Hot air balloon over the West Bank

What this is

You cross the Nile in the dark, watch the envelopes inflate, and lift off as the sun comes over the eastern cliffs. The flight runs over the mortuary temples, the Ramesseum and the edge of the Valley of the Kings, with the green strip of the floodplain on one side and desert on the other. Flights are weather-dependent and cancelled more often in winter than operators like to admit.

Highlights

• Sunrise over the Theban necropolis
• The Ramesseum and Medinet Habu from the air
• The line between floodplain and desert, seen properly
• Landing in the sugarcane, usually with an audience

What is included

Your itinerary

Good to know

• Wear closed-toe shoes; most sites are sand, gravel and uneven stone.
• Summer temperatures in Upper Egypt regularly exceed 40C. We start early for a reason.
• Bring your passport - several sites check ID at the gate.
• Photography is free at most sites; interior tomb photography sometimes carries a separate ticket.
• Flights are cancelled for wind or poor visibility and that decision is made at the launch site, not the night before. We rebook or refund in full.
• Baskets are shared, typically sixteen to twenty-four people. A private basket can be arranged at a different price.

Questions

How do I book?

Send us the dates and how many people are travelling, by WhatsApp or the form on this page. We reply with a written itinerary and a fixed price, usually within a few hours. Confirming is a message, not a payment.

Do you take a deposit?

No. We ask for no deposit and take no payment to hold a date. Nothing is charged when you book and nothing is payable in advance - you settle with us in Egypt once the trip is running.

What if I need to change or cancel?

Tell us and we will change it, or cancel it, at no cost. There is no cancellation fee and no deadline to worry about, because nothing has been paid up front. If plans shift while you are already here, we will rearrange what we can on the day.

Is Egypt safe for solo and female travellers?

The tourist regions are heavily policed and we work in them daily. Your guide stays with you at every site. If you are travelling alone, tell us - we will match you with a guide accordingly.