Cappadocia Balloon Ride

We were up before daybreak and taken to the balloon launch site in the Göreme Valley. Several balloons had already taken off when we arrived and they lit up like giant light-bulbs in the predawn  sky then their burners were fired.

A truck with a balloon  arrived at the launch site and the crew started to prepare the balloon. The first task was to unpack the balloon and fill it with air using two large fans.



Anchoring the balloon to the truck. Don't want the balloon to take off without the crew and passengers.



Other balloons taking off as our balloon is filled with air.



Once the balloon is inflated with air the propane burner is fired. The air inside the balloon is heated and thereby lowering the air density and  creating lift.



Once the balloon is upright we board the balloon. This balloon holds 24 passengers, a pilot and co-pilot.



More heat from the propane burners...



Liftoff ...



We join the other balloons already in the sky.



We quietly drift over the  Göreme Valley and pass rock structures known as fairy chimneys.







This section is known as "Love Valley".







Passing over "White Valley"



The view from White Valley with the rock citadel of Uçhisar in the background.







As we leave "White Valley" our pilot, Graham Luckett, takes us up to 2,000 feet above the Göreme Valley.



A panoramic view from 2,000 feet. (Click on image to enlarge)



As the saying goes...

What goes up, must come down.

As we descend back to earth we see other balloons that have already landed. This one is on its trailer and is being towed along a road by a tractor.



A truck and trailer are in position as we approach our landing site.



Our pilot scores a perfect "10" on his landing. After descending from 2,000 feet he lands the basket on the trailer.



A celebration after a safe landing.