Travel Highlights - Hot Balloon

Hot Air Ballooning in Turkey

The most anticipated part of any trip to Turkey is the hot air balloon ride! I'd always wanted to go to Turkey because of the hot air balloons, and I'd be so disappointed if I didn't get to ride. Hot air ballooning isn't cheap at all; it cost around S180 per person.

Cappadocia, a famous tourist destination in Turkey, is the perfect place for hot air ballooning. The natural wonders, aided by the wind, are truly spectacular. But be prepared: in Cappadocia, if the weather isn't favorable and the wind is too strong, you might not be able to ride. To be sure, we stayed in a Cappadocia cave hotel for three nights. On the first day, Wei Li said he'd arrive at 8 PM and have to get up at 3 AM, so he booked a flight for the second day. Unfortunately, the company announced the flight was canceled due to strong winds. Damn! We only had one chance left, so we were incredibly nervous. When the cancellation announcement came, many of us were incredibly disappointed! It was heartbreaking, especially our neighbor who was only staying one night. The next day, we woke up at 4:00 AM again and were taken to their office by company car. Breakfast was prepared for us, and we waited for the announcement! When the organizer excitedly said "Congratulations!" everyone cheered and almost screamed. Some were so moved that they burst into tears. This was the trip we had been looking forward to the most. Thank God for the good weather, and we actually got to ride in the hot air balloon! We were so excited...

A hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia is a must-do when traveling to Turkey. Cappadocia boasts a unique natural landscape, featuring alien-like limestone formations and grotesque rock formations resembling fairy chimneys. The stable climate makes it ideal for hot air ballooning, with over 200 balloons taking off daily. The vibrant colors of the balloons create a breathtaking spectacle, fueling a surge in popularity. Cappadocia has gradually become one of the world's most popular hot air balloon destinations, and even Turkish tourism has become synonymous with hot air ballooning. We signed up for our first hot air balloon flight to watch the sunrise. Butterfly Balloons is the third-ranked hot air balloon company on TripAdvisor. Their advantages include smaller crews (8-16 passengers) and a high safety factor. Most importantly, Butterfly Balloons maintains a zero-accident record, providing a reassuring experience.

After about 20 minutes of driving, the minibus arrived at the hot air balloon boarding point. The staff invited us to climb into the basket and explained the precautions for hot air ballooning. It was especially important to keep a firm grip on the basket ropes during the sudden ascent and descent, and to avoid taking photos or video during these times to avoid accidents. The hot air balloon took off very slowly, so it wasn't at all frightening. Those with a fear of heights needn't worry!

Although we were all hot air balloon passengers, the flight path varied significantly depending on the pilot's control method. For example, while other pilots would soar straight into the sky, ours remained suspended 10-30 meters above the ground, sometimes almost skimming the ground (and then threatening us with "we're about to crash!"). The pilot earnestly explained the unusual rock formations below, but we, eager to soar higher and farther, simply wished he would soar higher and higher.

"I started out hovering low in the sky, but now, flying high, I can look down at these descending hot air balloons. What a spectacular sight!" Some balloons were already descending. Each balloon company offers different ride times, but our company, Butterfly Balloons, guarantees a flight time of over an hour. Finally, after a safe descent, the company prepared champagne to celebrate our successful flight and awarded each of us a medal and certificate.

After completing today's flight mission, we celebrated with champagne. We are very grateful that we were able to fly today. However, the only drawback is that we didn't see the sun. The sky was cloudy, so the photos were not so bright.

The following video was shot by Wei Li

IMG_8174_MOV_AdobeExpress.mp4

IMG_8180.MOV

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse