Turkey’s UNESCO-listed Cappadocia is a sight to behold from above.

A rocky landscape of natural wonders and human aptitude, Cappadocia is Turkey’s very own fairy-tale kingdom. Initially shaped by volcanic eruption and erosion, locals and religious refugees worked the already-breathtaking topography into an impressive network of underground chambers, tunnels, and cities thousands of years ago.

Now a World Heritage Site, Cappadocia’s rich and diverse cultural and political history is enough to attract anyone to the region — but what brings tourists to Cappadocia these days is the chance to see it from a hot air balloon.

With fairy chimneys and pillars, river valleys, and cliffs, the region is certainly a magnificent sight to behold from the air. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to book a trip to the area and see it for yourself.

Read on to learn how to plan your Cappadocia hot air balloon excursion and take your next favorite travel photo.

1. How Do I Choose the Right Tour?

Depending on the tour you choose, your hot air balloon experience could differ greatly. Most tour operators offer both “comfort flights” and “standard flights,” with comfort flights having fewer people in the basket and the flight duration being 15 to 30 minutes longer than standard flights. Many operators also offer private tours for special occasions. Some companies may be more expensive because they offer a better breakfast, post-flight Champagne, or a more comfortable method of transportation to the takeoff site.

Companies that have been operating for more than a decade like Cappadocia Voyager Balloons and Royal Balloon also tend to be pricier because their pilots are more experienced. Skilled pilots are adept at safely flying at different heights including low in the valley where you can get better views. In general, it’s recommended to do your own research by reading reviews on Tripadvisor, asking your hotel for recommendations, and contacting the tour operator to ask questions like “how skilled are your pilots?” or “can I book a flight with your most experienced pilot?” to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.

2. How Much Does It Cost?

Prices can vary greatly depending on the time of year you fly and how far in advance you book. For example, a ride on Butterfly Balloons’ Butterfly Flight in the peak of summer can cost upwards of $250 per person, but that same flight costs about $190 in January and February. Likewise, private flights cost a lot more than group flights. Group flights with Hot Air Ballooning Cappadocia, for example, start at around $160 per person while private flights start at $4,900.

3. How Long Is the Flight?

Flights can last anywhere between 45 minutes and three hours. It depends on who you book your tour with and which flight deal you pick. For example, Kapadokya Balloons’ Standard Program lasts 45 to 65 minutes, while its Deluxe Program lasts 90 minutes.

4. How Many People Can Fit Inside a Basket?

The capacity of the basket again depends on the company and the flight. Urgup Balloons’ Classic Flight carries 28 people, while its Deluxe Flight carries 16. Butterfly Balloons’ Butterfly Beyond Flight carries up to two people per compartment, which amounts to no more than eight passengers total.

5. When Is the Best Time To Fly?

You can take a hot air balloon flight any time of year, but with Cappadocia’s hot, dry summers and cold — and sometimes snowy — winters, the best time to go is during the spring (April to June) and fall (September and October).

Hot air balloon flights are weather dependent and may be canceled if it’s windy, rainy, or a storm is approaching in the immediate area. In that event, many companies will offer you a full refund or help you reschedule. Plan to spend a few days in Cappadocia so you can rebook if this happens to you.

6. How High up Do the Balloons Go?

While balloon companies can take their passengers thousands of feet in the air, with hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia, the real treat is seeing (and photographing) the geological details of the different rock formations, so it’s not necessary to climb too high off the ground.

7. When Do Flights Take Off?

Balloons usually take off early in the morning — about 5 to 5:30 a.m., depending on the season — because the wind conditions are best around sunrise. Tour companies will pick you up at your hotel, so there’s no need to worry about getting to the take-off site while you’re half asleep. A lot of tour companies change their take-off site on a day-to-day basis. They base the location on the day’s wind direction and speed.

8. What Should I Wear?

It’s cooler up in the air than on the ground, so if you go during the warmer months, consider wearing layers and a light jacket. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be on your feet for a long time. It’s a good idea to bring a hat since you can usually feel the heat from the burner flame.

