Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys

Watch the sunrise unfold across Cappadocia's stone peaks from the air

A hot air balloon flight over Göreme in Cappadocia takes you up at dawn to watch the sunrise over the fairy chimneys and surrounding valleys. The one-hour flight climbs to altitude while you take in the landscape, then lands for a champagne toast and certificate. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia

• Hotel pickup early morning
• Quick breakfast at office
• Transfer to balloon take-off area
• Watch balloons inflate
• Hot air balloon flight over fairy chimneys
• Champagne toast and certification
• Return to hotel

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel around 4:30 or 5:30 am and driven to the operator's office for a quick breakfast before heading to the launch field. When you arrive, hundreds of balloons are already inflating across the ground. The sight alone is worth the early start. You board a basket with 20 to 24 other passengers and lift off as the sky begins to lighten.

The first half hour keeps you low enough to see the fairy chimneys in close detail: the strange stone formations that make Cappadocia unmistakable. As you climb higher over the next 30 minutes, the landscape opens up and you can see the whole patchwork of valleys and ridges stretching out below. The flight lasts roughly an hour total. After landing, the crew breaks out champagne for a toast to celebrate the flight, and you receive a certificate as a keepsake before heading back to your hotel, arriving around 7:45 am.

The basket holds up to 24 people, so this is a shared flight. You're not alone in the sky, but the basket is large enough that it doesn't feel cramped. The early departure means you catch the sunrise and finish early enough to move on to other activities in Cappadocia the same day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• one-hour hot air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys.
• light breakfast before takeoff.
• champagne toast and certificate after landing.
• insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (6 to 80 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Tempel Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Göreme and prefer watching the landscape from above rather than hiking through it. The early start gets you back by mid-morning to explore the ground-level villages and valleys.

Traveler reviews

4.71★★★★★★★★★★

38 verified traveler reviews

5 ★34

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What time do I need to be ready for pickup?

Hotel pickup happens between 4:30 and 5:30 am, so you'll need to be ready before dawn. You're driven to the office for breakfast, then to the launch field, and you're back at your hotel by around 7:45 am.

How close do you actually get to the fairy chimneys?

The first 30 minutes of the flight keeps the balloon low enough for a close-up view of the fairy chimneys. As you climb higher in the second half, you see the formations from farther away and get the full landscape perspective.

How many people fly in the balloon basket?

The basket holds 20 to 24 passengers, so it's a shared flight. You're not flying solo, but the basket size means there's room to move and see out.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the one-hour flight, breakfast at the office, champagne toast after landing, and a certificate are all included. Souvenir photos are available to purchase separately.