How the balloon morning runs
The flight is under an hour. The morning around it starts in the dark and ends back at your hotel before lunch.
Every listing compared on this site follows a similar order, whichever operator flies it. The times below are typical for a shared flight; the exact pickup time comes from the operator the evening before and moves with the season, because the balloons are timed to the sunrise.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Pickup at your hotel | About 4:00 to 6:00 |
| Drive to the launch field | 30 to 50 min |
| Tea while the balloons fill | Until sunrise |
| Flight | 40 to 60 min listed |
| Breakfast after landing | Up to an hour |
| Back at the hotel | About 9:30 to 10:30 |
Pickup in the dark
In summer the pickup can come before four, in winter closer to six. The time slot you pick at booking is not the pickup time; Marrakech By Air, MarrakeshBallooning and BallOOning Marrakech all say so on their listings. If you stay in a riad in the medina, cars cannot reach the door. BallOOning Marrakech and Ciel d’Afrique meet you at the nearest point a car can reach, so walk it once the evening before and send the operator a map pin if they ask for one.
At the launch field
The vans drive out of the city to the plain, about 40 minutes for Marrakech Dream Ballooning and about 50 for BallOOning Marrakech. There is tea or coffee, often with croissants or a small breakfast, while the crews lay out the balloons and fill them. Some operators serve a fuller meal at this point; reviewers note that few people are hungry at that hour.
In the air
You stand in a compartment of the basket for the whole flight; where the size is stated, a shared basket takes 16 or 19 people. BallOOning Marrakech and Ciel d’Afrique fly towards the Jbilet hills over the valley of the Oued Tensift, with the Atlas on the horizon when the air is clear. Listings give 40 to 60 minutes in the air, and travellers often report less. Commentary on board is usually in English; the second MarrakeshBallooning listing names a pilot speaking French and English, and on other flights some reviewers would have liked French or Spanish.
Landing and breakfast
The pilot picks a field the wind allows. After landing comes breakfast, and this is where the listings differ most: a Berber tent at Marrakech By Air and MarrakeshBallooning, a buffet under a Caïdal tent at BallOOning Marrakech, a Berber house at Paradise Ballooning, a rooftop terrace or a tent at the Menara Excursions sunrise flight. On the private flights breakfast is served on board instead.
Certificate and the drive back
Most operators hand out a flight certificate; BallOOning Marrakech, Ciel d’Afrique and Sky Discovery Balloons write your name in Arabic calligraphy. Then the vans drive back, and most guests are at their hotel in the middle of the morning. The camel combination adds a stop in the Palmeraie on the way.
The morning as passengers describe it
Guests write about the early pickup, tea and pastries before take-off, their pilots and breakfast after landing. Two mention small things on the ground: a hearty meal served before the flight, and commentary only in English.
“Great morning out.. worth the 03:50 pickup.. well organised.. professional pilot..”
“The whole experience was magical, we were collected from the hotel on time and taken to be signed in. We were offered tea and pastries before heading to our balloon. The flight was fantastic and we were made to feel safe at all times. Highly recommend this company the whole experience was fantastic.”
“The balloon ride was amazing. The transportation van has no leg room. The seat in front of me was bouncing on my knees”
“After getting up early, we first had to wait, and then about 20 minutes before departure, we were served a hearty breakfast. However, at that time and before a balloon ride, hardly anyone was hungry. Breakfast had to be brought forward on request due to a disturbance caused by bees. Too bad. That …”
“The driver was very good, and the ladies serving the meal were perfect. However, in the hot air balloon, the guide only spoke English, even though we had asked for French. And when we asked him to translate, he would say 2 words after having spoken for 5 minutes. As a result, when we landed, the …”
“sami was fab and looked after us well in the ride. definitely recommend this trip to anyone”
“Brilliant trip. lovely guide. food good but some milk with the coffee would have been nice as don't like black coffee. Great experience”
“it was a great experience the pilot was great sami and the breakfast was lovely. …”
Reviews written after the flight, from GetYourGuide.
FAQ
What time does the balloon pickup start in Marrakech?
Between about four and six in the morning, depending on the season and the launch time. The operator sends the exact time the evening before.
How long is the whole balloon experience?
Three to five hours from pickup to drop-off, of which the flight itself is under an hour.
Can the driver pick me up at my riad in the medina?
Not at the door, because cars cannot enter the lanes of the medina. The driver waits at the nearest point a car can reach.
Find your flight
Breakfast, the length of the morning and the flight option of every listing.
See the comparison