Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia — Attraction in Göreme

According to Herodotus,[1] in the time of the Ionian Revolt (499 BC), the Cappadocians were reported as occupying a region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine (Black Sea). Cappadocia, in this sense, was bounded in the south by the chain of the Taurus Mountains that separate it from Cilicia, to the east by the upper Euphrates, to the north by Pontus, and to the west by Lycaoniaand eastern Galatia.[2]

The name, traditionally used in Christian sources throughout history, continues in use as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage. The area is a popular tourist destination, as it has many areas with unique geological, historic, and cultural features.

Touristic Cappadocia includes 4 cities: Nevsehir, Kayseri, Aksaray and Nigde.

The region is located southwest of the major city Kayseri, which has airline and railwayservice to Ankara and Istanbul and other cities.

The most important towns and destinations in Cappadocia are Ürgüp, Göreme, Ihlara Valley, Selime, Guzelyurt, Uçhisar, Avanos and Zelve. Among the most visited underground cities are Derinkuyu, Kaymakli, Gaziemir and Ozkonak. The best historic mansions and cave houses for tourist stays are in Ürgüp, Göreme, Guzelyurt and Uçhisar.

Hot-air ballooning is very popular in Cappadocia and is available in Göreme. Trekking is enjoyed in Ihlara Valley, Monastery Valley (Guzelyurt), Ürgüp and Göreme.

Sedimentary rocks formed in lakes and streams and ignimbrite deposits that erupted from ancient volcanoes approximately 9 to 3 million years ago, during the late Miocene to Pliocene epochs, underlie the Cappadocia region. The rocks of Cappadocia near Göreme eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. People of the villages at the heart of the Cappadocia Region carved out houses, churches and monasteries from the soft rocks of volcanic deposits. Göreme became a monastic centre in 300–1200 AD.

The first period of settlement in Göreme goes back to the Roman period. The Yusuf Koç, Ortahane, Durmus Kadir and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, and houses and churches carved into rocks in the Uzundere, Bağıldere and Zemi Valleys, all illustrate history and can be seen today. The Göreme Open Air Museum is the most visited site of the monastic communities in Cappadocia (see Churches of Göreme, Turkey) and is one of the most famous sites in central Turkey. The complex contains more than 30 carved-from-rock churches and chapels, some having superb frescoes inside, dating from the 9th century to the...

The main highlight in Cappadocia (Century Sultanhani Caravanserai) can't be anything else except this hot air balloon ride, reputed as one of the most popular spots in the world. This ride was included in our tour but it is optional and you have to pay around RM900.00. Rather expensive actually, should you opt out of it, then, you can do as you like for the few hours in the morning while the rest are taken for this ride. Nevertheless, if you can afford, you shouldn't miss out because it is such a waste coming this far and not experiencing it. Unless of course, if you don't mind returning to Cappadocia again. For me, I didn't mind paying because after this Turkey tour, I am apt for travelling to other parts of the world. So, there is no logic if I don't pay for the package, which included transport from hotel, breakfast at a nearby cafe, the drive to the location and the ride itself.

A truly early kick start, by 5.30am we left the hotel with 8 people to a van. First stop as said, breakfast and then to the huge open area where the ride takes off.Climbing into the basket was not as simple as I thought. No worries or concern. The guys will help you out, and as soon as balloon is released up in the air, it will slowly and surely drift over the fairy chimneys, valleys, orchards, wine-yards and limestone tips. Absolutely trilling and exiting looking down, up above, across or right in front, worth every dollar for this once in a life time experience. Having said that, it was quite uncomfortable. packed like sardines in the basket, standing back to back and almost rubbing each other. Also, with hardly any space to move around, you just have to stand still, admire the high up view and taking pictures is quite a thing actually.

Within the next 40 minutes, I think so, I can't really remember how long since I didn't bother asking, neither did I note, we were slowly drifted down at another area. Thereafter, we were practically lifted out of the basket, followed by a small time "you have made it" party with champagne, a certificate is given and off you go with fond memories of this Hot Air...

We booked a hot air balloon ride well in advance through Airbnb, as this was the highlight of our trip to Cappadocia. This was the main reason we traveled there. However, upon arrival in Cappadocia, we were met with complete chaos and a lack of information. No messages, no updates – nothing! We had no idea if we would be picked up, at what time, or how the whole experience was supposed to unfold.

By 8 p.m., just a few hours before the scheduled flight, we had to reach out ourselves to find out what was going on. To our surprise, they informed us that our flight had been canceled due to “bad weather.” But in reality, the weather forecast was perfect.

The next day, we found ourselves surrounded by hundreds of balloons in the sky with perfect weather – not a single hint of the bad conditions they had mentioned! We even took a tour to watch the balloons take off from the ground, and it was stunning. All I could feel was deep frustration. Our flight was canceled, and no one even offered to reschedule it for the following day. How is this even possible?

We were faced with another major problem – because of their incompetence and failure to warn us in advance, we had no chance to book another flight. Everything was sold out, and there simply wasn’t enough time. As a result, we missed out on the most important experience we had planned for our trip to Cappadocia.

The way we were treated was an appalling display of incompetence and a complete lack of care for their customers. No explanations, no alternative solutions, not even an apology. We spent a lot of money and effort to come here, only to be left without the highlight of our trip.

Absolutely unacceptable! If you value your time and money, I highly recommend finding a more reliable company that actually cares about their customers and doesn’t ruin their dreams.

Since our booking was canceled, we couldn’t leave a review on Airbnb, so we had to leave it here on Google Maps.

P.S. The photo was taken on September 20, a day when the weather was supposed to be bad, according to the expert opinion of our...