Question 1

Which type of fuel is used in hot air balloons and how do air balloons fly?

Accepted Answer

Hot air balloons use liquid propane to heat the air. As the air is heated, its density decreases. The hot air flows into the envelope and lifts the balloon upward.

Question 2

Can pilots steer hot air balloons?

Accepted Answer

Hot air balloons’ flight route is determined by the wind. Pilots are unable to steer hot air balloons towards a certain direction but only descend or ascend.

Question 3

In which countries are hot air balloons made?

Accepted Answer

There are three hot air balloon manufacturers in the world: Cameron Balloons (England), Ultramagic Balloons (Spain) and Kubicek Balloons (Czech Republic). Urgup Balloons’ fleet mostly consists of hot air balloons produced by Cameron Balloons.

Question 4

How much does a hot air balloon cost?

Accepted Answer

The prices of hot air balloons vary depending on its passenger capacity. While small air balloons made for individual use range between €15.000 and €30.000, big air balloons made for commercial use cost from €80.000 to €120.000.

Question 5

What kind of fabric is used to produce a hot air balloon envelope?

Accepted Answer

Hot air balloons generally are made from hyperlast due to its superior durability. Hyperlast is proven to be the strongest fabric and greatest performer compared to others. All of our balloons are made all-Hyperlast for higher longevity.

Question 6

How high do hot air balloons fly?

Accepted Answer

Commercial hot air balloons typically fly between 5,000 and 6,000 feet — about 0.9 to 1.1 miles.

Question 7

What is the average lifespan of a hot air balloon?

Accepted Answer

The lifespan of a hot air balloon varies depending on in which conditions it is used and what kind of fabric is used in the envelope. On average, a commercial hot air balloon is operable for 1300 hours.

Question 8

How much fuel does a hot air balloon consume for a 1-hour flight?

Accepted Answer

There are many factors determining the fuel efficiency of a hot air balloon, such as the quality of the fabric, basket size, the shape of the balloon envelope. Therefore, each hot air balloon has a different level of fuel consumption. On average, a commercial hot air balloon with the capacity between 20-28 passengers typically uses approximately 400 litres of propane per hour.

Question 9

What if my flight gets cancelled due to bad weather?

Accepted Answer

In the event of cancellation due to unsafe weather conditions, we will provide a full refund for your cancelled flight. Alternatively, depending on the seat availability of the next day, we might be able to reschedule your cancelled flight. In the off-season, we mostly can offer an alternative flight for our unlucky customers while in the peak season, we’re less likely to be able to reschedule cancelled flights.

Question 10

Do I need to pay cancellation fee for voluntary cancellation?

Accepted Answer

Differing fees may apply depending on the reservation and cancellation period. In the event of voluntary cancellation within 2 days to the departure time, you will be charged at 100% of the cancelled reservation value. To be eligible for a full refund, you must have sent your cancellation request with the details of your booking to bookings@urgupballoons.com at least 7 days before the departure time.

Question 11

When do balloons fly in Cappadocia?

Accepted Answer

In Cappadocia, hot-air-balloons mostly fly shortly before and after sunrise. Take-off times vary between 5:00 - 7:00 AM depending on the season. We rarely organise afternoon flights in winter season depending on the suitability of weather conditions.

Question 12

Are hot air balloons insured in Cappadocia?

Accepted Answer

In Turkey, hot air balloon firms are required by the Turkish Civil Aviation Laws to provide insurance for their passengers. Urgup Balloons and the whole fleet are insured by the largest insurance firm of Turkey, Eureko (Achmea). This insurance protection provides comprehensive coverage for the whole feet, valued at €30.000 for each passenger.

Question 13

Where exactly do we fly from and through?

Accepted Answer

We have more than ten balloon launch sites located alongside the Rose Valley, Swords Valley, Kizilcukur Vadi in the centre of Cappadocia. Your air balloon flight path will be determined by the wind direction.

Question 14

Is there a certain landing point where we land?

Accepted Answer

Since hot-air-balloons are not equipped with a mechanism for steering, pilots are unable to land on a particular site. Once the pilot has completed his/her one hour of flight duty, they begin looking for a suitable spot to land taking its distance and altitude from the balloon into account. After determining a landing point, the pilot commences descending the balloon for landing by cooling off the air inside the balloon.

Question 15

Who to decide whether hot air balloons can fly in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

In Cappadocia, all hot air balloon flights are conducted under the control of Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Hot air balloon firms are not given the right or authority to decide whether the weather conditions permit to fly. After a thorough weather check, the Civil Aviation determines whether the hot air balloons can fly.

Question 16

What is the difference between first and second flight / ascent?

