Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour: Sunrise Over the Valleys
Up before dawn, a slow lift-off, and the fairy chimneys turning pink below you.
Photo: Turkey Your Way
- Duration
- Early morning (about 3 to 4 hours with transfers)
- Region
- Cappadocia, Central Anatolia
- Walking
- Easy
- Starts
- Before sunrise
Best for First-time visitors · Families
Tour code CAP-H01
The essence
It is a slow, gentle way to meet Cappadocia. On this hot air balloon tour, we collect you from your hotel in the dark and drive to the launch field, where the crews fill the balloons with roaring burners. Then, as the sky turns pale, you rise over the fairy chimneys, the orchards and the rock-cut churches, with dozens of other balloons drifting around you. After landing, we take you back to your hotel for breakfast, and the rest of the day is yours, or ours to plan. Your balloon flight with a licensed operator, booked by us, and hotel pick-up and drop-off are included.
Highlights
- Watching the crews fill the balloons in the dark
- Sunrise over the valleys around Göreme
- Dozens of balloons in the sky around you
- A licensed balloon operator that we book for you
- Back at your hotel in time for breakfast
Program
-
Before dawn
Pick-up
We collect you from your cave hotel; the exact time follows the sunrise and the operator.
-
Dawn
The launch field
Watch the crews lay out the envelopes and fill them with hot air.
-
Sunrise
The hot air balloon tour flight
A slow climb over the valleys; the route follows the wind, often over Love Valley, the Rose Valley or Göreme.
Opening hours & dress code -
Morning
Landing and return
The basket lands in a field and we drive you back to your hotel.
In depth
The alarm rings in the dark, and an hour later you are standing in a field while the burners roar and giant envelopes rise from the grass. A few minutes after that, the ground falls away in silence. This is our hot air balloon tour of Cappadocia, with hotel pickup before dawn.
The Morning of Your Hot Air Balloon Tour
We pick you up at your hotel before dawn; the exact time follows the sunrise and the operator. At the launch field, you watch the crews unroll the envelopes and blow cold air into them with big fans. Then the burners light up, and the balloons stand up one by one.
Next, you climb into the basket with the pilot. The basket is the balloon operator’s and is shared with other passengers; if you would like a private basket, ask us. The lift-off is gentle, and soon the people below look small. From above, the valleys look like a sea of cones and folds, and dozens of balloons float at different heights around you.
Which Valleys You Fly Over
Balloons go where the wind takes them, so no two flights are the same. On most mornings, the route passes over the valleys around Göreme: Love Valley, the Rose Valley and the rock villages toward Uçhisar. At the end, the pilot lands in a field, and the crew packs the balloon while you take your last photos.
Our notes for the balloon morning
- StartBefore sunrise, from your hotel
- RouteFollows the wind, often around Göreme
- OperatorLicensed, booked by us
- BackAt your hotel for breakfast
Our suggestion At the launch field, watch the crews lay out the envelopes and fill them with hot air. It is the best moment for photos before you climb in.
Weather and Rules
In Turkey, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) sets the rules for balloon operations and licenses the crews. Each morning, flights only go ahead when the weather allows, so some mornings are canceled. That is why we suggest booking the flight early in your stay. If you would rather keep your feet on the ground, you can still watch the balloons rise from a viewpoint at dawn.
Book Your Hot Air Balloon Tour With Us
We book a licensed operator that we trust, arrange your pick-up and fit the flight into the rest of your plan, for example the North Cappadocia tour or the South Cappadocia tour later the same day. Balloon flights follow the rules of the civil aviation authority.
Would you like to fly over Cappadocia at sunrise? Balloons fly only when the wind allows, so give us your dates and your group size early, and we will book the flight with a spare morning behind it.
Before you go
-
- Entry
- No ticket needed, open valley
Hours can change on religious holidays. Your guide confirms them the day before.
What’s included
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel
- A balloon flight with a licensed operator, booked by us
- Our help to plan the rest of your Cappadocia days
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Photos and videos sold by the operator
- Breakfast, unless your hotel includes it
- Tips
“From the pick up to the drop off, the entire experience was top notch”
From your guide
What to wear
Warm layers and closed shoes; dawn is cold in every season, especially in winter.
Best time
Every morning when the weather allows. Book early in spring and autumn, when demand is highest.
Photos
Also, take your best photos during the inflation, when the burners light up the envelopes.
Practical
Updated:
- Starts
- Before sunrise. We collect you at your hotel.
- Ends
- Your hotel
- Meeting point
- Your hotel in Cappadocia
- Walking
- Easy: a short walk in the launch and landing fields, and climbing in and out of the basket.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs before booking. Climbing into the basket needs some mobility.
- Not suitable for
- Ask us about age limits and health questions; the operator sets the rules.
- Cancellation
- Flights go ahead only when the weather allows. If a morning is canceled, we help you look for another one.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the hot air balloon tour?
Around three to four hours from pick-up to drop-off; the time in the air depends on the operator and the wind.
What happens if the hot air balloon tour is canceled?
Flights only go ahead when the weather allows. If your morning is canceled, we help you find another day during your stay.
Who rules balloon flights in Turkey?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) sets the rules for balloon operations and licenses the crews.
Can children join the hot air balloon tour?
It depends on the operator's age rules. Tell us your children's ages when you book.
What should I wear?
Warm layers, a hat and closed shoes. Dawn is cold, even in summer.
What time is the pick-up?
Before dawn. The exact time follows the sunrise and the operator.
Can we watch the balloons without flying?
Yes. You can watch them rise from a viewpoint at dawn.
