Balloon Rides in Marrakech

Marrakech is one of the most touristic cities in the region of Morocco, with various activities to do in and around the city. Among the best things to see and do in Marrakech are balloon rides, which are a unique experience recommended when visiting the region, to appreciate the beauty of the Moroccan landscape and have a new vision of the desert.

Among the balloon ride options you can undertake are the flight over the Atlas Mountains, experiences that combine the air ride with other camel or quad tours, joining VIP rides where you decide the number of people, flights with breakfast included and more. Check out the best proposals to choose from.

The Atlas Mountain s are part of an extensive mountain range that crosses several African countries. If you sign up for a hot air balloon ride, you will be able to see this natural complex made up of small peaks of varying heights. This is a unique experience and, as you would expect, you will be accompanied and assisted by a professional pilot.

The adventure begins at the door of your hotel, where you will be picked up and taken to the launch site. To get to the launch site, you will have to travel by 4x4, which increases the adrenaline levels of this adventure. You will see the balloon inflation process and learn a little more about this means of aerial transport.

As you begin to soar through the air, you will see the landscape of the mountain range in all its splendour. Keep your eyes peeled for the Atlas Mountains and the various surrounding peaks. Continuing the sightseeing experience, you' ll spot nearby villages made up of small dwellings.

Please note that this type of tour can accommodate up to 20 people and a breakfast and certificate of participation is included with the purchase. It is also an excellent plan if you are travelling to Marrakech in April, when the forecast is for more hours of clear skies.

Useful information

• Price: around €235 per person.
• Duration: In total, the experience can be extended by 4 hours.

Another fascinating way to explore Marrakech is on the back of a camel. To experience the city to the fullest, you can consider a thrilling balloon ride and a camel ride. This is a combined activity, ideal if you are visiting Marrakech in 1 day, as it is basically two experiences in one.

The activity organisers will pick you up from your hotel or connect with you on arrival in the city, just like an airport transfer service between the airport and Marrakech. You will head out into the desert in the early hours of the day for your flight.

During the tour, which lasts for a couple of hours, you will get exceptional panoramic views of the desert and the complex of mountains that make up the Atlas Mountains. Get your camera ready to capture the colours of the first rays of the sun and enjoy the air and the peace from the heights.

When you descend, you will have a typical breakfast, receive your flight certificate and connect with the camel ride experience in the palm grove of Marrakech. The idea is to give you a better insight into this palm-dotted desert and get a close-up feel of the surrounding natural environment. At the end of the whole experience, you will be ready to return to the city and continue with your itinerary.

Useful information

• Price: from 139 € per person.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.

If you are always looking to mix adrenaline with the pleasures of the palate on your travels, then during your visit to Marrakech in May or any other month of the year, you can't miss a balloon ride experience with traditional breakfast. This way, you will live a moment full of emotion and adrenaline, and you will appreciate the natural beauties of this part of Africa, while tasting a small sample of the Berber cuisine.

This is a group ride where you will share this magical moment with several people. Once you leave the hotel, you will head out into the red desert for your adventure. The aim is for you to witness the sunrise from the heights.

Depending on the time of year, you can either take the 6am tour and witness the sunrise live, or take part in the 7am tour, when the sun will already be in the firmament of the Atlas Mountain s.

At the end of the balloon ride, the second part of the experience begins: you will enjoy a traditional Berber breakfast in a typical tent. This is a table with fruit and wheat-based recipes such as bread, wheat flour porridge, boiled eggs, cheese, kiwi and other exotic fruits. In fact, having this approach to trying new flavours, you may be interested in joining a gastronomic tour of Marrakech on your return to the city.

Useful information

• Price: this type of tour usually costs €138 per person.
• Duration: it lasts between 4 and 5 hours.

Marrakech is a city close to the Atlas Mountains and is surrounded by incredible ecosystems, such as the desert. So if you are visiting Marrakech in summer it is a perfect opportunity to join a hot air balloon ride over the desert of Marrakech.

With this experience, you will fly aboard the basket of the balloon as you look out over the vast expanses of reddish-brown desert terrain. Take advantage of the moment to enjoy the view and take some photographs. You will be able to drift over these wastelands, while observing the mountains in the background.

The air travel experience lasts for about an hour. During this time, you will be accompanied by a professional pilot and guide, who will take care of your safety, the correct execution of the trip and will give you information about what you are observing.

You will also enjoy the view of the pools near the oasis and the dunes that dot the desert. After the walk, you will have breakfast in a typical Berber tent. Finally, you can return to the city for other activities or opt for an excursion to the desert of Marrakech with dinner.

Useful information

• Price: the tour can cost up to 160 € per person.
• Duration: the average duration of the activity is 4 to 6 hours.

Many of the hot air ballooning experiences are offered as combined options. In this case, the proposal is to take a balloon ride and then a quad bike ride. This way, you will fly over the Marrakech sky and also tour the surrounding desert in the same trip, ideal if you are visiting Marrakech in 2 days or less.

The organisers will pick you up from your hotel in the city and you will set off for the take-off point. You may even arrive in time to watch the balloon inflation process, while listening to the safety briefing. You will ride in the balloon for about an hour, during which time you will be able to see the palm groves of Marrakech and the desert region, which is surrounded by villages.

