Cappadocia Balloon Ride - fly high!
Plan a tour to the central region turkey, Cappadocia and
lose yourself in the marvels of the old history long before the rise of
civilization. Turkey offers a great passion towards their tourism industry,
knowing that they own a land that is full of history and a heavenly landscape.
Once you are in turkey, you will know from the welcoming vibes why Cappadocia
is such a famous tourist spot.
Cappadocia promises its travelers wealth of amusement,
adventure and history. For art lovers, Turkey is full of surprises. There are
many ways to enjoy the beauty of Cappadocia, but none is compared to the
remarkable experience of balloon ride
Cappadocia. A Balloon ride Cappadocia opens up to you the entire beauty of
this region in just one hour. This captivating journey takes you across the
Rock castles, caves, conic shaped rocks, stone columns, open air museum,
fertile land and of course the river line. While gazing at the frescoes of the
open air museum in Goreme, you are guided towards the history of the byzantine
people and the Romans.
From the many services of air balloon rides, you will find
our ride one of the most promising one. There are several packages that you can
select from. There are the standard flights, the deluxe and then the exclusive
flights for just the couples. Safety and security of each passenger is our
utmost priority. So every flight is scheduled according to the weather
conditions and quality check of the basket.
On the day of journey, we will provide you pick and drop
service from the hotel. After taking you to the launch site, there will be a
delicious breakfast basket as you watch the balloon you are going to ride on
inflate.
The flight crew will get the basket on its feet and the
pilot gives passengers a brief about the journey in the air. From the top of
the ground, the view of Cappadocia becomes incomparable. The landscape
revealing itself with the sunrise is a one of a kind view. Your flight is much
dependent on the compatibility of the weather with you. With the beautiful wind
kissing your cheeks, you enjoy a hypnotizing journey with 20 people in complete
silence.
As you land back, we celebrate the journey with a nice
chilled glass of Champagne. Lastly we give you a certificate for your journey
with us.
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Cappadox Festival in Cappadocia: music, contemporary art, gastronomy and hot air balloons
Cappadox Festival in Cappadocia is coming!
For the forth year in Cappadocia, a festival of music, contemporary art, gastronomy will be held. Of course, with many outdoor activities, like hiking, biking, yoga classes and with all beauty of hot air balloon festival in the air.
Cappadox is the festival in Cappadocia, Turkey, which unites local and international creative teams and participants from all over the world. The theme of the Cappadox 2018 festival is "Silence".
This year the festival program is extended to 6 days, this is the answer to the huge interest of the festival participants and the inhabitants of Cappadocia. We thank the main organizer - Pozitif, and the main sponsor - Volkswagen - for the support. The festival in Cappadocia will be held from 14 to 19 June.
Festival outdoor activities include hiking trails in the valleys of Göreme National Park, mountain biking around Cappadocia, morning yoga classes during sunrise with hot air balloons over the sky and other cultural activities.
The Cappadox Festival 2018 is a great chance to combine several terrific opportunities:
- take hot air balloon tour in Cappadocia;
- explore the National Park of Göreme, a UNESCO world heritage site, see fairy-chimneys and valleys in Cappadocia;
- discover the history of Cappadocia, the unique territory inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list, explore ancient and fascinating underground city Derinkuyu;
- enjoy music, contemporary art and variety of Turkish cuisine, maybe participating cooking classes and other cultural activities.
Watch this beautiful video filmed during Cappadox festival 2016 to feel the vibes of the festival in Cappadocia:
Don’t wait and book your tickets, balloon flight and the hotel before it is too late - every year more tourists come to Cappadocia to the music, art, gastronomy and hot air balloon festival ...
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Cappadocia outdoor activities and adventures
Cappadocia outdoor activities and
adventures
Cappadocia is famous for its hot
air balloon rides, incredible volcanic landscapes and Goreme National
park, magical valleys with fairy chimneys, ancient underground city. Nevertheless,
if you prefer active outdoor activities, read on and you will discover
Cappadocia as the center of active tourism. In case you are looking for a
more relaxing holiday now, we offer TOP 10 things to do in
Cappadocia.Types of outdoor activities
in CappadociaPopular and affordable all-year-round
entertainment in Cappadocia, fun inexpensive
adventures: horse riding - from one hour to one day tour up to 2-3-day
tours as Cappadocia is "The Land
of Beautiful
Horses"; jeep safari - a trip to the mountains on
jeeps; ATV
(quad safari, quad biking off-road tours) - an adrenaline way to explore
the terrain, popular hire duration from 1 to 4
hours; bike
tour or self-guided mountain biking: For a good MTB bike rental or
organized bike tour you'll need to pay more, but decent bicycles and
motorbikes you can easily rent at many places of Göreme to enjoy
exploring Cappadocia on your own. Routes for bike tours can be
downloaded from the Cappadocia section on your
own. hiking
trails - routes include such popular and easily accessible places to
see as the Love Valley, the Pink Valley, the Red Valley, the Valley of
Pigeons. Self-guided walks could be from 2 hours to whole day with
breaks for lunch in small and cosy cities, like Uchisar, Avanos, Urgup.
Longer hiking tours could be for 1-3 days. Exploring Cappadocia will
reveal you the beauty of the valleys and give you the opportunity to
capture amazing pictures. Contact us to get hiking trail map.
(Cappadocia hiking maps can be downloaded in the section Cappadocia
self-guided tours.)Sports
activities in CappadociaIf your soul is singing when you
think about outdoor sports, then the territory of Central Anatolia will
open for you in all its glory - read more about more extreme adventures
in Cappadocia.If your passion is mountain
biking:In Cappadocia, the cycling festival -
SALCANO ...
