Hot Air Balloon Flights in Cappadocia: Rules and Tickets
Who allows the flights, how a morning runs, what a ticket includes, children's limits and what happens when the weather cancels a flight.
Table of Contents
A hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (sıcak hava balonu) goes only when the weather allows, under rules set by SHGM, Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü, the civil aviation authority. Each morning a weather flag decides whether balloons fly; a company and a pilot with licences fly them, and what a ticket holds depends on the operator. The tool below shows the basket, the sepet, seen from above.
In short · checked 28.10.2026
A weather flag decides each morning; only a licensed company and pilot may fly.
- The flag is green, yellow or red. Flying under a yellow or red flag is forbidden. The ground wind at the launch may not be over 10 knots (about 19 km/h) with passengers aboard.
- Four things stand behind a flight: a company with an SHGM operating licence, a pilot with a commercial rating, a slot for the flight area and a daily flag.
- The basket has a pilot’s box in the middle and four passenger compartments. It holds from 8 to 24 passengers, depending on the operator.
- The whole outing takes 2 to 4 hours from pick-up to return, with about 1 to 1.5 hours in the air, depending on the operator.
- Of the four operators read, only Voyager prints a price: €260 per person for its Standard flight from 1 April to 1 November, €160 in the winter season (home page, dated 06.02.2026). The other three print none.
- Each operator sets its own limits for children, health and weather cancellations.
Tool · pages checked 28.10.2026
The basket from above
A balloon basket (sepet) seen from above, with a pilot’s box in the middle and four passenger compartments around it. Pick a number of places, then press a part for what it is and the rule behind it. The last button holds four Turkish lines to copy for the pick-up driver or the hotel desk.
Compartments four around the box
- Printed by
- 8 places: Butterfly: its flight with 8 people, at most 2 passengers in each corner compartment.12 places: Royal Balloon: 8 to 12 passengers, 4 separate compartments of up to 3 each.16 places: Butterfly: 16 to 20 passengers, 4 to 5 in each compartment. Royal Balloon: up to 16, 4 compartments of 4. Voyager: Comfort flight, 16 people, 4 compartments of 4, 75 minutes.20 places: Butterfly: 16 to 20 passengers, 4 to 5 in each compartment. Royal Balloon: 20 to 24, 4 large compartments of 5 to 6. Voyager: Standard flight, 20 people, 4 compartments of 5, 60 minutes.24 places: Royal Balloon: 20 to 24 passengers, 4 large compartments of 5 to 6.
- SHGM’s table, by envelope volume
- 8 places: an envelope of 210,001 to 240,000 cubic feet, up to 8 passengers.12 places: an envelope of 270,001 to 300,000 cubic feet, up to 12 passengers.16 places: an envelope of 335,001 to 370,000 cubic feet, up to 16 passengers.20 places: an envelope of 400,001 to 425,000 cubic feet, up to 20 passengers.24 places: an envelope of 425,001 to 475,000 cubic feet, up to 24 passengers.
- The cap
- The number of passengers is the lowest of four limits: the one for the envelope volume, the flight manual’s maximum, the loading calculation and 0.25 m² of floor for each person, rounded down. A basket that is not divided carries at most 5 passengers; a divided one at most 6 in each compartment.
SHGM · Butterfly · Royal Balloon · Voyager · checked 28.10.2026
Pilot’s box the middle
- What it holds
- The pilot, the burners and the fuel. Butterfly: the central compartment is for the pilot and the tanks. Voyager: a T-shaped partition separates the passengers from the pilot and the gas canisters.
- The burner
- It heats the air in the envelope to about 100 °C (Royal Balloon).
- Smoking
- None in or near the balloon (SHGM). Butterfly adds e-cigarettes, before, during and after the flight.
- A second pilot
- SHGM asks for an extra licensed pilot in the basket, insured and not counted as a passenger, when a flight carries more than 19 passengers or the envelope is 475,000 cubic feet or larger.
SHGM · Butterfly · Royal Balloon · Voyager · checked 28.10.2026
A place one passenger
- Floor
- 0.25 m² for each passenger, rounded down (SHGM).
- Weight
- The loading calculation uses 77 kg for each passenger (SHGM).
