A Luxor balloon flight gives you about 45 minutes of the best light in Egypt, from deep blue pre-dawn to golden sunrise over the Theban hills. It also gives you a moving platform, dim light at the start and a crowded rail if you are not careful. These tips come from watching thousands of passengers photograph the flight.
Phone settings
- Turn off flash. It lights up the basket and nothing else.
- Use night mode on the ground during inflation, but switch it off in the air — the balloon’s gentle movement can blur long exposures.
- Tap to expose on the sky at sunrise so the sun does not blow out.
- Shoot video in 4K at 30 fps and stabilisation on. Slow pans only.
- Clean the lens. Dew and fingerprints are the most common reason for soft photos.
- Use a wrist strap. Nothing below you will catch a phone.
Camera settings
- Pre-dawn and inflation: wide aperture (f/2.8–f/4), ISO 1600–3200, shutter 1/125 or faster.
- Sunrise: f/5.6–f/8, ISO 200–400, bracket exposures for the sun.
- Full daylight after sunrise: f/8, ISO 100–200.
- Lens: a 24–70 mm zoom covers almost everything. A wide 16–24 mm is good for the basket and envelope. Leave long telephotos and tripods in the vehicle.
The shots most people miss
- The burner flame lighting the envelope from inside during inflation — the best ground shot of the morning.
- Looking straight up into the envelope while the burner fires.
- Other balloons in the foreground with the Theban hills or the sun behind them. Balloons give scale.
- The balloon’s shadow on the fields below just after sunrise.
- The green-to-desert line, where the irrigated valley meets sand in a perfectly sharp edge.
- Monuments in side light: Hatshepsut’s temple and the Colossi of Memnon look best when the sun is low.
- Faces — your travel companions lit by the sunrise. These are the photos people value most years later.
Sharing the rail
In a shared basket, take your shots and then step back so others can reach the edge. If photography is the main reason for your trip, a smaller or private basket makes it far easier.
What to wear for photos
Strong colours stand out against the pale desert and blue sky. Our what to wear guide covers warmth too.
Let someone else take the photos
Our balloon ride and photo session includes a professional photographer and Egyptian costumes. For serious photographers, the private balloon and photography tour is built around light rather than a fixed schedule.
Rules
Drones are not permitted at the launch field or near the archaeological sites. Selfie sticks wider than the basket rail stay in the vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my camera on the balloon?
Yes. Bring it with a strap; leave large bags in the vehicle.
Can I fly a drone?
No. Flying drones near the balloons or over the archaeological sites is illegal in Egypt.