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Hot Air Balloon Turkey - Touring Cappadocia from the air
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Hot Air Balloon Turkey - Touring Cappadocia from the air
If you ever
decide to get on a hot air balloon, here is a recommendation for you: Let the
location be Turkey. Hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia Turkey are much
popular - each day hundreds of balloons are seen in the air, be it winter or
summer all year round.
Cappadocia Turkey
is one of the most beautiful places on earth, known for its landscape and
incredible rock formations. While wishing for a balloon ride, move your journey
towards the unforgettable experience of Turkish plains. Cappadocia and other
locations worth seeing in Turkey are home to colorful sunsets and sunrises.
No matter what kind of a tourist you
are - an explorer or wanderer; Turkish beauty is for everyone.
The feeling of ascension or speed can
be compared to non-other. Standing 1200 above the ground, in a small basket
filled with strange faces, you glide over the country’s beautiful site below.
And regardless of the unknown company, you feel a strange kind of comfort in
the energy of the air.
What to expect
So now that you have decided to have
a
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Hot Air Balloon Ride Turkey
Up in the sky we go - with Hot Air Balloon Turkey
Cappadocia
is a city of remarkable scenic beauty. It is a home to many of the world’s historical
monuments and creations. Unlike many other countries, Cappadocia offers you
sight to both architectural excellence and nature’s wonders in the form of
volcanic eruptions that caused beautiful caves to open up, where people now
dwell.
Turkey receives hundreds and thousands of tourists each
year. And one of its great offerings to the tourists are the air balloon rides
that allow them to admire the natural scenes of the world from a great
distance.
Turkish hot air
balloons are ideal for family trips, as well as friends and couples touring
together. According to the requirement of the number of people, there are
different baskets and sizes offered. For instance, a standard basket can carry
up to 20 people and is ideal for individuals who are travelling alone. The
standard basket allows you to enjoy the company of many strangers who often
after the hour flight in the air become friends.
Other than the standard baskets are deluxe and private
flights. The deluxe packages are appropriate for families that can take up to 8
people along. The private flight of 4 people however is for couples and best
suited for proposals and anniversaries.
As the flight begins and as you rise up in the air, the
world below becomes a mystery. You see how the volcanic eruptions, years ago
resulted into beautiful caves. The residents of Cappadocia developed beautiful
houses out of those caves, a scenery that is now regarded as “fairy Chimneys’.
Not only that, the churches, the suits and the underground excavations is a
must see sight.
In the one or two hour journey, you collect memories of a
lifetime. The scenery of absolute magnificence makes you tremble at the beauty
of God’s nature. What inspires you most in the hot air balloon is the fact that
everything you see is free of any human intervention and is but simply a play
of nature. In such a helplessness, and a world that is not in our control,
people often let go of their stress and pain.
If you are planning to visit Turkey, hot air balloon ride in Turkey is a must. Book yourself in advance
if you want to get a place in on that balloon. As famous as it is, there are
high chances you will not find a seat for yourself in a short time span.
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Brief Information About Cappadocia
Brief information
about Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a unique area with its nature, history and
geography attracting many tourists and travelers from all over the world.
Here are some quick answers of common questions about
Cappadocia.
How to arrive Cappadocia from Istanbul?
Turkish airlines, Pegasus airlines, Anadolu Jet airlines and
Atlas Global airlines have flights to Cappadocia from Istanbul Ataturk and
Sabiha Gokcen airport.
You could either pick Nevsehir NAV airport or Kayseri ASR
airport as arrival airports in Cappadocia.
Once you are in either of the airports, we can help you
arrange airport shuttle bus transfer from both airports.
Please contact us for any inquiries.
How many days is good enough to spend in Cappadocia?
Minimum 2 Nights and 3 full days or if you have time at
least 3 Nights and 4 full days is needed to wonder around Cappadocia region as
it is a large area full of history and nature.
Where to stay in Cappadocia?
Definitely Göreme village.
Göreme town is right in the middle of everything. You can
have easy walks to valleys, historical churches and you could also take local
buses to other villages around.
Also most of the cave carved hotels are located in Göreme
Village.
Our suggestion is Cave Hotel Saksagan in
Göreme.
What to do in Cappadocia?
a.
Hiking in Göreme National Park
b.
Staying in a Cave Hotel
c.
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CAPPADOX FESTIVAL 2018, CAPPADOCIA TURKEY
CAPPADOX FESTIVAL
2018, CAPPADOCIA TURKEY
A cultural
organization of music, gastronomy, contemporary art and outdoor activities
Cappadox festival will take part on 14 – 19 June 2018 in Cappadocia with
participants from all over the world. The theme of Cappadox festival will be “silence”
this year.
In only last 3 years Cappadox festival has turned out to be
one of the biggest social activities in Turkey with the help of magical moon
like lunar landscape of Cappadocia region. This year the festival will be
longer than before and will start on the 14th of June until 19th.
Universal music group concerts, hiking trails in the valleys of Göreme National
Park, morning yoga classes with sunrise and hot air balloons over the sky,
mountain biking around Cappadocia, Turkish cuisine cooking classes and other
cultural activities will entertain participants according to their interest.
Each activity will have its one entrance ticket and tickets will be sold at www.biletix.com and www.cappadox.com tickets stands in Göreme
and other villages organization will take part.
As it has been before the organizations and activities will
take part in Göreme and Uchisar villages. Transportations from both villages
will be available for participants. Being ready at least 30 minutes before the
departure time is suggested for those who like to use the free public buses
from one to another organization area. Being too close to each other the
villages of Cappadocia such as Urgup, Avanos, Göreme and Uchisar there are
public buses and taxies available 7/24.
