Abundant with opportunities for adventure, freedom, and group fun while sailing through the clouds in a hot air balloon in Dubai. Soar high over the desert floor as the sun rises over the dunes, casting its first rays upon the wide expanse of sand below you.
The natural beauty of the desert can only be matched by the high-rise buildings that make up most of Dubai’s skyline. Both provide incredible views of the world from above the ground below and are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A hot air balloon in Dubai is unique in that it allows you to take in both the desert and the incredible Dubai skyline whilst enjoying what might otherwise have been two separate types of experiences.
The Magic of a Dubai Sunrise Flight
This experience reaches its peak beauty at dawn. The winds at this time of day are at their calmest, and the sky shows off its softest pink and gold colors. As you float gently over the conservation areas, the expert pilot guides your flight, which takes 40 to 70 minutes, by the best wind patterns.
You should be alert and keep your eyes open while floating over the dunes. You may see some of the strongest desert animals that have adapted to living in a dry climate, such as the graceful Arabian oryx, the graceful gazelle, or perhaps even a desert fox running through the rocks and sand below you. Seeing these animals in their natural environment is one of the pleasures most guests remember most fondly.
Post-Flight Culture and Adventure
After your pilot eases the balloon down onto the earth, your experience will continue into Arabia by transporting you to traditional. A fully authentic Bedouin-style campsite awaits you, where you can appreciate the heritage of the local Emirati community. Many of our packages come with a gourmet Arabian breakfast, which means that while you sit back under the stars and savor the outstanding traditional foods of shakshuka, fresh dates, local bread, etc., you will also be breathing in the inviting fragrance of the desert at dawn.
If you’re looking for something a little faster-paced after your peaceful hot air balloon ride, there are usually some extreme activities that can be added to your marked time in the morning. Test your skills at balancing yourself while standing or riding down the dunes with a sandboard, or experience the rush of adventure in a powerful 4-wheel drive vehicle while participating in an action-packed session of dune bashing.
Preparing for Lift-Off
Once the balloon has been inflated with the hot air generated by the fans and burners on the ground, you are then able to climb into the basket to experience weightlessness as it begins to lift from the ground. At around 3,000 feet (900 m) in altitude, you can enjoy beautiful views of the area below and as far as the Hajar Mountains in the distance.
Capturing the Desert View
For photographers, this is a wonderful opportunity to capture some incredible images! The changing colors of the sunrise and the incredible wildlife provide perfect opportunities for taking great pictures. To enable you to immediately share your incredible photos, you’ll be able to connect to our complimentary WiFi while flying, allowing you to post your amazing images to social media before you’ve even landed! While it may be difficult to accurately describe the sensation of floating on air while in a hot air balloon, you’ll be able to refer to your photos for the full experience.
Smooth Landing Procedures
Your pilot will search for a flat area of sand where you will land at the conclusion of your flight. Depending on the direction of the light wind blowing in your face, your balloon may land in a “gentle tip” position or in a bump and drag position. These different landing surface types make up the real experience of being lifted off the ground and floating above the terrain. Your ground crew will be tracking the flight track of the balloon very closely and will be there to help you with your landing.
Essential Booking Tips
- Be Proactive: Make sure to book your hot air balloon ride ahead of time. Many hot air balloon rides have sold out in past seasons, so be prepared and book early.
- Be Respectful: It is standard practice for all hot air balloons to pick up passengers from hotels between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM (depending on location). If you want to experience the balloon ride to its fullest without fatigue, make sure you go to sleep at least one hour earlier the night before your scheduled ride.
- Be Prepared: A hot air balloon ride requires the right conditions for wind to allow the ride to continue; therefore, if weather causes cancellation of your ride with a ballooning operator, your operator will typically offer to reschedule or provide you with a full refund.
What to Wear High in the Sky
Although Dubai is known for its hot climate, the desert is usually cool between midnight and dawn (4 AM) during winter; the temperature can drop to around 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Layer Up: Bring along your light jacket, windbreaker, or something similar to use as added layering during this time of day. As the temperature rises and you start to sweat, simply remove the outer layer as needed.
- Shoes Make Sense: It would be best to leave your dress shoes or high-heeled shoes at home since you will be standing in a wicker basket and landing on soft sand. A good choice would be to wear something with a closed toe, such as a sneaker or boot.
- Hats and Sunglasses: If riding after dark, it is important to wear a hat to shield you from the heat of the burner above and sunglasses once the bright sun comes up over the horizon.
Book Your Ultimate Balloon Flight with Royal Eagle Tourism
Now is the time to experience the Arabian Desert in a whole new way. Royal Eagle Tourism makes your bucket list experience easy by managing your entire journey. When you book your hot air balloon experience with Royal Eagle Tourism, you will receive superior service throughout.
- Door-to-Door Service: Round-trip hotel transfers in comfortable vehicles
- VIP Add-Ons: In addition to the flight, we can arrange private limousine transfers, a luxury yacht party later that day, or tickets to top attractions such as the Burj Khalifa.
- Photos of Your Experience: Many of our hot air balloon packages come completely packaged with professional photographs and signed by our pilots as reminders of your great adventure.
- Traditional Luxury: After your flight, you will enjoy a gourmet breakfast along with either a Dhow Cruise or other activities in the desert area with the comfort of knowing that everything has been pre-arranged.
