Luxor Hot Air Balloon: What to Expect
What a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Luxor is like: pick-up time, how long the flight lasts, what you see, safety and what to wear.
A Luxor balloon ride takes off from the West Bank at sunrise and lasts about 45 minutes in the air. Pick-up is very early, usually between 4 and 5 am, and the whole trip takes about three hours. From above you see the Nile, green fields, the Theban hills, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon.
How the morning goes
You are picked up from your hotel or cruise ship before dawn and taken across the Nile to the launch site, where the balloons are inflated. After a short safety briefing you climb into the basket and lift off as the sun rises.
The pilot steers by changing height to catch different winds, so no two flights follow the same route. After landing in the fields, the crew packs the balloon and drives you back.
Is it safe?
Balloon flights in Luxor are licensed and supervised by Egypt's Civil Aviation Authority, which checks the weather each morning. If the wind is too strong, flights are cancelled and moved to another day, so it's best not to book the balloon on your last morning.
If you are pregnant, travelling with small children or have trouble climbing into a basket, ask us before booking.
What to wear and bring
From November to February the early morning is cold, so bring a warm layer. Wear flat, closed shoes for the landing in the fields, and a hat, because the burners above the basket give off heat. Keep a camera ready for the first light over the temples.
Fitting it into your trip
You are back by mid-morning, so the balloon combines well with a West Bank tour the same day. Many Nile cruises starting or ending in Luxor can add it, and some packages already include it.
