Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride

Cappadocia, in central Anatolia, is a landscape of soft volcanic rock carved by wind and water into cones, pillars and valleys, with cave churches and homes cut into the cliffs. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the best way to take it all in is from a balloon at dawn.

You are collected from your hotel before first light, watch the balloons inflate, then drift above the valleys for about an hour as the sun comes up. Even if you stay on the ground, watching the sky fill from a hotel terrace is unforgettable.

Flights depend on the wind and are cancelled when it is unsafe, so we plan two nights in Cappadocia to allow a second chance. Dress in warm layers, and note that operators set a minimum age for children.