- List and card
- Each passenger is entered on a list by name, nationality and gender and receives a boarding card (SHGM).
- Who may fly
- The pilot takes passengers with special needs only where it can be done safely (SHGM). Each operator’s own limits are in the chapter on children and health.
SHGM · checked 28.10.2026
Number notice on the basket
- What it shows
- The number of passengers the basket may carry.
- Size and language
- At least 50 × 50 cm, in Turkish and English (SHGM).
- Ask
- The fourth Turkish line, on the last button, asks how many people will be in the basket.
SHGM · checked 28.10.2026
Safety ropes and the briefing
- Briefing
- Before the flight the pilot briefs the passengers on normal, abnormal and emergency procedures (SHGM).
- Ropes and landing
- Voyager: the pilot points out the safety ropes and shows the landing position; the passengers take it to confirm, and near the landing the pilot tells them when to take it.
SHGM · Voyager · checked 28.10.2026
Say it in Turkish four lines
Yarınki balon uçuşu iptal oldu mu?Is tomorrow’s balloon flight cancelled?
Servis yarın sabah saat kaçta gelecek?What time will the pick-up come tomorrow morning?
Uçuş iptal olursa ne olur? İade mi, yeni tarih mi?What happens if the flight is cancelled? A refund, or a new date?
Bu uçuşta sepette kaç kişi olacak?How many people will be in the basket on this flight?
Seen from above, not to scale. Nothing you press is stored or sent. Baskets and rules can change.
Who allows the flights: SHGM, a licence and a slot
Passenger balloon flights in Türkiye come under SHGM. Its instructions define a hot air balloon as a free balloon lifted by heated air, and they set what a company, a pilot and a flight need.
What a flight needs
- A company. A limited or joint-stock company with an SHGM operating licence (işletme ruhsatı) for commercial passenger flights.
- A pilot. A commercial operation rating: at least 18 years of age, 50 hours and 50 take-offs and landings as pilot in command in balloons, and a skill test with an examiner. A check or refresher course follows every 24 months, and a pilot aged 70 or more cannot fly commercial passenger flights.
- A slot. The right to use a flight area on a given day and hour, as the area’s aeronautical information circular sets it.
SHGM instructions · checked 28.10.2026 · operations · companies · crew licensing
Words on a notice or a ticket
- SHGM
- Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation: the civil aviation authority.
- işletme ruhsatı
- The operating licence of a company.
- sıcak hava balonu, sepet
- A hot air balloon; the basket under the envelope, where the passengers and the pilot stand.
- kalkış, iniş
- Take-off; landing.
- uçuş iptali
- A cancelled flight.
- Göreme
- A town in Cappadocia; Voyager’s flights take off near it.
Words from the SHGM instructions and the operators’ pages · checked 28.10.2026
The morning’s flag: green, yellow or red
The assessment of the weather starts the day before, and a final one comes before the flight time. A red flag can already be given a day ahead. The weather group of each balloon flight area decides the flag for the area and the slot, and SHGM or its slot service centre publishes it.
The three flags
- Green. A flight can go. The flag is advice only: the whole responsibility stays with the pilot and the company.
- Yellow. Not suitable for now. The flight waits until the flag is updated to green or red.
- Red. No flight. A red flag cannot be changed once it is issued.
SHGM balloon operations instruction · checked 28.10.2026 · instruction (PDF)
Rule
Flying under a yellow or red flag is forbidden.
Wind
- At the launch. No flight if the ground wind is over 10 knots (about 19 km/h) with passengers aboard. A student flying alone has a limit of 8 knots (about 15 km/h).
- At the landing. No flight if the forecast wind at the landing is over the launch limits.
SHGM balloon operations instruction · checked 28.10.2026
A morning, step by step
Each operator runs its own morning, so times and details differ; the steps name the operator where a detail is its own.
- Pick-upA minibus collects the passengers at their hotel in Cappadocia. Voyager: about 90 minutes before sunrise, with the time sent by email the day before. Butterfly: about half an hour before sunrise.
- BreakfastVoyager serves breakfast at its restaurant, Butterfly an early light breakfast and Royal Balloon a light breakfast.
- The launch siteVoyager uses about 18 launch and landing sites, chosen on the day by the strength and direction of the wind; take-off (kalkış) is near Göreme town.