As always been, Göreme will be the most popular village for Cappadox festival participants to stay at. Our suggestion is “Cave Hotel Saksagan” www.cavehotelsaksagan.net
with its cave carved natural modern rooms with magical views towards Red Rose Valley.
People who are traveling to Cappadocia by plane can use our airport transfer shuttle buses from Kayseri and Nevşehir airports to their hotels in Cappadocia. You can easily book your Cappadocia airport transfers from Helios Airport Transfer Company or send us inquiry mail to [email protected]
Cappadox festival will bring ...
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Kayseri Erciyes Ski & Cappadocia Hot air Balloon
KAYSERI ERCIYES SKI
& CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON
Cappadocia region is a large area in the middle of central Turkey
and has many excursions and activities to offer people who are visiting.
Erciyes mountain with 3917-meter height is the real existing of caves,
fairy-chimneys and valleys in Cappadocia. As well as being a mother symbol and appearing
every Cappadocia photo from kilometers far away, Kayseri Erciyes mountain is
also open for ski lovers during winter season.
Erciyes mountain is only 90km from center of Cappadocia,
Göreme village. More or less in 1-hour drive one can get to the ski entrances
on the mountain very easily. It is even easier for those who arrive to Kayseri
airport, only 30km from the airport to get to the top of the mountain.
There are 4 entrances for ski resorts; Tekir, Hacilar,
Hisarcik and Develi. All the entrances and pistes are connected each other at
Mt. Erciyes. There is 76km piste in total. Our favorite is Hacilar Kapi with
its 3km piste, cable car and views of Kayseri city from the top. The cost of
the cable car is 12 TL for adult and 9 TL for student. Every entrance of ski
resorts there are shops to rent ski equipment’s for hole day and it doesn’t
cost much at all, only 50TL.
If you are leaving from Cappadocia to Kayseri Erciyes mountain
for Skiing, we would suggest heading around 8:00 am in the morning. It will
take more or less 1-hr to get there and you will spend some time choosing for
the right skiing equipment, purchase your lifter tickets. If you pick Hacilar
kapi for skiing the cable car will take 15 minutes to take you to the top of
the piste. Skiing down with magical city view of Kayseri, you will have amazing
fun time up there.
Cafes and restaurants are available at the ski places
everywhere at the mountain. Enjoy BBQ Kayseri sausage, meet ball köfte and many
other traditional Turkish style lunch.
Once you are in Cappadocia, do not leave without doing hot
air balloon and viewing Mt. Erciyes from the sky. Winter season offers one of
the best views of Cappadocia from the air. When Cappadocia wear white dress and
hot air balloons start to dance in the air.
Enjoy your time in Cappadocia with Kayseri Erciyes Ski
adventure and Cappadocia Turkey hot air balloon ride.
For more information about Erciyes Mountain please visit: http://www.kayserierciyes.com.tr/
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Hot Air Balloon Turkey
Hot Air Balloon Turkey
Hot air balloon in Turkey started first in Cappadocia region
after a hot air balloon festival and competition. Competitors who came to region
fell in love with the nature and geography of Cappadocia and a couple decided
to settle in to start passenger hot air balloon rides in 1991.
Göreme National Park is the most common place to fly hot air
balloons in Turkey. The national park took part in UNESCO world heritage sites
in 1985. Hot air Balloons are taking off inside the valleys of Göreme and rise
up to 6000 feet to view this amazing landscape from the bird eye. Visitors are
enjoying a 1hr or one and half hour hot air balloon flights in the very early
moments of the day during sunrise. According to the speed of the wind the hot
air balloons proceed in the air and land in a suitable area.
Later, still in Cappadocia region of Turkey hot air balloons
started to fly over Ihlara Valley. A local balloon company carried their hot
air balloons to fly over 13km canyon named Ihlara located in Aksaray city of
Turkey. Formed by the river for many years Ihlara Valley is usually called “Mini
Grand Canyon” by visitors who has the chance to fly over this magnificent
formation.
Hot air Balloon Turkey, continued by Antalya region couple
of years ago but it wasn’t easy to fly over Antalya city of Turkey as it is a sea
side town in Mediterranean with extreme hot weather conditions. The weather
must be cool enough for a hot air balloon to rise in the air easily. That was
the main reason why the hot air balloons could not continue flying in Antalya.
Pamukkale region in Denizli is another place where hot air
balloons are flying in Turkey right now. First attempt was long time ago by
Kapadokya Balloons company but then it wasn’t the right time for hot air
ballooning in Pamukkale probably. At the moment there are 5 companies, some
regularly running every morning and some are working on their last documents and
licenses to get permission from the government. With its natural cotton pools,
thermal spring water and history Pamukkale region is waiting visitors from all
over the world to fly on hot air balloon Turkey.
Finally, North Cyprus – Turkish Side- was another place in
Turkey tried doing hot air balloon rides. However, being an island and having
warm summer days’ hot air ballooning didn’t seem like really worked in the
area.
Doing hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is still the best
option for those who likes to experience this once upon a life time experience.
With its valleys, ...
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CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON TOURS
CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON TOURS
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia started in 1991 with a competition
of professional hot air ballooners from all over the world. A European couple
decided to settle in this unique area and hot air balloons started flying over
Cappadocia since then with passengers.
At the moment Cappadocia is counted as one of the best
places in the world to do hot air ballooning. With its unique landscape and
amazing volcanic natural creatures; fairy-chimneys, valleys, pigeon houses and
cave carved ancient churches Cappadocia has been welcoming tourist from all
over the world. Almost 150 hot air balloons are rising every day over the skies
of Cappadocia and 2000 people are enjoying this amazing experience regularly
everyday weather permitting.
