Nine daily flights, nine fully booked flights. A city everyone’s been wanting to visit lately, especially people in Lebanon, and it is Istanbul. With Turkey’s currency depreciation at the moment, Istanbul is the perfect place to be right now, and all everyone’s been thinking is get the best shopping, enjoy the best sightseeing, relax at the best hotel, and dine those delicious lamb chops at Nus-ret Steakhouse, all at the best price possible.

Istanbul is definitely worth all the excitement, this destination has it all, and plus, it’s less than 2 hours away by plane from Beirut. But there’s another Turkish haven, a few hours away by car from Istanbul, and it is ten times worth the rage, Cappadocia.

Landing on this rocky landscape of natural wonders doesn’t feel like landing on planet Earth, but rather, on the Moon. “So weird” are the first words that come to your mind, but oh so fascinating; if you’re a first-timer, you will definitely stare in awe for a few minutes before realizing where you actually are. Mysterious cave dwellings and mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys are all over this city, a place that doesn’t resemble anywhere else you’ve ever been.

Basically, a city carved in stone, as a result of major volcanic eruptions and erosions many millennials ago. For many centuries, people have used Cappadocia’s soft volcanic rock to carve houses, churches and mainly underground cities like Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, and they ended up creating a one of a kind destination.

This little piece of land is Turkey’s very own version of fairytale kingdom, and it is definitely one of the most beautiful places ever. And if you think it’s gorgeous from the ground, wait until you get on one of those hot air-balloons and get a view from the top. Riding a hot-air balloon is Cappadocia’s most popular activity: right before sunrise, start your journey flying over the rock city, an experience so mesmerizing, enchanting and surreal, that you will never forget. A view of multicolored balloons floating on different levels over a moon-like ground, fairy chimneys, cliffs and river valleys. Simply ethereal.

Flights start around 5:00AM to 5:30AM in the early morning, and can last from 45 minutes to 2 hours up in the air depends on the type of flight you booked, and the balloons will go as high as 900 Mt to 2500 Mt. Make sure to get a jacket even during summertime, since up there it gets pretty chilly. And just as you land on ground at the end of your trip, they will pop a bottle of champagne and toast this beautiful ride, that’s the Bubbly tradition.

If you’re afraid of heights and get nauseous about flight turbulences, no need to worry, balloon flight rides are so smooth you won’t be feeling any airsickness. But in case you can’t break this fear, definitely do not miss a very early breakfast on the terrace of your hotel. Just watching those beautiful balloons can be as beautiful from the ground as from the sky. Try to stay at one of Cappadocia’s cave hotels, they are pretty famous over there, this way you’ll get a real feel of what it’s like to live there.

Best times to visit Cappadocia are Spring (March until May) and Fall (from September throughout November). Summertime can get really hot and winter months can get really cold. The city’s most popular destinations are Göreme, Ürgüp, and Uçhisar. In Göreme, make sure to visit the Open-Air Museum, and in Ürgüp you have to taste their wine.

This UNESCO World Heritage is a geological wonderland and definitely worth the visit!