The bus speeds ahead in the darkness, picking up people from different hotels. Most of us are groggy with sleep. Some clutch coffee cups; others lean their heads against the windows, eyes half-lidded, watching the occasional flicker of streetlights or neon signs blur past.

The sky is still a deep indigo, just beginning to soften at the edges.

We are dropped off at the office of the hot air balloon company, where a simple breakfast awaits.

People huddle near the tables and quietly sip their coffee. Their breath is visible in the crisp morning air. There’s a quiet excitement building—subtle, almost reverent—as we wait for our group to be called.

Soon, the crowd is divided into numbered groups. When our number is announced, we shuffle toward the designated bus, backpacks slung over shoulders, cameras ready.

The ground crew moves efficiently, their voices low but practiced, as if they’ve done this a thousand times before. The morning is still half-asleep, but something is stirring in the air—something about to rise.

It is 5 a.m., and the horizon is already buzzing with activity.

All around us, massive balloons are being prepped for flight. Loud hissing fills the air as gas burners shoot flames skyward, inflating the balloons with hot air.

The once-flat fabric sprawled across the ground slowly begins to take shape, growing taller and more majestic with each burst of flame. Colors—bold reds, deep blues, golds, and greens—glow in the dim light, flickering like lanterns in the pre-dawn haze.

Crews move with precision, tugging ropes, checking valves, anchoring baskets. The ground pulses with energy—part choreography, part chaos.

We gather near our assigned balloon, necks craned upward, eyes wide. The chill of the morning is slowly being replaced by adrenaline and awe.

This isn’t just a ride—it feels like a ritual, a slow, fiery awakening of giants before they take to the sky.

Our balloon is almost ready. A large wicker basket forms the base, sturdy and spacious. Attached to it are thick cables holding a balloon that looks as big as a truck—or perhaps even larger. The gas burner intermittently breathes fire, keeping the balloon steadily inflated.

Each time the flame roars, a wave of heat rolls over us, cutting through the morning chill. The balloon overhead trembles slightly, its vibrant fabric rippling like the sail of a ship waiting for wind. The crew gives final instructions—brief, calm, practiced. Climb in carefully. Hold on to the edges. Stay inside the basket until told otherwise.

We begin to board, climbing into the basket one by one. There’s a nervous shuffle of feet, a few quiet laughs, camera clicks, and then silence as we look up, realizing just how enormous the balloon really is above us.

Ten minutes pass. We haven’t taken off yet. The pilot speaks in serious tones over the walkie-talkie, clearly waiting for something—or someone.

Then, the ground crew unties the ropes. Another blast of fire. A jolt—not rough, but sudden. And then, almost imperceptibly, the earth begins to fall away.

A wave of cheers and applause rises from the basket. For many of us, it’s our first hot air balloon experience. The air is crisp and cool—about 2°C on the ground—but we rise into warmer currents above.

At first, we hover just above the earth. Curious, we glance at the pilot, who continues his conversation over the radio, occasionally waving down to someone below.

Looking over the edge of the basket, I see her—a bride, dressed in pristine white, standing beside her groom. A team of photographers surrounds them, capturing the moment.

Suddenly, it all makes sense.

We weren’t just waiting on weather or clearance. We were part of something else—something bigger, more personal. A moment carefully choreographed to unfold as the balloon rises.

Below us, the couple poses with our balloon as their backdrop, the flame flickering overhead, the morning sky casting them in soft gold.

It’s not just a flight—it’s a frame in someone’s story, a memory being sealed from both ground and sky. And for a brief moment, we’re suspended between worlds—passengers in the air, witnesses to love on the ground

A crew of photographers hovers around them, adjusting angles, fixing stray hair, arranging the folds of her dress—making them ready for the perfect shot.

The scene feels almost cinematic: the soft blush of dawn rising behind them, our balloon glowing faintly above, and the quiet stillness of morning wrapping it all in a kind of reverent calm. From above, we watch as flashes go off, cameras click, and the couple holds each other close, smiling into the lens, into the moment.

It becomes clear—we’re not just passengers in the air, but a part of their story, framed in the background of a memory they’ll return to for years.

Our balloon is the centerpiece of a wedding photo shoot. That explained the delay and the gentle hovering earlier 😊

We swoop above the couple for a dramatic overhead shot. They look up, laughing and waving. We wave back, cheering from above. I’m certain those photos turned out spectacular.

After several passes and angle adjustments, the photographer finally gives the go-ahead.

Our pilot receives the signal and we begin to rise steadily into the skies. Now, the magic begins for us.

The earth slowly releases its hold. The hum of activity below fades into silence. And above us—nothing but endless sky, painted in the first true light of morning.

Several millennia ago, volcanic eruptions shaped this region into a surreal land of tall, spindly rock formations known as fairy chimneys.

Carved by centuries of wind and water erosion, these natural towers rise from the valley floors like something out of a dream—slender, whimsical, and otherworldly.

From above, they resemble a forest of stone, scattered across the landscape in soft beiges, pinks, and ochres. It’s a view that feels both ancient and unreal, as if we’ve floated into the pages of a forgotten myth.

As we ascend over the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia, the sun peeks over the mountains.

Dozens of colorful balloons float around us, dotting the sky like confetti.

Each one drifts silently, their vivid hues glowing in the morning light—reds, yellows, blues, and greens scattered across the vast canvas of dawn.

The valley below slowly comes to life under the golden rays of the rising sun, revealing winding trails, ancient cave dwellings, and vineyards etched into the earth.

The air is still, the world quiet. Even the chatter in the basket fades as everyone turns to take it all in—this harmony of sky and stone, light and silence.

It’s a moment suspended in time.
And for just a while, we are no longer tourists or strangers—we are dreamers, drifting above a story written by fire, wind, and time.

The entire experience takes about two hours, from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. After the gentle descent and a smooth landing, the celebration begins.

Champagne is offered to all guests, the bubbles catching the morning light as glasses are raised in quiet cheers and smiles.

Alongside the toast, certificates are handed out—small tokens to commemorate the adventure, personalized with names and the date.

Laughter mingles with the clink of glasses, and stories from the flight are exchanged.

The crisp morning air still lingers, but now it carries a warm glow—the kind that stays with you long after the balloon has touched down.

The bus drops us back to our hotel and we are very pleased with such a unique and beautiful start to our day.

A perfect beginning to the day—and a memory to cherish forever.

How to Hot Air Balloon

• There are several companies in Cappadocia who offer this experience.
• The recommended ones are Royal Balloon and Voyager.
• They may ask you to share your credit card details if you contact them directly, which is strongly not recommended.
• You can ask you hotel instead to book this for you and pay by cash once you are in Cappadocia.
• It is very easy to book the hot air balloon as all end to end costs are covered, from hotel pick, breakfast, the ride, champagne and the drop back to the hotel.
• Go for the early morning ride to get clear views and a beautiful sunrise. The later rides may not guarantee this.
• This should be one of the ‘must do’ when in Cappadocia.

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Take care of your memories for you cannot relive them – Bob Dylan