Have you ever wanted to ride a hot air balloon and go on an interesting trip, not like any other in Turkey?
Well, Cappadocia is the answer.
This charming Turkish city among Anatolia, with ancient ruins that descend from many historical periods, and attracts tourists from all over the world, with its interesting journeys among the monuments that can be seen from the sky, while you fly in that huge hot air balloon on an unforgettable journey between the virgin nature and ancient civilization.
Prepare yourself a cup of coffee and start your journey with us on an exciting trip to Cappadocia, the charming city…
The city of Cappadocia in Turkey
Cappadocia was once part of the ancient Roman Empire and dates back to 4000 years ago. In the distant past, the inhabitants of these areas began building houses inside the rocks, and as a result of these constructions, a whole rocky city (under the rocks and mountains) was formed.
The churches among the caves with special architecture, nested tunnels, Goreme Museum, Drinovo and Kaymakli Underground are some of the most famous attractions of this tourist city.
Cappadocia Chimneys
One of the structures that Cappadocia people have built in the past is legendary chimneys, which differ in shape but most are long. These exotic structures are found in most parts of Cappadocia and are one of the defining features of these regions.
Fully underground cities are also another popular attraction in Cappadocia, and this visit will take you back to the distant past, when the inhabitants of these areas built an entire underground city inside the rocks, for housing and a shelter from danger. You will learn alot about the history of Turkey by seeing these cities in person, on a journey through time inside the rocks!
How long does it take to discover Cappadocia?
It takes you an average of 3 days to explore the nature and historical atmosphere of Cappadocia, but if you have the opportunity to explore more, you can enjoy this journey through many experiences by land and air through the hot air balloon.
Cappadocia location on the map of Turkey
Where is Cappadocia located?
This ancient city is a semi-arid region in the middle of Anatolia at the heart of what we now call Turkey. Cappadocia covers the areas now located between the cities of Kayseri, Aksaray, Nevsehir, Najdah and Karcher. This historic land is famous for its magnificent chimneys and rocky cliffs in a conical shape, which are mainly located in the Valley of the Monks.
One of the most famous areas of the region is the tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site covered with ancient structures.
Cappadocia is 735 km from Istanbul and takes about 8 to 10 hours drive from Istanbul to Cappadocia.
There are two main airports that you can use to reach Cappadocia. One of them is Kayseri Erkilet Airport, located in Kayseri State, about an hour drive from Cappadocia. Turkish Airlines operates many direct flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Kayseri Airport. Another airport is Nevsehir Airport, forty minutes from Göreme.
Cappadocia hot air balloon rides
Cappadocia is one of the most suitable places to ride a hot air balloon in the world. Many tourists admit that the main reason for their trip to Cappadocia is the hot air balloon rides.
Suitable flight conditions, unique views of valleys and cliffs, and historical and archaeological mixture are all due to the fact that you must include the balloon rides in your list of recreational activities in this legendary city.
Take a hot air balloon over the plains and hills of this surreal city and enjoy an unforgettable experience. The nature and texture of the region and its special structures make you think that you are in a 3D science fiction movie.
This flight will take you over the Goreme Churches, Valleys and Stone Houses, the visual beauty of these areas will give you wonderful moments.
Airships in this area provide you with the information you need. Depending on your desire, you can choose from three types of trips, regular, luxury or private. The cheapest flight is for 24 people and the most expensive trip for 4 people. Flight time varies from an hour to an hour and a half.
Hot air balloon excursions in Cappadocia
- Regular flights: The normal flight will give you one hour of air flight. A hot air balloon tour takes you from the hotel to the balloon site early in the morning. While eating a light breakfast, you can watch the airships inflate and prepare to fly. The expert will then explain the rules and safety measures to you and inform you about the flight process. Then, it is time to take a hot air balloon and begin your exciting flight.
- Luxury flight: By choosing the luxury trip, you will be at least an hour and a half above the sky of Cappadocia. The difference between regular and luxury flights is travel time and flight capacity. For those interested in photography, a luxury trip is a good option.