- Filling the balloonThe envelope is laid out on the ground, a fan fills it with cold air, and the burner heats the air until the envelope rises over the basket. Preparation takes about 30 minutes at Royal Balloon and 15 at Göreme Balloons.
- BriefingEach passenger is entered on a list and receives a boarding card. The pilot briefs the passengers on normal, abnormal and emergency procedures, and Voyager’s pilot shows the landing position.
- In the airVoyager flies from ground level up to 3,000 ft (about 900 m) over the ground, with a ceiling of 6,000 ft (about 1,800 m) for Cappadocia set by civil aviation. Royal Balloon: tree level up to about 900 m (3,000 ft).
- Landing and returnThe landing (iniş) place is not known exactly: the pilot plans it, and Royal Balloon has agreements with landowners. A minibus brings the passengers back to the hotel.
The valleys the balloons fly over, the underground cities and the Göreme open-air museum are covered in Nevşehir and Cappadocia.
What a ticket holds and what it costs
What the price covers, as printed
- Butterfly. Pick-up and drop-off at the hotel, an early light breakfast, a flight certificate and a medal. Payment in euro, Turkish lira or US dollars.
- Royal Balloon. Hotel pick-up and a light breakfast.
- Voyager. The transfer from the hotel in Cappadocia, breakfast at its restaurant, the flight and flight certificates.
Operators’ own pages · checked 28.10.2026 · the operators stand in alphabetical order
| Operator | Flights | In the air | Whole outing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly | Standard flight: 16 to 20 passengers, 4 to 5 in each of four corner compartments. A flight with 8 people: at most 2 in each corner. | At least 1 hour, guaranteed | About 3 hours from hotel pick-up to drop-off; usually back before 9 am |
| Göreme Balloons | Deluxe: 10 to 12 people. Standard: 16 to 21 people. Private: 2 to 4 people. | Deluxe about 1 hour 30 minutes; Standard and Private about 1 hour | Deluxe about 3 hours; Standard about 2 hours |
| Royal Balloon | Three categories: 8 to 12 passengers (4 compartments of up to 3), up to 16 (4 of 4) and 20 to 24 (4 of 5 to 6). | 60 minutes on its flights page; 60 to 90 minutes in its FAQ | 3 to 4 hours |
| Voyager | Standard: 20 people, 4 compartments of 5. Comfort: 16 people, 4 of 4. Exclusive: private, with baskets of different sizes. | Standard 60 minutes, Comfort 75, Exclusive 90 | About 3.5 hours (home page); at least 3 hours (FAQ) |
Of the four operators read, only Voyager prints a price on its pages; the other three print none.
Voyager’s prices, per person
- Standard · 20 people · 60 minutes
- €260 from 1 April to 1 November; €160 in the winter season, until 1 April
- Comfort · 16 people · 75 minutes
- €330 from 1 April to 1 November; €180 in the winter season, until 1 April
Voyager’s home page, dated 06.02.2026 · checked 28.10.2026 · euro as printed.
Children, health and who may fly
Each operator sets its own limits for children and health; these are the ones printed on 28.10.2026.
| Operator | Limits as printed |
|---|---|
| Butterfly | Children aged 6 to 12 fly with their parents and pay the standard rate; younger children are not accepted. Pregnant guests are not accepted. The baskets have no wheelchair access. |
| Royal Balloon | Children under 6 are not accepted. |
| Voyager | From 6 years old; under 16 fly with an adult aged 18 or over; at least 4 ft 6 in (about 1.37 m) tall, to see over the basket edge and to take the landing position; no upper age limit. Passengers climb in and out of the basket, stand for the whole flight and walk out of a field. Voyager does not fly guests who have recently had surgery or an injury, or who have hip, back or knee problems, other health concerns, physical limitations or severe hearing restrictions, or who are pregnant (its reason: insurance). |
SHGM adds that the pilot takes passengers with special needs only where it can be done safely.
What to wear and what is not allowed
- Voyager
- Layers, long trousers and long sleeves against mosquitoes, boots or sneakers for wet grass, and a hat for anyone sensitive to heat. No heels or sandals. Allow 3 to 4 hours outdoors.
