The Journey
From the blue hour to breakfast
A balloon morning in Marrakech is a sequence of small rituals. Here is how it unfolds, step by step.
Before dawn · Pickup
The city is still asleep
A driver collects you from your hotel or riad while it is still dark. Pickup is between 5:00 and 5:30 am, depending on where you are staying — we confirm your exact time the day before.
The drive takes you out of the city, towards open ground where the balloons can rise freely. The drive to the launch site takes about 50 minutes.
Blue hour · Inflation
The balloon comes to life
First the cold air, then the flame. The envelope swells and lifts from the ground while the sky turns from ink to deep blue. Tea is served while you watch.
The pilot gives a short briefing on how to stand during take-off and landing. The briefing is given in French, English or Arabic.
Sunrise · The flight
First light over the Atlas
There is no jolt at take-off — the ground simply falls away. Then the sun clears the mountains and the whole plain turns gold.
The pilot steers by changing altitude to find the winds; the direction of the flight is decided by the weather that morning. The flight lasts 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the conditions.
Morning · Landing & breakfast
Back on the ground, slowly
Landings are soft and happen wherever the wind has carried the balloon. The crew follows the flight on the ground and meets you there.
Then the drive back to your hotel. On the Private Balloon, breakfast is served in the basket during the flight itself; on the shared Sunrise Flight, a Moroccan breakfast is served after landing. You are back at your hotel between about 9:30 and 10:30 am.
Your morning above Morocco starts here.
25% deposit online · 75% balance on the morning of your flight