15 City Balloon Flights in the World Worth the Early Alarm

1.Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Flight from Mexico City / Volare

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,262 reviews · 3 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $155Our pick

Fly for 30 to 50 minutes over Teotihuacan Valley at sunrise with Volare, a longtime Mexican balloon operator. Expect an early pickup, coffee before takeoff, a shared basket, a landing toast, certificate, and Mexican breakfast with mariachi. Add three hours to explore the pyramids on foot.

“This was a bucket list item that I can mark off. It was spectacular, the entire team of Volare from the check in to dropping us back off was great. There are so many of them that are working for an unbelievable journey, when we landed we didn't even feel a bump, it was so smooth. The pick up at the hotel was prompt, the drop off however took twice as long as the driver drove to the airport first (to drop two passengers) before dropping the majority of folks in town. An hour journey turned into two hours!!! Another item, that was probably my fault, I thought the breakfast…”

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2.Balloon flight in Teotihuacán from Mexico City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 733 reviews · 3 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $157

Fly for 30 to 50 minutes above the Teotihuacán area with Globo Tetris, watching the pyramids, San Martín de las Pirámides, and sunrise from the basket. Add Mexico City transport, buffet breakfast, and archaeological-site entry if you want a longer morning. Flights depend on wind and weather.

“I just enjoyed the most amazing hot air balloon ride with Globe Tetris! The views were absolutely breathtaking and it was a quiet experience. Our driver, Lalo, was really great: very skilled and made us all very comfortable. Undoubtedly, an experience that you cannot miss!Auto-translated”

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3.Balloon Flight and Teotihuacan Tour w/Breakfast from Mexico City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 572 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $137

Start before dawn with pickup near Mexico City’s Ángel de la Independencia. Watch the balloons rise over Teotihuacán, then eat breakfast in La Gruta or La Cueva, taste regional liquor, and tour the pyramids with guides such as Diego or Ivan. Expect a full, busy morning with shared transport and an early return.

“Outstanding from start to finish, highly recommended! We had pick up in CDMX, perfect balloon flight, and excellent tour of the pyramids with Diego.”

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4.Hot Air Balloon Flights over Melbourne City (optional breakfast)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 403 reviews · from $369

Meet around 5:00 am for a Liberty Balloon Flight over Melbourne, with a roughly one-hour ride, pilot guidance and views of the MCG, Museum and CBD. Your pilot may be Dan, Nick or Pete, and you may help prepare and pack away the balloon. Add breakfast at Hotel Windsor for A$50.

“Excellent trip. Very well organised with regular contact from the balloon company (Liberty). Be prepared for a very early start (ours was 4.15). Friendly & experienced pilot & support crew. You are involved in preparing for the flight & clear up Read more”

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5.Brisbane’s closest Hot Air Balloon Flights – City & Country views – 1 hr flight!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 205 reviews · from $355

Meet at Ipswich Visitor Information Centre at 4:00 am for a small-group balloon flight over city and country views. Your professional pilot handles the flight while you may help inflate and pack the balloon, then enjoy a restaurant breakfast, sparkling wine toast, and flight certificate.

“It was something to tick off their bucket list and they thoroughly enjoyed the experience, company was great with information of the area they went across and breakfast was a great treat to top off the morning.”

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6.Balloon Flight and Tour in Teotihuacán from Mexico City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 203 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $160

Leave central Mexico City before dawn for a hot-air balloon flight near Teotihuacán. After coffee and cookies, you’ll have breakfast, taste mezcal, visit local artisans, and tour the pyramids with an English-speaking guide.

“wear layers and prepare for a great time! felt so lucky and fortunate to be able to participate in this breathtaking experience!”

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7.Balloon flight with pyramids tour and transportation from Mexico City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 172 reviews · from $134

Leave Mexico City before dawn for a sunrise balloon flight over Teotihuacan, followed by cave breakfast, local liquor tasting, and a guided pyramid tour. Small groups, hotel pickup, and English-speaking guides such as Diego make this a full 7 to 8 hour outing.

“We booked our tour with viator for the first time to the Pyramids and hot air balloons in Mexico City. That was a great experience. Thanks to all who guided us through this journey.”

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8.Unforgettable Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the City of the Gods

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 162 reviews · 5 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $161

Leave Mexico City before dawn for a hot-air balloon flight over Teotihuacan. Javier, Sarahi, and their team handle transport and timing, with coffee, a toast, and a flight certificate included. Add breakfast or a guided walk through the pyramids, then return to the city by early afternoon.

“Sarahi and team were really great! We got to the balloon site quickly and safely and the experience itself was amazing! My partner is scared of heights and felt totally safe and at ease in the balloon with its skillful operator. The views were spectacular and it was a once in a lifetime experience.”

