Passion Points: Active/Adventure
Top Spots for Hot-Air Ballooning Text Size A A A
A few weeks ago, I got to ask a seasoned balloon pilot where the best places in the world are to ride in a hot-air balloon. Turns out we were floating above one of them, which was why this seasoned captain, who also flies planes and commercial blimps, had chosen to live in Cappadocia in central Turkey. The most important elements for a great balloon experience, he said, involve reliability of the winds, the landing options and, most importantly, what you view from above. (Of course, you also need access to safe balloons and pilots.) To drift gently over the Dr Seuss-worthy landscapes of fairy chimneys and cave-dotted canyons in the pink light of sunrise Cappadocia just enhanced their surreal beauty. Other top spots include East Africa, where you can glide over herds of loping giraffe and thundering wildebeest and even spot a leopard in a tree from above, something I got to do in Tanzania a few years ago and after seeing animals in the bush, it’s wonderful to view them and their habitat from above. The Loire Valley in France, where chateaux, vineyards and gardens are the prime focus and Sedona, Arizona, whose red rock canyons bear a resemblance to Cappadocia, are other great spots.
For information on how to contact the best balloonists in these areas, contact our advisory service.
Read Indagare’s destination report on Tanzania
Read about Mii Amo spa in Sedona, Arizona
Read our Cheat Sheet on Cappadocia
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