- Royal Balloon
- Comfortable clothes in layers, flat-soled shoes and a hat for tall passengers, because of the burner’s heat. In winter two layers of socks and thermal underwear.
- Smoking
- Not allowed in or near the balloon (SHGM). Butterfly adds e-cigarettes, before, during and after the flight.
Operators’ pages and the SHGM balloon operations instruction · checked 28.10.2026
When the morning is cancelled
A cancelled flight is an uçuş iptali. It follows the flag and the wind, and each operator has its own terms for a guest.
- The day beforeThe assessment of the weather starts. A red flag can already be issued. Voyager sends the pick-up time by email.
- Before flight timeThe final assessment comes. Voyager: the flag information is posted on a website for the balloon companies. Royal Balloon: the SHGM representation office in Cappadocia approves the flights when the weather is within limits, for every company. Butterfly: no flight without the Civil Aviation Authority’s daily permission.
- A green flagIt is advice only, so a pilot or a company may still decide against a flight.
- A cancelled flightWhat a guest gets differs by operator.
| Operator | If the weather cancels the flight |
|---|---|
| Butterfly | A full refund, which reaches the account within 15 to 30 working days depending on the bank. A flight on the next day is subject to availability. Its words: «Your ticket is only valid for the day you purchased it.» |
| Royal Balloon | Guests ask by email for options on the following days. |
| Voyager | A full refund, or a flight on the following morning, subject to availability, with priority. |
Operators’ own pages · checked 28.10.2026
Quick answers in a few lines
Who decides whether a balloon flies?
The weather flag for the flight area and slot: green, yellow or red (SHGM). Flying under a yellow or red flag is forbidden, and a green flag is advice only.
How strong may the wind be?
No flight if the ground wind at the launch is over 10 knots (about 19 km/h) with passengers aboard, or if the forecast wind at the landing is over the launch limits.
How many people are in a basket?
Between 8 and 24 passengers, depending on the operator, in four compartments around the pilot’s box. SHGM’s cap is the lowest of its limit by envelope volume, the flight manual’s maximum, the loading calculation and 0.25 m² of floor for each person.
What does a flight cost?
Of the four operators read, only Voyager prints a price (home page, 06.02.2026), per person: Standard €260 and Comfort €330 from 1 April to 1 November; €160 and €180 in the winter season, until 1 April. Checked 28.10.2026.
What age limits apply to children?
Each operator has its own limit. Butterfly: 6 to 12 with their parents, Royal Balloon: not under 6, Voyager: from 6, at least 4 ft 6 in (about 1.37 m) tall, and under 16 with an adult aged 18 or over.
How long does the outing last?
From 2 to 4 hours from pick-up to return, depending on the operator, with about 1 to 1.5 hours in the air.
What happens if the weather cancels a flight?
Voyager: a full refund or the following morning, with priority. Butterfly: a full refund, and a flight the next day if there is room. Royal Balloon: guests ask by email for options.
What is a slot?
The right to use a balloon flight area on a given day and hour, as the area’s aeronautical information circular sets it (SHGM).
Sources and limits
Show the pages checked
- Balon Uçuş Operasyonlarına Yönelik Usul ve Esaslar Talimatı (SHT-OPS-B) — SHGM, the civil aviation authority, checked 28.10.2026
- Ticari Balon İşletmeleri Talimatı (SHT-BALON RUHSAT), published 01.05.2021, amended 04.06.2025 — SHGM, checked 28.10.2026
- Balon Uçuş Ekibi Lisanslandırma Talimatı (SHT-BFCL), published 04.09.2024 — SHGM, checked 28.10.2026
- Voyager Balloons, home page (06.02.2026) — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Voyager Balloons, flight safety (page dated 29.01.2022) — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Voyager Balloons, frequently asked questions (page dated 11.05.2024) — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Voyager Balloons, standard flights — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Butterfly Balloons, flights — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Royal Balloon, balloon flights — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Royal Balloon, FAQ — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Göreme Balloons, flight rates — operator, checked 28.10.2026
- Pictures: Okara07, AleksandrPidodnia, Unuomoinviaggio, Leventtuncay, Nevit Dilmen and rheins, Wikimedia Commons, licences in the captions; two illustrations
General information on rules and prices that change; ask the operator on the day.