9. Is It Safe?

While hot air ballooning is considered a relatively low-risk activity, accidents still happen. In October 2022, CBS News reported that two tourists were killed and three others were injured when a hot air balloon in Cappadocia made a hard landing. While the incident left many wondering about the safety of balloon rides, it’s important to note that fatalities are rare. According to data from Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, only 12 accidents occurred during the flight hours examined between the summers of 2013 and 2017 in Cappadocia. All of these accidents occurred during the landing phase of the flight, resulting in 33 passengers being injured and three deaths. Since hard landings are the most common cause of accidents, it’s important to listen to the instructions given during the safety briefing. Choosing a reputable hot air balloon company with pilots that have more than five years of flying experience can also increase your chances of having a safe flight. Statistically speaking, driving a car is more likely to result in injury than flying in a hot air balloon.

10. Is There Turbulence?

If you typically get sick on airplanes, rest assured: Balloon flights are so smooth you can enjoy the flight without the discomfort of airsickness.

11. What Happens After Landing?

In line with balloon tradition, you can usually expect a Champagne toast (and maybe a slice of cake) upon landing. At the end of the trip, tour companies generally hand out certificates or medallions to commemorate the event.

12. Where Can I Take the Best Photo From the Ground?

If you’re wanting to re-experience your time in the air (or hoping to get a sneak preview), head to Göreme’s Sunrise/Sunset Point early in the morning to watch the balloons rise with the sun.

13. How Do I Get to Cappadocia?

The airports that serve Cappadocia are Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) and Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR). Ask your Cappadocia hotel if it offers airport transfers. If not, you can reserve a shuttle through Argeus Travel and Events or Turkish Heritage Travel, or take a taxi to your accommodations.

You can also take a bus from Istanbul or Ankara to Nevşehir on the outskirts of Cappadocia. From Istanbul, it’s a 10-hour bus ride, but for about $25 one way, it is a far cheaper option than flying. Book your tickets through Metro Turizm.

14. Where Should I Stay?

Cappadocia is a region composed of multiple cities and villages. The most popular destinations for tourists are Göreme, Ürgüp, and Uçhisar.

Most tourists go to Göreme because it’s easily accessible and it’s within walking distance of the Göreme Open-Air Museum. Decorated with colorful frescoes in the Byzantine style, this collection of rock-cut churches is worthy of its spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Similar to Göreme, many travelers also flock to Ürgüp. If you love wine, consider staying here since it’s the capital of wine production in the Cappadocia region.

At the highest point in Cappadocia, Uçhisar is another popular town for visitors. Home to Uçhisar Castle, this rock citadel offers a beautiful panoramic view of the region and Mount Erciyes.

15. Where Should I Eat?

If you’re staying in Göreme, try börek, gözleme, and böregi (pastries that are typically filled with spiced meats or spinach and feta) at Nazar Börek Cafe or a mezze platter at Topdeck Cave Restaurant. Order a kebab at Old Cappadocia Cafe and Restaurant for a taste of true Anatolian fare.

16. What Else Is There to See and Do?

While the view from the skies is unforgettable, Cappadocia is just as beautiful on the ground. The region is made up of underground cities, so make time to discover its unique history. Take a tour of either Derinkuyu or Kaymakli to see perfect examples of what it was like for previous residents to live underground.

Cappadocia is also known as the “Land of Beautiful Horses,” so you should explore the landscape by horse as well as by hot air balloon. Outfitters offering tours by horseback include The Dalton Brothers and Cemal Ranch.

Exploring a new country can be a blast.

The process of getting there … not so much.

Roomy and comfortable business and first-class plane seating is out of reach for many Australian travellers, who instead find themselves squeezed shoulder to shoulder with strangers in economy for upwards of 10 hours.

This uncomfortable experience, along with flying, can have consequences for your body and health.

Choose your seat wisely

You might be happy to leave your seat up to chance, or you could prefer a window seat to catch the first glimpse of your destination.

Australian Frequent Flyer editor Matt Graham said choosing the aisle seat will make it much easier to get up and about during your flight, from going to the toilet to walking up and down the aisle for some light exercise.

Choosing an exit-row seat, or any seat that has extra leg room, will also give you more freedom to do some leg exercises while seated.

Talk with your doctor

Travelling at high altitudes can put a lot of pressure on your body, leading to lower levels of oxygen in your blood and all sorts of pressures on the rest of your system.

