Leaving tomorrow on our first trip to Turkey (thanks Fodorites for past advice and posts). What am I missing about the famed balloon rides at Capadoccia? The cost is about $500 per person. We are not the indigent backpacker types, but that seems like a steep price just to get a few hundred feet into the air for a view. Even if breakfast is included ;-)

Our price was 130E. It was cramped in our litle quadrant and we were up for 90 minutes. I should say we were up and down and up and down for 90 minutes as our pilot enjoyed going from 10 feet to 800 meters and back a few times. Personally I would say it was not worth it but the other 20 people in our balloon would disagree.

Great views.

The cost for Urgup Balloons was 150 euros, w/ 10% discount for cash, two weeks ago. I felt it was well worth the cost. We were originally planning to go with Goreme balloons, but they were full. The charged the same price and took off right next to us.

From watching the three companies that morning, and talking to others at our hotel, It seems like most all the companies pick you up at your hotel (5 AM!), have a pastry, cheese, fruit and juice selection, fly for an hour with a funny pilot, and give you a certificate and glass of champagne at the end.

Some companies have a deluxe tour that goes an extra half hour, and will pick you up in a car instead of a 12 passenger bus. Can't see why you'd pay double for that!

Most of the ones that I had priced were about $150-$200 per person...you might want to check out another company/book directly rather than go with your hotel pkg or wherever you are getting that price from.

Oh, and the three of us really enjoyed it. Don't think I'd have enjoyed it at $500 though.

If you are ecologically minded, you might want to forgo the ride. Our guide in Cappadocia claimed that the balloons disturbed the local eagles and that many abandoned their nests.

I think the ballon ride is worth the experience. To see that area from above will be a highlight of your trip. We recently priced them in Denver, CO and they were more expensive. Drawback is getting up so early. Go for it! When are you going to get to do this again?

I was in Cappadocia last week, but didn't do the ballon ride.

Be sure to check around for prices. We were in one of the rug stores talking to the owner and he told us his friend ran one of the companies and we could get a ride for 80 euros. I have no regrets about not taking him up on the offer.

We were on the bubble about doing the balloon ride, too, but decided to go for it once we were in Cappadocia (early April this year). Like lcuy, we went with Urgup Balloons, arranged through our hotel. Price was as she quoted--not $500 p/p. We all agreed it was completely worth it (and I don't do heights very well).

http://onelittleworld.zenfolio.com/p87385194

Enjoy your trip!

We will be there in a few weeks but among my flaws is acrophobia. So to spend $300 for the two of two and also scream does not seem the best of bargains.

Between the early am wake up call and the husband's fear of heights, it was not something I wanted to do, but if you do want to, it seems there are less expensive options. I preferred seeing the rocks close up on walking trails. Such an amazing place!

Yorkshire - our balloon pilot let us do both at the same time. He went right down into one of the canyons so close to the rock walls that we could touch them. We never felt in danger but it was not what we expected.

Are you being quoted in $$? Is this a DCC issue?

Michel_Paris, my understanding was that the quote was $500. BUT given the comments here there must be some miscommunication from our excellent travel agent to my wife to me. I will recheck the quote.

Given the enthusiastic comments here I really want to do this. But, my wife has a fear of heights -as some others here note -so she would surely skip it.

Thanks, all for the helpful input.

Just a acrophobia comment - my husband and I did a ride in Africa and both of us were concerned about our fear of height. But it was not scary at all - the basket makes you feel protected - you don't feel at all like you will fall out, and the movement is so slow that you don't feel like you are moving. I hate planes, but this was fine. I would not let that stop you.

I think Goreme Balloons has a deluxe tour for 260 Euros, so that may be where that price is coming from. I was perfectly happy with the satndard tour with Urgup balloons. Our Pilot had thousands of rides under his belt, and in aobut 20 different countries. It really was not the least bit scary.

I think the size of the balloon (or rather the basket) is a factor in the price quoted as well (we saw at least one basket that could carry 36 people, but was limited to 30 ... would most definitely not want to do that). We booked our balloon trip when we arrived in Urgup through a local company, Kaya Ballooning ... our 12-pax balloon was sponsored by the Turkish Aeronautical Association and piloted by someone who was trained by them. If you'd like to see photographs ... http://eenusa.smugmug.com/Europe/Tur...53453754_kE8Ht.

We really enjoyed our flight and would do it again in a heartbeat. There was no sensation of movement, just a gentle floating feel. The sides of the basket were high and we felt very secure. But I don't know if I'd recommend it for someone with an extreme fear of heights. The balloons can't land just anywhere, and it would take time for the pilot to find a suitable spot and descend. If someone were to have a panic attack during that time, it could be dangerous not just for that person, but for the others passengers as well, not to mention a major distraction to the pilot.

I am 6'3" and certainly did not feel protected by the basket. I was leaning out over the edge of it (it was crowded) at 2400 feet and if I had a fear of heights I would have thrown up.

It would be impossible to just fall out but I think someone with a fear of heights could feel very exposed.

As she stated earlier, my 5'5" LW gets very anxious at heights when she feels unprotected... but she had no problem with this flight at all. And man, the views are nothing short of incredible!