Argos in Cappadocia offers hot air ballooning

Hot air ballooning is perhaps the main impression travelers seek to get in Cappadocia. Cave monasteries and bizarre cliffs in the shape of mushrooms, canyons of pink limestone and a river - everything is worth a bird's eye view. The fairy-tale atmosphere of the place corresponds to the "cave" hotel Argos in Cappadocia, the rooms of which are carved by stonecutters directly in the rock. In the past it was a monastery of the V century BC. e., which in the process of restoration, which lasted 22 years, has turned into a modern hotel, filled with artifacts of the past. It is located in Uchisar, on a mountain above the Pigeon Valley, from where balloons take off every morning, which you can admire directly from the hotel terrace.

Argos in Cappadocia Concierges organizes daily balloon flights. Here are some facts that they prepared for those who are going to take off in a balloon for the first time:

1. Flights to Cappadocia take place daily during the year and always at dawn - this is not only the most beautiful, but also the most calm time of the day. Balloon operators receive permission to fly from the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority the night before. It happens that the flight is impossible due to weather conditions, and it is better to spend several days in Cappadocia to fly for sure.
2. Balloon baskets come in different sizes, from 6 to 28 passengers are placed there. As a rule, the fewer passengers, the higher the class of flight and, accordingly, the cost of the ticket.
3. The balloon always starts at one point, but every time it lands in a new place. The pilot can fully control the flight altitude by releasing hot air from the ball, but the route itself depends on the direction of the wind, which is constantly changing. As a rule, balls rise to a height of 300 meters.
4. The flight lasts from an hour to an hour and a half. If the landing site does not have a flat surface, the basket is pulled by cables to a special car platform with which passengers can safely descend to the ground.
5. Many people think that passengers are offered champagne during the flight. In fact, the best of the balloon operators offer to mark the end of the flight with a glass of champagne. In any case, during the flight, the hands of passengers are occupied by mobile phones: selfies and videos with balls are being shot against the background of Cappadocian canyons.

About Argos in Cappadocia
The hotel is located next to the Uchisar fortress and is a restored and completed cave monastery of the 5th century A.D., which later housed a caravanserai for travelers traveling along the Silk Road, and even later - a mill for the production of linseed oil. The hotel has a museum with archaeological artifacts. However, the entire complex of Argos in Cappadocia buildings can be considered a museum: the underground labyrinths connecting the former cells, the church building, which is currently hosting concerts and events, and the wine cellar were restored - now there is a collection of 22,000 bottles of wine. Vineyards grow on site and there is also a private garden that provides the Seki Restaurant's kitchen with fresh herbs and vegetables. Each of the 51 rooms of the hotel is not like the others and combines modern design with the history and traditions of Cappadocia. For many guests, this is also one of the most romantic places in the world and an ideal venue for a wedding or honeymoon.

Watch the video: Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia Sunrise (April 2024).