Hot air Balloons in Cappadocia are only allowed to fly just
if the weather is suitable for a safe hot air balloon flight, otherwise its
canceled for the day. All the companies have to obey the rule coming from the
Turkish Aeronautical Association. If your hot air balloon is canceled do not
feel sad, it is canceled because someone is thinking about your safety
somewhere.
Best time for a hot air balloon to fly is the earliest
moments of a new day before sunrise. The temperature needs to be at its lowest
for hot air balloons to rise in the sky. Passengers will be picked from their
hotels in Cappadocia one by one and will brought to main office for breakfast
first as it’s not really good to fly with empty stomach. A light breakfast will
be offered and then with the same van passengers will be driven to take off are
which is already decided by the professional pilots of the hot air balloon
company. Take off areas may vary each day according to the conditions of the
wind to show as much as possible over Göreme National Park, UNESCO world
heritage site since 1985.
The hot air balloon crew will finish their job while the passengers
watch how a hot air balloon is filled up with air and fire. After the pilot teach
his brief information about the hot air balloon flight, the passengers will be
taken in to the basket and regarding safety the pilot will start to rise the
hot air balloon over the skies of Cappadocia. During the flight, passengers
will be informed about the valleys and other small villages around by the pilot
and enjoy ...
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WHY CAPPADOCIA IS COUNTED AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO DO HOT AIR BALLOONING IN THE WORLD?
Cappadocia
itself is a magical place welcoming visitors from all over the world for many
years. With its unique volcanic rock formations, valleys, ancient churches and
caves and fairy-chimneys the area is one of a highlight of Turkey. Right now, Cappadocia
is counted as one of the best places to do hot air ballooning in the world and
it has quite real reasons for that.
First
of all, the climate in Cappadocia is perfect for a hot air balloon ride.
Cappadocia is almost 1200-meter-high from sea level and there is big difference
between day and night temperature, just like in the deserts. In Cappadocia
region even during hot summer days, early mornings before sunrise is not more
then 18-20 degrees. This will allow hot air balloons to rise in the air with a
small amount of gas. As it is lived 4 seasons of a year in Cappadocia region
only in harsh Autumn days the flights are canceled few days. More or less 300
days of a year could be flying in the area. There is a gentle breeze in the
morning for hot air balloons to take some road especially inside the valleys of
Göreme National Park. As there is no controller for hot air balloons, they need
some light wind to push them to move but this needs to be done very gently.
Göreme village is a canyon in the middle of Cappadocia and the caves and
fairy-chimneys cuts the heavy wind on top and leaves a gentle, soft wind inside
the valley for hot air balloons to drift like a boat on the river. Once the hot
air balloons take some road and leave out of the National Park of Göreme than the
landscape will become a flat area which will allow many places for hot air
balloons to take off gently, most often right on the trailer.
Natural,
volcanic, historical and unique geography of Cappadocia is one of the main
reason that makes this amazing area one of the best places to do hot air
ballooning in the world. Cappadocia is a larger area but most hot air balloon
flights are done over the National Park of Göreme, a UNESCO world heritage
site. This is mainly because most interesting shapes of fairy-chimneys, caves,
valleys and pigeon houses are exited inside this naturally shaped volcanic
canyon. Once taking the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, one will drift
around the fairy-chimneys and caves, dive into the valleys of Pigeons and Love
and rise above Rose & Red. Sometimes will move so close to apple and walnut
trees to pick fruits and sometimes will go 2000 feet up to the sky for a magical bird eye
view.
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AFTERNOON HOT AIR BALLOONING IN CAPPADOCIA
Best time for hot air balloon
ride is early morning with sunrise for sure. However, during later Autumn and
winter season doing afternoon hot air ballooning in
Cappadocia is also magical.
The weather must be cool enough
for a hot air balloon to fly in the air. In Cappadocia after October by middle
of November the weather reduces enough during day time, creates gentle winds
and allows hot air balloons to drift over unique formations of Göreme National
Park from Rose Valley to Love Valley and over the historical town.
Cappadocia
is kind of like a playground during sunny autumn afternoons. While you enjoy your hot air balloon ride in
the air, you will be able to watch people riding horses, riding ATVs, doing trekking,
cycling, etc. as well as viewing unique volcanic formations from the air.
The afternoon hot air balloon
flight program is no different from morning. We send our private mini Vans to
pick up customers from their hotels usually at around 14:30 o’clock and take
them to our office for afternoon tea, coffee and some snacks. Then we drive our
customers to take off area where we fill up the hot air balloons and ready it
to fly like a bird in the air. Before the hot air balloon flight our pilots
check the weather and wind conditions in order to show as much as possible of
this amazing natural rock formations of Cappadocia. A hot air balloon can only
take road by the help of wind. So it is very important for a pilot to read the
wind and direct the hot air balloon to right destination.
Spending 1hr for Standard Flight
in the air, then our experienced hot air balloon pilots will pick a suitable
area for a soft landing, usually right on the trailer. After landing as s
tradition for hot air ballooners, we will celebrate the flight with champagne and
hand out flight certificates to our customers. Once all is done, will drop our customers
back to their hotels in ...
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Cappadocia "The Land of Beautiful Horses"
Horses In Cappadocia : the
land of beautiful horses
Are you from Cappadocia and you don’t have a horse, seriously? It sounds
like you are from Holland and you don’t have a bike! Or are you from the desert
and you don’t have a camel! Or you are from New York city and you don’t have a
subway card! It sounds bizarre right! The same applies for visitors; are you
visiting Malaysia and you are not going to try Durian, the king of fruits? Or
are you visiting the desert in Morocco and you are not going to try the camel
tour? Are you visiting Cappadocia and you are not going to try horse riding: not
possible without it!
