Day 7: Cappadocia
On the final day of your ultimate itinerary for one week in Turkey, I’ve saved the best until last. The Hot Air Balloon ride at sunrise over Cappadocia was amazing, and one of the best experience of anywhere I’ve travelled.
Hot Air Balloon ride at sunrise over Cappadocia
Flying in a hot air balloon at sunrise in Cappadocia has long been one of my top bucket list dreams. It’s a risky thing to have on your bucket list though, as the hot air balloons are often cancelled if the weather isn’t good enough for them to fly. There needs to be less than 7 knots of wind for the hot air balloons to be able to fly safely. So there’s always a high risk that when you go to Cappadocia, you won’t be able to go in the balloons or see the balloons. But I was so lucky that the balloons were flying on the morning I was in cappadocia.
The best way to book your Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon is through Get Your Guide here (affiliate). Or you can also book this hot air balloon experience through Viator which includes a champagne breakfast (affiliate).
It’s an early start for the sunrise hot air balloons. The time varies throughout the year. I visited in September, and we left the hotel just before 5am. The balloon company picked us up from the hotel and drove us about 15-20 minutes to where the balloon flies from.
Even as we were driving, I wasn’t letting myself believe the hot air balloons would actually happen. I was still preparing myself to hear that they’d been cancelled. But as we got closer, I saw a few of the earlier hot air balloons in the air. And that was when it hit me – this was actually going to happen! The wave of emotions hit me as I looked out the minibus in the semi-darkness and realised my dream was about to come true.
The minibus dropped us off right next to the balloon we would be going up in. We got to see it be prepared as it slowly inflated with the hot air.
Getting in and taking off
And then it was time to get in. There were about 30 people in the basket. And there were compartments with 3-4 people stood in each compartment. So you could move around within your compartment, but this stopped people moving around the basket too much and kept the weight even distributed. It was a bit difficult climbing into the basket but not too bad.
The take off was a little bit scary. The basket tipped as it was about to go up, and I was scared it was about to tip over! But the pilot, and additional staff on the ground, were super calm and all seemed completely in control. So it wasn’t long before we had the gentle take off. It was really gentle as we started to float higher – there was hardly any movement in the basket at all, so it felt really safe.
The hot air balloon ride
Almost as soon as we were in the air, the amazing views started. One of the most amazing things about the sunrise hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia is the amount of other balloons that also go up at sunrise. Our pilot told us there were 164 going up that morning.
The views of the other balloons were just amazing. It was just an incredible experience to be floating in the sky, in silence, with all the other balloons around us.
Sunrise in a hot air balloon
And as we got a bit higher, we found the sunrise. The sun started to peek over the top of the mountains as we rose to that height. And that just made it even more magical.
The entire hot air balloon ride lasted for between 45 minute – 1 hour. And the whole time was incredible. The views of the Cappadocia landscape were just amazing. You could really see the impressive rock formations in the landscape, including the fairy chimneys. And you could see really far as well, so could appreciate the size and scale of his huge desert mountainous area.
In the balloon we got to 500m high. And then other parts of the flight were lower. We flew low over one of the villages, so we could all clearly see the houses cut into the rocks.
I spent the whole time taking hundreds of photos, but also trying to take a break from the photos to really take in the amazing scenery. I’m so glad I’ve got the photos, but my best memories are from when I put my camera aside and just stood there, looking around, and taking in the moment.
The hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia really was amazing. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it. It’s an incredible experience, and is even better in real life than it looks in the photos.
You can book your Cappadocia hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia through Get Your Guide (affiliate) and also through Viator (affiliate).
Turkish Carpet demonstration
After breakfast back in the hotel, it was time to enjoy the rest of the day in Cappadocia. First, there was a trip to a Turkish Carpet shop. The owner gave an excellent talk about how traditional Turkish carpets are made, and we could watch the women make the carpets. They were so skilled, and it was incredible to watch and learn more about the carpets.
Of course, after the demonstration, they were keen to sell carpets. They even brought everyone some Turkish tea while we listened to the sales pitch. But they weren’t too pushy with the sales, so it was easy to walk away without buying anything if you didn’t want to.
Hiking through Cappadocia
Another of the top things to do in Cappadocia is to go hiking. There are loads of different hiking trails, or varying lengths and difficulties. Hiking is a great way to see the landscape from a different angle.
The rock formations in this part of Turkey really are spectacular. Every time you turn the corner, there’s a whole new landscape.
One of the best parts of Cappadocia is the ‘camel’ rock. It’s a completely natural rock, but it looks like a camel. The views around here are stunning as well. It’s worth climbing up the rock past the camel to see the view behind.
If you want a guided hike, so the guide can show you the best routes and views, check out these hikes on Get Your Guide (affiliate) and Viator (affiliate).
Final dinner in Cappadocia
After a full day exploring Cappadocia, head to a restaurant to enjoy a final dinner. One of the local speciality foods in Cappadocia is the pottery kebab. It’s a meat stew that is cooked in individual ceramic pots. It’s served to you still sealed in the pottery, and then the waiter will hit it with a hammer to break the pot and reveal the contents. You can get meat versions with chicken, beef or lamb, or you can also get vegetarian ones as well. They’re all cooked with lots of vegetables, and often are served with rice. It’s a great way to enjoy your final evening in Cappadocia while you reflect on your amazing week in Turkey.
Your one week in Turkey: final thoughts
So that’s the end of your ultimate itinerary for one week in Turkey! From Cappadocia, you can head to the nearby airport in Kayseri and take a short internal flight back to Istanbul. And then the choice is yours – either spend some more time in Istanbul or head onto another destination.
My one week in Turkey really was an amazing trip. For me, the highlights were the beginning and the end of the trip. I loved the city of Istanbul, and Cappadocia with the hot air balloon ride was definitely a bucket list experience.
The days in the middle of the trip were also good, but the drives were long. I’m really glad I saw the famous places like Gallipoli, Troy and Ephesus. So I would definitely do this trip again, so I could see the highlights of Turkey in one week. But you definitely need to be prepared for long drives and tiring days.
But overall, I loved my one week in Turkey. I’m already planning a return trip to Turkey, so I can spend more time on the southern coastline and explore some of Turkey’s beautiful beaches and coasts.
Hope you enjoyed my ultimate itinerary for one week in Turkey! Make sure you also check out my guide to the best food and drink in Turkey, and also my guide to spending four days in Istanbul. If you’re keen to explore more of the Middle East, check out my guide to spending one week in Jordan, and also the best things to eat in Jordan.
