Everything below applies to every Adventure Balloon flight. If your question is not answered here, message us on WhatsApp — someone from the office replies from 03:30 to 22:00, seven days a week.
Timings
Balloons in Luxor fly once a day, at sunrise, because that is the only window when the air over the Nile valley is calm and stable enough. Everything works backwards from the sunrise time, which shifts through the year:
| Season | Hotel pickup | Take-off | Back at hotel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer (May–Aug) | 03:45 – 04:15 | ≈ 05:15 | ≈ 07:30 |
| Spring / Autumn | 04:15 – 04:45 | ≈ 05:45 | ≈ 08:00 |
| Winter (Nov–Feb) | 04:45 – 05:15 | ≈ 06:30 | ≈ 09:00 |
We confirm your exact pickup time by WhatsApp the evening before your flight. Please be in your hotel lobby ten minutes early — the driver has several pickups to make and cannot wait.
Pickup and drop-off
Pickup and return are included from anywhere in Luxor: East Bank hotels, West Bank guest houses, and Nile cruise ships docked on either side. If your ship moves overnight, tell us the morning dock and we will adjust. There is no extra charge for any Luxor pickup point.
What happens on the morning
- Pickup. Air-conditioned minibus to the launch field on the West Bank. Roughly 20–35 minutes depending on where you start.
- Refreshments and briefing. Tea, coffee and a light bite while the crew lays out and inflates the envelope. Your pilot gives the safety briefing — how to stand, where to hold, and the landing position.
- Board and take off. You climb in over the side of the basket. Take-off is gentle; most people do not notice the moment they leave the ground.
- Flight. 35 to 60 minutes depending on your package, drifting north over the necropolis at between 300 and 2,000 feet.
- Landing. The chase crew meets the balloon in a field. Landings can be upright or with a gentle tip depending on the wind — the pilot will tell you which to expect.
- Celebration and return. Flight certificate, photos, and back to your hotel.
What to wear and bring
- Closed shoes. Trainers or walking shoes. Not sandals, not flip-flops — you are standing on rough ground before and after.
- Layers. Long trousers and a jacket or fleece. Luxor before sunrise is genuinely cold, even when the day will hit 40°C.
- A hat and sunglasses for after sunrise.
- Your camera or phone, with a strap or a secure pocket. There is nothing below you to catch a dropped phone.
- Your passport or a copy, which is occasionally checked at the launch field.
Leave the drone at home. Flying drones near the balloons or over the archaeological sites is illegal in Egypt.
Who can fly
- Children: from age 6, if they can see over the basket edge, accompanied by an adult.
- Age limit: none. Our oldest passenger was 91. You do need to be able to climb into the basket and stand unassisted for the flight.
- Mobility: tell us in advance and we will advise honestly whether it will work for you.
- Pregnancy: we do not carry passengers who are pregnant.
- Recent surgery, back or heart conditions: please check with your doctor, and tell us when booking.
Weather and cancellations
The decision to fly is made by the pilot in command on the morning, based on wind speed at ground and altitude, visibility, and the forecast for the landing window. That decision is not negotiable and is not influenced by how many people are booked.
If we cannot fly you: we move you to the next available morning at no cost, or refund you in full — your choice. If you cancel more than 24 hours before your flight, you are refunded in full. Inside 24 hours we will always try to move you rather than charge you.
Safety and licensing
Hot air ballooning in Luxor is regulated by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA). Operators hold a commercial licence, pilots hold commercial balloon licences with recorded flight hours, envelopes and burners are inspected on a schedule, and every passenger is insured. Flight numbers, take-off windows and maximum wind limits are all set by the authority, not by the operator.
Ask any operator you are considering for their licence number and their insurance certificate. A serious company will give you both without hesitating.
Ready to book?
See all flights and prices, or message us on WhatsApp with your dates and hotel and we will check availability for you.
