How to See Luxor from the Clouds: A First-Timer’s Guide to Ballooning

How to See Luxor from the Clouds: A First-Timer’s Guide to Ballooning

Sitting inside a basket before the dawn has even thought about breaking and going up hundreds of feet in the air above an ancient civilization is one of the quintessential experiences of traveling that sticks in your memory for years. If you have never been in a hot air balloon before, taking that experience for the first time in Luxor is at once exhilarating and a little scary.

How does it really feel taking off? Is it going to be very cold? How do you manage to mentally prepare yourself for waking up at 3:30 AM?

If you are a novice about to experience the adventure of flying above the Nile River, then this complete guide is just what you need.

1. Conquering the 3:30 AM Wake-Up Call

We better start with the million-dollar question right away – yes, the trip starts at the unearthly hour. The majority of hot air balloon excursions in Luxor start exactly at the sunrise in order to make use of the quietest wind conditions and golden-hour lighting.

Pick-Up Point: Your driver/tour coordinator will be picking you up from your hotel lobby/Nile cruise ship around 3:30 am – 4:15 am according to your hotel location.

Procedure: You'll have to go to the riverbank during the complete darkness, take a ride on the small motorboat across the Nile from the East Bank to the West Bank, and travel by a shared van to the desert balloon launching point.

Psychological Approach: You will probably find it extremely early and your bed will be incredibly comfortable after the alarm. However, as soon as you get out in the fresh desert air and spot lots of big balloons shining like giant lanterns in the dark, all fatigue will disappear immediately.

2. What the Takeoff and Flight Actually Feel Like

In case you suffer from motion sickness or have a fear of that scary roller coaster ride you might get when you leave the earth behind, breathe deeply and relax; hot air ballooning is a relatively peaceful experience.

The Ascend: The flight doesn't start with a scary plunge from a great height, with deafening sounds of engines and the uncomfortable sensation of being pulled by an elevator. The pilot ignites the huge burners that heat the air in the balloon envelope and you find yourself floating effortlessly upward.

The Height: On average you would float somewhere between 500 and 1,000 feet above the ground. Since the balloon travels at exactly the same speed as the wind, there is absolutely no wind resistance on your face. Thus, you are moving with the air and the basket feels perfectly still, silent and solid.

The Silence: The pilot keeps flying at the level of cruising height and stops using the burners for some time, and then a wonderful, amazing silence surrounds you. At this height, there is no sound pollution at all.

3. What to Wear (And What to Leave Behind)

Proper attire for a hot air balloon ride in a desert setting revolves around adapting to the changing temperatures.

Dress in Layers: It really gets cold outside in the desert early in the morning before sunrise. Make sure you have a light jacket, sweater, or even a fleece. But once the sun rises above the horizon and the intense flames from the burner start warming up the air over your head, it gets warm very quickly. You may need to remove a layer of clothing.

Footwear: Dress in comfortable, flat, and enclosed footwear (sneakers are best). You will have to stand throughout the duration of the ride and there might be some sand at the desert landing site.

Avoid High Heels and Loose-Fitting Caps: Do not dress in loose-fitting caps and avoid high heels or other delicate shoes such as sandals.

4. Capturing the Moment Without Missing It

You will be tempted to take a million pictures and videos, and you should definitely do that, but here comes another golden tip for first timers – do not go through the whole process of flying just by looking at the tiny screen of your camera.

Get Your Camera Secure: Make sure your phone or camera is strapped firmly to your wrist or secured in a zipped pocket. Otherwise, dropping it from a thousand feet in the air might be a way to make everything spoiled instantly.

Put Away Your Camera: Take your pictures of the wavy Nile, the lush green fields, the sunrise, but then put away the camera for a while and just enjoy the magnificent scenery with your own eyes.

5. Landing Back on Earth

Upon reaching the end of your 45 to 60 minutes flying adventure, your pilot will take a survey of the desert land below and look out for a spacious area to land. Your chase car accompanies your airship on the ground, running alongside dusty roads in order to pick you up.

The landing procedure will differ based on the strength of the wind. At times, it will be like stepping off the sidewalk, while other times, it will feel like the basket will bounce on the ground and tilt sideways as the cloth covers it all up. It is all a part of the exciting experience! Once you disembark, your operator will give you a certificate for the flight and give you a drink.

Your Sky-High Adventure Awaits

It may seem like an odd experience at first for those who have never been in a hot air balloon before. But then once you find yourself drifting in silence above ancient temples, royal tombs and the river Nile bathed in golden light of the rising sun, you will know it is one of the most liberating experiences you could ever have.

Are you ready to make your reservations or do you have any further questions about your stay in Luxor?