Hot-air balloon rides in Izmir

Pamukkale sunrise hot air balloon ride from Kusadasi

The cotton-white calcium terraces of Pamukkale have such a dream-like quality that, at first glance, you'd think you're drifting over snowy hills and frozen waterfalls. There's no better way to see one of Turkey's top treasures – and a UNESCO-protected site to boot – than from above in a hot air balloon. You'll need to rise and shine well before sunrise, but it's all worth it. Soar over the shimmering thermal pools before touching down for a post-flight buffet breakfast.

Pamukkale sunrise hot air balloon ride and Hierapolis tour

The terraced, vanilla-white pools of Pamukkale, one of Turkey's most recognisable UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a looker from any angle on the ground. But, they hardly come close to the views of the area from above. That's what this guided outing is all about, seeing Pamukkale in all its glory with a bird's-eye view from a hot air balloon. Aydin, one of our local guides says "the thermal springs at Pamukkale are spread across four square miles, so it can be really tricky on the ground seeing them in one go. When you're up in a hot air balloon, you get to see every inch of them."Your hot air balloon ride is scheduled at sunrise, to make sure you get the most dramatic view of Pamukkale possible – be prepared for a very early start to the day. The early wake-up call is well worth it, though, because the pools really sparkle and shine when the morning light hits them. You'll be in the air for about 45 minutes, so there's plenty of time to take in the view and snap some pictures while you're soaring. When you come back down, you'll head to a restaurant for a buffet breakfast. When you're fuelled up, you'll head with your guide to the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis, whose ruins now serve as an open-air museum. Artifacts have been found here that date back to the Iron Age over 3,000 years ago, but it's most famous for its Greco-Roman remnants, including what's left of the Temple of Apollo, a 15,000-seater amphitheatre and one of the largest necropolises in Turkey. After your visit, you'll stop for lunch before driving back to your accommodation.