What a view!
Cappadocia, in central Turkey. is known for its valleys and unique rock formations, shaped centuries ago by erupting volcanoes. Rose Valley with its pink hued rocks which deepen as the sun descends, Pigeon Valley, Ihlara Valley and Goreme Valley home to the Open Air Museum. The beauty of the valleys can be appreciated in two ways, either by pulling on a sturdy pair of boots and hiking through them or by drifting, gently above them at sunrise during a balloon flight. Which would you choose?
Not many things will get me up at 5am – the prospect of a stunning sunrise, possibly. Flying off to a new destination, always. But on our second day in Goreme, when the alarm started screeching, I was out of bed like a rocket – I knew today would be one of the highlights of our Turkey trip – though it was a pity not to have had more time in our Fairy Chimney.
After a quick coffee, pastries, fruit and signing of forms at the Butterfly Balloon meeting point 16 of us set off in a minibus to a high plateau overlooking Goreme.
Float like a Butterfly…
We arrived at the take-off area to the sight of dozens of hot air balloons, in various stages of inflation, and watched mesmerised as they lifted gently into the air and floated into the rising dawn.
Dwarfed by these giants, excitement growing by the second, we watched balloon after balloon gently tilt, lift from the ground and with a whoosh of ignited gas drift into the landscape.
Up, up and away…
Our balloon was one of the last to lift and the sight ahead of dozens of balloons in different colours, sizes and varying heights as they drifted into the pink dawn was spectacular.
As the ground sunk away we floated low, skimming the trees in the valley, as we rose higher we enjoyed a birds-eye view of the landscape which gave us a good orientation of the area – useful for hiking the next day.
Kaan, our pilot, was skilled to within an inch of clipping the tree tops with the guy ropes trailing from the balloon above us. We soared higher, the roar of flame cutting through the quiet. There was no breeze as we were travelling at the same speed as the wind; all was calm, peaceful and serene. Fairy chimneys loomed and passed by and the panorama below gave us plenty to muse over.
The rock formations close-up
I could have stayed drifting forever and walked on air for the rest of the day – but I’ll let the pictures do the talking…
Views over the valleys of Cappadocia
Rock Formations
Below the Basket
The winds have welcomed you with softness,
The sun has greeted you with warm hands,
You have flown so high and so well,
That God has joined you in laughter,
And set you back gently into
The loving arms of Mother Earth.
— Anon, ‘The Balloonists Prayer,’
Floating over Fairy Chimneys
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Wow! If I ever dare go ballooning, that’s the place to do it! Perhaps when there aren’t so many other balloons though! I’d be nervous about crashing into one of them!
I hope you do dare one day – I loved it. The pilots had control of the balloons down to inches and could navigate
as close to trees as they wanted with out touching.
Wow this is just gorgeous! Hoping to go to turkey next summer and ride in a hot air balloon in cappadocia! Looks absolutely breathtaking!
Hope you enjoy it as much as we did – it was breathtaking. Thanks for dropping by – check out my other posts on Cappadocia/Turkey and if you need any info drop me a line
Wow! Such an experience, the view looks stunning and I think that even I would have been able to enjoy it despite my fear of heights.
I must consider doing it next time there will be the chance, cheers for sharing and encouraging me
Fear of heights? I hope you conquer them and get to experience something like this. You may NOT want to check out my London Shard post!! Thanks for visiting
I know, I wish I didn’t have to deal with such a silly fear but I cannot control it
I must learn how to get better.. and pretty soon!
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So this is the view from up there.
I can imagine what a thrill i must have been!
We didn’t get to ride one when we went to a balloon festival recently (the cost was at least $100 more than your balloon ride). Maybe I’ll wait until I get to Turkey, hehe. Thanks for sharing the experience, Suze.
This was such a wonderful experience and Goreme an amazing town – If you’re ever in Turkey it’s worth a couple of days detour
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We spent some time in Turkey, but concentrated on Istanbul, and the west coast. Cappadocia has always been on our list. Thanks for the post, the photos are great. ~James
Thanks James – I’d have loved to spend more time in Cappadocia and Istanbul. Turkey is an amazing country.
Cappadocia is one of my favorite places in the world and the one I yearn to return to. I as there in 1999 before there were hot air balloons. Now I want to return sooner and ride on those baskets! Sounds fun and the sight from above looks just amazing.
It was an incredible trip – I’d love to return to and stay longer. Thanks for visiting my site
I also went up in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia at sunrise. Wasn’t it a phenomenal experience? It was probably my favorite travel experience EVER!!
That is a very special memory for me too; it really was an unsurpassable experience. Glad you think so too
Some of the very best balooning shots I’ve seen~! Once I had ridden in a baloon it left only a ride in the Goodyear Blimp on my “In the air To Do list”.
Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog
Thanks Richard – impressed that you have an ‘In the Air to do List’!!
Will pop back to your blog soon, thanks for visiting here too
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Incredible wasn’t it? Your pictures do it full justice
Such an amazing experience. I love looking at the pics – brings it all back
What a magical experience! Thank you for describing what happened – such a fine adventure…
Magical is the perfect word for it Meg!
I’ve always wanted to do this but I suppose looking at your pics is the next best thing!
Never say never…..
Beautiful photos! I’m going to keep this as a “must do” for my next Turkey trip.
It’s definitely a ‘must do’
Never done a hot air balloon trip, but would like to give it a go in the right location!
It was quite a surreal experience – where would be the location you’d most like to balloon over?
That’s a hard one, perhaps the Serengeti or the Valley of the Kings woould be the place to start
They would be amazing – I understand over the Namib Desert is stunning too.
You would never get me in one of those! They come over our house and I’ve seen how little control they have over them.
I wouldn’t fancy it in UK climes either….
Simply stunning!
I’m not jealous.. No, no.. Not at all. Not one little bit!
You’re right – it was just stunning
Love hot air balloons – the silence amidst the occasional roar of the jet flames, the landscape close enough, it seems, to touch. It’s such an old-world, romantic way to travel! Great pictures!
Thanks Peggy – it was surreal and very beautiful.
I just can’t wait to do this!
Hope you don’t have to wait too long!
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that looks like an amazing trip! i’d like to do that someday…
The balloon flight was the highlight but there’s also lots more to see and do in Cappadocia – it’s an interesting place to visit
Cappadocia is a lovely place. I been there but I did not take the hot air balloon ride.
I’d like to have spent more time there – so much to see