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I
count my Cappadocia balloon
flight, described below, as one
of life's great thrills,
but according to a report
from Reuters,
there was a serious
ballooning accident in Cappadocia
on May 29, 2009, in which a passenger
died and others were seriously injured.
More...
Here's
how my flight went:
The
crew picks you up at your hotel before
dawn and drives you to the takeoff
site. After a chilly dawn launch
you float silently above the
Cappadocian moonscape dotted with
villages, vineyards and fruit orchards
for about an hour, coming down in
a farmer's field.
The
crew retrieves you and the aircraft,
then breaks out the bubbly for a
traditional champagne toast to
a successful aeronautical adventure.
This photo
gallery has more
info.
The
balloons traditionally fly from April through October when
the skies are clear and the winds
light at dawn, but recently some
crews have made themselves available
in winter as well, just in case there
is a day with favorable weather for
flying.
Reserve
your place(s) in the balloon basket
several days in advance if you can.
It's
best to schedule your flight for
the morning after your first night
in Cappadocia.
If unsuitable weather prevents the
balloons from flying on that first
morning,
you'll
have a back-up possibility on your
second or later morning.
A
balloon ascent is not cheap, but
it's little enough to pay for a truly unforgettable
experience in your life. And
when it comes to price, you must
realize that not all balloon
flights are the same. For
example:
—A flight taking off from
the same launch spot every day cannot
take advantage of changing weather
conditions as well as a flight that
takes off from a launch site chosen
with regard to the day's weather
—Any balloon flight is thrilling,
but the longer the flight, the more
time the pilot has to explore the wind
and provide a more interesting experience.
(A short flight on a windless day can
be pretty boring...)
—A balloon and pilot doing multiple
flights in one day is not as safe as
a pilot doing a single flight
—Flight
safety is extremely important,
but some flights—and balloon companies—are
safer than others. More...
My
favorite hot-air balloon flight company
is Kapadokya
Balloons. They originated
hot-air ballooning in Cappadocia
decades ago, they have excellent,
experienced pilots, first-rate equipment
and an unblemished safety
record—all
of which are very
important, believe me. More...
Göreme
Balloons is another
prominent company, flying since
1997, with as many as a dozen
balloons taking off at dawn. More...
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