What's included

• Pickup from your hotel or riad in Marrakech, and the drive back after breakfast
• Tea, coffee and msemen at the launch field
• A full briefing in person from your pilot, before and during the flight
• 45 to 60 minutes in the air at sunrise
• Moroccan breakfast after landing
• Your flight certificate

How the shared flight works

You fly in one of our large baskets with up to 16 to 20 passengers. Everyone has a place at the edge of the basket, so you get the same view as the person next to you. Your pilot stands in the middle, flies the balloon and points out what you see below.

Most guests on the shared flight are couples, friends and solo travellers. It's a relaxed, friendly group: people take photos of each other, and by breakfast everyone is chatting.

Your morning, in short

We collect you about 1 hour 30 before sunrise. At the field you drink tea while the crew lays out and fills the balloons. You lift off around sunrise, fly for 45 to 60 minutes, land in an open field and sit down to breakfast on Berber rugs. You are back at your hotel in the late morning. Read the full morning step by step.

Shared or private?

If you'd like the basket only for your group, or you are planning a proposal or a birthday, have a look at our private balloon flight. For breakfast served during the flight itself, see breakfast on board.

Questions about this flight

What's included

• A balloon and pilot only for your group
• Private pickup from your hotel or riad, and the drive back
• Tea and coffee at the launch field
• A full briefing in person from your pilot, before and during the flight
• 45 to 60 minutes in the air at sunrise
• Your own breakfast table after landing
• Flight certificates for everyone

Who chooses a private flight?

Families with children. Kids feel more relaxed with only their family around, and you can take all the photos you want.

Couples and proposals. Tell us your plan when you book. We can help you choose the right moment, keep the ring a secret and set things up for the photo.

Friends and groups. Birthdays, hen and stag weekends, company trips: you get the basket and the breakfast table to yourselves.

How the price works

A private balloon flies with the same pilot, crew, fuel and vehicles whether there are two of you or ten, so the price per person goes down as your group gets bigger:

Send us your date and the number of guests and we'll confirm the exact price.

Prefer to share?

If you don't need the basket to yourselves, the classic shared flight is €145 per person with the same sunrise and the same breakfast.

Questions about this flight

What's included

• Pickup from your hotel or riad, and the drive back
• Tea and coffee at the launch field
• A full briefing in person from your pilot, before and during the flight
• 45 to 60 minutes in the air at sunrise
• Breakfast served in the basket during the flight
• Your flight certificate

Why breakfast in the air?

The first half hour after sunrise is the most beautiful part of the flight. The light turns gold, the shadows of the balloons stretch across the fields, and the air is completely still. Having breakfast at that moment, in the basket, makes the morning feel unhurried and very special.

It's a lovely choice for anniversaries, honeymoons and anyone who wants their balloon flight to be a little more than the classic one.

Your morning, in short

We pick you up about 1 hour 30 before sunrise, you have tea while the balloon is filled, and you lift off at sunrise. Breakfast is served during the flight. After landing we drive you back to your hotel. See the full morning.

Other flights

The classic sunrise flight (€145) has breakfast on the ground after landing. For your own basket, see the private balloon flight.

Questions about this flight

1. 1h30 before sunrise

   Hotel pickup

   Our driver collects you from your hotel or riad. If your riad is deep in the medina, we meet you at the nearest place a car can reach and tell you exactly where the evening before.

   The drive takes you out of the city to our launch field in the countryside. Many guests doze a little on the way.

2. At the field

   Tea, coffee and msemen

   It's still dark. You sit down for mint tea, coffee and warm msemen while the crew lays out the balloons. This is a good moment to ask questions and use the toilet before the flight.

3. Before take-off

   Inflation and your pilot's briefing

   Big fans blow cold air into the balloon, then the pilot fires the burner and the envelope slowly stands up. It's loud, warm and glows like a lantern. Bring your camera.

   Your pilot then gives you a full briefing in person and explains everything about the flight: how a balloon flies, how to get in and out of the basket, where to hold on, what will happen in the air and how to stand for the landing. Ask anything: there are no silly questions.

