Straight answers, from the people who fly the balloons. If your question is not here, message us on WhatsApp.
Booking and prices
How much does a hot air balloon ride in Luxor cost?
Prices start at $65 per person for the standard sunrise flight, $125 for the balloon-plus-Luxor-tour package, and $180 for the premium small-basket experience. Booking direct includes hotel transfers, insurance, a flight certificate and refreshments, with no booking fee. Be sceptical of quotes far below this — the difference is usually taken out of the equipment or the basket size.
How far in advance should I book?
In high season (October to April) book at least three or four days ahead, and a week ahead for the small basket. In summer you can usually book the day before. If your dates are fixed, book as soon as you know them — weather cancellations push everyone into the following morning and space tightens quickly.
Do I pay now?
No. You send us your date, group size and hotel, we confirm availability on WhatsApp, and you pay on the morning of the flight or by arrangement. There is no deposit for standard bookings.
Can I cancel?
Yes, free of charge up to 24 hours before your flight. Inside 24 hours we will move you to another morning wherever we can rather than charge you.
The flight itself
What time does the flight take off?
Hotel pickup is between 03:45 and 05:15 depending on the season, and the balloon lifts off at sunrise — roughly 05:15 in summer and 06:30 in winter. We confirm your exact pickup time the evening before.
How long is the balloon ride?
35 to 45 minutes in the air on the standard flight, around 60 minutes on the premium flight. Allow 3 to 3.5 hours door to door.
How high do the balloons go?
Typically between 300 and 2,000 feet. Your pilot will fly lower over the necropolis for the detail and climb for the wide view of the Nile valley and the western cliffs.
What will I see?
The Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, the Ramesseum, the Colossi of Memnon, the villages and cane fields of the West Bank, the Nile itself, and — as the sun comes up — Karnak and Luxor Temple on the eastern bank.
Is it frightening?
Much less than people expect. A balloon moves with the air, so there is no wind in the basket and almost no sense of motion. People who are nervous of heights are usually fine, because there is no structure connecting you to the ground for your brain to measure against. The loudest thing you will hear is the burner.
Safety
Is ballooning in Luxor safe?
Yes. Flights are regulated by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority: operators are licensed, pilots hold commercial balloon licences, equipment is inspected on a fixed schedule, passengers are insured, and there are hard limits on wind speed and visibility. After a serious accident in 2013 the entire Luxor industry was suspended and rebuilt under much tighter rules — flight numbers, maximum passengers, and mandatory maintenance intervals are all now set centrally.
What if the weather is bad?
We do not fly. The pilot in command makes that call on the morning and it is final. You are moved to the next available morning or refunded in full, whichever you prefer.
What happens on landing?
The chase crew meets the balloon in an open field. Depending on the wind, the landing is either upright or with a gentle tip onto the side of the basket — your pilot briefs you on which to expect and the position to adopt. Either way it is undramatic.
Practicalities
What should I wear?
Closed shoes, long trousers, and a jacket or fleece. Luxor before dawn is cold. Add a hat and sunglasses for after sunrise.
Can children fly?
Yes, from age 6, if they are tall enough to see over the basket edge and are with an adult. Children pay a reduced fare.
Do you pick up from Nile cruise ships?
Yes, from docks on both banks, at no extra charge. Tell us the ship name and the morning dock.
Can I bring a camera or a drone?
Cameras and phones yes — use a strap. Drones no; flying them near balloons or over the archaeological sites is illegal in Egypt.
Is there a toilet at the launch field?
Yes, basic facilities. There is nothing in the basket, which is worth remembering when you accept the second cup of tea.
Do you fly all year?
Yes, 365 days a year, weather permitting. October to April has the most comfortable temperatures and the highest proportion of flyable mornings.
