Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia

Cappadocia’s hot air balloon tradition can be traced back to 1991 when professional hot air ballooners worldwide held a competition in the region. After the contest, the first hot air balloon company in the area was founded and took its maiden commercial flight in the same year. As Cappadocia attracted more and more visitors, the general interest in ballooning grew, and in the following years, other balloon companies were established.

With lots of ballooning companies to choose from, it is hard for tourists to pick the right one for their flight. Luckily, Made in Turkey Tours is familiar with the region and the constituent balloon companies; thus, we make sure to choose the best ones for your tour.

Working with the best companies allows you to enjoy special yet crucial privileges like flying with the most experienced pilots in Cappadocia in balloons equipped with up-to-date equipment. You also get a top-shelf flight experience, and most importantly, our partner hot air ballooning companies have full passenger insurance.

The cost of flying across Cappadocia in a balloon depends on the type of flight.
Following are the suggested hot-air balloon flight costs per person for each and the total for private flights (subject to change without notice):

Standard flight: from 300 EUR / basket size: 16-24 passengers – Flight duration: +/- 60min
Comfort flight: from 350 EUR / basket size: 12-16 passengers – Flight duration: +/- 60min
Deluxe flight: from 410 EUR / basket size: 8-12 passengers – Flight duration: +/- 90min
Private flight: from 7295 EUR total / basket size: 1-12 passengers – Flight duration: +/- 60min
Private flight: from 7975 EUR total / basket size: 1-8 passengers – Flight duration: +/- 90min

Payments are welcomed either in cash or credit card, and all flights should be pre-booked to secure the best experience as it is mostly sold out during the peak season (Apr-Nov) and weekends.

The ballooning cost will depend on the month, the overall service quality, basket size, and the number of passengers on the flight. Smaller balloons carry few people in the basket and pay a slightly higher price than larger ones with more passengers. An experienced pilot/company will also charge more than an inexperienced one.

So, please inquire about the best possible rates available.

Cappadocia is one of the few ballooning destinations in the world where you can balloon for most parts of the year- approximately 250 days a year. Whether it is in the summer or cold winter, the region still maintains its world-famous beauty. Nonetheless, the day’s weather will determine if a balloon flight is possible.

Nonetheless, the best seasons for a trip across the Cappadocian sky are the spring and summer months, late March-August. The calm winds and clear skies make it easier to schedule a hot air balloon flight in the region. Autumn (September- November) also offers mostly favorable conditions for ballooning.

During the winter months (December-February), the winds become stronger; hence flight cancellation is a frequent occurrence thanks to the unpredictable weather conditions. Nonetheless, if you are lucky enough to balloon above Cappadocia in the winter, the view of this otherworldly landscape covered in snow is a once in a lifetime experience that you will never forget. A considerable number of tourists even rank this mesmerizing sight as more beautiful than the one you get in the summer.

During the flight, you are encouraged to dress in accordance with the temperature. And of course, as the attitude rises, the temperatures get cooler. Warm clothes are thus advised; during the summer months, put on light sweaters, and in the winter months, we recommend that you dress in heavier clothing. No matter the season, only wear flat shoes since you cannot enter the basket while in high heels and other pointed shoes.

Apart from giving you an experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life, safety is another major priority of the ballooning companies. With lots of effort and due diligence, Cappadocia is one of the safest ballooning regions globally, with thousands of hot air balloons flights completed each month safely.

Here are the steps taken to ensure you have a safe and scenic flight:

Licensing Pilots

To achieve a PPL (Private Pilot License), pilots have to complete 45 hours, followed by 40 hours of training. To fly a balloon smaller than 250 cubic feet, pilots need a minimum of 6 months of training for a CPL (Commercial Pilot License).

For a license to fly larger balloons, pilots must undergo an additional six months of training and complete 100 more flying hours. Pilots must renew their CPL every two years by undergoing and passing a written test meant to refresh their knowledge on emergency procedures.

Hot Air Balloon Operators

Balloon companies have three managers that oversee the hot air balloons, a flight operations manager with a minimum of 3 years pilot license, a quality control manager with a minimum experience of 2 years, and a maintenance manager with at least two years’ experience in maintenance.

Quality of Balloons

The hot air balloons in operation have to meet the highest standards of quality to fly. The balloons in Cappadocia come from Spain and the Czech Republic, and they are tested regularly for any signs of tear by the company’s maintenance manager.

Since 2019, Pasha Balloons has been producing balloons and their necessary parts domestically, also providing support for maintenance and dome replacements domestically.

Before and after a flight, the pilot must thoroughly check the balloon and sign the logbook’s appropriate information. The inspection helps to detect and avoid issues with the balloon, like fuel leaks. In case there is a problem with the fuel system, the spare parts used are strictly from the manufacturer, and any unauthorized repairs are forbidden.

The manufacturer may issue airworthiness directives (AD) and service bulletins (SBS) during their balloon’s operational life. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also conducts thorough checks on the balloons every twelve months before renewing their airworthiness license.

During flights, all balloons carry a VHF aircraft radio set to a uniform frequency to allow operators to communicate with each other whenever necessary. This measure has in effect for 12 years now and has helped the balloons to avoid collisions.

You will be handed an information card with your pilot’s name and undergo a standard briefing on windy landings before taking off for your safety. The weather has a significant influence on your flight’s safety and quality, which is one of the other reasons we work with the best balloon companies. Their experienced pilots are well-versed in metrology and the weather and will make sound decisions if and when the need arises. They also receive one fire/rescue emergency training from the fire department every year.

All the above safety measures and efforts from the balloon companies and the CAA have helped Cappadocia succeed in launching and landing close to 200 hot air balloons a day safely. On our end, by choosing to work with the best professional companies, we ensure that you experience the safest flight possible.

There is no upper age limit in hot air ballooning; passengers in their 70s and even 90s can enjoy the experience.

Nonetheless, kids below six are not allowed in the balloons for safety purposes.

Also, whereas flying in a balloon may be an excellent experience for women in the early stages, those in the latter, around 28 weeks pregnant, are discouraged from flying.

We encourage booking your hot air balloon flight in advance to aid in planning. If your trip to Cappadocia is 1-2 days, booking 5-6 days before arriving in the region is advised. If you will stay for a week or so, booking a flight on the first morning of your trip is the way to go. Those staying in the region for longer have the privilege of postponing their flight if the weather does not agree on the planned date of the balloon flight.

• Balloon operators fly below the capacity to achieve social distancing.
• All passengers must wear face masks at all times during the flight.
• If you are traveling as a family, couple, or group of friends, the operator will allocate you the same compartment.
• Hand sanitizers are readily available for passengers and staff.
• The balloons are disinfected after every flight.