Soaring above the landscape, a ride in a hot air balloon reveals a perspective of the ground below unlike any other. Perhaps that’s why this romantic mode of transportation enchants adventurers everywhere. It all started with a sheep, a duck and a rooster—the first passengers in a hot air balloon launched by scientist Pilatre De Rozier on September 19, 1783. The flight lasted 15 minutes before crashing to the ground. Two months later, French brothers, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier, launched their balloon from the center of Paris and flew for 20 minutes—hot air ballooning was officially born.
Thankfully things have improved in the last 200+ years making hot air ballooning safe and spectacular. From flights over vineyards to UNESCO World Heritage Sites to desert landscapes and Alpine villages, here are five extraordinary hot air balloon experiences.
Napa Valley, California
As a wine lover, the sight of rolling vine-covered hills is a welcomed view, enhanced, of course, by imbibing in the fruit of those vines. With a hot air balloon ride over the bucolic landscape of Napa Valley, worlds collide. Sweeping vineyards, punctuated by views of Mount St. Helena, the Mayacamas Mountains and, on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean, combine to create a breathtaking adventure. And to finish things off, many of the Napa-based hot air balloon companies offer a celebratory post flight champagne brunch. Check out Napa Valley Balloons that takes off and lands at the exquisite Domaine Chandon Winery where sparkling wine reigns. www.napavalleyballoons.com.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Angkor Wat remains Cambodia’s most famous landmark. Spanning more than 500 acres, the early 12th-century temple is the largest religious monument in the world. Gliding in the sky with views of the remarkably preserved structure is an unforgettable experience. Schedule your flight for sunrise or sunset to further enhance the spectacular views of Angkor Wat and Siem Reap. www.angkorballooning.com.
Namibia
Home to the forlorn and rugged Skeleton Coast, with soaring red dunes rolling endlessly into the ocean and the Namib Desert—the world’s oldest desert and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—Namibia is like nothing else on earth. It’s difficult to choose the most spectacular site, but Sossusvlei is definitely in the running. Situated within Namib Desert in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is a large, white, salt and clay pan surrounded by towering sienna-colored dunes which, at 400 meters, are some of the largest in the world. The Namib Sky Balloon Safari company shares the stunning views of the region while keeping a keen eye on environmental impact and giving back to the local community. Experiencing an extraordinary balloon flight here is a win-win for everyone. www.balloon-safaris.com.
Chateau-d’Oex, Switzerland
The Swiss Alps are stunning from every angle but soaring above the snow-capped peaks in a hot air balloon is spectacular. Located in the Canton of Vaud, Château-d’Oex hosts a nine-day International Hot Air Balloon Festival in late January bringing together up to 100 balloons from numerous countries. It’s a fitting location considering that the Breitling Orbiter—piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones—began the first quest to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon here. The town’s hot air balloon museum shares that story along with other information about this fascinating mode of transportation. The festival includes a children’s day and night launches along with wondrous flights over unforgettable scenery.
Twenty hot air balloons, paraglider pilots, and firework technicians combine to light up the Château-d’Oex night sky at Night Glow, a festival highlight. There’s also a children’s day and, of course, scenic flights through unforgettable Alpine scenery. www.chateau-doex.ch.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
In a deep blue pre-dawn sky above Albuquerque, the Dawn Patrol launches its fleet of 6 to 12 balloons. They test wind and weather conditions while crews and pilots lay out hundreds of balloons in the field below. As dawn breaks, another wave of multichromatic balloons launches followed by another. When the sun lights up the skies over the Sandia Mountains it’s not alone as the balloons fill the entire sky with color. This is Mass Ascension—a favorite event of the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta—and it’s a heck of a way to kick off the day.
Each October for nine days, Albuquerque is home to the world’s largest hot air balloon festival as more than 500 balloons blanket the skies with thrilling displays of shapes and colors. Pilots take excited riders along the Rio Grande for a close dip called the “Splash and Dash” as well as toward Old Town Albuquerque. In addition to balloon rides, the festival features fly in competitions, fireworks and a music fiesta. www.balloonfiesta.com.