Writer: Yavuz İşçen
May 2008

All the tourists come to visit Cappadocia, somehow heard about the hot air balloon trips or they can hear about it as they reach to Cappadocia. However, during the last years, the concept of Cappadocia and balloon are almost clamped together like teeth and chin. Actually mentioning Cappadocia as one of the most important hot air balloon centers of Turkey is not an exaggeration.

You are on vacation and planning to have a deep sleep and a rest. After the shower, open buffet breakfast is waiting for you downstairs. In order to abandon from all these, you need to have very important reasons. Whilst, you can be sure that, in Cappadocia it will not be that much difficult to find a reason. Being in gondola of a hot air balloon and watching the surrounding while gliding both over the unique nature of Cappadocia and through the valleys and fairy chimneys is one of the splendid feelings that you may taste. If you ask me it is worth to wake up early even not to sleep during the whole night in order to taste this unspeakable excitement once in a lifetime. 

A brand in balloon tours: Cappadocia
Cappadocia’s being one of the balloon tour centers is not a coincidence. First of all, Cappadocia is on the top of the list because of its unique geography, climate as well as its geological formation which is incomparably beautiful. As it is known, Cappadocia has terrestrial climate. This type of climate has the characteristic of clear temperature difference between day and night. Even during the summer time, the weather is quite chilly towards the mornings. But after the sun rises, it gets immediately warm.
Therefore, the warm air gains mobility like river through the valleys and mountains. Because of this, the hot air balloons in Cappadocia start their journey with the first lights of the day. To escalade and to cruise from one place to another this hot air stream is being used and flowing over this air stream depends on the capability of experienced balloon pilots. Of course the unbearable lightness of flying is not the only reason for Cappadocia’s being a brand of balloon tours. Certainly it is important over what you fly and what you see during your flight. I think it is not necessary to tell you that Cappadocia has the capacity of offering various surprises for you. Even, during your flight over Cappadocia, you might have the feeling that you have never seen Cappadocia before. That’s all we can say about.

To join a balloon tour
In order to join a balloon tour in Cappadocia, the only thing that you need to do is to get in contact with a company. To describe your request to your hotel might be even enough.  They might make a reservation for you. Of course you always have the possibility of either choosing one of the balloon companies that you like or applying to one of the travel agencies in the region.
As you get in contact with the company together with your flight hour you will learn at what time in the morning you will be picked up from your hotel. Normally, before the sunrise around 04:30, you will be picked up and brought to the area where the balloons catch the wind. Because of many balloons’ being ready to take off in the area, you will come across with an interesting view. While they fill the balloons with air, you have your breakfast served with warm tea. When the balloons are ready, the first light of the day can be seen. Now it is time to catch the wind.
The flight can last 45-90 minutes. The prices are changing due to the flight duration. Don’t expect to land on the same place where you take off because in balloon flights your landing place is not certain. The landing area is being defined by the air condition and the wind.  During your flight, by land you are always followed by land team and during your landing the team checks the balloon. At the end of your flight, there is a certificate ceremony together with champagne. The ceremony with champagne was created in 1783 by Montgolfier brothers after their first hot air balloon flight and it has become a tradition later on. And the certificate, which shows that you had a flight with hot air balloon, will be a good memoir for you. After that you can return to your hotel by the car of the company.

Note: This article has been published in Peribacası Cappadocia Culture and Publicity Magazine, May 2008 issue. It is under protection of the copyrights of the magazine. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by electronic, mechanical or other means without prior permission from the owner. www.cappadociaexplorer.com