A Dubai hot air balloon ride is the calmest way to see the desert, and one of the only ones that shows it to you from above. As the sun edges over the horizon, your balloon lifts off in near silence and climbs over mile after mile of open dune, turning the sand gold beneath you. It’s a different kind of desert morning: no engine, no dust cloud, just altitude and quiet. If you’ve already done a dune bashing run or a buggy ride, this is the version of the desert that trades adrenaline for scale.
Why a Balloon Flight Is Different
Where dune bashing puts you in direct contact with the sand, a hot air balloon flight offers the opposite experience entirely: a slow, silent ascent that reveals the desert’s scale and patterns in a way that’s impossible to appreciate from the ground. From altitude, the dunes reveal ripple patterns shaped by wind, and wildlife such as gazelles or camel herds are often visible moving across the landscape below.
What Happens Step by Step
1. Pre-Dawn Pick-Up
Your morning begins early, with hotel pick-up scheduled well before sunrise to reach the launch site in time for take-off, typically around 4:30-5:00 AM depending on the season.
2. Balloon Inflation
At the launch site, you’ll watch the crew inflate the balloon before boarding, the envelope rising against the still-dark sky, lit from within each time the burner fires.
3. Take-Off & Sunrise Flight
Once aboard, the balloon lifts off smoothly and silently, rising above the desert as the first light of sunrise spreads across the horizon. By the time you’re at altitude, the dunes below have turned a sea of gold, often with wildlife or camel herds visible from above.
4. Flight Duration
The flight itself typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes, floating at varying altitudes for different perspectives, with your pilot narrating points of interest along the way.
5. Landing & Refreshments
After a smooth landing, most packages include light refreshments, traditional Arabic breakfast items, coffee and pastries, before the drive back.
6. Return to Your Hotel
Your driver transfers you back to your hotel once the experience concludes, typically by mid-morning, leaving the rest of your day free.
What’s Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Hot air balloon flight over the desert at sunrise
- Light refreshments before or after the flight (package-dependent)
- Flight certificate (available with many packages)”
What to Wear and Bring
- Comfortable, closed-toe shoes for the launch and landing sites, which may involve walking on sand
- Warm layers for the early morning cold before sunrise, which you can remove as temperatures rise
- A camera or phone with plenty of storage, this flight offers some of the most photogenic moments of any Dubai trip
- Sunglasses for the ride back once the sun is fully up
Who This Tour Is For
A wonderful choice for couples, honeymooners, photographers, and any traveller looking for a calmer, more scenic alternative to the high-energy thrills of dune bashing or buggy riding. If you’d rather stay closer to the sand, our Evening Desert Safari, Morning Desert Safari and Dune Buggy Tour are the more active side of the same desert.
Good to Know
- Flights are entirely weather-dependent, and may be rescheduled for safety reasons if wind or visibility conditions aren’t suitable
- Early pick-up times are required, this is a sunrise experience, so a very early start is part of the package
- Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are recommended for the launch and landing sites
- Not allowed any health exclusions, e.g. pregnancy, recent surgery, serious heart or back conditions
