The 8 Balloons Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Serengeti Balloon Safari and authentic bush breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,480 reviews · from $550Our pick

You’ll leave your lodge around 5:00 a.m. for a roughly one-hour balloon flight over the Serengeti, guided by pilots such as Paul, Jeff, Kevin, Mohamed, or Derek. After landing, celebrate with bubbly and a full English breakfast beneath an acacia tree.

“It's amazing to be drifting silently over the Serengeti! This was a wonderful experience and so well organized from take off through the fabulous bush breakfast.”

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2.Balloon Safari & Bush Breakfast in Serengeti – Miracle Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,646 reviews · from $599

Start before dawn with Miracle Experience Balloon Safaris, watching pilots prepare the balloon before a sunrise flight over Serengeti National Park. Pilot Ed has earned praise for calm, safe handling. After about an hour in the air, celebrate with bubbly and a full bush breakfast.

“This was the highlight of our trip to The Serengeti and an experience we’ll never forget. The views and vast expanse of The Serengeti are truly amazing. The experience was extremely well organised and we felt totally safe with our pilot, Ed. The champagne breakfast was delicious and a lovely ending to our flight.”

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3.Early Morning Balloon Safari with Breakfast from Magaliesburg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 418 reviews · from $240Best value

Meet before sunrise at Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris near Magaliesburg for a one-hour flight above the Magaliesbergs and Cradle of Humankind. Your pilot, possibly Nic, Nick, Marc, or Eugene, provides commentary before a smooth landing, toast, certificate, and buffet breakfast.

“It was a birthday present for may daughter combined with my bucket list item flying Hang-gliders and small aircraft the balloon ride was a long outstanding thing. The Bill Harris site is well organised and recommendable for a fun morning outdoor adventure. It is not cheap but worth every penny. A day to remember for the rest of my live.”

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4.SkyWaltz Hot Air Balloon Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 117 reviews · from $325

Rise before dawn for a one-hour SkyWaltz balloon flight over Jaipur’s villages, Aravalli hills, forts, and open fields. Your pilot chooses the launch area by wind, so each route differs. Expect pickup, a maximum of 16 people, and pilots such as Cleto or Mahesh.

“Our Skywaltz Balloon Safari in Jaipur was nothing short of magical! From the early morning pickup at my hotel to the gentle lift-off at sunrise, everything was flawlessly organized. Piloted by a super experienced and friendly captain, we floRead more”

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5.Hot Air Balloon, Desert Safari, and Quad Biking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 103 reviews · 6 hours · from $384

Start before dawn with pickup in Dubai, a sunrise balloon flight over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, an in-flight falcon show, camel and horse rides, dune bashing, 20 minutes of quad biking, and a Bedouin buffet breakfast. Guides speak English and Arabic.

“The best part of my Dubai trip, a very well organized tour, with great hot air balloon captain, falcon trainer and falcon show; great driver and dune bashing; hot and diverse breakfast in a beautiful happy dunes stable, with horses and camels well taken care of; cherry on top was quad biking with photos. Overall one of the best experiences in my life! Highly, high recommend! P.S. be mindful of pressure differences that will happen on a hot air balloon”

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6.Pilanesberg National Park/Sun City Hot Air Balloon Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 63 reviews · 4 hours · from $421

Start before sunrise with a safari transfer from Sun City or Pilanesberg, then spend about an hour over Pilanesberg National Park with a pilot such as Mark. Look for lions, rhinos, giraffes, and elephants, toast the landing with sparkling wine, and finish with a full English breakfast.

“What a fantastic experience!! The communication the day before was excellent, I was messaged via WhatsApp that the weather wasn’t ideal for our flight and therefore moved it to the following morning (I was offered a refund if this wasn’t ideal for us) We were told a pick up time from our resort, and they were on time. Our guide was fantastic, and communicated via radio with the park Rangers where a pride of lions were, which we came across on our way to the take off location. The balloon flight was incredible, and all staff were excellent. Having a glass of bubbles when we landed made it extra special,…”

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7.Maasai Mara: Hot Air Balloon Safari & Champagne Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 31 reviews · 1h 10m · from $495

You leave your Mara lodge at 4:30 am for a 70-minute balloon flight over the Maasai Mara. Expect a safety briefing, an English-speaking guide, a pilot, sunrise views, a short game drive, and a full bush breakfast with champagne. Balloons carry up to 8 or 15 people.

“What an experience. Floating over the Masai Mara watching the sun rise. Didn’t see too many animals but that really didn’t spoil the experience. Loved every minute.”

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8.Serengeti National Park: Balloon Safari at Dawn

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 14 reviews · 5 hours · from $599

Leave your Serengeti camp before sunrise for a one-hour balloon flight over the plains. Your pilot guides the basket with the wind, then you toast the landing with bubbly and eat a full English breakfast beneath an acacia tree. French and Italian guiding are available.

“Von der Abholung bis zum Frühstück, wirklich top.”

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