Guido Carim Junior, senior lecturer in aviation at Griffith University, said people with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure may find flying exacerbates the condition.

He recommended against travelling if you have a cold or flu, as any pocket of air in your body tends to naturally expand when flying, including your stomach, sinuses and inner ears.

This means you could be risking damage to your sinuses or inner ears if you travel by plane while they’re blocked, as they may not be able to equalise the air pressure.

And if you’re taking any medication, Dr Carim Jr recommended asking your doctor for advice before jetting off, as more air pressure can strengthen the effects of medicine.

Stay hydrated

Mr Graham said one of the most important things to do on a flight is drink water, as low humidity in the cabin means your body loses a lot of moisture.

This is important to keep in mind for every traveller, but Dr Carim Jr said the elderly or certain health conditions may be more affected.

“The companies are doing a really good job nowadays. They are handing over bottles of water every now and then, or they actually [have a] water fountain available in some aircraft models in the back, close to the kitchen,” he said.

He said drinking about 200ml of water every half hour not only keeps you hydrated – it’ll also make you need to use the toilet more often, which will help keep you active during the flight.

Get moving

Extra air pressure and lack of movement for more than 10 hours can wreak havoc on your body.

Some consequences include a build-up of fluid in your limbs, and serious issues like deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot), which can lead to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism if the clot travels to your lungs.

According to data combined from 18 studies, the longer you travel, the greater the risk of blood clots; after four hours, the risk becomes 26 per cent higher for every two hours of air travel.

Staying active during your flight is your best defence.

This could mean making the effort to stand up and walk around every hour or so, or do some seated exercises.

Bevan Chen, accredited exercise physiologist at Pivotal Motion, said exercising or stretching in-flight can also help prevent increased pain from pre-existing areas like the knee, hip and lower back.

“If someone’s got a previous existing injury … a lot of those can be set off, in terms of pain and discomfort, just purely by [being] stuck in that one seated position for a long time,” he said.

“The important thing is to try and stop that from happening, and not let that set off, and just have plans in place to try and help ease that discomfort.”

If you have a pre-existing injury you’re worried about, Mr Chen recommended seeing your regular physiologist for advice before travelling on what sort of exercises and stretches to do on a plane.

Apart from walking around the cabin, he said some things you can do to keep active include the following, with a recommended three rounds of 10 repetitions per exercise:

• Stretching your neck from side to side
• Rolling your shoulders backwards and forwards
• Tucking in your chin (giving yourself a double chin), and keeping it tucked in while pushing your head back against the headrest
• Performing a seated thoracic stretch by placing your hands on the chair in front, pushing your chest down towards the ground, holding the position for three to five seconds, relaxing, and repeating
• Stretching your forearms, with your arms held out in front, and the top of your hands face you
• Performing pelvic rocks by rocking your hips/pelvic area backwards and forwards, as well as side to side, while seated
• Bringing each knee to your chest
• Rotating your knees where possible
• Raising your calves in front of you
• Marching on the spot while seated
• Performing a knee extension by putting your feet underneath the chair in front of you, and then pushing up against it using the muscles on top of your legs.

With all of the above exercise, remember to make sure you’re not disturbing passengers sitting around you.

When you visit a new destination, one of the most important and exciting things you can do is take great pictures. You have saved enough and are ready to spend on the trip to have the best moment of your life. So, why not preserve these memories in photographs? You must ensure you don’t lose the pictures since you might never repeat those moments. Therefore, ensure every picture is safe every time you press the shutter. Losing your precious pictures is the last thing you want, yet some people lose them when traveling. Don’t let this happen to you. Try these tips and hints to ensure your pictures will be safe throughout your trip.

Carry an External Hard Disk

Download your pictures to a laptop and ensure you also back up to an external hard drive. Some memories cannot be recovered. That is enough to ensure you have an external hard drive every time you travel.

Utilize Online Storage

There are reliable online storage platforms you can utilize to protect the photos. Companies like Amazon and Dropbox have reliable storage solutions you can use to save your photos. However, you will need an internet connection. So, we recommend backing up to online storage every time you get to the hotel.

Format the SD Card

Before you start using your SD card, make sure it is clean. It ensures the card has enough space and has no viruses that might corrupt the photos. Learn how to clear SD card on Mac to create more space for your trip. It is crucial to keep the card clean until the next time you need to take pictures.

