The World’s 11 Best Hot Air Balloon Rides

There’s no other experience like a hot air balloon flight: waking before very first light, seeing the sun rise as you drift over the hills and towns below, and then touching down to a Champagne breakfast. Exploring a new location from the basket of a hot air balloon uses a perspective you can’t get any other way.

Hot air balloon flights don’t come cheap, however in these 11 places they’re well worth the money, from the vineyards of Napa to the temples of Myanmar. Continue reading to discover the world’s best hot air balloon rides.

Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)

Scattered throughout the plains of the Bagan area in Myanmar are countless historic temples, pagodas, and abbeys, primarily constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries. You can explore them by bike, taxi, or horse-drawn cart, but to get a true sense of their scope, hop into a hot air balloon. The temple ruins look especially lovely by the golden light of daybreak.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Dotted with cavern hotels and otherworldly rock formations (called “fairy chimneys” by the residents), Cappadocia’s landscape is finest appreciated from the air. Lots of companies use hot air balloon trips over the Goreme Open-Air Museum, filling the early-morning sky with vibrantly colored globes that just boost the unbelievable view.

Masai Mara, Kenya

Game drives are one way to inspect the Huge 5 off your safari must-see list; hot air balloon trips are another. From your bird’s- eye perspective, you might spot wildebeest running throughout the savannah, a herd of elephants gathering at a watering hole, or hippos hiding in the Mara River.

Melbourne, Australia

While a lot of hot air balloon flights take a trip over scenic countryside, in Melbourne you can take pleasure in an unique chance to get a bird’s- eye view of high-rise buildings and streets. You’ll wander over the city’s landmarks, including the cricket arena, the Shrine of Remembrance, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Yarra River. It’s a fantastic method to get a summary of the city prior to or after checking out on land.

La Fortuna, Costa Rica

From a hot air balloon, your view of Costa Rica may consist of rich rainforests, remote mountain villages, and the cloud-shrouded Arenal Volcano. In the quiet of early morning you’ll likely even hear monkeys and birds calling from the treetops. Costa Rica’s hot air balloon rides are operated by Free Spirit.

Luxor, Egypt

Wander quietly over ancient temples, the Nile River, and the tombs at the Valley of the Kings on a spectacular hot air balloon flight above Luxor, Egypt. After landing, you’ll have the remainder of the day to check out a few of the websites you glimpsed from the air.

Tuscany, Italy

Walking around Tuscany’s historic hill towns is one travel enjoyment; seeing them from the air in the soft morning light is another. Keep your cam ready as you sail over vineyards, stone farmhouses, quaint villages, and fields of sunflowers.

Queenstown, New Zealand

There are lots of adventurous methods to see Queenstown from the air, including hang sliding, paragliding, bungee jumping, and skydiving. However if you’re looking for a less hair-raising way to take in the location’s amazing vistas, a hot air balloon ride might be just the ticket. Dawn Balloons provides panoramic views over the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, and other natural tourist attractions in the Queenstown/Arrowtown area.

Sedona, Arizona, U.S.A.

The famous red rocks of Sedona, Arizona produce a spectacular landscape unfolding beneath the basket of your hot air balloon. Keep your eye out for wildlife on the ground such as mule deer and coyotes.

Napa Valley, California, U.S.A.

While you’re in Napa taking pleasure in a wine tour, why not book yourself a balloon ride and experience sensational views of the vineyards from up in the air? Try Up & & Away Ballooning, which offers a post-flight breakfast with mimosas to toast the start to your day.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Feast is the largest hot air balloon event on the planet. The occasion takes location in October each year; the highlight event is the mass ascension, when hundreds of balloons fill the sky in two waves. You can hop aboard a hot air balloon in Albuquerque any time of the year and experience stunning views of the Rio Grande. Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon and World Balloon are 2 suggested operators.