4. Sunrise

   Lift-off

   Most people don't even feel the moment the basket leaves the ground. The field just drops away, and the sun comes up over the High Atlas while the other balloons rise around you.

5. 45 to 60 min

   The flight

   The balloon travels with the wind, so there's almost no breeze in the basket and no feeling of speed. You drift over Berber villages, olive groves, dry riverbeds and farms, and on clear mornings you can see the snow on the Atlas.

   There is no fixed route: each morning the wind decides where we go, and the pilot chooses a safe landing field along the way. Your pilot keeps talking to you during the flight, explaining what you see below, what the balloon is doing and what comes next.

6. Landing

   Back on the ground

   Before landing, the pilot asks everyone to take the landing position. Most landings are gentle. Sometimes the basket bumps, tips onto its side or slides a few metres, which is normal and part of the adventure. More about landing.

   Stay in the basket until the pilot says you can get out. Our chase crew is already there to help.

7. After landing

   Breakfast and certificates

   We sit down together for a Moroccan breakfast: bread, msemen, eggs, olives, honey, amlou, fruit and fresh orange juice. Your pilot hands out your flight certificate.

8. Late morning

   Back to your hotel

   We drive you back to Marrakech. You are at your hotel with most of the day still ahead of you.

Typical times by season

These are approximate. We always send you the exact pickup time the evening before.

• Summer (June to August): pickup around 4:30 to 5:00, back around 9:00 to 9:30
• Spring and autumn: pickup around 5:00 to 6:30, depending on the month. See every month
• Winter (December to February): pickup around 6:30 to 7:00, back around 11:00

Questions people ask

The morning check

Balloons fly with the wind, not against it, so the wind decides everything. Before every flight our pilot looks at:

• Wind at the ground, at the launch field itself, not only on a forecast
• Wind higher up, which decides the direction and speed of the flight
• The forecast for the next two hours, because the wind must stay calm until we land
• Visibility: the pilot must be able to see clearly to choose a landing field
• Equipment: burners, fuel, envelope and basket are checked before each flight
• Insurance: every flight we operate is insured

The final decision is made by the pilot on the field. If one of these is not right, the balloon stays on the ground. We don't fly because other companies are flying.

Weather cancellations

Some mornings, especially in winter and during windy spells, flying is not safe. When that happens:

• We tell you as early as we can, usually the evening before or at the launch field.
• You choose between a new date or a full refund.
• If we cancel at the field, we drive you back to your hotel.

Why balloons fly at sunrise

The air is calmest in the early morning. As the sun warms the ground, rising air and gusts make the wind less predictable. That's why every balloon flight in Marrakech takes off around sunrise and lands before mid-morning.

A full briefing, in person, before and during the flight

Our briefing is not a quick talk or a sheet of paper. Your pilot briefs you in person on the launch field and explains everything about the activity, in simple words:

• how a hot air balloon flies and how the pilot steers it with the wind
• how to climb in and out of the basket
• where to hold on, and what not to touch
• what you will see and feel in the air
• how to stand during the landing, practised before take-off
• to stay in the basket until the pilot says you can get out

The briefing continues during the flight. Your pilot tells you what is happening, answers your questions and reminds everyone of the landing position before touchdown.

Please tell us before the flight about any health condition, injury, pregnancy or reduced mobility, so the pilot can advise you properly.

What happens during the landing

Most landings are soft. But a balloon can't brake like a plane, so on some mornings the basket touches down, bounces a little, tips onto its side or slides a few metres before it stops. This is normal, and the briefing prepares you for it.

When the pilot calls "landing position":

1. Face the direction the balloon is travelling.
2. Bend your knees slightly and keep your back against the padded side of the basket.
3. Hold the rope handles inside the basket with both hands.
4. Keep your phone and camera put away until the basket has stopped.
5. Stay inside until the pilot tells you to get out.

Questions about safety

Does it feel scary?