There are bunch of quite interesting activities that you can experience
in Cappadocia; hot air balloon tours that offers breathtaking view of the majestic
mountains of the region, hiking through the flowered hills and lowlands surrounded
by the huge mountains, exciting Quad biking (ATV) tours and last but not least Horse riding tours in the middle
of Cappadocian landscape.
Cappadocia signifies the land of beautiful horses in Persian era, the horses
here have always played an important role in the daily life of people in Anatolia
such as; transportation and commuting, helping in agriculture and farming, taking
part in wars. They truly accompanied man in wars and played a great role in the
victory. Nowadays, the horses in Cappadocia became a collective passion that
all the man of the region share and brag about, truly a matter of pride and
honor. It is a beautiful legacy that has
survived for centuries which has been handed over from father to son through
generations.
If you are looking for an amazing Horse ride experience, here are some tips
to get closer to your horse and enjoy it more:
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Where is Cappadocia?
Where is Cappadocia?
Cappadocia is a unique area famous with its; volcanic rock
formations, underground cities, cave carved churches, pigeon houses, naturally
shaped valleys, cave hotels and hot air balloon rides in the world. For many years Cappadocia
has been one of the most interesting and exiting touristic sights for those who
traveled in Turkey with its natural beauty, history, culture and absurd
formations.
When searched “Cappadocia” or “Kapadokya (in Turkish)” on Google
Maps or any other online map, there will not show up anywhere in lined!
This is because there is nowhere called as Cappadocia officially. In the law of
Republic of Turkey there is no official city, province or area called
Cappadocia, it is all about history!
So, where does Cappadocia name come from?
The name Cappadocia dates back to Bronze age. After Hittite
era, the area was controlled by the Persians during 6th BC and named
as Katpatuka which meant “The Land of Beautiful Horses” until a serious attach
by Alexander the Great. However, the local Cappadocian resisted against and
kept the area for long time until Romans concurred the area around 350 BC which
later will be Byzantine until the end of 2nd century when Seljuk
Turks came and met this geological and positional important area.
Today, the region Cappadocia is located very centrally in
the middle of central Anatolia. It exists of five main cities of TURKEY: Nevşehir,
Aksaray, Kayseri, Nigde and Kirsehir. However, Göreme Village – The National
Park of Göreme - is usually considered
as the heart of Cappadocia. Göreme National Park has been one of UNESCO world
heritage sites in 1985, since then when said Cappadocia, Göreme came after just
as saying: “fish and chips!”
In conclusion, if Turkey is a bridge from Asia to Europe,
Cappadocia is located in the middle of the bridge.
Here are the distances of Cappadocia (in km base) from major
cities and towns of Turkey;
Istanbul to Cappadocia: 750 km (8-hour drive)
Ankara to Cappadocia: 300 km ...
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Turkish Cuisine in Cappadocia
Trying Turkish cuisine is
one of the best parts about visiting the country. Every region has its local
specialties, and Cappadocia is no exception. Turkish cooking uses high-quality
ingredients that are natural and healthy: the aromatic spices, the fresh vegetables
and fruit, and the tender meat all make up the simple yet exotic meals.
Cappadocia, like the rest of Turkey, is famous for its
pottery kebabs. This delicious marinated meat, usually lamb or chicken, is served
either stewed or grilled over wood ovens. They come in different varieties and
are marinated with spices and then grilled on an open charcoal fire on skewers.
Fish is also grilled in the same way.
Doner kebab is not only one of the most popular dishes
here; it has spread throughout the world. This big roll of meat is turned on a
vertical skewer in front of a grill. It is served either in a sandwich or with
rice. Other popular dishes that are typical of this region are sac kavurma,
made of lamb and stewed with onions, green peppers and tomatoes, and alanazik,
made of ground meat and eggplant.
There are a number of dishes based on eggplant, one of
the most used vegetables in Turkish cuisine. Karnıyarık is eggplant stuffed with tomatoes, onion,
garlic, and minced meat. This dish can also be prepared without meat and served
cold, and is called imam bayildi. If you’re hungry for more eggplant, try the hünkar beğendi (Sultan’s
Delight), patlıcan
salatası
(roasted eggplant salad), and patlıcan dolması (eggplant stuffed with rice).
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TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN CAPPADOCIA
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO
IN CAPPADOCIA
Stay at
one of the cave carved hotels in Göreme Village.
Cappadocia region located very centrally in Anatolia is a
large area, mixture of five main cities of Turkey; Nevsehir, Kayseri, Aksaray,
Nigde and Kirsehir.
It is always Göreme village that is counted as the heart of
Cappadocia, the village has also given the name to the National Park which has
been one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1985. Göreme is famous with its
valleys, rock cut churches, fairy-chimneys and cave carved hotels. If you are
visiting the area, we highly suggest staying at one of the cave hotels in
Göreme which keeps the temperature around 18 degrees during hot summer season
and still the same during cold winter days. Once you pick staying in Göreme
village, if you are traveling by plane; you will easily get transferred from/to
the airports of Cappadocia (Nevsehir NAV and Kayseri ASR airports) by Helios
Shuttle bus transfer company for a reasonable price. www.heliostransfer.com On
the other hand, if you are traveling by bus, you will be dropped and picked
from/to Göreme otogar by bus companies no matter from/to whichever city you
travel in Turkey.
Staying in Göreme will allow you get to most interested and
common beautiful sites on your own. You would hike though Red and Rose valley,
enjoy a nice walk to Pigeon valley and only in 15 minutes of hike you would get
to Göreme open air museum on foot. Chose staying in Göreme village and your
will not regret it. If you have no idea which hotel to stay in Göreme we would
suggest staying at Cave Hotel Saksagan for a budget cave experience www.cavehotelsaksagan.net,
Village Cave House for a historical ambiance www.villagecavehouse.com,
or Sultan Cave Suites for a luxury experience counted as 8th best
roof top hotels in the world. www.sultancavesuites.com
2-
Hot air Ballooning in Cappadocia
With its moonlike equelips landscape, volcanic caves and
fairy-chimneys, rock cut churches, valleys and pigeon ...
