Cappadocia was the last stop on my one-month trip, so I had already left Turkey by the time I wrote this. One of the most recognisable places in the world, thanks to its unique rock formations, Cappadocia and the town of Göreme had been on my list to visit for a long time. After all, it is the place where you can experience one of the most amazing hot air balloon rides. But is it worth a visit? Is it really a magical place or just a tourist trap?
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Cappadocia and Göreme
Magical Cappadocia is a semi-arid region (semi-desert) in central Turkey and, as mentioned, is known for its distinctive rock formations, some looking like ‘fairy chimneys’. I based myself in the town Göreme, the centre of the valleys.
Here is some history on Cappadocia.
Flying into Kayseri from Istanbul was quite easy and cheap. From there it is a one hour bus drive to Göreme and therefore my hotel (I recommend to organise a shuttle with the hotel). I was very excited! As soon as I checked in into my ‘cave hotel’ I went exploring.
It became pretty quickly clear to me, that I was in the middle of a very touristy area. Everything is made for tourists in Göreme. The main streets were covered by souvenir shops, companies selling tours and restaurants with tourist prices. There was also lots of roadworks which made the town very dusty. However, as much as Göreme might not be the prettiest place, it is certainly the centre of this magical place.
I could not stop taking photos.. it was beautiful!
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The ‘famous’ Balloon Ride
To ride or not to ride? That was the question I kept asking myself.
Before arriving in Cappadocia, I had convinced myself that I would definitely take a hot air balloon ride. After all, it’s one of the world’s most iconic experiences and a must-do when visiting this magical region. Or is it?
Once I started doing some research, I quickly realised there was no shortage of companies offering balloon flights. Then I discovered that some baskets carry up to 30 passengers. And I am talking about little baskets that certainly don’t look like they are made for big crowds. I still hoped to find a reasonably priced flight, and perhaps one with fewer people on board.
And a private balloon ride in Cappadocia was certainly out of my price range.
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After speaking with a few companies, however, I started to feel that the whole experience had become a bit of a tourist trap. Every company promoted the same itinerary: a 4.30 am pick-up, watching the balloons inflate, around an hour flying over the valleys, followed by a glass of non-alcoholic champagne before returning by 7 am.
It simply didn’t appeal to me. More than anything, I had no desire to share a basket with up to 30 other people.
As I browsed through photos online, I also noticed something interesting. Most people photographed the balloons themselves rather than the view from inside the basket. I realised I could enjoy exactly that. For free.
So, instead of booking a flight, I watched the balloons from my hotel terrace. At 5.30 am, the first balloons slowly floated into the sky, and I spent the next hour taking countless photos. The views were spectacular.
My Verdict
Over three mornings, I watched the balloon launches from my terrace. I saw balloons drift gracefully across the valleys, some floating surprisingly close before changing direction, while others disappeared into the distance much sooner than I expected. It certainly didn’t look as though every flight lasted a full hour. I also couldn’t help wondering how everyone fitted into those small baskets. They looked rather crowded.
Watching hundreds of colourful balloons rise over Cappadocia while enjoying a quiet cup of coffee on my own terrace turned out to be a magical experience in itself. For me, that was enough.
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At the end, I was happy that I didn’t go on the balloon ride in Cappadocia. I know it is a must do, and you might still go. After all it is a unique and magical place to do it at. It just wasn’t for me. I value my hikes and exploring the valleys by foot as a much better personal experience.
Hiking in Cappadocia – the Pigeon Valley
It was really fun, hiking in Cappadocia. As I was here for three days, I did three different hikes. I have some amazing photos, so I will write some hikes in a different blog post. One of the shorter hikes was to the town next door, to Uçhisar, via the Pigeon Valley.
Uçhisar was quite a pretty village. Sitting on top of a mountain overlooking the valley and Göreme it seemed cleaner and almost more luxurious than Göreme. Although Göreme was more perfect for me (even with all the dust) for my two other hikes. The Love Valley and the Rose Valley. Read here: Hiking Love Valley & Rose Valley
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All in all, my days in Cappadocia and Göreme were amazing. What a unique and magical place it is. Yes, it can feel a little touristy at times, but if you come for the breathtaking scenery, dramatic valleys, unique rock formations and fantastic hiking, I would definitely recommend visiting.
After exploring so much of Turkey, I’m really glad I included this part of the country in my itinerary. I’ll always have wonderful memories of Cappadocia. Will I come back? Probably not. But then again… you never know.
(post 177)
