In celebration of my 29th birthday, I crossed hot air ballooning in Luxor off my bucket list, and I can’t believe it took me that long to do it. I’ve been dying to experience this for the longest time, and it was absolutely worth it. That’s why I’m here to let you in on everything you need to know about hot air ballooning in Luxor in case it’s on your travel bucket list too.
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What Makes Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor Special
Riding a hot air balloon, in general, is a truly great experience. But why Luxor? Well, imagine floating over 5,000+ years of history! Sounds surreal, right? It feels like that as well. Luxor is home to ⅓ of the world’s monuments, and the hot air balloon ride will show you around from a bird’s eye view. Some of the landmarks you can witness from above include the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon, and more.
In addition to all of that, picture that panoramic view at sunrise! Throw in desert landscapes and lush fields into the equation, and voilà, you get yourself a bucket list-worthy experience.
How to Book a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor
To book a hot air balloon ride in Luxor, you can either book online or directly through local operators. If you book online, the platforms I love the most are Tinggly, Get Your Guide, and Viator.
P.S.: Wanna gift (or treat yourself to) a magical experience like this? Use my promo code CurlsEnRoute for 10% off experience boxes from Tinggly.
On the other hand, if you decide to book directly with an operator, make sure you do enough research and read reviews to find a reputable company. The one I personally did it with and would vouch for is Sindbad Balloons.
Prices will range from USD 30 to 80 depending on several factors—the most significant of all is the time of your selected ride. There are 2 rides that take place every morning: the sunrise trip (the more expensive one) and the second trip after sunrise (the one on the cheaper end). Prices will also vary slightly from one operator to another, and so will last-minute booking. More importantly, prices in EGP are always subject to change due to inflation.
What to Expect on the Day of the Flight
Due to the nature of the activity, the best time to do it is very early in the morning when winds are lighter and weather conditions are more stable. So, expect an early morning hotel pickup that can be as early as 3:30 AM. The exact pickup time will vary depending on your hotel’s location, the rest of your group, and your tour’s route, as well as the sunrise time during that time of the year.
- Early morning pickup: Due to the nature of the activity, the best time to do it is very early in the morning when winds are lighter and weather conditions are more stable. So, expect an early morning hotel pickup that can be as early as 3:30 AM. The exact pickup time will vary depending on your hotel’s location, the rest of your group, and your tour’s route, as well as the sunrise time during that time of the year.
- Check-in and briefing: Before heading out to the hot air balloons’ take-off location, your operator will gather everyone to brief them on everything. Listen to the safety instructions very carefully—they will also give you a waiver to sign, which is standard procedure. They will most likely serve you tea during that time as well if it’s included in your package.
- Boat ride across the Nile: If your hotel pickup is on the East Bank, you’ll be taken to a boat to cross over to the West Bank, as this is where the hot air balloons take off. Your briefing will probably be on the boat.
- Bus ride to the location: After arriving at the West Bank, you’ll ride mini buses to take you to your final destination where the hot air balloons take off.
- Inflating the balloon: Upon arrival at the location, you will wait for a short period as your balloon is being prepared for take off. During that time, you can watch it being prepared and inflated, as well as tens of other balloons floating around in the pink sky.
- Takeoff and flight: The takeoff is pretty seamless, and the ride itself usually takes around 45 minutes. During the flight, you’ll float over lush fields and multiple archaeological sites that your pilot will highlight.
- Landing and post-flight celebratory picture: Landing is the trickiest part—you’ll be expected to squat, not sit down, and hold on to the ropes attached to the basket so you won’t hurt yourself during impact. After landing, you can stand up and get out only when your pilot instructs you to. Afterwards, you’ll be given a certificate and enjoy a celebratory moment with the whole group, and possibly take pictures. An envelope will be passed around as well, so you can add a tip to the operators if you’d like. After seeing how these people work behind the scenes and all the picture-perfect Instagram shots, I was so appreciative of what they do. Pulling this off is not easy, and the operators I dealt with provided a quality service that was absolutely worth tipping heftily.
Is Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor Safe?
Safety should always be your top priority, whether or not you’re traveling alone. Although incidents may have occurred in the past, they’re still very rare, so hot air ballooning in Luxor is considered safe.
