Egypt is among the most desirable, fascinating and popular tourist destinations. It is on a bucket list for just about everyone. From the pyramids in Cairo to the temples at Abu Simbel, tourists flock to see the treasures of the ancient world. Luxor, midway between these two regions, hosts the Valley of the Kings, where several significant Kings and Pharaohs find their final resting place. It is said that no trip to Egypt is complete without experiencing a Luxor balloon flight over this valley. But is it worth the hype as advertised?
For many years, hot air balloons have been taking visitors hundreds of feet into the air to catch a bird’s eye view of this valley’s incredible architectural and historical landscape along the River Nile. As the inflatable craft rises, so does the sun across the Egyptian sky. This magical once-in-a-lifetime adventure has begun.
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BUT WHY IS THE LUXOR BALLOON FLIGHT SO DESIRABLE?
To explain the reasoning behind its popularity, let me describe the experience. From booking the trip, getting there, soaring over the Valley of the Kings and landing back on the ground, you will discover why this adventure is a must.
- Booking The Trip
Booking a hot air balloon ride in Luxor is relatively easy. If you are visiting Luxor as part of a group tour, you can ask your guide to include this experience in any spare time. Most tours will have an option for this add-on adventure. If you are visiting Luxor independently, you can inquire at your hotel or book online through tour companies such as Get your Guide and Viatour. These providers will have already vetted the balloon operators to ensure they are reliable.
Where is Luxor?
Luxor is located in east-central Egypt along the Nile River about 650km south of Cairo.
Getting there
Getting to the balloon launching site is a bit of an adventure.
You will wake up before dawn (in the middle of the night) to meet your minibus around 3:30 am. Depending on your hotel or Nile River cruise boat, you may be up earlier for the first cup of coffee. If your hotel is on the east side of the Nile, your minibus will take you to the dock, where you will meet a small watercraft to shuttle you across the river. It should be noted that the boat transfer is necessary as tourist buses are not permitted to take the bridge before 6:00 am.
The small boat holds about 30 passengers. During this short transfer, you will be introduced to one of the balloon pilots. They will outline the safety rules of the aircraft and the embarking and disembarking procedure. Once on the other side of the river, you will board a minibus for the remainder of the journey to the launching site. Total travel time is about 45 minutes. Note that the transportation (driver, ferry, minibus) is part of most hot air balloon flight packages in Luxor.
The Launching Site
By now, the adrenaline has kicked in as you anticipate this incredible experience.
When you arrive at the launching site, it is funny to see the line of identical minibuses releasing their passengers within a few minutes. Once off the bus, your group is directed to a balloon crew who will lead you to your balloon. Remember, it is still dark, so headlights from vehicles and flashlights light the path.
Once in the launch area, you are shown to your basket. Basket sizes vary, but the majority hold about 28 passengers. It is interesting to note that they are pretty large, and they are segmented into compartments. Tour groups are further divided into clusters of 3 or 4 people to stand in each compartment. It is a tight fit any way you look at it.
Filling the Balloon
Watching the balloon inflate is fascinating. The balloon, with numerous ropes attached, lies flat on the ground, stretched out from the basket. A large fan is positioned in front of the opening so the air can blow inside the balloon. The fan is swapped out for heaters once the balloon is inflated about two-thirds full. As the balloon rises, the basket becomes upright, and the embarking procedure begins.
The excitement for the journey increases as all the passengers make their way into the basket. When all the passengers have climbed in, the balloon is ready for launch. The pilot gives some final safety instructions (mostly about landing) and explains the flight details. During the flight, he will also act as the tour guide. This is the part of the adventure that makes it all feel real.
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Experiencing The Luxor Balloon Flight
With everyone sectioned into the basket and the pilot at the helm, a quick flick of his hands and the balloon gently ascends to the sky. It is surprising how smooth the lift-off is. Before you know it, the ground gets further and further away. It is a feeling of instant weightlessness that is difficult to describe. It’s like that floating feeling that everyone dreams about as a child.
As the sun rises, the glowing hues of purple, orange, pink and yellow begin to fill the eastern sky. As your inflatable craft takes flight, the nightly shadows are cast aside to reveal the City of Luxor and the Nile River valley. The entrances of the tombs are unveiled in the harsher landscape of the Valley of the Kings below.
Some sites you will see include the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Colossi of Memnon, Deir el-Bahari (Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut), and Mortuary Temple of Seti I, and Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple (in the distance across the Nile).
