9 World’s best hot-air balloon flights

For an alternative view of Bath’s sublime architecture, and for soaking up the scenery of the rolling hills of north Somerset that surround this picturesque city, take to the sky in a hot-air balloon.

There are private and Champagne options for something more extravagant, and even piloting lessons available here for budding balloonists.

Cappadocia tends to mean spending plenty of time underground, which is why taking to the air over this unique landscape makes for such a welcome change of perspective.

Flying low along these valleys is a magnificent way to appreciate the interplay of rocky outcrops, cave homes, vineyards and orchards, especially as the dawn light lends the local stone a surreal pink tint.

One of the world’s greatest balloon flights.

Floating over the Dubai desert at sunrise in a hot air balloon is a magical experience; the chance to get a unique perspective on just how extensive the desert really is.

As the sun rises and its rays touch the surface of the dunes, the colours change from pale yellow to orange, and in some parts where the iron content is high, almost scarlet.

If you’re lucky, you might have some early morning mist; as it clears, the extraordinary landscape of rolling dunes is revealed. Keen-eyed viewers may also see groups of camels traversing the sands.

Children over 4 are permitted, accompanied by an adult, but they need to be tall enough to see over the basket unaided – and unafraid of heights!

From the air, the Loire Valley is a picture-postcard tapestry of waterways, vineyards, farms and forest, interspersed with those majestic chateaux.

Hot-air balloons, that drift silently above the treetops and turrets, offer a civilised, serene way to soak up the sublime landscapes and appreciate the size and scale of the chateaux – away from the crowds below.

Drifting silently over the ancient monuments of the West Bank, as the sun rises over the Nile, is one of those ‘never forget’ moments. It’s a serene way to appreciate the layout of ancient Luxor, from the temples in the east to valley tombs in the west.

Peer into roofless village houses, unchanged for thousands of years, see the fertile floodplains of the Nile give way to the desert beyond, and marvel at the enormous scale of Karnak temple.

For fans of hot-air ballooning, floating over the dramatic, arid landscapes and traditional Berber villages surrounding Marrakech just might become the most memorable experience of your stay: the views stretch mile upon mile, with the High Atlas Mountains strung out on the horizon.

Morning hot-air balloon rides are often followed by a traditional meal in a Berber village.

There are few more enjoyable ways to soak up Namibia‘s serene landscapes than from the silence of a hot-air balloon. Coasting on the airwaves doesn’t come cheap though, so if you’re going to splash out make sure the scenery’s worth the splurge.

In Sossusvlei, home to the world’s most beautiful dunes, that means dawn take-offs that have you soaring over the ochre sands for an hour, before a gentle touchdown and Champagne breakfast on the sands of one of the world’s oldest deserts.

Taking a hot-air balloon ride over Teotihuacan offers a breathtaking and unique perspective of the scale and magnificence of this extensive Mesoamerican site that you simply don’t get from the ground (though, of course, also visit on foot if you have the time).

Floating over the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon – and the so-called Avenue of the Dead – all bathed below in the soft light of dawn, is both serene and surreal. With nothing other than the occasional whoosh of the burner to distract you, it’s the perfect vantage point to contemplate the mysteries of this ancient civilisation, and to marvel at its architectural legacy.

Also, see travel blogger Cathys’ more detailed account on her blog post here.

Tuscany is famed for its timeless, rolling landscapes, dotted with ancient villages, farmhouses and castles. Silently drifting 1,000-2,000 feet above them in a hot-air balloon offers a unique and all-encompassing perspective to truly appreciate them, that you just don’t get from the ground.

Flights last about an hour, then it’s back down to earth for a hearty breakfast and glass of Prosecco.