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SOME RULES FOR HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHTS IN CAPPADOCIA
There are some certain rules that companies and Hot air
Balloon pilots need to obey during flying over the National Park of Goreme (
UNESCO World Heritage Site ) brought by TAA “Turkish Aeronautical Association” of Turkey.
1-
The weather conditions must be suitable for hot
air balloon ride.
As Cappadocia region is located very centrally in Anatolia,
it has quite changeable weather conditions. The area is almost 1200 metre high
above sea level and there is a considerable difference between night and daytime
temperature.
4 Seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter is lived in the
area throughout the year. Therefore, if the weather is heavy rainy, heavy windy
or heavy snowy the hot air balloon rides will be cancelled in Cappadocia for
sure!
2-
The conditions of a Hot air Balloon must be
suitable for TAA conditions.
A hot air balloon can only be used for limited flying hours.
By time; the balloon may damage, rip and get older. If it lacks flying
standards then it will not allow to use any more if it is ploughed.
3-
There can not fly more then 100 Hot air Balloons
at the same time in the sky of Cappadocia and they can not stay more then 1hr
in the air.
Cappadocia is counted as one of the best places to do hot air balloon ride in the world, almost 2000 people fly every day. This brough
hot air balloon traffic in the air and TAA solved the problem with maximizing
the numbers of hot air balloons in the air. Right now 1st sorties are allowed
to take off 100 hot air balloons and 2nd sorties 50 balloons. Another rule
regarding second sorties is that they have to take off at least half an hour
later than the first flights and needed to take off at least 500 meters apart.
As a result, first flights can not take more than 1 hour in the air to allow
enough landing areas for the second sortie balloons.
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Hot air Balloon Cappadocia
We welcome our Hot air Balloon Cappadocia visitors in style and
look after the entire process from your very hotel door to ensure an effortless
and magical journey.
Prior to your pre-booked hot air
balloon flight, we will be in contact regarding your chosen accommodation. On
the early morning of your flight you will be greeted with a friendly face and
mini van at your hotel door. Guests are chauffeured to the hot air balloon
headquarters, where you will be invited to indulge in a delicious buffet
breakfast, register for your flight and receive a simple safety demonstration.
After breakfast, your driver will then transport you just a short ten-minute
drive to the balloon launch site in time to see the balloons inflate.
Have your camera ready for the
spectacular scene of multiple balloons filling and illuminating the valley. The
bright and mesmerising flame awakening the balloons against the low light of
dawn is just the beginning of the beauty that follows.
The standard balloon basket holds up
to 20 guests, flight crewmembers are on hand at all times to answer questions
and to assist visitors into the basket once the balloon is fully prepped for
its voyage. And then at last the balloon takes flight and the dream begins!
As you float off into the whimsical
landscapes of Cappadocia, immersed in a sea of stunningly vibrant hot air
balloons you will rise up to 1000 metres and feel nothing but surreal. Our
flights feel very smooth and winds are light, balloon captains in Cappadocia
are among the most experienced ballooning practitioners in the world.
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Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia
– Step into your dream world!
Nestled among the honeycombed mountains in
Central Anatolia, Turkey, Cappadocia has a very deep history in its making. The
minute you step into this land, you feel like you have stepped into a fairy
tale. Some might call it an oddity, but interestingly the ‘fairy chimneys’ and
the bronze age homes is anything but odd. It creates a fanciful outset to this
amazing topography. There are quite a few things that cater to both the
adventurous and high spirited travelers and those who are looking to just take
a relaxing week off.
What
to do in Cappadocia
Cappadocia translates to “the land of
beautiful horses.” The landscape itself
has many things to see and adventures to take. Let us take a look at some of
them that you ought not to miss when in Cappadocia.
Ø The cities underground: There are nearly 36 cities built under the natural rocky outcrop
in Cappadocia. Each of these cities was believed to have had nearly 10000
people living in it, initially by the cave dwellers. Later on the same were
used by the Christians who managed to escape the soldiers of Roman Empire. The
architecture and engineering will simply amaze you. There are bedrooms, winery,
vents, store rooms and even churches in these cities.
Ø The Open air museum: This museum is the home to some of the best churches cut out of
rocks. There are murals adorning these churches inside which date back to 900AD
– 1200 AD. And they are so fresh that it is hard to believe them to be so
ancient.
Ø
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Cappadocia Underground City
During your stay
in Cappadocia, be sure to spare some time to visit at least one of the
underground cities. There are 36 of them, but the two most visited ones are
both located south of Nevşehir at Kaymaklı
and Derinkuyu. They can
be reached easily from Göreme, Ürgüp, Avanos, or Uçhisar.
These subterranean cities were
carved from the soft volcanic stone and extend deep into the earth. The deepest
one has 18 to 20 levels and a depth of 70 to 85 meters. It had the capacity to
hold 10000 people. About 500 kg of stone was processed above ground and then
taken underground. The underground of Cappadocia was made from volcanic ash
from Mt. Erciyes and Mt. Hasan. The cities were excavated as early as Hittite
times and were expanded over the centuries.
In the early stages of the Christian
era, these underground cities were an ideal hiding place for Christians
escaping persecution, and for devout believers who wanted to distance
themselves from the real world. Later, they were also a useful hiding place
when Islamic Arabians invaded Christian homes. They were fully functional for
everyday living and equipped with schools, churches, residences with bedrooms
and kitchens, barns, wells, and wine cellars. Good wine-producing techniques
already existed in those days. The stone doors offered good protection against
the enemies, as they could be shut only from the inside. The inhabitants lived
there from weeks to months until it was safe to return to their homes above
ground.