Pilots, who’ve been doing this for years, undergo extensive training and are obligated to pass exams and meet medical requirements to be licensed. All aircraft, including hot air balloons, are regulated by the Federal Aviation Authority, and all hot air balloon operators in Luxor must adhere to strict regulations set by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority. I’ve had a conversation with our pilot about this, and he told me that the aircrafts must be regularly checked and the pilots are frequently re-assessed from time to time, even after receiving their licenses. If they fail to pass an assessment, they might risk starting all over again.
It’s also worth noting that on days when weather conditions are poor or the wind is not ideal, hot air balloon rides are canceled. But don’t fret; your operator will give you the opportunity to reschedule or get a refund.
In spite of all of that, it’s still important to take the necessary precautions. Do your research about hot air ballooning in Luxor, and make sure you book with a reputable operator—read the reviews, check their website, and contact them if you have any questions.
Also, don’t forget to GET INSURED! One of the things I love about SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is that it covers adventure sports injuries, something many travel insurance plans exclude. With hot air ballooning (as a passenger) included, you can enjoy this bucket list experience and put your mind at ease.
Tips for an Amazing Hot Air Balloon Experience
Best Time for Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor
The best months for this activity would be between October and April for better weather conditions for both the ride and visiting Luxor in general. Luxor is in Upper Egypt (the South), which means it’s much hotter there than in the rest of the country, so I highly advise against traveling there in the summer.
What to Wear
You want to wear comfortable shoes and clothing when you’re hot air ballooning in Luxor. Avoid dresses and skirts to easily get in and out of the basket. Dressing in layers is key, as early mornings can be chilly, but the massive flame in the balloon will make the ride itself warmer than you’d expect. Speaking of which, don’t forget to bring a hat or a beanie as that massive flame feels like a mega hooded dryer on steroids—you’ll feel the heat on your scalp!
Photography Tips
Hot air ballooning in Luxor is a magical experience you’ll definitely want to document, even if you’re not a professional photographer. I heard from several sources that professional cameras are prohibited on the ride. I didn’t see anyone being checked and denied entry beforehand, though. Also, I had 2 film cameras on me, and no one told me anything—they weren’t DSLRs, but still, I thought it was worth mentioning.
Other than that, you’ll have plenty of time to take all the photos, selfies, and videos you want. In my case, our pilot was super friendly as well; he even turned around the hot air balloon when I asked him to so I’d be able to take a few shots on the other side.
Motion Sickness Precautions
Generally, the ride should be very smooth, but if you’re someone who often gets motion sickness, you might want to take some extra precautions if you’re super sensitive to any kind of ride.
- Avoid heavy meals or greasy foods before the ride to minimize nausea.
- Consider medication if needed.
- Keep your eyes on a fixed point and focus on the horizon.
- Try to stand closer to the center of the basket to avoid minimal movement near the edges.
- Take deep breaths to try to keep yourself calm.
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Is Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor Worth It?
My final thoughts on this is that this experience is absolutely worth it! It’s usually an optional activity on tours, but I believe that it’s an Egypt bucket list experience and must be added to your itinerary. So, if you have the time and budget for this, definitely don’t skip it. If you have a fear of heights, don’t let that discourage you. I actually have a fear of open heights (not any heights), and I thought I’d be more scared or uncomfortable. However, the experience turned out to be the exact opposite and wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be.
Before my ride, I heard from multiple people that they’d done this several times, and I didn’t get it—I thought hot air ballooning in Luxor was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that’s it. After I did it myself, I can safely say that I would do this again and again. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is this is absolutely worth it!
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!
Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.
SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.
This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.
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Booking a trip soon? Here are some useful travel resources:
- Book your flight with Skyscanner, Kiwi, CheapOair, or WayAway.
- Book your hostel with Hostelworld.
- Book your hotel with Booking.com.
- Get your travel insurance with SafetyWing.
- Hire a car with Skyscanner, Discover Cars, Rentalcars, or AutoEurope.
- Book your tours with Get Your Guide, Viator, Tiqets, or Klook.
- Download an eSIM from Airalo or Jetpac.
- Check out my trip planning tools for more travel resources.
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- Giza Pyramids Tour: A Local’s Ultimate Guide to the Ancient Wonder
- Grand Egyptian Museum: A Guide to the World’s Largest Archaeological Museum
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
