Dreaming of a hot air balloon in Marrakech? I don’t blame you.
We just got back from Morocco, where we had the incredible opportunity to try it for the first time, and I can’t stop thinking about the whole surreal experience.
In case you’re weighing up whether a Marrakech hot air balloon is worth it, want to know more about what happens during the flight, or have practical questions like ‘what to wear,’ I hope this in-depth review gives you some helpful insights.
To get a little taste of the whole experience, you can also watch my video below, which gives you a snapshot of our Marrakech hot air balloon tour from start to finish.
What Happens on a Marrakech Hot Air Balloon Ride?
Hotel Collection
We did this trip with Marrakech Dream Ballooning, and what a dream it was!
The adventure begins when you get picked up from your hotel in Marrakech about an hour before sunrise. In late January, this was 6:30 in the morning.
We got a text from our driver the evening before to confirm the pick-up time and meeting point location. If you are staying in a Riad in the medina, they will tell you where to meet, since cars are not allowed within the medina walls.
Our meeting point was easy to find and only a 3-minute walk from our Riad. The driver also sent pictures of himself and his car, so we knew what we were looking for.
Balloon Preparation
After about a 40-minute drive, you’ll arrive in the desert and get served a much-needed coffee or mint tea with a slice of cake, while they get the balloons ready.
It’s really cool to see them setting up the balloons, testing the burners and so on while you watch on with nervous anticipation.
You’ll get offered the chance to buy the photography package, where they use drones to capture videos of you and your travel companions on the flight. We had brought our own camera equipment, so we declined.
Flight
At the crack of dawn, you’ll be climbing into the basket, wondering how this little wicker thing is going to take the weight of 20 people. But suddenly it does, and you’re floating 3000ft in the air while ‘Sail Away’ plays gently in the background. Magic.
I imagined it would be way scarier than it was. Once you’re up there, the balloon drifts so slowly that it all feels very calm and peaceful!
After about 15 magical minutes drifting through the twilight, the sun crowns majestically over the far Atlas Mountains, putting on an unforgettable show for all those watching from their wicker baskets. A truly breathtaking spectacle for the memory bank.
This is also the perfect time to snap the ultimate Marrakech travel photos.
Landing
Our pilot was actually the owner of the company, and therefore a very experienced hot air ballooner (balloonist??).
After another 20 minutes of soaking up the incredible scenery, he started our descent to check for weather conditions that might create a bumpy landing. It was his role to then let the other pilots know about the situation on the ground.
We spent a while floating across the desert, suspended about 10 metres above the ground. Surprisingly, this was one of the coolest parts of the whole flight.
With the parched landscape beneath, you kind of feel like an astronaut, floating above the surface of some foreign planet.
When it was time to land, we were told to hold on, but there was no need to adopt the squat position reserved for windy landings. If there is too much wind, the basket can tip over unexpectedly, so you have to crouch down and brace, with your back against the wall of the basket. Thankfully, we didn’t need to.
The basket kind of bumps along the ground for a while before eventually coming to a halt.
A team of drivers who had surrounded us helped to load the balloon back onto a trailer with us still inside. Once in position on the trailer, the balloon was slowly deflated, and it was safe for us to climb out.
Breakfast
After being driven back to the take-off site, we headed up onto the roof of the building, where a traditional Berber tent set-up was waiting for us.
The colourful cushions looked especially striking next to the warm glow of the desert, adding to the overall authentic feeling of the experience.
We were served another mint tea, before the cloths over the breakfast tables were whisked away with a flourish, to reveal a bounty of fruit, honey, jam, pastries, eggs, and Moroccan pancakes underneath.
I had been a little worried about the quality of the breakfast out in the desert, but it ended up being one of the foodie highlights of the whole trip!
Just make sure you don’t accidentally put olive oil on your pancake instead of honey, as my husband did. The olive oil they have is a rich amber colour and tastes a lot stronger than the supermarket stuff we have at home!
After breakfast and a few final snaps of the desert, we were taken in our cars to be dropped back off in Marrakech, getting back to the city just in time for a coffee and a whole day of exploration.
