On the Wings of a Butterfly

The alarm went off at 4am and was immediately silenced. Humans just aren’t meant to be up before the sun! At 4:25 as I struggled with the coffee machine the concierge rang the room to remind us that the pick up was 4:55 and we were going to ride the skies on the wings of a butterfly.

After hurrying to get dressed we arrived downstairs and boarded a small bus with 12 others. We stopped at the office for a quick breakfast of fruits, cakes, and (yes!) more coffee. At 5:20 we boarded another bus and then my mom made the bombshell confession: she was afraid of heights. On the drive we spotted what appeared to be flashes of little lanterns against the skyline, but as we came closer, we realized those lanterns were huge balloons scattered like a handful of stars across the valley.

The sun peaked over the edge of the clouds and the only sound we heard was the wind rusting the balloon silk and the steady roar of the flames filling the huge orbs.  As we ascended into the sky, silence filled the basket. Suddenly, as the sun erupted over the mountains, everyone came alive with the joy of seeing the mountains blazing as if they were on fire.  It was as though a giant torch had been lit over the horizon and then valley was drenched in gold.

We chose to fly with Butterfly Balloons because of their impeccable safety record.  Our pilot Fatih was absolutely brilliant in making sure we had an unforgettable journey and a wonderful landing. I never once felt worried, instead I was in awe of how beautiful and quiet the view from above was.

After landing there was a champagne breakfast included and each one of us received our own flight certificate from Pilot Fatih.

So there we were at 8am, sipping champagne and enjoying the unparalleled views of Göreme in all her glory.

Suddenly I took a flight of my own straight into our folded up hot air balloon!
I highly recommend this company if you are looking for a balloon flight in Cappadochia. I am thrilled that we chose Butterfly Balloons.  In your basket you will have unparalleled views of the valley.  The company makes sure guests are safe and each person has the flight of a lifetime.  Everyone has a clear spot to stand in the basket and the opportunities for photos are endless!  Be sure to put this one on your Bucket List!