As you’re walking through the many
tunnels and chambers of these fascinating underground cities of Cappadocia, try
to imagine what life was like in the old days.
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CAPPADOCIA REGION AND HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHTS
Each year, visitors from all over
the world come to Cappadocia. This very special part of Turkey has something
for everyone. But the one thing that’s at the top of everyone’s list is flying
over the beautiful valley of Göreme in a hot air balloon[1] , and we are proud to offer the best
hot air
balloon rides[2] in the region.
What better way to experience this
unique UNESCO world heritage site than from the air. Your hot air balloon[3] journey begins before you go up
and, believe us, waking up before dawn is worth it. Watching your pilot fill
the balloon with fire in the dark, just before dawn, is quite a moment to
behold. And then it’s time for take off!
When weather conditions allow, it’s
possible to fly most days of the year and at a maximum altitude of 800 meters.
The months between April and October are the most popular times to fly, but if
you come in winter, when it snows, the fairy chimneys all covered in snow is
also a spectacular sight to see. The wicker baskets can carry from 2 to 24 passengers.
Up there, as you’re floating slowly and gently across the sky, looking down at
the thousands of rocks of different shapes and colours glowing in the light of
the morning sun, and enjoying the magnificent 360-degree panoramic view of the
valley, you will forget about the stresses of your life back home.
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Top Photography Spots in Cappadocia
From stunning volcanic rock valleys to the iconic dawn horizon filled with
hot air balloons, Turkey's Cappadocia is quickly becoming a go-to destination
of choice for photography addicts. Whether your preferences tend towards sunny
wide-angles, evening bokeh or astrophotography, Cappadocia is bound to keep you
reaching for your camera time and time again. Read below for a round-up of some
of the top photography spots in Cappadocia. 1.
Onwards and Upwards: Hot Air Balloons
Over the course of two and a half decades, Cappadocia's reputation as one of
the most popular hot air ballooning sites in the world has gone from strength
to strength. Every day just before dawn, atmospheric conditions permitting,
Cappadocia's valley floors and plateaus light up with intermittent flames
shooting air into inflating balloons, sometimes as many as a hundred. By the
time the sun peaks over the rock formations, the skies of the historical region
provide the majestic, dreamlike site of colourful balloons drifting between
rocky summits and flat plains. The best way to capture your own must-have
balloon shot is, of course, by taking a balloon ride. From stunning
balloon-dotted vistas to bird's-eye views of fellow balloon companies, the
photographic opportunities are incredible. However, if your time and tolerance
for early mornings permits, then it is well worth chasing down the balloons a
second time to take shots from the ground. Anyone of the surroundings
viewpoints will do. A good place to start is by taking the road Bilal Eroğlu
Cd. out of Göreme in the direction of Avanos at about 4:30 am, and then
following the balloon trucks and company minivans to the launch sites. Tour
guides and balloon crew members will happily let you join in taking pictures of
the inflating balloons, and then you can follow the footpaths to higher ground
for excellent 360-degree views of the balloons taking off. This also works for
those of you who are budget travellers who may not wish to purchase a balloon
flight, especially if it is something you have already done elsewhere.
2. Wider
Angles: Göreme National Park
Remember your wide-angle lenses for making the most of the stunning
landscape of the Göreme National Park. After millions of years of volcanic
activity, the park is home to wide valleys, slopes of rock striated with
different colours and the unique, tower-like rock structures of the magical
fairy chimneys. The Central Anatolian region is ...
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Exploring Göreme National Park by Foot
Undeniably the most popular way to experience the unique rock formations and
breathtaking fairy chimneys of Cappadocia is by hot air balloon, floating
dreamily in the sky with friends and family as the sun climbs higher and bathes
the valleys in warm colours. However, so much of the complex history of
Cappadocia through the ages makes itself known through the details; rock-hewn
churches, pigeon valleys, cave frescoes, stunning panoramas, the asymmetry of
light and shadow in the semi-arid wilderness. For these reasons and hundreds of
other, the discerning tourist will definitely make time to explore Cappadocia
by foot as well as by air.Göreme National Park and the rock sites of Cappadocia are located in the
boundaries of Cappadocia in Turkey's Central Anatolian region. Cappadocia is a
historical concept used in Christian antiquity that today implies the stretch
of natural wonders that can be found largely in the Nevşehir, Kayseri, Kirşehir,
Aksaray and Nigde provinces in Turkey. Cappadocia is approximately 750
kilometres from Istanbul and occupies higher ground forming a plateau with an
elevation of over 1000 metres above sea level. The area boasts a thriving
tourism industry and is easily accessible by air and bus links running daily.
The Göreme National Park is located on the peripheries of Göreme town, a
vibrant hub of artisanal shops, traditional ateliers, cobblers and clothes
specialists, excellent restaurants and a top quality hotel offering. There are
a number of hiking and vehicle rental agencies located in the town that can
provide practical advice on the best routes to take, the sites to look out for
and further information on the geology of the landscape. A short walk through the
centre of town taking the main streets of Bilal Eroğlu Cd. and Adnan Menderes
Cd. will bring you into contact with several reputable agencies in quick
succession. The tourism industry in Göreme is very welcoming, bringing warmth
and expertise to every transaction; and bilingual services in English and
Turkish are the standard. Visitors need not book ahead or undertake too much
research before arrival if they do not wish to, as it is so easy to find what
you need in situ.
