With the development of the economy, overseas travel has gradually become popular, rapidly attracting many people.
More and more people choose to explore the world, to see the mountains and waters of other countries, and to experience the people and events in different places.
Where to go for an international trip? Among many countries, Türkiye, with its wonderful scenery and unique tourist attraction - hot air balloons, has become a highly favored choice for many.
"Going to Türkiye to ride a hot air balloon is like getting closest to the perspective of God."
Watching the hot air balloons flying in the sky, feeling the hot air flow occasionally on your face, witnessing the sunrise gradually emerge behind the mountains, and seeing the ecstatic smiles on the faces of everyone around you – these are the moments that make the experience unforgettable.
Speaking of Türkiye, its climate characteristics must be introduced first.
Türkiye's southeastern region is relatively arid, while the central Anatolian Plateau is cooler.
Generally, Türkiye has a long summer with high temperatures and little rainfall and a short, cold, and wet winter. Winter brings cold rains and frost, ensuring abundant rainwater in Türkiye's orchards, wheat fields, and reservoirs. Additionally, Türkiye's vineyards and beaches also enjoy abundant sunshine.
The diverse climate indicates that Türkiye has a rich variety of crops. Türkiye is one of the world's major producers of pistachios (also known as "Antep pistachios"), and fruits and vegetables.
Having a general understanding of Türkiye's climate, let's introduce Türkiye's popular attraction - hot air balloons.
"Hot air balloons" can be said to be a must-do for everyone going to Türkiye. The town of Göreme in the Cappadocia region of Türkiye is a world-renowned hotspot for hot air balloon trips. There, you can witness the magnificent sight of hundreds of hot air balloons ascending into the sky under the first rays of morning sunlight. If you hop on a hot air balloon, you can overlook the entire town from high above.
However, riding a hot air balloon isn't something you can do anytime. This is not because the hot air balloon project is expensive, but because hot air balloons have very high requirements for weather conditions.
If it's a breezy day, you're likely to be caught in an endless loop of "can fly," "seems like can't fly anymore," "maybe can fly," "getting ready to fly," and "can't fly again." If you're unlucky and encounter strong winds in the morning, you might as well cancel "riding a hot air balloon" from your itinerary.
The best time for hot air balloon flights is just after sunrise or an hour or two before sunset because the airflow is stable, the wind speed is low, and the soft morning light or the glow of the sunset provides an excellent backdrop. Hot air balloons can only fly for about two hours at a time, and this time varies depending on temperature, weather, and balloon payload.
If you want to ride a hot air balloon, first, you need to book in advance because booking in advance is much cheaper than booking on-site, and if you choose to travel with a tour group, the discounts for booking in advance will be even more significant. Second, you need to maintain a relaxed attitude and a positive mindset. If you unfortunately get stuck in the loop of "can fly" and "seems like can't fly anymore," a positive mindset can help you solve many problems.
After all, whether a hot air balloon flight can be successful is unpredictable. Flights are canceled in rainy or snowy weather or when there are strong winds. The wind speed must be below a certain threshold for flights to proceed, and it's possible that you can be informed of the cancellation of the project just ten minutes after it seems like it could take off.
Moreover, hot air balloons do not have independent propulsion systems; they rely on the direction of the wind for flight. Winds have different directions and speeds at different altitudes, so the pilot needs to choose the appropriate flight altitude based on weather conditions.
In summary, riding a hot air balloon in Türkiye is about going with the flow, but facing such wonderful scenery, who can resist the temptation?