For most people, no. A balloon has no engine and travels with the wind, so there's no vibration, no feeling of speed and almost no breeze in the basket. Lift-off is so gentle that many guests only notice it when they look down and see the ground getting smaller.

I'm afraid of heights. Can I still fly?

Many people who don't like heights find a balloon calmer than they expected. The basket comes up to about chest height, so you feel safely inside it, and because nothing is moving fast, your body doesn't get the "falling" feeling you might get on a tall building. If you're nervous, stand near the pilot, look at the horizon rather than straight down, and tell us. We'll look after you.

Is it noisy?

Most of the time it's very quiet: you'll hear dogs barking and people calling in the villages below. Every so often the pilot fires the burner for a few seconds. It's loud and you'll feel the warmth on top of your head, which is why we suggest a cap.

Is it cold up there?

The coldest part of the morning is waiting on the field before sunrise. In the air, the burner and the sun warm you up. Dress in layers you can take off. What to wear in each season.

Tips for great photos

• Charge your phone the night before and free up space. You'll take more photos than you think.
• Film the inflation on the ground: the glowing balloon in the dark is one of the best moments.
• Use a wrist strap or keep a firm grip. Nothing dropped from a balloon comes back.
• Put your phone away when the pilot calls the landing position.

How to get ready the day before

• Go to bed early. Pickup is about 1 hour 30 before sunrise.
• Lay out your clothes: layers, closed shoes and a cap.
• Keep your phone on: we send you the pickup time the evening before.
• Don't eat a big breakfast first. A proper Moroccan breakfast is waiting after landing.

Questions first-timers ask

The basics, all year round

• Layers you can take off: a T-shirt, a sweater and a jacket
• Closed, flat shoes like trainers or walking shoes. Landing fields can be dusty, stony or muddy.
• A cap or hat: the burner is hot on the top of your head
• Trousers are more comfortable than a dress or skirt for climbing into the basket
• Sunglasses for later in the flight

Season by season

Winter (December to February)

Mornings in the countryside around Marrakech can be close to freezing before sunrise. Bring a warm coat, a scarf, gloves and a hat. This is also the season with snow on the Atlas, so the views are wonderful.

Spring (March to May)

Fresh mornings and green fields. A warm sweater and a light jacket are usually enough. Spring is one of the most beautiful times to fly.

Summer (June to August)

Days in Marrakech are very hot, but the hour before sunrise is still cool. Bring a light sweater or jacket for the field. You'll take it off by breakfast.

Autumn (September to November)

Mild and pleasant. A sweater and a light jacket, and a warmer layer from late November.

Better to leave at the hotel

• High heels, flip-flops and sandals
• Big bags and suitcases: there is very little room in the basket
• Loose scarves or hats that could blow away
• Drones: they are not allowed to be flown from the balloon

Related questions

A hot air balloon proposal in Marrakech is one of the most romantic ways to ask. Your partner only knows you are going ballooning at sunrise. You, your pilot and our crew know the rest.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Message us on WhatsApp before you book, so we can plan quietly.
2. Choose your date and the extras: flowers, photographer, cake.
3. On the morning, act normal. The pilot and crew know the plan.
4. At the perfect moment in the air, the pilot gives you a sign. The rest is up to you.

Tips for the perfect balloon proposal

• Book early in your stay, so there is a spare morning if the weather moves your flight.
• Keep the ring in a zipped inside pocket until the moment.
• Tell the photographer how you want to stand, so they can get your faces, not your backs.
• Dress warmly: you want to remember the moment, not the cold.

Price

Questions

Whether you are on honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or simply travelling as a couple, a balloon flight gives you an hour of calm together above Morocco. We can keep it simple or make it a real celebration.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Tell us the occasion and your date.
2. Choose private or shared, and the extras you would like.
3. We collect you before dawn in a private car.
4. Fly at sunrise, then celebrate over a private breakfast for two.

Renewing your vows in the sky

For a vow renewal, we can arrange a private sunrise flight, flowers, photos or video and a short symbolic ceremony at the breakfast table after landing. Tell us your ideas and we will plan it with you. See also our wedding balloon flights.