- Private flight: These trips are private in every sense of the word, and they are the best option for celebrating your wedding anniversary, birthday, etc. The balloon experience will remain forever in your mind. The private journey in the sky lasts for at least an hour and a half. During the trip, you can enjoy drinks prepared for you by the cruise members. You can also direct the balloon flight yourself under the expert supervision and complete this exciting journey.
Types of tours in Cappadocia
In addition to balloon rides, other tours invite you to see and experience this exciting city, including:
- Mountain climbing tour
- Jeep Ride Tour
- Rock climbing
- Horse riding
- Grape harvest tour of Takestan
These tours can be booked from major cities such as Ankara, Istanbul or Izmir.
Cappadocia in the winter
Winter in Cappadocia lasts from December to February with an approximate temperature of -2. Usually it snows about 20 to 30 cm in winter, but this does not stop the tourist movement in the area.
If you want to explore this ancient city out of the crowd, we suggest you visit Cappadocia in the winter. Snowfall may somewhat limit the adventure to visitors at this time of year, which is exactly why it is less crowded than other seasons.
Another reason to travel in the winter is the sight of the city of Cappadocia which is covered with snow, the whiteness that makes it more beautiful than ever, in addition to discounted prices from hotels, who can say no to this idea?
Cappadocia hotels in Turkey
What do you think of staying in a hotel in the heart of the cave?
We suggest you try the experience of staying in a hotel that is fully compatible with the historical context of this very enjoyable area. Thanks to its unique design and stunning architecture in the heart of the cave, Cappadocia hotels will make your time in the hotel more enjoyable than ever. Some of these hotels are cave-like in design and others are domed.
Staying in these hotels gives people a unique feeling of living in the underground cities of Cappadocia, with a difference that these hotels have all the amenities of today.
If you decide to stay in one of these hotels, be sure to spend the afternoon on the back porch. You will enjoy watching the city from this perspective when the sun sets.
The most famous luxury cave hotels in Cappadocia are the “Sultan Hotel” and “Mitra Hotel”.
Goreme Open Air Museum
In the village of Goreme, there is a group of stone churches inside the caves with walls covered with paintings of the tenth and twelfth centuries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
These churches, which date back to the spread of Christianity in the region, will acquaint you with Turkish architecture in the past and the culture of the people of this region. In many of these paintings, the fountains of the people inside the painting were scratched and drilled, because the inhabitants of these areas in the past were convinced that these springs remind us of the fountains of Satan!
To the southwest of Goreme, Uchisar Castle is carved into a large rock, with panoramic views of the village from above. Great picture that you can see from the hot air balloon as well. In the north, you can see the view of the Monks Valley and its famous legendary chimneys. Uchisar Castle is very popular among tourists due to its unique view.
Goreme is very popular among nature lovers and athletes. for cycling and rock climbing, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cappadocia.
As discovering different places with mountain biking will double the excitement of your trip to the fantastic city.
One of the other sports that are very popular with tourists is horsemanship. Turkish Cappadocia is also famous for its beautiful horses. As you can also rent a horse from equestrian sites, to get an exciting experience exploring this area.
How to get to Cappadocia?
Finally, if you are planning to travel to this amazing and ancient city, the question that comes to your mind is how to get to Cappadocia? Or where exactly is Cappadocia?
Tourists can travel and go to Cappadocia through:
The bus:
- The distance from Istanbul is 12 hour interval
- The distance from Ankara is 5 hours
- From the Bursa 11 hours
- Izmir 12 hours
- Antalya at a distance of 9 hours
The Plane:
You can also go by plane from these cities, to one of the two nearby airports (Kayseri Erkilet Airport and Nevsehir Cappadocia Airport) and from there you can reach the Old Cappadocia by car.
Nevsehir Cappadocia Airport is closer to your destination, as it will take about 40 minutes to reach the old city, while the journey takes about an hour drive from Kayseri Airport.
