You might expect this post to recount the day I finally climbed into one of the many hot air balloons that drift over Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys. Before I traveled there I read countless blog posts and saw photographs celebrating those incredible aerial views. I was excited and convinced I would take the ride of a lifetime.
When the moment came, though, I took one look at the balloons and thought, “No way.” I’m not an adrenaline seeker on holiday—I don’t bungee jump, raft rapids, or abseil down cliffs—yet I had believed a hot air balloon over Cappadocia would be different. After all, it’s one of the region’s must-do experiences.
About Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia
So why did I change my mind? On my first morning in Cappadocia I watched about thirty balloons glide across the sky. Some passed so close I could see people in the baskets. The sight was spectacular, but that’s when my anxiety began to build.
Determined to overcome it, I dragged my husband from bed at 5 a.m. the next morning and insisted we go to the balloon takeoff site. He clearly wasn’t thrilled—see the photo below for the expression that betrayed his enthusiasm. He had no intention of letting his feet leave the ground.
My first concern was having to go up alone—my husband wasn’t coming—and I didn’t want to face the experience by myself. My second worry was safety. I once worked as a holiday rep in Turkey and saw accidents on tours caused by lax safety practices. Those incidents stuck with me and magnified my nerves, even though I hadn’t investigated the safety standards used by the balloon operators in Cappadocia. (To be clear: I’m not asserting the balloon companies there are unsafe.)
The third, and most personal, reason was simply my dislike of heights. I could have pushed myself to get on board, but if I had panicked while airborne it wouldn’t have been fair to the other passengers. In the end I stayed on the ground and enjoyed the balloons from below.
Although I didn’t fly, I loved watching the balloons rise and drift across the unique landscape. Below are photos I took from the ground—capturing the colors, patterns, and the peaceful atmosphere of a Cappadocian morning. If you’d like a firsthand account from someone who did fly, Nellie of Wild Junket shared a wonderful experience and photos of her time aloft.