Cappadocia: the dreamiest destination in the world

Cappadocia: the dreamiest destination in the world

I have traveled to multiple countries and I must say Cappadocia is the dreamiest destination in the world. When I was 18, I started to make a travel bucket-list. Upon writing down destinations, Cappadocia was one I jotted down earlier on. I don’t remember when the first time I discovered Cappadocia but it had to be online where I saw photos of hot air balloons. I’m a hopeless romantic and I love beautiful destinations that seem unreal. Photos of places with insane views inspire me to experience it for myself. For full transparency, I was putting off Cappadocia because I secretly wanted to experience it with my future partner. I also thought it would be a great place to get proposed to. I know that sounds silly but hey a girl can dream.

Nonetheless, I didn’t want to wait any longer in experiencing Cappadocia and I didn’t want to depend on something that may or may not happen. When I decided to book my Turkey trip, I knew Cappadocia and Istanbul had to be done together. I spent two days in Cappadocia but I could’ve easily spent a week there. If I’m going to be honest, I do like it more than Istanbul and I know in my heart that I would definitely return because it’s truly the dreamiest destination in the world.

Cappadocia is more calm and peaceful and once I landed at the airport, I could already tell there would be a different energy than Istanbul. There are many things that you can do while you’re there including hot air balloon tour, horseback riding, cruise around in ATVs, explore cafes and restaurants, etc. I definitely didn’t have enough time to do as much as I wanted but the highlight of my trip was the hot air balloon ride and watching the beautiful sunsets from rooftop cave hotels.

CAPPADOCIA PHOTOSHOOT

As a travel and lifestyle blogger who loves photography, my friend and I decided to do a photoshoot because I knew this would be an unforgettable experience. We rented these gorgeous long gowns and hired a photographer and Sam’s team was amazing! If you decide to do the same, know that you can’t experience the hot air balloons on the same day of your shoot. We took photos on the hot air balloons grounds as well as the Cappadocia caves. I was blown away by the photos and I loved that we took advantage of the scenery and now having photos to remember that special day.

When we were done with the photoshoot and walking back towards the car, we actually saw an empty road and  decided to capture the below photos. These shots remind me of a runaway bride and these weren’t planned, but I ended up loving them!

HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE

I booked my actual hot air balloon ride with Voyager Balloons and I had a great experience. The tour cost around $118 and the tour lasted for a total of 3 hours. We were picked up at our hotel at 5 am and then brought to a breakfast lounge where we could grab some food and coffee before heading to the hot air balloon site at 6 am. My specific tour consisted about 20 people but we were all divided by the number of party in the group in the hot air balloon basket. I was surprised by how spacious it was and how comfortable I felt despite it being in a close space. 

It was very dark when we arrived, but I enjoyed witnessing the quick transition from darkness to sunrise to daylight. I can’t accurately describe the feeling I had while I was on the hot air balloon because it is exactly how I imagined it would be and more. I loved being able to witness Cappadocia from above, to see other hot air balloons fly up the same time as mine, to be close to the caves and to be one with the sky and universe. It was in that moment when I realized Cappadocia is the dreamiest destination in the world.

Another magical moment was getting close to the horizon and watching the sun come out to say hello. I’ve witnessed many sunsets in my lifetime but hands down, this one was probably my favorite thus far. As you can see from the photos, it was breathtaking and stunning. I have a thing for sunsets but to top it off with being in a hot air balloon, seeing hot air balloons in the background along with the sunset and to be experiencing it all inTurkey was truly a dream. 

One of my favorite movies is also UP, so I was having a Disney movie moment. I can’t deny that it’s a romantic activity but even though I didn’t have a significant other to experience it with, I still enjoyed it. Without a doubt, I would return with my future partner as I’ve always imagined. I learned in that moment that it’s okay to get out of your comfort zone and to stray away from your storyline. It’s in those risks and decisions that bring you closer to trusting your gut, intuition and most of all, yourself.

After the one hour tour in the air, Voyager Balloons set up a wine celebration event (containing both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks) and it was such a cute added touch. I felt like it was a celebration of not just completing the tour but also checking this off my personal bucket list. It was without a doubt, the highlight of my trip and one that is very hard to top.

Aside from my magical hot air balloon experience, three other places I want to mention that are worth visiting are Galerie Ikman, Dusk by Koza and Museum Hotel.

GAKERIE IKMAN

Galerie Ikman is a famous carpet shop that offers drone shots and photography. I paid $25 and received 15 photos and two drone videos which I think is worth the price! The whole shoot took about 15 minutes and it was such an easy process. All you have to do is make sure you reserve a time slot for your shoot. You can wear whatever you want. However,  I would consider wearing white to pop since the carpets are all bright. In addition, the wonderful staff will guide you on what to do. I have to admit I felt silly doing some of the poses. However, once I saw the results, I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the photos and understood why this place is so famous.

If you are not interested in booking their photography services, you can also pay 100 TL and take photos there yourself. The actual space is unique because there are carpets everywhere. Honestly, you really can’t get this type of photo anywhere else than Turkey. 

My other two magical sunset experiences occurred at Dusk by Koza and Museum Hotel. I was not expecting to be in awe of both views. I’m not sure if Cappadocia is just known for sunsets but wow, both views were beautiful and different. I would describe the first sunset at Dusk by Koza as subtle and peaceful. The second sunset at Museum Hotel was more pastel and unreal. The beauty of sunsets is that no sunset is the same. You can never predict how it’ll look until the actual occurrence. 

DUSK BY KOZA

Dusk by Koza is actually the rooftop bar from Koza Cave Hotel. What I loved most were the carpets and pillows on the top terrace. The decor created a comfortable and romantic ambiance. I had a drink up there and witnessed the beautiful sunset and the amazing views of Cappadocia. I would say this is a great happy hour spot because it’s low key and peaceful. After watching the sunset, you can grab food elsewhere since they don’t offer bites here.

MUSEUM HOTEL

Museum hotel is located in Nevşehir and is worth looking into as an accommodation in Cappadocia. The hotel is absolutely beautiful and there is a heated pool, an outdoor bar and dining area that overlooks Cappadocia. There is also a terrace view which is where I spent most of my evening. There were two comfortable sofas on top and I ordered mint lemon tea and enjoyed the beautiful views. I couldn’t get over how unreal the sky looked. I had to take a million photos and even FaceTimed my mom just to show her.

FINAL THOUGHTS

You can research how to best visit Cappadocia, but my advice is to just book it and just go explore. The city itself has so much to offer. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and activities for every type of traveler. I can’t wait to return because Cappadocia has easily become one of the favorite travel destinations. Try to also stay as long as you can! I promise you will enjoy the relaxed vibe. The city will do something to your soul that is simply indescribable. I can guarantee that you’ll also agree why Cappadocia is the dreamiest destination in the world!