Couples on a budget

A balloon flight doesn't have to be private to be romantic. On our shared sunrise flight (€145 per person) you can still add flowers or a cake for breakfast.

Price

Questions

A birthday balloon flight is a gift people never forget. Whether it's a surprise for someone else or a treat for yourself, we turn the breakfast after landing into a small party.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Tell us whose birthday it is, and if it's a surprise.
2. Choose your flight and the extras: cake, decoration, music, photos.
3. Fly at sunrise. The crew prepares the table while you are in the air.
4. Land to cake, music and a birthday breakfast.

Other celebrations

The same celebration package works for every special day:

• Graduation: a graduation gift they will remember, with cake, photos and a personalised certificate.
• Mother's Day: a mother and daughter or family flight, with flowers and breakfast.
• Father's Day: a family flight, with photos and a gift certificate.
• Retirement, new job, a big trip: tell us the reason and we will make it special.

Want to give the flight as a present for later? See our gift vouchers.

Price

Questions

A sunrise balloon flight is one of the best family activities in Marrakech: it's calm, it's over by late morning, and there is a big breakfast at the end. Here is how we make it work for families.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Send us the date and the ages and heights of the children.
2. We confirm the price, including children's prices, and suggest shared or private.
3. We pick you all up before dawn. Bring warm layers for the kids.
4. Fly together, then breakfast and certificates.

Tips for flying with children

• Dress children warmly: little ones feel the cold on the field more than adults.
• Let them sleep in the car on the way. They will be wide awake for the inflation.
• Explain the noise of the burner before the flight, so it's exciting, not scary.
• For young children, a private balloon gives them more space and calm.

Price

Questions

Getting a whole group up before dawn is easier than it sounds: we pick everyone up, fly together and sit down to one long breakfast table after landing.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Send us the date and the number of people.
2. We confirm the group price and how many balloons you need.
3. We collect everyone before dawn.
4. Fly together, then one big breakfast for the group.

Girls' trips, hen and stag parties

For a girls' trip or a hen party, we can prepare a beautiful breakfast table and photo setup, with decoration and a banner. For stag groups, the same: one long table, photos and a morning nobody will forget.

Price

Questions

A balloon flight is a shared experience your team will talk about for years. It fits easily into a conference or incentive programme: you are back at the hotel by late morning.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Send us the date, group size and hotels.
2. We send a clear proposal and price for the group.
3. We coordinate pickups, balloons and breakfast with your organiser.
4. Your team flies at sunrise and is back for the rest of the programme.

Working with event agencies

We work directly with companies and with event and travel agencies organising groups in Marrakech. One contact person, clear timings and a weather plan for your programme.

Price

Questions

Marrakech is a dream destination for weddings, and a balloon flight gives you photos and memories nobody else will have.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Tell us your wedding date and plans.
2. We suggest the best morning for the flight and photos.
3. We coordinate with your wedding planner or photographer.
4. Fly at sunrise and celebrate at breakfast.

Vow renewals

Celebrating years together? Read about vow renewals in the sky.

Price

Questions

A balloon flight voucher is a perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, Mother's Day and Father's Day, especially for someone who is planning a trip to Morocco.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Tell us which flight you would like to give and for how many people.
2. We confirm the price and how to pay.
3. We send you the voucher with your message.
4. They contact us to choose their date.

Price

Questions

Our luxury experience is for travellers who want the sunrise flight without sharing anything: the car, the basket and the breakfast are just for you.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Tell us your date and party size.
2. Choose your extras with us on WhatsApp.
3. Your private car collects you before dawn.
4. Private flight at sunrise, then your premium breakfast.

See also breakfast on board (€280 per person), with breakfast served in the basket during the flight.

Price

Questions

Many travellers think a balloon flight is not for them: wheelchair users, people with limited mobility, or older travellers who can't climb over the side of a basket. With our accessible basket, you can fly too.