This is the view you have been waiting for!!
No amount of reading or watching videos can prepare you for the utter feeling of peace and tranquility that floating through the air provides. To have the luxury of a bird’s eye view of these historical and architectural marvels just takes the cake.
As the pilot controls the balloon flight, you will find yourself traversing across the landscape and ascending and descending along the way.
During these excursions, there are about twenty balloons, all airborne simultaneously. It becomes essential for the pilots to be aware of each other’s locations in both distance and height. After all, safety is considerable concern with such an aircraft.
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings, on the west bank of the Nile, is Luxor’s most significant historical site. It is said that there are 69 tombs in this valley. They range in size from small pits to large palatial structures. With only 63 currently discovered, active investigations are ongoing to identify the other locations.
Some of Egypt’s greatest Kings and Pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings. Tutankhamun was perhaps the most famous king laid to rest in a large tomb here. Others included many of the Ramesses. Unfortunately, tomb raiders stole artifacts over the years, and many of the immense wealth was moved to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo for safe keeping. Although the wealth is no longer present in these tombs, the stone structures have held up well and remain very colorfully painted. Entrances to these tombs are a joy to view on the balloon flight over the valley.
The Landing
Now that you have experienced the once-in-a-lifetime bird’s eye view of the most famous tombs in history, it is time to prepare for the landing. As the balloon is powered by heat and controlled somewhat by the winds, the pilot will gently guide the aircraft to a generally accepted landing site. Most of the Nile valley landing sites are simply farm fields, and the pilot will aim for the flattest and most accessible landing site.
For the most part, landings are uneventful, with the balloon staying in an upright position. Occasionally, a wind gust may push the basket to a different location, and the pilot will correct it. Unfortunately, crash landings do occur but are not common.
Once the balloon is safely on the ground, debarkation will commence, and all passengers will leave the aircraft and be transported to their hotels or cruise boats.
Is the Luxor Balloon Flight Worth the Hype?
Absolutely, 100%!
Although the price for this excursion varies, it is a must when you visit Luxor! The serenity and incredible views of these ancient historical sites are something you will not soon forget. Soaring above these ancient sites makes you feel like you are a part of history. It is one of the best activities in Egypt.
This experience is truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip that everyone should take!
Some Important Things to Consider Before and During your Flight
- There are no toilets. Be prepared. The inflight portion of the excursion lasts about 60 minutes, but the entire duration of the trip from the hotels/boats and return is about 3 hours.
- It can get quite warm once in the basket and floating in the sky. If you are positioned near the pilot, you will feel like you are standing beside a large campfire. No sweater or jacket is needed even in the cooler weather.
- Make sure your cameras and phones are securely fastened to your wrist. You do not want to lose them.
- Wear proper shoes. Climbing in and out of the basket will be difficult in heels and traversing a farmer’s field on landing could be dangerous.
- If you choose to purchase a balloon flight independently, be sure to research the company and check their reviews to find a reputable company.
You might like these related posts:
How to Plan Your First Trip To Egypt
Top 8 Egypt Travel Tips You Should Know
10 Reasons Why a Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo is Worth It
Overnight Train from Cairo to Luxor – The Worst Must-Do Experience
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A Luxor balloon flight would be such a cool experience! Breathtaking views! Appreciate the tips to help manage expectations.
What an amazing experience!! You pictures are incredible. This is right up my alley, I will definitely add it to my Egypt trip (whenever that may be!), as you said, it is on everyone’s bucket list!
Must have been an incredible experience! The thing I was most surprised by was how many people fit in each basket. I’ve never been in or even seen a hot air balloon (up close). I always assumed it was just big enough for a family of 4-6 people. Have you done more of these? Is it normal for them to fit that many people? Also, how fast do they move?
What an incredible experience! How brilliant to be able to see the Valley of the Kings from that perspective. Loved your photos. The basket looked pretty cramped – did everyone have a chance to get a good view?
Oh wow! It’s hard to beat the views from a hot air balloon!
I’ve never been in a balloon. Would love to try it, and seems like there are so many great places to experience it. This is certainly one of them, what amazing views
When I did a hot air balloon ride over Luxor we landed in the desert and, after we’d had breakfast, two of the guides got bongo drums from the back of the van and we all had to dance. 😂 Other than that it was an amazing experience!