If ever you have fancied experiencing a trip to the moon, such adventure might not be as distant as you think. Cappadocia, an area in Turkey’s Central Anatolia, is just about the closest you can get to experiencing a moonscape the like of which you’ve only seen in movies. Waves of rock, hued in pink and red, make up a landscape shaped by erosion, where monstrous columns of hardened volcanic ash interrupt the horizon.
Seeing the underground cities, churches in caves, and houses carved from the rock is extraordinary in itself, but Cappadocia is best experienced from the sky. Yes, hot air ballooning is incredibly popular in the area, making it likely the closest you can get (on this Earth anyway) to experiencing a balloon flight over the moon.
flickr/Benh LIEU SONG
Hot air balloons taking off in Cappadocia
From the comfort of your hot air balloon, you will be witness to the astounding beauty of Cappadocia’s unusual landscape. It is filled with amazing rock formations due to wind and rain erosion over thousands of years. Cappadocia also boasts once active volcanoes, which have helped in shaping a scene that can only be described as otherworldly.
flickr/Frank Kovalchek
Ancient Rock Houses – One of the many unique features of Cappadocia
See the fairytale unfold beneath you as chimneys, mushrooms, pinnacles and pillars rise from the hardened ash of ancient volcanoes and stretch as high as 40 metres skyward.
The sights will be more than enough to take your breath away as, at sunrise, you see the golden light illuminate this alien world. With panoramic views and photographic opportunities sure to wow, there’s nothing quite like floating along above wondrous Cappadocia.
flickr/Mr Hicks46
Hot air ballooning over Cappadocia
flickr/Benh LIEU SONG
Aerial view of Cappadocia
Luckily for travellers, it really is easy to have your own extraordinary experience aboard a hot air balloon in Cappadocia. There are many tour companies that offer hot air balloon tours with either a one, or a one and a half hour flight option.
They include a delicious buffet breakfast before you fly, some champagne to enjoy after your experience and, of course, round trip transportation from your hotel. As proof of your once-in-a-lifetime trip, you’ll also get a medal to show off to your family and friends. Not that you’ll need it, as you’ll have memories to last a lifetime!
Whether you’re already planning to visit Turkey, or merely looking for an interesting place to holiday, Cappadocia should be first on your list. With hot air ballooning, as well as trekking and exploration in hundreds of spots, it is an experience unique to this part of the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment