1

Any advice on where to find the detailed bus schedule and estimated arrival times is just as helpful?

2

To my knowledge all balloons launch at sunrise so really you need to be there the night before.
For buses there are 3 companies,Metro Turizm,Nevşehirliler Seyahat and Süha Turizm.I just looked at their services and none would get you there early enough.All depart 20.30,21.00,22.00,23.00 arriving 07.30,08.00,08.30 so far too late.Here is a sample-
http://eticket.ipektr.com/firms_68/Kara2.aspx?827852836818838855830846830880902876867842836812858851808868830880893876833808836834830852880829851855807839809857835876861808850830852880839817861853817825829849876855808850830826880894895922807858822858852856922894902893894922855826858850852816808868876862880900901902807

There are two airports serving the area,Nevşehir closest in but usually with less and more expensive flights,and Kayseri,further out(80 minutes)but with more frequent and generally cheaper flights .
This is a late flight with THY arriving Kayseri at 01.15,cost129TL
http://www4.thy.com/troyaonline/availability.tk
or this one into Nevşehir arriving at 18.55 but more expensive at 149TL.
http://www4.thy.com/troyaonline/availability.tk
If you don't mind losing a day in Istanbul then that earlier flight in the morning is a bit cheaper.

Edited by: sarikanarya

3

Stick to the overnight bus and use the extra day in Cappadocia to sightsee, there is plenty to see around there.

4

Stick to the overnight bus and use the extra day in Cappadocia to sightsee, there is plenty to see around there.

5

My problem is that my schedule is too tight to fully explore Cappadochia more than a single day. I know it is really a shame. But hopefully the hot air balloon tour will allow us to get a good experience in the short time allotment. So my best option may be to fly to Kayseri the previous night and set an early morning wake up call. As a bonus, this could allow us to stay overnight in a cave-hotel.

Do you have any recommendations for really unique hotels between Kayseri and the balloon launching point?

What time do the balloons launch? I think sunrise now in Istanbul is around 6:15AM. And which city or village do the balloons launch from?

The reason I'm on a tight schedule is because I must get to Olympos the following day. Is there an overnight bus from Kayseri to Antalya or will it be better to fly that segment as well?

6

The balloons launch from many different points all around the area.each company has it's preferred places but these can also change according to the days wind conditions and the site may not be chosen until the previous night or even early the same morning.
Goreme and Urgup are two of the main centres but by no means the only ones.This needn't be a problem for you though as they will collect you from your hotel(where ever that may be) and return you to it.
There are many lovely and unique hotels in Cappadocia.What type of budget do you want to spend?
There are overnight buses from Goreme to Antalya with Metro Turizm-
https://online.metroturizm.com.tr/buyticket.aspx
The services show their originating city but all stop off in Goreme,kalkış is the time they leave the village and varış the time they arrive in Antalya.Service 380707 or 600705 would be good for you.

7

Sarikanarya, does the Goreme to Antalya bus run all year round and daily?