Back-Up Your Old Photos

Before you clear your memory card, back up the old pictures. It is also recommended to back up the pictures every time you return to the hotel room. This way, you can start the next shoot knowing your pictures are safe. It is understandable to go back to the hotel feeling tired and not wanting to do anything afterward. However, protecting your photographs is worth a little effort.

Develop a Saving System

The best way to ensure you don’t lose your pictures is to create a system of saving them. Decide how you will save the pictures before you go to the next scene. A system will keep you organized and ensure you don’t lose any moment you have captured.

Don’t Keep All the Pictures in One Place

In simple terms, don’t keep your pictures in one memory card, even if it has enough space left. It means that once you lose the card, you lose all the pictures you have taken throughout the trip. So, consider buying smaller memory cards to have other options if you lose one. It is also advisable not to erase your images after backing up. That way, you will have your pictures in three places.

Bring an Extra SD Card

SD cards are now affordable, so that you can bring an extra one to your trip. An extra SD card ensures you have your pictures in different places and sufficient space to take more pictures.

A Quick Roundup

These are simple methods you can use to ensure your photographs are safe. Always back up before heading out or erasing them from the card. Save them in different locations and create a system of saving them.

First of all, you have to adjust yourself to an unfamiliar environment, which can play havoc with your daily routine.

Going on a business trip can be exciting as well as intimidating, particularly for those who are venturing out in the world of corporate travel for the first time and wish to return with a lasting impression.

However, crossing different time zones at a moment’s notice to foster the company’s name is not an easy task, despite the thrills associated with brokering a good deal.

First of all, you have to adjust yourself to an unfamiliar environment, which can play havoc with your daily routine. Then one has to confront the ramping up of security at airports where there are geopolitical tensions brewing.

Fortunately, with proper preparation, there is a way out from these high-pressure situations, providing you plan your journey in a way to ensure a seamless travel experience from start to finish.

So here are five tips that help newcomers ensure smooth executive-level travel that will not only allow them to focus on work but at the same time keep their bosses happy as well.

# 1) Know your destination well

Doing adequate research on the destination you intend to visit well in advance is the best way to ensure your business trip is fruitful. Having sufficient knowledge of the place will help in resolving all the nitty gritty that make business travel cumbersome.

Ensure that you know about the hotel accommodation you are going to stay in, especially the amenities they offer like Wi-Fi, spa and gym. Compare all the accommodation options suited for business travellers on sites like CozyCozy.

Learn a bit about the country you are visiting, especially if it is your first time. Understanding their customs, etiquette and language can come in quite handy in striking business deals.

# 2) Prepare an itinerary

Traveling for business is totally different from the spontaneous planning required for leisurely tourist trips as it requires an organisation’s time and money.

A planned itinerary is the blueprint for a successful business trip, so include all the main activities that you intend to execute on the journey with a complete time-bound break-up. Share a copy of this with someone in the family back home so that you can be traced, if and when needed.

Budget your trip beforehand, load the amount needed on your forex card, and lock the conversion rate of the currency of the destination.

# 3) Pack smart

With all the conferences, meetings, dinners and lunches you might have, packing right for the trip will do you the world of good. Carry an appropriate outfit for each occasion and pack them in separate packing cubes in order to carry just the clothes you may need.

Add some exclusive travel-sized toiletries to the list and place them in a handy carry bag, which can be easily accessed during security checks. Not only will it save space in your bag but also save valuable time at the airport.

Pencil in some ironing time before you pack because there is nothing more embarrassing than having to attend a meeting in wrinkled shirts and pants.

# 4) Don’t forget the gadgets

Gadgets are an important element on a business trip, as they make it easy for you to work and connect with friends and families at home.

Remember to pack your phone, laptop, and universal adapter as you will be working from both the office and the hotel room, and speaking with loved ones during free time.

# 5) Other key points to consider

• Make a checklist of your tickets, passport, hotel bookings at least a week in advance
• Book flights, accommodation, transport in advance to avoid a price surge, and to reduce cost
• Carry your prescription medicine, and be prepared for emergency and illness
• Knowing your transfer time to and fro from the airports is important in an important step that helps in avoiding last-minute commute-related panic