Uber Balloon takes off in Turkey

Uber is taking to the skies in Cappadocia, Turkey, launching hot air balloon rides via Uber Reserve. 

Uber Balloon is one of the most unique rides to launch in the app ever, making a true bucket list experience available at the tap of a button in the UNESCO World Heritage Göreme National Park.

The sunrise hot air balloon trips will depart from Göreme, Cappadocia, taking riders on a 1.5 hour picturesque flight through the Göreme National Park, famed for its ethereal ‘fairy chimneys’ and grand architecture carved into the limestone. With the early liftoff, riders will be able to see the stunning dawn views from 3,000 feet in the air.

This once-in-a-lifetime adventure can be booked directly in the app using Uber Reserve from 23 October, including door-to-door rides from the hotel lobby to 3,000 feet in the sky. Uber Balloon trips will cost €150 per person, with 100 free flights being made available to celebrate the launch.

The launch of Uber Balloon arrives just in time for hot air balloon season, with millions of people expected to visit Cappadocia during October and November, following more than 1.6 billion views on TikTok videos from the region.

Over the last year, Turkey has become an increasingly popular destination for Uber riders – international trips have risen by more than 30% and nearly 26 million people have opened the app to request a ride this year alone. Uber now partners with over 38,000 taxi drivers and operates in nine cities in Turkey. This includes the three most populous cities Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as the top tourist destination Antalya, with the number trips taking place on the app increasing by over 50% since 2022.

The addition of hot air balloon rides to the Uber app is the latest in a series of new travel experiences built to help riders go anywhere with Uber. It follows the launch of many other multimodal and bucket-list travel experiences, including Uber Boat in Mykonos and Uber Sleigh in Lapland, as well as flights, trains, coaches and even hotels all available to book directly via the Uber app.

Anabel Diaz, Vice President, EMEA Mobility at Uber, said:  “What better way to help people quite literally go anywhere with Uber than by making one of the most iconic travel experiences in the world available in our app. Turkey is one of our most popular destinations for international travellers and this is yet another way they can use our app to access a magical experience when visiting the country. We’re always looking for new ways to add a little Uber magic to people’s vacations, so keep an eye out for more bucket-list experiences coming to the Uber app next year.”

Availability of Uber Balloon trips is expected to be limited and subject to weather conditions. Riders looking to book a flight are encouraged to book in advance using the Uber Reserve function in the app a minimum of 12 hours prior to departure. The free hot air balloon rides will be limited to four people per day, until the offer expires on 19 November.