Turkey’s hoping to replicate the tourism success of its hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia in the country’s eastern province of Şanlıurfa’s Göbeklitepe.

We’ve all seen the stunning pictures of hot air balloons floating across golden sunrises at Cappadocia. These iconic images have been plastered across social media and transformed the tourism product into a bucket-list activity.

Now, Turkey is hoping to tap into the enthusiasm for hot air balloon tours by launching a new sky-high product at Şanlıurfa’s Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for being home to the world’s oldest known megaliths (large stones making up prehistoric structures).

The project was given the green light by Turkey’s leaders before the world went into lockdown in 2020, according to Hurriyet Daily News. Balloon flights were tested shortly after, but the launch was delayed due to the pandemic and the twin earthquakes that hit Turkey’s south in February 2023. 

With tourism slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, Turkey has officially launched Şanlıurfa’s Göbeklitepe hot air balloon tours which include sunrise flights with stunning views of the historical site.

While Turkey takes the lead when it comes to hot air ballooning, one shouldn’t overlook other countries in the region offering similar tours over ancient areas. Here’s just a sample of other hot balloon tours in the region that TripAdvisor users are raving about:  

Royal Balloon over Oman’s Wahiba Sands

Wahiba Sands or Sharqiya Sands is a region of desert in Oman that stretches across 12,500 square kilometers and is home to 200 species of wildlife and 16,000 invertebrates.

It’s a sea of yellow desert that’s best seen from above, according to TripAdvisor user Arne M who said it gave “a whole new perspective” of the site. “It was a costly experience, but it was a once in a lifetime and well worth the money,” the user added.

Meanwhile B H described the hot air balloon tour of Wahiba Sands as “incredible” as it offered breathtaking “views of the sunrise with the dunes as a backdrop”.

All 35 reviews on the tour were 5-star with other users saying it was “a memorable trip”, “an indescribable experience” and that “the pilot was fun”.

Check out more of the positive chatter, here.

Hero Balloon Flights over Saudi Arabia’s AI UIa

“Magical” is the way reviewers have described hot air ballooning over Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra.

Floating 1,200 metres above sea level, tourists can take in the full extent of the ancient oasis walled city of Al Ula (Old Town).

Firs time balloon rider, MeTheE1107, said they were sceptical at first but quickly came to love the tour. “It was magical and therefore highly recommend,” they wrote.

Another reviewer, Lina O, described the whole experience as “amazing” and a “must if you’re in the area”.

Read more post-tour reviews, here.

Wadi Rum hot air balloon rides in Jordan

If you’re ever visiting Jordan’s Valley of the Moon aka the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wadi Rum, then you might consider viewing the valleys and rocks with a bird’s eye view.

Floating over the 720 square kilometer protected desert wilderness during sunrise was “out of this world”, according to TripAdvisor user Phoebe D. She described the views as “breathtaking” that delivered “memories that will last forever”.

Jelena K called the tour “the best experience” of her life, a sentiment shared by Adam K who said it was a “must do”. “You get to experience why they call it mars on earth,” Adam K added.

First time hot air ballooner Dushyant S said Wadi Rum was worth the wait. “I don’t write a lot of reviews, in fact quite rarely, but have to write this one to share how wonderful the experience was,” they said.

See what other people are saying, here.

The Dubai Balloon at Atlantis

It may not be a UNESCO World Heritage Site but The Dubai Balloon at Atlantis is considered a one-of-a-kind floating tour.

Rising 300 meters, the balloon offers the highest viewing point on The Palm and takes in 360-degree views of Palm Jumeirah, the largest fountain show at The Pointe and Dubai’s record-breaking skyline.

Reviewers agreed that the Dubai Balloon tour is a great place to capture photographs of the UAE city and a safe option for those hesitant to try hot air balloons.

“I’m not a fan of heights… this however was a different experience, with an anchored winched helium balloon,” said reviewer Traveljunky911. “It was very relaxing, the overall trip lasted about 15 minutes or so, well worth every penny,” they added.

Zainab Mousa joined the conversation, saying the view was “unbelievable” and the captain was hilarious making the “fly look fun”. Meanwhile Monika T described her experience as a “total blast” with “absolutely stunning views” and all with an “affordable” price tag.

Scan through more user reviews, here.