Handpicked experience · Dubai
Dubai Balloon Adventure
What you do
A pre-dawn pickup, an hour's drive into the dunes, and roughly forty minutes of near-silent drifting as the sun comes up — then breakfast at a camp on the sand.
- 01
Lift-off timed to sunrise, with the burners lighting the envelope while it is still dark
- 02
Around forty minutes aloft, silent between burns
- 03
Dunes, oryx and camel trains picked out by low morning light
- 04
Breakfast at a desert camp once you are down
- 05
Back at your hotel by mid-morning
An early start
Pickup happens while it is still dark — usually around 4am, depending on where you are staying and what time the sun is due. The drive out of Dubai takes about an hour, and most people sleep through it. Bring a jumper. The desert before dawn is a great deal colder than first-time visitors expect.
Watching it inflate
There is a stretch at the launch site where nothing seems to be happening and then everything does at once. The envelope lies flat on the sand while fans push cold air into it, and then the burners bring the whole thing upright in a rush of noise and orange light. It is worth standing back to watch the balloon come up rather than queuing early for a spot in the basket.
In the air
Once you lift off the noise stops, and that catches people off guard. Between burns it is genuinely quiet. You drift rather than steer — the pilot works with altitude and lets the wind decide the direction — so no two mornings follow the same line. Below, the dunes turn from grey to copper as the sun clears the horizon, and there is usually a herd of oryx or a string of camels moving somewhere in the early light.
Back on the ground
The landing is a firm bump and a short skid, and the crew reach the basket before it has properly settled. After that you move on to a camp nearby to eat and warm up. Most people are back at their hotel by mid-morning, with the day still ahead of them.
Choose your option
Open it to pick a date and work out the price.
What's included
What the fare covers, and what to budget for separately.
- ✓Sunrise hot air balloon flight with a licensed pilot
- ✓Breakfast at the heritage desert camp after landing
- ✓Pre-flight safety briefing and ground crew support
- ✕Transport to the meeting point unless arranged at booking
- ✕Gratuities for the pilot and ground crew
- ✕Travel insurance and personal spending
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Good to know
The practical detail, and the answers people actually ask for.
- Duration5 Hours
- PickupHotel pickup
- TypeJoin-in Group
- GuideEnglish
- VoucherShow Mobile Voucher or Printed
- CancellationPer option policy
What time does it start?
Usually around 4am, though it moves through the year with the sunrise. We confirm the exact time with you the evening before.
What happens if the weather is against it?
The operator moves or stands down the morning at short notice. Wind and visibility decide it, and that call belongs to the pilot.
How long are you actually in the air?
Around forty minutes. The rest of the five hours goes on the drive out, the set-up, the landing and the meal afterwards.
Is it frightening if I dislike heights?
Most people find it far calmer than expected. The basket is steady, there is no sense of falling, and everything happens slowly.
Can children fly?
Generally they need to be tall enough to see over the edge of the basket. We confirm the exact age limit when you book.