Sunrise hot-air balloon
- Total time : 4 to 5.5 hours
- Time in the air : 45 to 60 minutes
- Pick-up : 1 hour before sunrise
The flight lasts 45 minutes to an hour, in a large shared basket of 14 to 20 passengers. With the transfer, the welcome tea and breakfast, the outing takes four to five and a half hours, and you are back in Marrakech around 10.30. The alarm goes off early, especially in summer, but it is the only time of day when the air is calm enough to fly.
How the experience unfolds
5–8 am
Pick-up from your riad
Your driver collects you about an hour before sunrise: between 5 and 7 am in spring and summer, between 7 and 8 am in autumn and winter. We confirm the exact time the evening before.
Before the flight
Tea, coffee and the pilot’s briefing
At the launch site you get tea, coffee and a few pastries while the crew inflates the balloons. The pilot then explains how to stand in the basket and what happens at landing.
45–60 min
The flight
The balloon rises slowly as the sun comes up over the plains, the villages and, on a clear day, the snow line of the High Atlas. A balloon goes where the wind takes it, so there is no fixed route, and the ground crew drives out to meet it where it lands.
After landing
Berber breakfast and certificate
Once you are down, a traditional Berber breakfast is waiting in the tent. Then you are handed your flight certificate.
Around 10.30 am
Back in Marrakech
Your driver brings you back to your hotel or riad in the late morning, with the rest of the day still ahead of you.
Included
- Return transfer from your Marrakech hotel or riad
- Tea, coffee and pastries before the flight
- A 45 to 60-minute flight in a shared basket with an experienced pilot
- Berber breakfast after landing
- Flight certificate
Not included
- Accommodation in Marrakech
- Drinks beyond breakfast
- Tips
Good to know
- The balloon only takes off if the wind stays below 18 km/h. If the pilot cancels for the weather, we offer you another morning or a refund.
- You stand for the whole flight, about an hour. It is not recommended for pregnant women or for anyone with back problems or a serious heart condition.
- Wear flat, closed shoes and natural-fibre clothing. In winter it is cold before sunrise, so bring a warm layer.
- The basket and the vehicle are wheelchair accessible. Tell us when you book so everything is ready.
- Babies can fly only with the pilot’s agreement, and only if the weather allows.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts, with a full refund.
Rather fly on your own? A private basket for two, with or without breakfast on board, is available on request.
Frequently asked questions
I am afraid of heights. Will I feel it?ReadClose
Usually not. The balloon is not tied to anything and moves with the wind, so you feel neither speed nor the pull you get on a balcony. Plenty of passengers who dislike heights are surprised by how calm it feels.
Is the landing rough?ReadClose
It is usually very gentle. The pilot asks you to bend your knees slightly as the basket touches down, and that is it.
How many people are in the basket?ReadClose
Between 14 and 20 passengers, split into compartments. If you want the basket to yourselves, ask us for the private version for two.
When is the best season?ReadClose
Flights run all year. In winter the start is later and the air clearer, which often means a view of the snow-capped Atlas. In summer the alarm is very early, but it is already mild at take-off.
Do I need to be fit?ReadClose
No. You only need to stand for an hour and climb into the basket, with a hand if needed.
Ready to plan your activity?
Choose a date and the number of travellers.