Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscape—its snow-dusted rock spires, ancient cave dwellings, and dawn-lit skies filled with hot-air balloons—sets the stage for an early-morning journey through central Turkey. In the freezing dark before sunrise, residents and visitors gather in Göreme, clutching tea and phones, waiting as the volcanic terrain slowly emerges from the haze.
A light blanket of snow amplifies the region’s surreal beauty. Over thousands of years, erosion has sculpted Cappadocia’s iconic tuff formations into shapes resembling mushrooms and pointed hats, many of them hollowed out by past civilizations for homes and churches. Recognized for its uniqueness, the area has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.
It is here that the new Macan 4S is put to the test, tackling the rugged terrain primarily in off-road mode. With dual electric motors driving all four wheels, the SUV delivers up to 380 kW and 820 Nm of torque under Launch Control. Power distribution is managed in real time by an advanced traction system that reacts within milliseconds—an ideal match for a landscape shaped by time, extremes, and imagination.
Adventure beyond the asphalt
As the Macan 4S’s Matrix Design LED headlights pick out the first rock formations around Göreme, dawn is close. The route ahead is anything but forgiving. Guided by local expert Atıl Ulaş Cüce, who has spent nearly three decades navigating Cappadocia’s backcountry, the drive leaves paved roads behind and descends into narrow, deeply rutted tracks that test both driver and machine.
With a few taps on the central display, concern gives way to confidence. Off-road mode sharpens the all-wheel-drive system, engaging a virtual center differential lock to maximize traction while the air suspension raises the chassis. In its most aggressive setting, ground clearance increases by up to 40 millimeters, complemented by improved approach angles from the optional off-road design package. The result is a calm, controlled ride over terrain that looks far harsher than it feels from inside the cabin.
Then comes the signal everyone is waiting for. A call confirms the hot-air balloons will lift off at sunrise, and the landscape stirs to life. Parked on a hill, the Macan 4S overlooks a valley filling with buses, vintage off-roaders hauling balloon baskets, and even pastel-colored American convertibles from the 1970s. In Cappadocia, ballooning has become the ultimate spectacle—less just about the view, and more about capturing the perfect moment as the “playground of the gods” awakens.
One Porsche and a hundred balloons
As sunrise breaks, the first hot-air balloons rise into the sky, their burners lighting up the morning and transforming Cappadocia into a living postcard. Dozens of vividly colored envelopes drift above the surreal rock formations, while below, the Macan 4S—finished in Oak Green Metallic—stands out like a visitor from the future. Even for veteran guide Atıl Ulaş Cüce, the scene has lost none of its magic.
Within an hour, nearly 100 balloons fill the sky, an aerial ballet that has become the region’s defining attraction. We follow one basket to its landing site, threading through narrow rock corridors that feel watched over by Cappadocia’s towering stone pillars. Once a place for hikers, the landscape has shifted with the times. Ballooning now dominates, its popularity fueled by global exposure and social media.
Pilot Çağlar Aksoylu brings his balloon down precisely onto a waiting trailer, greeted by applause from passengers. A former basketball player turned balloon pilot, he now helps develop baskets and burners locally. “I float on a cloud every day,” he says, smiling.
Leaving the spectacle behind, the Macan 4S settles into a calmer rhythm on the road, its adaptive suspension and rear-axle steering delivering comfort and agility in equal measure. In the nearby village of Ayvali, that sense of contrast continues at the Green Garden restaurant, where Güler Gürbüz prepares traditional dishes in one of the region’s last remaining terra-cotta ovens.
The day ends back off-road, descending into a steep gorge where a phone number for a towing service is etched into the rock—a reminder of how unforgiving the terrain can be. The Macan 4S, however, makes light work of the climb back out, closing a journey that blends ancient landscapes, modern spectacle, and quiet technical confidence.
Stress-free charging
As evening settles over Göreme, the pace slows. The morning’s spectacle has faded, tourists fill the town’s restaurants, and the Macan 4S glides quietly to one of the village’s few charging stations. With the 100-kWh battery at around 45 percent, there’s no urgency. While the SUV’s 800-volt architecture allows for rapid charging under ideal conditions, an overnight top-up at Göreme’s modest 10.9-kW supply is more than sufficient.
A short walk uphill leads to the final stop of the day: Amber Cave Suites, a boutique hotel carved directly into Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys. Run by Zehra Daşdeler, who took over the property from her father, the hotel blends modern comfort with centuries-old rock dwellings, offering guests the rare experience of sleeping inside the landscape itself.
Zehra reflects on how tourism has changed. Once, visitors stayed for weeks; now many come only briefly, often in search of a single photograph. “That will change again,” she says, confident that Cappadocia’s deeper appeal endures beyond fleeting trends.
Her words linger as dawn approaches once more. With the Macan 4S fully charged and set to off-road mode, the journey resumes at first light. On a steep climbing trail, guided once again by Atıl, the rising sun dances between the rocks—another reminder of why Cappadocia has long been called the playground of the gods.
Above content © 2026 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee @rexmcafee
