We came to Cappadocia with one vision in mind…
Hundreds of hot air balloons floating quietly over the hoodoo valley during a beautiful sunrise. Spoiler alert… we didn’t experience the hot air balloons on this trip. But we left with so much more.
Cappadocia surprised us in the best way. It showed us a side of Turkish culture far from the energy of Istanbul. Slower. Grounded. And Deeply human. The landscape felt otherworldly, but the soul of the place came from the people, the history, and the craft passed down through generations.
We arrived with a packed itinerary and a personal guide ready to lead the way. Our first stop was the Göreme Open Air Museum. Walking through ancient rock-cut churches, we moved from cave to cave, room to room. Faded frescoes still clung to the walls, delicate and worn, telling stories centuries old. It was impossible not to imagine what life must have been like inside those small spaces… Quiet, communal, and intentional.
The kids immediately found their own joy. A camel ride through the valley was must stop. Watching them bounce along, laughing, felt like the perfect contrast to the weight of history around us.
Then came the underground city. Descending into it felt surreal. Narrow tunnels, low ceilings, tight corners. We joked that we looked like naked mole rats shuffling through the dark. We all laughed as Jason his his best to fit in the tiny tunnels while the kids easily walked through no problem. The boys, of course, loved learning about the defense systems, stone doors and hidden traps. We saw small holes in the ceilings where intruders could be met with a brutal end. History suddenly felt very real.
We had a interesting stop at a local pottery workshop where we were given a personal tour of the entire process, from clay pulled straight from the nearby river to the final firing. The craftsmanship was incredible. The kids, and Adam, got their hands dirty, shaping mud into whatever their imaginations could manage. Then we walked through the shop where we saw the real craft on display. Hundreds of beautiful pots with intricate details caught my eye, but my focused remained on ensuring that the kids didn’t accident smash one casting us thousands of dollars.
That night, we stayed in a cave hotel built directly into the hoodoos. After a wonderfully quiet rooftop dinner were we relaxed in the calm energy, sleeping inside the hoodoo itself felt surreal and grounding at the same time.
Then came the 4 a.m. wake-up call, and the disappointment. We dragged our selves out of bed and into the van to take us to meet our balloon. After waiting in the van for a couple hours, we learned the balloon rides were canceled due to wind. We were crushed but only briefly. Because Cappadocia wasn’t done with us yet. We spent the day exploring Red Valley and Rose Valley, stopping at breathtaking viewpoints that somehow felt even more dramatic under shifting skies. We drank Turkish Coffee and stopped for an amazing lunch. We learned about Turkish soda discovering that each regions of Turkey was known for its own unique flavor offerings. It became a game to try all the different flavors we found along the way.
We visited a jewelry workshop and learned about Zultanite, a rare Turkish gemstone that changes color depending on the light. This stop turned into a very good time for the adults. Free whiskey, Turkish wine and new friends set us up for a good time and slightly looser wallets. I left with Zultanite pieces I’ll treasure forever and memories I didn’t expect to make.
Later, we hiked through Imagination Valley, turning it into a game of spotting animals and shapes in the hoodoos. The weather was perfect, the hike short but stunning. Jill and I loved spotting all the different plants and wildflowers growing throughout the hike.
By the time we reached Monk Valley, we were pushing through light rain, and it was still absolutely worth it. The formations there are unlike anywhere else. And yes, they are unmistakably… phallic shaped. The adults couldn’t stop giggling. The kids, blissfully unaware of why, joined in, convinced we were just very amused by fairy chimneys. That moment captured Cappadocia perfectly. Awe, humor, curiosity, and joy all layered together.
At dinner, we made friends with other travelers who loved our energy and insisted on photos with us. We found ourselves lost in the moment, enjoying the unique experience of being in a new place with new people. We may have come for the balloons, but what stayed with us was much deeper.
Our guide shared something that stuck with me. Cappadocia is struggling with a specific kind of over-tourism, Influencers chasing the perfect photo. This has led to a change in the area. Everywhere you go there are carefully placed props and photo perfect experiences like rides in vintage cars and staged horse encounters. This tourism industry has increasingly been built around image instead of experience. Some locals have embraced it using it to their advantage to provide that perfect photo op. Others are heartbroken by it. They see visitors arrive, snap photos, and leave without ever touching what truly makes this place sacred.
The people.
The craftsmanship.
The attention to detail and excellence.
The perseverance of life carved into stone.
The history layered beneath your feet.
The natural beauty.
The sacred ground.
We came for the balloons. And even though they never took off, we fell in love with Turkey even more deeply. Honestly, that feels like exactly what Cappadocia wanted to teach us.
Until next time,
