You know when you've had a place on your bucket list for years, consistenly fueled by hundreds of photos and videos always being shared on every form of social media, so much so that you're not even sure it will be able to live up to the hype because you've put such high expectations on the experience?
Well for me, one of those places was Cappadocia. For so long I had visualized the big hot air balloons floating up into the sky while I looked on from an idyllic rooftop terrace. Stunning visuals affirmed this for me and so when I planned my ten-day trip through Türkiye with a colleague of mine, making this bucket list item a reality was a priority. Read my detailed guide to Cappadocia here for all the tips on making the most of your time in this fairytale-like area.
We spent three nights in Cappadocia, booking the first night at the iconic Charming Cave Hotel, home to the highest rooftop terrace in town and one of the most insta-famous hotels possibly ever. We got lucky; there are only fifteen rooms in the hotel so you need to book at least a few months in advance, even for the shoulder seasons.
It is from this rooftop terrace - the place to be from just before sunrise - where you can witness for yourself the spectacle that is the Cappadocia balloon flights. Nearly a hundred balloons take off in the early morning light (so long as the weather is favourable; sometimes they get canceled) and rise softly and slowly into the sky. They float overhead as if by magic, some even drifting so close to the town that you can wave hello to the passengers aboard.
We spent our second two nights at the Local Cave House, home to another insta-famous hotel but this time for its iconic pool. While it doesn't have that incredbile rooftop terrace, the view of the balloons is just as spectacular across the valley and, if you're lucky with the wind direction, you might even get the balloons drifting straight overhead.
It's a surreal feeling to have such a highly anticipated moment come to life before your eyes and I can confidently say that this experience surpassed all expectations - and that's quite the feat. You can see why for yourself:
CHARMING CAVE HOTEL
Cappadocia at dawn
CHECK OUT MY VLOG OF CAPPADOCIA HERE!
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
