Around them rose nearly a dozen other balloons, dotting the early morning sky with splashes of color and officially kicking ...

Hot air balloon rides are a common tourist activity in Turkey, which is home to a number of geologic formations across the country. In Cappadocia, balloons typically take off just before sunrise.

I wasn’t alone in my craving for a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. In 2024, a record-setting 933,000 people visited the region for just that reason.

Turkey's Cappadocia region has one of the most fascinating landscapes. Taking a hot air balloon ride to see it from above whilst watching the sun rise was the ultimate hot air balloon experience.