Accepted Answer

To reduce air traffic, the Turkish Civil Aviation controls the frequency of air balloon flights and their timings in Cappadocia. The Turkish Civil Aviation defines two pre-agreed take-off times in a sequence, in which air balloon firms are allowed to plan a flight. There is a 30 minute difference between the first and second flight. The first flight generally refers to sunrise flight while the second flight is known as late morning flight.

Question 17

What is Hot Air Balloon Slot Allocation in Cappadocia?

Accepted Answer

A slot refers to permission granted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to a hot air balloon operator to plan and conduct a flight in a particular restricted flight zone. In Cappadocia, air balloon operators have limited slots allocated by Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation according to capacity usage ratio of the operators. To further illustrate this slot system, Urgup Balloons have six slots in Cappadocia Zone, consequently, can only operate six air balloons in the morning.

Question 18

Do hot air balloons always smoothly land on the trailer?

Accepted Answer

The wind speed sometimes can vary significantly at low altitudes, which cause bumpy landings. Passengers may experience a bump when landing if the speed of the wind suddenly increases at the altitude of 1-2 metres. However, this does not concern a safety risk for passengers on condition that they abide by the safety rules and instructions.

Question 19

How safe is hot air ballooning?

Accepted Answer

Hot air ballooning is an incredibly safe activity. Unlike other types of aircraft (helicopter, plane, gliders), hot air balloons have significantly less mechanical components, therefore, involve a minimum level of risk from its equipment. Furthermore, hot air ballooning is strictly regulated in Turkey by the Civil Aviation Authority. Some Cappadocia-specific features make hot air ballooning even safer. Ever wonder why Cappadocia has become the hub of hot air balloons? The answer lies in the ideal geographical features of Cappadocia for ballooning. It offers the most suitable weather conditions (light winds, dry, blue skies) and topographic characteristics (large plains over valleys for safe landing) for ballooning in the world, permitting to fly approximately 220 days over a year.

Question 20

Can pregnant women fly with an air balloon?

Accepted Answer

Even though there is no legal restriction on pregnant women to fly with a balloon, we are unable to carry women passengers who past the 6th week of their pregnancy due to our commitment to safety. In case of an emergency landing, all passengers must adopt the landing position which requires them to bend their knees fully. Based on our observations, pregnant women with a large baby bump struggle to take the landing position since it puts pressure on the abdominal region. Due to their inability to properly adopt the landing position, we pursue this policy to avoid potential risks.

Question 21

What are the age and weight restrictions on hot-air-balloons?

Accepted Answer

Children under 5 years of age are not allowed to participate in hot-air-balloon flights. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult. You must be at least 1.1m tall and able to adopt the landing position when needed.

Question 22

Can pregnant women participate in an air balloon flight?

Accepted Answer

Even though there is no legal restriction on pregnant women to fly with a balloon, we are unable to carry women passengers who past the 6th week of their pregnancy due to our commitment to safety. In case of an emergency landing, all passengers must adopt the landing position which requires them to bend their knees fully. Based on our observations, pregnant women with a large baby bump struggle to take the landing position since it puts pressure on the abdominal region. Due to their inability to properly adopt the landing position, we pursue this policy to avoid potential risks.

Question 23

Can I update my pickup location later?

Accepted Answer

You can change your pickup location prior to your scheduled flight by emailing to bookings@urgupballoons.com or using our My Booking tool. Please note that the new address should be located in the towns of Cappadocia (Urgup, Goreme, Uchisar, Ortahisar, Mustafapasa, Avanos, Cavusin, Ibrahimpasa, Derinkuyu, Kaymakli and Ozkonak, Nevsehir).

Question 24

Can I book a hot air balloon flight before the address of my accommodation at Cappadocia has not been clarified?

Accepted Answer

Don’t worry if you’ve not booked your hotel yet when booking your balloon ride, you can pass them onto us through email to bookings@urgupballoons.com when you are ready.

Question 25

Can I change my flight date?

Accepted Answer

You might be charged reissue fee if the date you wish to reschedule your original flight is in peak season. Please note that booking changes are subject to seat availability.

Question 26

Do we merely provide complimentary pick-up and drop-off service from and to hotels in the towns of Cappadocia?

Accepted Answer

Locations eligible for complimentary pick up & drop off services are Goreme, Uchisar, Urgup, Nevsehir, Mustafapasa, Ortahisar, Avanos, Cavusin, Ulaslı. The pick up and drop off services to any other hotel located outside of the previously specified towns are subject to additional charges.

Question 27

When will I know my pick-up time from the hotel for hot air balloon?

Accepted Answer

We’ll email your pick-up time to your registered email address a day before the flight latest by 7:00 PM. If you do not receive any notification from us by 7:00 PM, please contact us at Whatsapp Support.

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