What we can arrange

How it works

1. Message us before booking and tell us about your mobility.
2. We tell you honestly what is possible and plan the morning with you.
3. We pick you up with the right transport.
4. Our crew helps you into the accessible basket, and you fly at sunrise.

Older travellers

Many older travellers fly with us. The accessible basket means you don't need to climb, and you can sit for the landing. Please tell us about any health condition before booking, so your pilot can advise you.

Price

Questions

Why people choose us

Why is our price different from cheaper offers?

We hear this question often: "I saw a hot air balloon in Marrakech for less. Why is yours €145?" It's a fair question. A balloon flight has real costs: trained pilots, a ground crew, gas, vehicles, insurance and the upkeep of the balloons and baskets. When an offer is much cheaper, something is usually left out. Before you book anywhere, ask:

What your €145 pays for

• Your pilot and a ground crew who are on the field before you arrive
• The gas, the balloon, the basket and their regular maintenance
• Insurance: every flight is insured
• The vehicles and drivers for your pickup, the chase and the drive back
• Tea at the launch field and a full Moroccan breakfast after landing
• Your flight certificate

See all our prices, including private balloons (€360 per person for two, €230 per person for five or more), in our price guide.

Questions

Our hot air balloon prices in Marrakech

What is included in the price

Every flight includes the same essentials, so there are no surprises on the morning:

• Pickup from your hotel or riad in Marrakech, and the drive back
• Tea, coffee and something warm to eat at the launch field
• A full briefing in person from your pilot, before and during the flight
• 45 to 60 minutes in the air at sunrise
• A Moroccan breakfast
• A flight certificate

How to compare hot air balloon offers in Marrakech

You will see a wide range of prices for a hot air balloon in Marrakech, Morocco. Before choosing, check what each offer really includes:

• Time in the air. Is it 45 to 60 minutes, or less?
• Transfers. Is hotel pickup included, or do you need to get to a meeting point?
• Breakfast. A full Moroccan breakfast, a snack, or nothing?
• Basket size. How many people share it?
• Weather policy. What happens if the flight is cancelled: a refund, a new date, or neither?

Private hot air balloon prices

A private hot air balloon in Marrakech has the basket, pilot and breakfast table only for your group. The price per person depends on the size of the group:

Questions about price

The short answer

Any time of year is good for a hot air balloon in Marrakech. Spring (March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the most comfortable, with mild mornings and clear views. Winter has the best chance of snow on the High Atlas, but it is cold before sunrise. Summer mornings are pleasant, but pickups are very early.

Season by season

Winter: December to February

Cold, often very clear mornings and snow on the Atlas peaks. Dress warmly. Windy days happen more often in winter, so book early in your stay in case we need to move your flight.

Spring: March to May

The countryside turns green, there can still be snow on the mountains, and mornings are fresh but comfortable. A very popular time, so book a few days ahead.

Summer: June to September

Marrakech is hot, but the hour around sunrise is the coolest of the day, so flying is pleasant. Pickups are the earliest of the year. The air can be hazier, so the mountains are not always visible.

Autumn: October and November

Mild mornings, soft light and calmer weather. One of the nicest times to fly.

Sunrise and pickup times in Marrakech by month

The flight is built around sunrise, so your pickup time changes through the year. These times are for the middle of each month, in Morocco time.

Approximate times for Marrakech. During Ramadan Morocco moves its clocks back one hour, so times are one hour earlier on the clock. We always send your exact pickup time the evening before.

Which day of your trip?

Book your balloon ride for the first or second morning of your stay in Marrakech. If the weather stops us, there is still time to fly another day.

Why most people say yes

• You see a side of Morocco you can't see from the ground: Berber villages, olive groves, dry riverbeds and the High Atlas, all in the first light of the day.
• It's calm. After the noise of the medina, an hour of quiet in the sky is a real break.
• It's an easy half-day. Pickup, flight, breakfast and drop-off are all organised, and you are back in Marrakech by late morning.
• The photos. Sunrise with dozens of balloons around you is hard to beat.

