laughed with delight as he sped through narrow canyons and sharp peaks. We had the best view of all the balloons and were, therefore, able to see them all.

Book a Balloon Flight with the Right Tour Company

To have the best Cappadocia hot balloon experience, I quickly realized the importance of booking with the right Cappadocia hot-air balloon company.

You won’t see the balloons over the landscape if you launch too close to the crowd.

It all depended on the pilot. Pilots who need more experience can stay high in the valleys. To visit safely, he must fly higher than the other balloons. You can fly better if you are a more experienced pilot. He can fly high and low with confidence if skilled and confident.

He can also ride the wind through narrow canyons and near fairy chimneys and take you to enjoy the fantastic views. The second pilot spoke much better English and knew more about the area. His sense of humor and casual speaking style was also great asset.

The launching point is what matters. We were surrounded by other companies when our first flight took off with many balloons. We couldn’t get far enough from the crowd to see all the balloons.