I remember the first time I saw a photo of the hot air balloons dancing above the rooftops at sunrise in Cappadocia. From that moment on, I knew Cappadocia was a place I needed to see in my life. Add to the (very long) bucket list! 

Cappadocia is one of the most fascinating places you could ever visit… a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its dreamy moonscapes with whimsical fairy chimneys, cave dwellings and peculiar rock formations (often quite phallic), which were shaped by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. It’s a place where travellers sleep cave hotels, chase balloons at sunrise and frolic the conical valleys throughout the day. A true fairytale destination!

I think that all the YouTube videos and Instagram posts you might have seen about Cappadocia do not do it justice. This is one of those rare occasions when a place is better than it looks on the internet. And we were literally in awe from the moment we arrived. 

With its unique lunar-like landscape and iconic fairy chimneys, the area offers some of the most beautiful views in the world. Cappadocia has an air of magic to it, which only becomes more obvious once the sun illuminates the landscape in its soft morning and evening hues.

The region of Cappadocia is known for its elaborate network of unique cave hotels… each one even more magical than the other! 

Most are carved from the soft volcanic rock  of the region’s iconic fairy chimneys, creating the ultimate storybook setting. Where else in the world can guests stay in a converted cave room with luxurious decor… with conical panoramas just outside their door?

Our hotel, the Sultans Cave… was a visual delight, each room, corner and terrace… literally every nook and cranny… is rustic and tasteful… decorated with simple artifacts showing the unique history of the area.

Built over the ancient cave dwellings used for centuries by locals, apparently all the original cave walls have been preserved and integrated harmoniously into the room designs.

This hotel is Instagram famous (this is where I first saw pictures of it and wanted to stay there)… especially for its beautiful terrace which has the most beautiful view of the legendary hot air balloons floating over the ancient town of Goreme and through the valley… like a scene from a fairytale. At times you felt like you could almost reach out and touch them.

Completely surreal (despite having to fight for a position between all the Influencers)! 

The view from the Sultans Cave was also stunning by night!

I have no doubt that there is simply no better place to see the sunrise in Cappadocia than on one of its the hot air balloon rides… although this was not quite to be for us. We arrived at the launching site only to be told that the days balloon flights were cancelled due to wind, which is apparently not really unusual. So disappointing… but God is good and next minute it was back on again but by this time the sun had already risen. 

It really didn’t matter. As we serenely floated through the sky, the epic rugged landscape opened before us as the sun illuminated the rock formations and fairy chimneys that have made this region so iconic… and the entire area seemed magical from the basket. It’s an amazing magnificent sight to behold… other-worldly… no words could possibly do it justice.

I was overcome with emotion and cried happy tears… so aware of our privilege… overcome by the beauty of our wonderful world and being able to have this truly unforgettable experience with Chrissy and Johnny. 

Visiting Cappadocia and watching the magical spectacle of the hot air balloons rising in the morning with the sun from the stunning rooftop of our hotel… and experiencing the magic of floating above this extraordinary landscape has been perhaps the most amazing traveling experience I’ve had to date.

We also wandered the town filled with fairy chimneys, and stylish cave hotels as well as shops…

… and many juice bars, restaurants and bars- all as gorgeous as each other…

… and to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Open Air Museum… a surreal wonderland of monastery caves and dwellings, impressive rock churches, chapels and well-preserved decorative frescoes dating back to the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries.

Not sure that these couple of days will ever be topped but it’s exciting to be onto a new adventure tomorrow.