10 Things to Know Before Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor

From the best times to fly to what to bring, here’s what I wish I had known before my hot air ballooning trip in Luxor over the Valley of the Kings.

Imagine gently floating over the Valley of the Kings, the final resting place of some of the greatest Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The early morning sun gently rises upstream of the River Nile as you slowly float over ancient temples and forgotten ruins.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one that I recommend every traveler book when going to Luxor. Below, I’ll give you some insights on how to book, what to expect, and of course, some photos from my trip that I hope will inspire you.

Things to Know About Hot Air Balloon Rides in Luxor

1. Hot Air Balloons in Luxor Are Very Affordable

I mentioned this earlier in the blog post but it's worth repeating. Luxor is one of the cheapest places to go hot air ballooning in the world!

I paid less than $100 USD for this experience, and looking back, it was one of the best things I've ever done in my life.

Other famous places in the world cost at least double this price. So, if the experience has been on your bucket list for a while, now's the time!

3. You'll Want to Get Up Early

Yes, there are hot air balloon trips over the Valley of the Kings that depart in the afternoon.

However, this activity is very much a sunrise one! Sunrise is by far the best time to go since you'll get the best light! Trust me, the views are worth the early pickup!

4. Cameras Are Not Allowed in the Balloons But...

As with most things in Egypt, the bureaucracy surrounding photography is a little tight and frustrating. Technically, you're not supposed to take photos from the balloon, and large cameras are not allowed.

In saying that, sneaking in a camera was surprisingly easy. My tour guide told me to just sneak in a GoPro, but I brought my entire camera backpack with me. The initial plan was just to leave the bag in the van locked up. However, I was surprised that no one even asked to search it before I boarded the balloon– so I just went with it.

Of course, I was careful not to parade the camera while taking off around the security staff at the launch site. However, once we were up I was able to use my Canon R5 and huge 100-500mm lens with no problem.

I'm not sure if I got lucky or not and I wouldn't recommend doing the same as I did (don't blame me if your camera is seized). But, getting a GoPro or 360 camera onto the balloon should be no problem.

5. The View is Incredible

Another reason why I think hot air ballooning in Luxor is one of the best places in the world to do it is that the views are absolutely amazing!

The ancient temples and famous ancient monuments you'll get an aerial perspective of include:

• Valley of the Kings
• Valley of the Queens
• Colossi of Memnon
• Deir el-Bahari (Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut)
• Mortuary Temple of Seti I
• Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple (in the distance across the Nile)

6. There Are Many Balloons Departing Daily

I was really surprised at just how many hot air balloons depart each morning from Luxor. I counted at least 15 balloons during my flight!

This is definitely one of the most popular things to do in the city!

7. Trips Will be Canceled in Bad Weather

Unfortunately, hot air balloons are not the most reliable form of aviation. The truth is that if there are strong winds, the companies will cancel the flights.

That's because no matter if they are an experienced pilot, they really do not have much control of where their balloons will end up. The entire practice relies largely on natural wind pockets to steer the direction. At the end of the day, cancellations are for your own safety.

For this reason, I recommend booking a balloon flight for the first day you get to Luxor. If you book with GetYourGuide (link above), you can easily reschedule the flight for another day for free.

8. It Can Get Chilly Up There

Don't let that midday sweltering sun fool you. Those who have spent some time in the desert, you'll know that temperatures plummet after sundown!

Since the best Luxor hot air balloon flights are for sunrise, the first ten minutes or so can get chilly. As a result, I recommend packing at least a wind jacket.

9. You Can Ride Hot Air Balloons All Year in Luxor

Unlike other places in the world, Luxor's weather conditions are quite stable, with little to no precipitation and regular wind patterns. This is great for us since it means hot air ballooning is not seasonal, and you can book at any time of the year.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that the months between June and August are considered the tourist high season in Luxor. This is the best time to visit, but will also be the busiest.

10. Hot Air Balloons Are Very Safe

Lastly, for readers who are still hesitant to book– hot air ballooning is very safe! Hot air balloon tours have been running in Luxor since 1988.

The Egyptian authorities place a high value on safety and all qualified pilots are very skilled and well-trained.

What to Expect on a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Wondering if the Luxor hot air balloon experience is right for you? Here's a quick rundown of what you might expect based on my experience.

Hotel Transfer

No matter which hot air balloon company or travel agency you book your experience with, you'll get a hotel transfer included. However, be ready for an early wake-up!

Our day started with a 3:30 AM alarm to be in the hotel lobby by 4:00 AM. Since the best trip is a sunrise flight, an early rise is part and parcel of the experience.

We were staying at the amazing Steigenberger Hotel in Luxor, on the east bank of the River Nile. All hot air balloons depart from the west bank, near the tombs of the Valley of the Kings. So, for us, the first transfer involved a quick ferry across the Nile. Afterward, a van picked us up to drive us to the take-off area, approximately twenty minutes from the Nile.

Safety Briefing

Once we arrived at the launch site, it was immediately clear just how many balloons were about to launch! The sandy valley was absolutely full of balloons, each with large fans filling the balloon with hot air.

If you've never been hot air ballooning before, then you'll be glad to know that the safety briefing is always very basic and standard. In fact, hot air ballooning in general is a very primitive form of aviation and there really isn't much to it.

This was the second time I've been fortunate enough to undertake this amazing experience, so I was already well aware of the procedure. I glanced over at the other members who I'd be sharing a basket with. They were all doing their very best to listen intently, while simultaneously yawning and yanking up their eyebrows in attempts to keep their eyes from drifting to sleep.

My Experience Hot Air Ballooning in Luxor

It was instantly clear to me that the teams working the hot air balloons in Luxor were exceptionally experienced and efficient in their procedures. In no time, our balloon was airborne and flipped its basket to the upright take-off position.

Our basket fit roughly twenty passengers, which is a somewhat large balloon by ordinary standards. In the middle of the basket stood our pilot and tour guide. Similarly to the ground staff, his experience showed immediately. He told us after that he had thousands of commercial flights under his belt.

Within less than five minutes we were up, floating over 500 meters (1,600+ feet) above the west bank of the Nile River.

For first-timers, it's a difficult experience to put into words. The best I can do is instant weightlessness. It really just feels like you're floating, not at all like a plane or helicopter. In a way, hot air ballooning doesn't feel real, it's as if the laws of physics have suddenly been flipped on their head.

Our pilot notified us that since the conditions were perfect, he decided to double his usual elevation to 800 meters (2,600 feet). We hit our maximum altitude just as the sun rose to the east, casting a huge ray of light across the valley and illuminating the Nile Rive like a glowing serpent, wriggling its way across the plains. Looking down, the light began to pierce the canopies of the ruined temples and ancient burial ground entryways below.

From up here, it was immediately obvious why the ancient Egyptians placed so much mythological weighting on the sun.

After the Experience

After approximately one hour, we descended to our landing position, close to the Valley of the Kings. Before we touched down, a pickup truck with at least a dozen men were already there to catch our ropes and bring us down safely.

From here, we were again picked up by the same van that dropped us at the launch site and this time brought back to our hotels, ready for the well-deserved buffet breakfast– shoutout to the Steigenberger, one of the best buffet breakfasts I've ever had!

Also, to commemorate the amazing Luxor hot air ballooning experience, we were given a signed flight certificate, which is a nice keepsake.

Looking for more travel inspiration to Egypt? Check out some of my other guides and blog posts below!