Hot Air Balloon Marrakech Review in Brief
I have to give this experience a five-star review. Aside from the slightly bumpy ride to and from the city, the entire tour was spectacular, not to mention smoothly executed. It was clear that the tour providers and our pilot really knew what they were doing.
In fact, while we were having breakfast, they brought out a cake to celebrate him having spent over 1000 hours in the sky. This is a huge achievement for hot air balloon pilots!
The breakfast itself was delicious and a feast worth savouring after an hour spent gliding through the sky. All of the staff we encountered were kind, courteous, and professional, with a touch of local authenticity. It was really interesting to hear the pilot’s stories from his ballooning trips around the world.
Most importantly, we felt safe and secure during the whole trip, leaving any flight anxiety firmly on the ground.
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Marrakech: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Less expensive than in other African destinations (we were quoted £500 per person on our honeymoon in Kenya!)
- Gorgeous desert scenery with the Atlas Mountains in the background
- Hot, dry climate all year round, with little chance of adverse weather conditions causing cancellations
- Delicious Berber breakfast to round off the experience
Cons
- The balloon can feel a little crowded unless you opt for a private flight
- If you go in summer, you’ll have to get up very early (about 4am). In winter, you only have to wake up at about 6am, because sunrise is later.
Which Marrakech Hot Air Balloon Tour to Book?
I highly recommend booking Marrakech air balloon flights via an online operator like GetYourGuide.
This is because they offer robust cancellation policies that cover you in the event of bad weather, etc. You can also usually cancel for free if you change your mind at any point after booking.
We booked this tour because of the excellent reviews, and we were not disappointed!
If you want a private tour, this one looked really good as well.
You’ll even find some tours that combine the sunrise hot air balloon with a camel ride, so if camels are on your list for Morocco, then that could be a good option for you.
Hot Air Ballooning Marrakech Top Tips
Here are a few things to keep in mind when taking a sunrise Marrakech hot air balloon ride:
- Wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dusty, with a jacket (in summer) or a warm coat (in winter).
- I recommend trousers instead of a skirt or dress, as you have to climb in and out of the basket.
- Book your tour for one of the first days of your trip, in case it has to be rescheduled due to the weather.
- Book your tour well in advance, especially during peak seasons (spring and autumn).
- Be ready on time for your collection and download maps.me to help you find the collection point if you’re coming from a riad in the medina.
- Don’t forget your sunglasses! Even though it will be dark when you leave the city, the sun is incredibly bright when it does finally peek over the Atlas Mountains.
Is hot air ballooning on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!
*You may also be interested in reading Alcohol in Marrakech: Rules, Restaurants and Nightlife.*
FAQs
Where is the Best Place to go on a Hot Air Balloon in Morocco?
The only place in Morocco where it is possible to take a hot air balloon flight is in the desert area surrounding Marrakech. Hot air ballooning is not currently permitted in any other region.
Marrakech Hot Air Balloon Price
It costs about £160 (€190) per person for a sunrise hot air balloon in Marrakech. This price includes pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation in Marrakech, coffee and a snack on arrival, a 60-minute sunrise balloon ride, and a traditional breakfast in the desert afterwards.
Private flights where breakfast is served on board are more expensive, around £570pp (€660).
Is a Hot Air Balloon in Marrakech Worth It?
While the price may seem like a lot, I can wholeheartedly say it was worth it!
A hot air balloon in general is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the sun softly rising over the Agafay Desert made this one particularly special. The beautifully still weather ensures you never feel scared, and the landscape looks like something from a dream.
What to Wear on a Marrakech Hot Air Balloon Ride
I thought it would be freezing in a hot air balloon in the Marrakech desert in January, but the heat from the burner keeps you surprisingly toasty!
Just a jumper and one decent jacket are all you need. I also recommend comfortable, closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting dusty. Ladies may want to consider jeans or trousers, as climbing in and out of the basket could be tricky in a skirt.
In the summer, you will be able to get away with just a T-shirt and a light jacket.
What to Bring With You on a Hot Air Balloon In Marrakech
You don’t need much, since the tour company provides breakfast and refreshments. I recommend bringing a bottle of water, lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, and of course, your camera or phone for pictures.
**You may also be interested in reading: 15 Best Marrakech Photo Spots and Backdrops (with map!).**
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