Hot Air Ballooning - Marrakech
This awesome adventure was in no way sponsored or gifted, but the blog post does contain affiliate links, which are marked with *. Just so you know, using my affiliate link costs you nothing (in fact it often saves you money) and it puts a few pennies in my pockets so that I am able to keep providing you with these reviews and information. Everyone wins!
The carpets in town may not be magical enough to get you soaring, but the hot air balloons just outside of town sure are! And let me just say, the Red City of Marrakech sure looks good from above.
So hot air ballooning in Marrakech has been on my bucket list for YEARS, ever since I found out it existed really. But I honestly never thought I would be able to do it, because well, it isn’t the cheapest activity around, and your girl isn’t just rolling around in moolah. Anyways, I had resigned myself to looking at the pretty pics people posted and simply dreaming of what it might be like to soar through the skies in a big ol’ balloon.
Well it turns out the universe (or my partner) heard my cries and moved mountains to make it happen. I turned 29 this week (which I have a lot of mixed feelings about) and my family arranged this special surprise for me, and I really could’t be more thankful. Turns out soaring through the skies at sunrise in a big balloon, really is as amazing as I imagined it would be. I mean seriously, just check out those pics. (you can click on them to make them larger)
The Nitty Gritty Details
Experience
We booked our experience through * Ciel d’Afrique * and I am so happy that we did. After doing some research we learned that there are 4-5 different hot air balloon companies in Marrakech, but * Ciel d’Afrique * is the largest and longest running company available, having opened in 1990, (funnily enough, the same year I was born). I also really like this company because they intentionally employ men from the local villages to work as the ground crew. In an area that has little to no work available, this is truly life giving.
We did the basic flight experience and it went off exactly as advertised and expected. We found that the price is pretty standard across the board for each experience and company, so that’s not really a consideration you have to weigh. Also, all of the base camps for the different companies are located very near to each other, so the views are all the same.
Since we are based in Marrakech, they came to our house the day prior to lift off so we could pay and finalize the pick up details. If you book online, you simply pay online and then provide them with the details about where to pick you up on the day of your flight. Easy peasy.
On the morning of the flight, our driver Jamal, picked us up in a 4X4 at 5:30 am exactly and gave us a call to let us know that he had arrived. Jamal was very kind and incredibly attentive towards us. On the way, we made one additional stop to pick up two other people and then headed out to the Palmerie where we would take off.
We are somewhat familiar with the Palmerie, but there is absolutely no way we could have found the take off point without our driver. He managed those bumpy, swervy paths in the dark like an absolute pro; thank you Jamal! Upon arrival, we signed a waiver with safety information on it and then mingled around drinking coffee and tea while the balloons were prepared.
About 15 minutes after we arrived we loaded into the basket and had one last safety briefing with our pilot, Raphael, before we set off. Raphael has been piloting hot air balloons for the past 10 years, and working professionally as a pilot for the last 6. He is French, Spanish and an absolute gem. There were 9 people total in our basket, two in each passenger compartment and the pilot in a separate area with the equipment. He patiently and informatively answered everyones’ questions and when it came time for sunrise, he expertly rotated the balloon, so everyone could get the best view.
We floated through the sky for just over an hour before landing, climbed up to 1,000 metes (3,000 feet) and traveled just over 9 kilometers (5.5 miles). I had very few expectations about what the experience would be like, since I had nothing really to compare it to. BUT, the flight was incredibly smooth, calming, and utterly peaceful. The winds were mild, noises echoed up from the ground, the views were breath-taking, and the landing was so gentle I didn’t even really notice it.
One thing I learned during the flight is that there is no way to steer a hot air balloon, so the pilot has to monitor height and wind patterns in order to try and direct the balloon. Because of this, 4X4s track the balloons and are there to meet you once the balloon has landed. Shockingly, it only takes the ground crew about 10 mins to deflate and pack the hot air balloon onto the trailer once it has landed.
After packing up the balloon, everyone heads back to base camp to receive a flight certificate and enjoy breakfast under ‘berber’ tents.
Schedule
5:30 am - PICK UP at residence or hotel
6:40 am - ARRIVE at base camp and take off location
7:00 am - TAKE OFF
8:15 am - LAND
8:45 am - BREAKFAST at base camp
9:45 am - Return to Marrakech
Tips & Tricks
Based on my research and what I saw on the day of, I would choose the cheapest option available, unless you really want to splurge and do a completely private flight (like for a proposal, or something of the sort). I say this because there is very little difference between the different packages, unless you are doing the completely private option. ALSO, I don’t really think it would be enjoyable to do the breakfast in the air, because then you spend your time eating instead of really taking in the views.
Speaking of breakfast, it’s pretty unremarkable, just hard boiled eggs, some different types of bread and various breakfast drinks. Honestly, this experience is about the FLIGHT, NOT the breakfast, but it is also one way you could very cheaply make the experience better for yourself! If I were to do it again, and I really hope I do, I would pack my own little breakfast for my honey and I. You know some pastries, the fixings for a mimosa or two, and viola, easy romance. Simply ask the driver if you can leave your bag of goodies in the car during the flight and then snag it once you’re back at the base camp.
Our pilot said the best time to go is during the first two weeks of December, because that is when the visibility is the clearest.
Take a light jacket in spring, summer, and fall, and a thicker jacket for the winter, mostly for the base camp and higher altitudes. You’ll be surprised how much heat the blasts give off, so that helps to keep you warm!
Be careful with whatever technology you choose to take. It would be a buzz kill to drop a cell phone or camera over the edge.
Ask someone from the neighboring passenger compartment to take your picture for you. The compartments are pretty tight and it’s somewhat difficult to get a good angle inside your own compartment.
Overall, this is truly a once in a lifetime experience and I would recommend it to anyone who lives in or is visiting Marrakech! I promise you won’t regret it! If you are planning your flight and have any questions, please feel free to use the comments section below, I’d love to help you get your dreams off the ground!