Things to know before you book

• The early start. Pickup is about 1h30 before sunrise, which can be before 5am in summer.
• The weather decides. Some mornings are cancelled for wind. You get a new date or a full refund, but it can change your plans.
• It's a premium activity. From €145 per person, it costs more than most day trips from Marrakech.
• Standing for an hour. You stand in the basket during the flight, which can be hard for some people with reduced mobility. Ask us first.

Who will love it

Couples, honeymooners, families with older children, photographers and anyone visiting Marrakech for the first time. If you only have a few days in Morocco, it is one of the most memorable ways to spend a morning.

Who might skip it

If you really don't like early mornings, have a very tight schedule with no spare day, or have a health condition that makes standing difficult, it may not be the right choice. Ask us and we'll tell you honestly.

Our verdict

For most visitors, yes, it's worth it. Book early in your stay, dress in layers, and take the classic sunrise flight or, for a special occasion, a private balloon.

At a glance

How many passengers are in a shared basket?

Our shared baskets carry 16 to 20 passengers. Everyone has a place at the edge of the basket, so you get the same view as the person next to you, and the pilot stands in the middle.

Choose the shared flight if…

• you want the classic Marrakech balloon experience at the best price
• you are a couple, friends or travelling solo
• you enjoy meeting other travellers over breakfast

Choose a private flight if…

• you are planning a proposal, an anniversary or a birthday
• you travel with young children who will feel calmer with only family around
• you are a group of friends or colleagues who want the basket to yourselves
• you want all the space you need for photos

Can couples book a private balloon?

Yes. A private balloon for two is a popular choice for honeymoons and proposals. Tell us your plans when you book and we will help you choose the right moment.

See the details: shared sunrise flight · private balloon flight · breakfast on board.

What makes the best hot air balloon ride in Marrakech?

The best ride is not simply the cheapest or the one with the most photos online. It's the one that is safe, well organised and honest about what you get. Use this checklist.

Your checklist

1. A licensed operator and experienced pilots. Ask who will fly you and how long they have been flying. A serious company answers easily.
2. Insurance. Ask whether the flight is insured. Ours always is.
3. A clear weather policy. What happens if the flight is cancelled for wind? You should get a new date or a refund, not nothing.
4. A full briefing in person. The pilot should explain everything before take-off (how to get in, where to hold on, how to land) and keep you informed during the flight.
5. Time in the air. Check that it is 45 to 60 minutes, not a short hop.
6. What is included. Hotel transfers, breakfast and a certificate should be listed clearly, with no surprises on the morning.
7. Basket size. Know how many people will share your basket.
8. Real, recent reviews. Look for reviews that mention the pilot, the organisation and the breakfast, not only the view.
9. Easy to reach. Can you message someone before booking and get a real answer?

Should I book directly or through a booking platform?

Both can work. Booking directly with the operator means you talk to the people who will actually fly you. It's easier to ask about pickup from your riad, children, a proposal or dietary needs, and to move your date if the weather changes.

Booking platforms show many reviews in one place and may offer their own payment and cancellation terms. If you use one, check the name of the company that actually operates the flight, and read what is included.

How we measure up

We are happy to be judged on this list. Our pilot decides on the field every morning, your pilot gives a full briefing in person before and during every flight, every flight is insured, you get 45 to 60 minutes in the air, and transfers, breakfast and a certificate are always included. If the weather stops us, you choose a new date or a full refund. Read how we keep flights safe.

What we collect

When you use our booking form, we receive the details you type in: your name, email, phone number if you add it, your flight date, number of guests, hotel and your message. If you contact us on WhatsApp or by email, we receive what you send us there.

How we use it

Only to reply to you, check availability, arrange your pickup and flight, and contact you about your booking. We don't sell or share your details with anyone for marketing.

How long we keep it

We keep your messages as long as needed to organise your flight and for our normal business records, then delete them.

Other services

WhatsApp is run by Meta, and its own privacy policy applies to messages you send there. This website loads its fonts from Google Fonts.

Your rights

You can ask us at any time to see, correct or delete the information we hold about you. Email touaregtrails@gmail.com.