If you’ve ever made a travel bucket list, we can almost guarantee a hot air balloon ride is near the top. It’s exhilarating, terrifying, and awe-inspiring to take off in just a basket and a balloon and suddenly be floating above a unique landscape. But not all hot air balloon rides are created equal. Some truly unique places are best seen from above. These are the 10 best places to hot air balloon around the world.
Iconic and Unmissable Places to Hot Air Balloon
You’ve likely heard about these two best places to hot air balloon, but they’re too good not to include!
Cappadocia, Turkey – This is basically the hot air balloon capital of the world! You can look up into the sky at almost any time of day in Cappadocia and see hundreds of hot air balloons against the skyline. Just picture them rising over rock formations and cave dwellings! A ride here is iconic for a reason. No matter where you look, every direction is postcard-worthy on a Cappadocia hot air balloon ride.
Bagan, Myanmar – You’ll feel like you’re time-traveling as you float above Bagan at sunrise. You’ll be soaring above thousands of ancient temples. It’s one of the most spiritual balloon rides anywhere on Earth.
Nature Lovers’ Places to Hot Air Balloon
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania – Imagine looking down from your basket and seeing elephants, wildebeest, and giraffes roaming below. This would be especially remarkable during the Great Migration, but truly any hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti would be magical. Seeing the wildlife from above adds an entirely new perspective.
Queenstown, New Zealand – What better place to hot air balloon than in the adventure capital of the world? A balloon ride over Queenstown’s sparkling lakes and dramatic mountains delivers plenty of thrills without the terror of an activity like bungee jumping. It’s serene, scenic, and stunningly beautiful.
Sossusvlei, Namibia – We can’t recommend a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Sossusvlei enough. Watching the sun light hit the dunes, bathing the sand in golden light, is an entirely surreal experience.
Cultural & Off-the-Beaten-Path Places to Hot Air Balloon
Teotihuacan, Mexico – This might be our favorite spot on the list. You’ll get to see the ancient Mesoamerican city from the sky, a perspective few get to experience. The best part is soaring over the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.
Chiang Mai, Thailand – Ballooning over Chiang Mai is a mesmerizing experience. You’ll get to take in the lush jungle and rice paddies, golden temple spires, and water buffalo with the mountains in the distance. It’s nature-filled and cultural.
Vilnius, Lithuania – Vilnius is one of the best places to hot air balloon because of how much of a hidden gem it is! It’s the one place where you can ride a balloon directly over a UNESCO World Heritage city. This is a culturally rich experience.
Utterly Unexpected & Surreal Places to Hot Air Balloon
Atacama Desert, Chile – The Atacama Desert looks like a painting from above. The colors from the red canyons, volcanoes, and salt flats are wildly vibrant from above.
Canadian Rockies, Canada – We recommend taking flight near Banff and taking in the Rockies, turquoise lakes, and forests from above. It’s a humbling and surreal adventure. We love the beauty of the lakes against the still snow-dusted mountaintops.
Hot Air Balloon Festivals
If you want to see hundreds of balloons take flight at once, or better yet, want to be in one of them, plan a trip around a hot air balloon festival. Here you’ll get the thrill of ballooning with a bucket-list worthy spectacle.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico, USA – This is the largest and best hot air balloon festival in the world! Over 500 balloons take flight. Watching the glow against the night sky is absolutely magical.
Château-d’Oex International Balloon Festival, Switzerland – Floating above the Swiss Alps is the closest it gets to Heaven on Earth. Every January, balloons float over the mountain tops, making it one of the most beautiful hot air balloon rides in the world.
Canberra Balloon Spectacular, Australia – In March, Australia’s capital skies are filled with balloons lifting off over Lake Burley Griffin.
Havasu Balloon Festival, Arizona, USA – Spots are limited to ride in this balloon festival. But if you can’t get a spot, you can take part in a 5k or 10k race while the balloons take flight above you.
There are other hot air balloon festivals around the world, like the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (England), the Saga International Balloon Festival (Japan), the Mondial Air Balloons (France), and the Adirondack Balloon Festival (New York, USA), but they either don’t allow spectators to ride the balloons, or there are minimal slots.
Tethered Hot Air Balloon Attractions
If the idea of soaring aimlessly through the air terrifies you or you’re looking for a wallet-friendly option, consider a tethered hot air balloon ride. These rides send you up in the air, but there are wires connected to the ground keeping you from flying away. You can take a tethered ride at most of the festivals listed above, as well as at destinations such as Disney Springs in Florida, Disneyland Paris, and Ballon Generali in Paris.
Why choose a tethered hot air balloon ride?
- Cheaper
- Short & sweet (usually no more than 10 minutes)
- Kid and crowd-friendly
- Available in poor weather
- Good to test it out if you’re scared of heights
How Safe Are Hot Air Balloons?
Good news: Hot air ballooning is considered a very safe activity, especially when you compare it to other adventure activities like skydiving or paragliding. Most incidents that do happen are minor and result from rough landings. The level of safety does, however, depend on factors like weather, operator experience, and local regulations. Pilots will cancel or reschedule flights at the first sign of strong winds, so you don’t have to worry about navigating poor weather from above. These pilots also undergo extensive training, and reputable operators are required to follow strict maintenance schedules to keep the balloons and equipment in tip-top shape. In fact, in most countries, aviation authorities regulate hot air ballooning, much like they do with aircraft.
Here’s what you can do to stay as safe as possible:
- Book with a licensed, reputable operator. Make sure to read reviews ahead of time.
- Follow the pilot’s instructions, especially during takeoff and landing.
- Dress comfortably and avoid wearing any loose items that could catch on equipment.
Hot air ballooning is one of those rare travel experiences that’s equal parts thrilling and peaceful. Whether you’re gliding above desert dunes, city skylines, or ancient temples, these destinations offer views that will stay with you forever.
Now that you know where to go for a hot air balloon ride, which location are you putting on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments!
If you’re thinking about hot air ballooning, you must have an adventurous spirit! Check out our blog post on The Most Thrilling Adventure Trips Around the World.
