Hot air balloon flights have become one of the defining experiences of Cappadocia, and the flights depart from fields near Göreme, about ten kilometres from Urgup. The standard flight lasts about an hour, launching at dawn when the air is still and the light is golden. You drift over the Rose Valley, the fairy chimneys, the rock-cut monasteries, and — on a clear morning — all the way to the volcanic cone of Erciyes Dağı on the horizon.
Several operators run flights, with prices varying based on balloon size and duration. Book well ahead in peak season (spring and autumn), when flights can sell out weeks in advance. Cancellations due to wind are common; reputable operators will reschedule or refund if conditions are unsafe. Even if you decide not to fly, watching the balloons rise at dawn from a hilltop above Urgup is worth the early alarm call.