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9.City of Side: 2-Day Cappadocia, Cave Hotel, & Balloon Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 107 reviews · 2 days · from $42Best value

Travel from Side to Cappadocia for two busy days of underground cities, fairy chimneys, valleys, pottery, villages, and a cave hotel stay. English and Russian speaking guides such as Ibrahim, Kadir, and Abo lead the trip. Add a sunrise balloon ride or jeep safari for a memorable view of the balloons.

“Great experience! The journey was a bit gruelling as you are on the road for hours but it was worth it. First day was hectic with loads of stops but very interesting to see and learn about history and also see the different sights. The balloon experience during sunrise the next day was amazing! Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and also very accommodating.”

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10.Balloon flight in Teotihuacan from Mexico City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $155

Start before dawn at Mexico City’s Angel of Independence and fly over Teotihuacan with Happy Fly. Erika and her team provide transport, coffee, flight instructions, a landing toast, breakfast in La Cueva, pulque and obsidian demonstrations, and optional pyramid time.

“I’m going to preface my review with the fact that my sole goal was to do the balloon ride and check it off my bucket list. To my annoyance this package also included a trip to Teotihuacan which I have already been to TWICE, so I had no desire to visit it a third time but I digress. Let me start at the beginning their communication was stellar no complaints about that. They come by to pick me up in a Suburban. There are already 6 people in this SUV. To say that I had the most uncomfortable ride to and from is an understatement. I had to be horribly…”

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

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

Start before sunrise with a hotel pickup and an open safari ride through Pilanesberg to the launch site. Fly for about an hour, then toast the landing with sparkling wine before breakfast at a private lodge. Expect wildlife sightings, an English-speaking pilot, and weather-dependent timing.

“Balloon flight: A must do activity. Excellent pilot and a tremendous experience. Night drive/safari: Got to see 10 lions on a kill. Very god guide and driver. Came very close to a lot of animals.”

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12.Hot Air Balloon Ride with City Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 44 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $172

Fly for about 30 minutes above Vang Vieng’s karst countryside on a sunrise or sunset balloon ride. Alex may handle the English briefing, while the pilot manages the flight. Hotel pickup, tuk tuk transfers, a certificate, and coffee or champagne with snacks are included.

“We went for a sunrise balloon ride. Alex was the man! He spoke English and explained all the details to us. The pilot do not speak English but clearly was great at his job. Felt very safe and we LOVED the ride, amazing views!!!”

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13.Balloon Flight, Teotihuacan & Guadalupe Shrine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 19 reviews · 11 hours · from $355

Start before sunrise with a hot air balloon flight above Teotihuacan, followed by breakfast, sparkling wine, and a flight certificate. Your guide then leads you through the pyramids, an obsidian workshop, and the Basilica of Guadalupe. English and Spanish tours are available.

“The tour was great, our guide was very nice! The only issue was the sound system on the bus wasn’t working well, otherwise we loved the tour!”

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14.Balloon Ride with Transfer Option from Madrid City

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 7 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $241

Meet Aerotours in Toledo or add Madrid pickup for a morning balloon flight over the Lower Basin of the Guadarrama River. Expect balloon inflation, a one-hour flight, ground support, a cava toast, country lunch, HD video, photos, and a custom flight diploma.

“Fantastic experience BUT… there were a few things wrong with the tour - we were the only English speaking couple on our tour. Our driver spoke just about enough English to understand the important stuff. Whilst in the air, we were completely oblivious to any conversation or instruction from the pilot, which made us feel a bit excluded. Also, the tour isn’t quite as described on the listing, no ‘tour’, no translation, the ‘brunch’ was a plate of salami and a bowl of breadsticks. Nonetheless, fantastic experience, great views and glad we had done it (just don’t hold your expectations too high!).”

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15.Carson City: Hot Air Balloon Flight

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 5 reviews · 3 hours · from $325

You’ll rise above Carson Valley with an English-speaking pilot who has more than 20 years of ballooning experience. Look for eagles, hawks, deer, the Carson River, Jobs Peak, and possibly Lake Tahoe. The three-hour outing includes the balloon flight, but not meals or transportation.

“Hi, the FLIGHT was amazing! Great balloon ride, beautiful scenery - I'd give the 45 minute actual ride 5 stars. I REALLY think they should warn you they're going to dump you down in some desert field, keep you captive for 90 minutes in the hot Nevada sun while they clean up the balloon. I'm confused as to why they couldn't run us to our cars? Why did we have to STAND in a field for twice as long as the actual balloon ride? So hot and disappointed by the end that it took away from the actual amazing ride.”

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