Göreme National Park and the rock sites of Cappadocia are celebrated for
both geological and for cultural reasons, the combined international importance
of which was formalised when Cappadocia was inscribed in the UNESCO World
Heritage list in 1985. The striations and pinnacles of the rock valleys were
formed entirely by volcanic eruptions that first eroded the land 30 million
years ago, with these now-extinct volcanoes- including Erciyes, Hasan and
Melendiz Dağlari- lying to the north and south of the modern communities,
dominating the skyline. It is thought, from depictions in Roman art, that Mount
Erciyes may have last erupted as late as 234 BC. The eye-catching 'fairy
chimneys'- freestanding towers of rock that can reach up to forty metres of
height and that draw thousands of tourists every year- were also formed by way
of lava erosion and volcanic activity, created from deposits of ...
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How to Get Cappadocia by Plane
The weekend is coming or you have some days off,
and you would like to escape the noisiness and the promiscuity of city, however
you still don’t know which destination to pick and how to make it happen? we recommend you then to visit Cappadocia
region, the land of beautiful horses, to discover the uniqueness of this divine
piece of art, enjoy hot air balloon and magnificent horses tours.
Often we all get muddled by the different
options available on internet for the practicalities: best airplane companies,
airports options, transfers, etc . Don’t worry ! we have collected all the necessary info for
you so you can jump into plane and visit stress free.
A little twinkle to alone travelers especially
to woman, Cappadocia region is very SAFE, you can encounter during your trip
many people sharing your passion of traveling .
Where : Goreme is the main city in Cappadocia, an
open air museum literately .
If you are coming from Istanbul, Izmir or Antalya,
there are daily direct flights to Kayseri.
How to get to Cappadocia by airplane
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Top Facts about Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia - 4
Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia started with an International hot air balloon competition organised in the area during early 1990s. Since then Cappadocia is know as one of the most amazing and suitable place to do hot air balloon ride in the world. At the moment Cappadocia
is home to twenty six hot air
balloon companies with a combined balloon fleet of well over 200. More than 25,000 balloon flights will take to the skies of Cappadocia over
the course of an average year and approximately 500,000 passengers will have the experience of a lifetime.
Cappadocia is home to the largest balloon company in the world with a fleet that is 22
balloons strong. Cappadocia ballooning industry has been going strong for a quarter of a century.
Read More..
Top Facts about Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia - 3
Cappadocia as an International
Ballooning Site
The historical region of Cappadocia has enjoyed
an important international reputation for years, with the National Park of
Göreme and its surroundings having been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage
list as early as 1985 due to its geological and cultural significance. However,
Cappadocia is now recognised as one of the most popular sites for hot air
ballooning in the world, too. Stunning pictures of Cappadocia balloon flights
are now one of the most popular travel themes on social networking sites like
Instagram and the region is host to some of the most important ballooning
events in the world. There is no such thing as exaggeration when it comes to
describing ballooning in Cappadocia, only the beautiful fact of going where the
wind takes you.
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Top Facts about Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia - 2
Safety First: Ballooning standards
are very rigorous…
The ballooning companies in Cappadocia take
safety very seriously. From pilot licensing to fleet maintenance to
aeronautical expertise, the ballooning industry in Cappadocia is now more
sufficiently regulated than ever. Ballooning does involve an element of risk,
just like all forms of air transportation. There are a number of points to
consider when deciding upon your balloon flight and what company to choose.
Firstly, that the industry as a whole is working to reduce the dangers. For
example, the decision as to when climatic conditions are optimal for safe
flight is now decided by a central agency rather than by individual companies.
Secondly, that all of those involved in Cappadocia’s ballooning industry- from
booking agents to flight captains- are exceptionally experienced. Thirdly, hot
air ballooning remains one of the safest forms of flying known to man, wıth the
majority of in-flight problems still allowing for captains to make safe
landings. ...
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Top Facts about Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia - 1
The best time to fly hot air balloons in Cappadocia is just before down! The Central Anatolian region of Cappadocia not
only boasts its stunning formations of volcanic rock and distinctive fairy
chimneys, it also has a unique continental climate that lends itself to the
aeronautical art of hot air ballooning. With its inland location and moderate
altitude, this provides a number of key climatic factors that contribute to
ballooning success: gentle, stable winds; long, hot summers; and minimal
rainfall. Cappadocia also tends towards hot days followed by much cooler
nights, especially during the prime ballooning season between April and
October. All of this contributes to the fact that dawn is the absolute perfect
time to sail into the skies of Cappadocia. Just before dawn is the coolest
moment of the day and this helps the hot air balloons to ascend into the air,
as the hot air of the balloon needs to be surrounded by cooler air in order to
power flight. Dawn in the valleys of Cappadocia, with its indescribable rays of
warm light painting the land, is definitely something worth seeing!
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CAPPADOCIA AND HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGTS
.JPG)
There is no other place on earth
quite like Cappadocia. When people talk about architecture, they usually talk
about buildings and other structures that are man-made, but Cappadocia’s
incredible architecture was made entirely by nature. The magical fairy chimneys
were the result of volcanic eruptions that began millions of years ago. Humans
started living in them centuries ago and many of them are still inhabited
today. They are also enjoyed by visitors from all over the world who come to
stay in the cave hotels.
At the top of many of the visitors’
list of things to see and do in Cappadocia is flying in a hot air balloon
because this is one of the most unique places in the world to do it. It is
something that anyone of any age will enjoy and is a special experience whether
you do it alone or with family and friends. The baskets come in different
sizes, depending on the number of people. Couples who are here on a romantic
holiday or on their honeymoon can fly privately. Private flights are also ideal
for proposals and anniversaries. Some large families choose the deluxe package,
which offers baskets that accommodate up to 8 people. A standard basket can
carry up to 20 people. It’s a great way to meet people, who often take off as
strangers and land as friends.
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