Top 10 Hot Air Balloon Destinations

Few things in life can compare to the thrill and exhilaration of a ride in a hot air balloon. Whether you’re 9 years old, or 90 years old, the sensation of being airborne in a beautifully colored hot air balloon cannot be equaled. The feeling of floating in an open balloon gondola, suspended by a magical bulbous sphere will allow you to experience a new found freedom totally unlike any other aerial adventure. And what can make the experience even more magical than ballooning in the world’s best and most beautiful destinations?

1. Cappadocia, Turkey

In the heart of Turkey's Anatolia region, Cappadocia is one of the world's best places for hot air ballooning, thanks to a storybook landscape of fairy chimneys, rock churches and Flintstones-style dwellings carved directly into the limestone formations. Peak season for ballooning is April to October, with a rainbow of balloons filling the skies above Göreme and Uçhisar — the region's primary towns — most mornings. Cappadocia Voyager Balloons offers a unique, exhilarating adventure for a few hours or more: unparalleled experiences in a legendary place, for those who are adventurous and those who simply want to relax with the world at their feet! Visit Cappadocia Voyager Balloons in Cappadocia, Turkey.

2. Bagan, Myanmar

Imagine floating over thousand year old pagodas and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, as the sun sinks slowly behind distant mountains. The magic of Bagan has inspired visitors to Myanmar for centuries. One of the most remarkable sights in Asia, ancient temples dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Balloons over Bagan affords visitors a unique opportunity to see this ancient kingdom, as it never has been seen fore. Visit Balloons Over Bagan in Myanmar.

3. Tanzanian Serengeti

The Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value. Balloons are extremely quiet and cause minimal disruption to the animals, providing a serene, rewarding and unique wildlife safari experience from above. As the prevailing winds softly guide you over the expansive landscape, your pilot will ascend higher to clear forests and rock outcroppings and descend close to the ground to give you wondrous views of herds of wildebeest, giraffes, gazelles and other Serengeti marvels. Many times, your hot air balloon safari will provide spectacularly advantageous views of the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino). Serengeti Balloon Safaris offers tours launching at dawn and the flight is for about an hour in whatever direction the winds of the day blow. On landing, celebrate with champagne (well, an excellent sparkling wine), before sitting down to an 'Out of Africa' breakfast prepared and served in the bush under the shade of a classic acacia. Visit Serengeti Balloon Safaris in Tanzania.

4. Wadi Rum, Jordan

The moonlike landscape of Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, is unique to the world. The desert of Rum is dotted with massive mountains up to 1,750 meters in height, colored in shades of red, yellow, and orange. Their hues spill over to color the sand dunes around the desert and the horizon of its breathtaking panorama. And as you can believe it, ballooning is an unforgettable way to view Wadi Rum.

5. The Outback, Australia

Hot air ballooning is a popular way to tour the Outback and see the natural beauty of Australia. An unforgettable sight, Ayers Rock is a historic natural monument situated right in the middle of the Outback, and a hot air balloon ride ensures that you can see much more of the vast landscape without anyone blocking your view.

6. Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown is well known as New Zealand’s “Adventure Capital.” The region offers stunning natural beauty that change with the seasons; the lake gleams and sparkles in the summer sun, whilst the snow-clad mountains tower above the town in winter. Nestled on the shores of the mysterious Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the Remarkables Mountain range, Queenstown is an outdoor junkie’s paradise. Sunrise Balloons offers a once in a life time experience to explore Queenstown in a hot air balloon. You’ll even get a bird’s eye view of some of the filming locations used in Lord of the Rings. Visit Sunrise Balloons in Queenstown, New Zealand.

7. Luxor, Egypt

Hot air balloon flights show guests Egypt’s vast Sahara Desert. Floating 1000 feet in the air, tourists look down at the Theban Necropolis and the West Bank of the Nile. The wind determines how fast the balloon moves, and whether or not it actually soars over the Valley of the Kings, where some of Egypt’s most spectacular and famous tombs are located. In addition to looking down on the temples and over to the sandy mountains and ridges of the Sahara, balloon riders can watch as villages start to wake up and go about their daily business.

8. Napa Valley, U.S.

Located in Napa County in Northern California, Napa Valley is a designated American Viticultural Area and one of the foremost wine-producing regions in United States and the world. But it's more than just a place to sample some great wine: Napa Valley's rolling hills, lush vineyards and seasonal mustard fields provide an array of stunning scenery, and if you're interested in experiencing the full beauty of the area, many local companies offer hot-air balloon tours. Since hot-air balloon routes vary depending on wind and weather, no Napa Valley balloon tours have a set list of tour sites. However, you are sure to see plenty of scenic vineyards and wineries, such as Monticello, Domaine Chandon and Stags Leap, as well as numerous wildflowers mustard fields. Calistoga Balloons in Napa Valley has a trusted reputation and years of experience providing guests a safe and unforgetable journey into the heavens above California's wine country. Visit Calistoga Balloons in Napa Valley.

9. Albuquerque, U.S.

Albuquerque, New Mexico is the hot air ballooning capital of the world. Imagine floating over the Rio Grande River valley with the majestic Sandia mountains towering nearby. Whether floating serenely above the landscape viewing the desert wild flowers and catching glimpses of jack rabbits and coyotes, or doing a “splash and dash” in the Rio, the experience is truly unique. The generally temperate climate along with the atmospheric conditions makes it the perfect environment to fly year round. Don’t miss the crown jewel of ballooning – the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – which is held in October every year. Let your spirit soar on a one-of-a-kind balloon tour with Beautiful Balloon Company, the local Albuquerque ballooning experts! Visit Beautiful Balloon Company in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

10. Costa Rica

Costa Rica provides unquestionably some of the most fascinating ballooning available in the world: low and slow drifting, over the rainforest or mountain villages, caressing the tops of giant trees, chasing monkeys in the tree-tops, ascending to watch the awesome Arenal Volcano erupting above its halo of clouds.