Upon descent, you will enjoy a delicious breakfast and receive your flight certificate. Then the second part of the adventure begins. You will enter the Jbilet desert for a quad biking tour of the area. Enjoy the arid views with small patches of vegetation.

You will also come across sharp rocks, several palm groves and some riverbeds. A unique ecosystem where camel rides are also available. If you are passionate about adventure in these particular vehicles, then you can sign up for a quad bike tour in Marrakech.

Useful information

• Price: the double ride experience is offered from €199 per person.
• Duration: about 6 hours.

The range of balloon rides in Marrakech is wide and diverse, with options to suit all tastes and budgets. Most of the balloon rides are for groups, but if you want something more exclusive, for example, if you are travelling as a couple or with a small group of family or friends, you can choose a 1-hour VIP hot-air balloon flight.

If you are visiting Marrakech in February and want to celebrate Valentine's Day, this option is ideal for a couple. This is a ride in which you will contemplate the Moroccan atmosphere with your special someone and see the high mountains and the desert with its plains and small green spots as the crow flies.

What sets this experience apart from the rest is mainly the comfort and the personalised attention. You will be able to see this from the very beginning of the activity, when you will be driven in a private luxury 4x4 to the balloon's air port. Upon boarding, you will be greeted with a welcome tea. You will have a private pilot and an assistant.

As you and your companion take in the breathtaking views of the mountains, the desert and the silence filled with the colours of the sunrise, you can sip on some fruit juices. When the experience is over, it will be time to taste a Berber breakfast and get ready to return to the starting point.

Useful information

• Price: the flight is usually around €580 for just you and your companions.
• Duration: around 4 hours.

Generally, balloon rides have an average duration of 4 hours, including ground transfer times. If you want a slightly longer experience, you can opt for a half-day hot air balloon flight. This way, the experience will be a little more extended and you will have enough time to enjoy everything it has to offer.

To live this sightseeing experience from the heights, you will wake up in the early hours of the morning. Moments later, you will have to go to the meeting point in Marrakech or wait to be picked up from your hotel. You will travel by minibus or 4x4 to the airfield and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.

You will float through the skies in a group of between 16 and 28 people, while observing the beauty of the city, with its earth-toned walls. In the distance, you can also see the Atlas Mountains. You will also enjoy the silence of the desert, with its arid roads mixed with small areas of vegetation, such as palm trees.

At the end of the experience, it will be almost midday, so you will return to the starting point and have enough time to continue with your itinerary for the day and do one of the top 10 activities in Marrakech.

Useful information

• Price: this tour usually costs €200 per person.
• Duration: about half a day.

Although almost any time of the day is ideal for a hot air balloon ride over the region of Morocco, there is a specific time recommended for this activity: sunrise. So, I invite you to join this hot air balloon sunrise experience where you will see the transition from night to day from the heights.

You will depart from your place of accommodation in the early morning, even while the night is still blanketing the sky. You will go to the starting point and watch the balloon being prepared for ascent. Then the flight experience begins. You will witness the arrival of the first rays of the sun, which dress the sky in reddish and orange colours.

At approximately 6am, the sky will be completely tinted blue with a small filter, while everything becomes clearer. Enjoy the view of the desert in all its fullness and appreciate a part of the Atlas Mountains. Also catch a glimpse of the small buildings near the city.

At the end, enjoy a traditional Moroccan breakfast with freshly baked bread and take advantage of all the properties of the mint tea offered to you. Receive your flight certificate and return to the city.

Useful information

• Price: this experience is normally priced at €230.
• Duration: Approximately 4 hours.

When we speak of the desert, we always think of an inhospitable and lifeless terrain. However, this is not the case with the desert of Marrakech, as within it lies a vast expanse of land with vegetation, which sets a stark contrast and is an attraction worth appreciating. You can join this hot air balloon tour over the palm grove of Marrakech.

From the heights, you can appreciate the beauty of the desert, but more importantly, you can dispel the myth that it is a lifeless terrain. During the flight, you will be able to see a part of the terrain full of green colours belonging to the palm grove, the group of palm trees that amazes visitors and natives of the region.

Take the opportunity to capture the silhouettes of the palm trees, while the pilot manoeuvres to get the best possible angle of view. Capture the oasis during the early hours of the day and appreciate how the panorama blends with the mountainous backdrop.

Celebrate the completion of this tour with a typical regional breakfast and receive your certificate. This activity is especially recommended if you come to Marrakech in August, when there are many more hours of sunshine per day.

Useful information

• Price: from 190 ¤.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.

Can you imagine having breakfast while floating above the earth? That's the experience on offer in this latest option. The idea is that you fly over the desert of Marrakech aboard a private hot air balloon, while enjoying a delicious Berber breakfast.

This is perhaps the most exclusive experience on the list. Not only is the number of people taking part limited, but a gourmet breakfast is also offered. This will not be eaten on landing but during the flight itself, which makes it a unique trip.

The ride is recommended to enjoy as a couple or with a friend or loved one. Of course, the balloon admits a group of more than 2 people, but these will not be strangers but those who are part of your trip.

From the sky, you can taste the famous Moroccan tea, orange juice, wheat flour omelettes, coffee and much more. All this, while overlooking the desert trails, palm trees, mountains, valleys and small buildings, as well as other elements of the surrounding Moroccan landscape.

Useful information

• Price: the price of this experience is around 680 euros.
• Duration: about 4 hours.