Hot Air Balloon in Marrakech: what to expect, prices and booking tips

At a glance

• Where: launch sites north of the Palmeraie, towards the Jbilet hills and the commune of Bourous, 30 to 45 minutes by road from the medina.
• When: all year round, at sunrise only; pick-up from your accommodation around 5:00 to 5:30 am in summer, later in winter.
• Length: 40 to 60 minutes of flight, about 4 hours 30 minutes in total with transfers and breakfast.
• Price: about MAD 2,000 to 2,400 (€200 to €240) per person for a shared flight at the operators' public rates, from about €110 through some booking platforms; €240 to €680 per person for a private flight.
• Age: not allowed for children under 4 (under 5 with some operators) and not advised during pregnancy.

How a balloon morning unfolds

Before dawn: the pick-up

A 4x4 or a minibus collects you from your riad or hotel, usually in the medina, Gueliz, Hivernage or the Palmeraie. The time depends on sunrise: in Marrakech the sun rises around 6:30 am in late June and around 8:25 am in late December. Expect a pick-up around 5:00 to 5:30 am in summer and much later in winter; the operator confirms the exact time the evening before. In the medina, vehicles cannot enter the narrow lanes, so the driver often waits at a nearby gate or car park, which your riad will point out.

At the base camp: inflation

The road leaves the city to the north, sometimes ending on a dirt track. At the base camp you are served mint tea or coffee while the crew lays out the envelopes, fills them with cold air using large fans, then heats the air with the burner. The pilot then gives the safety briefing: landing position, handles to hold, no touching the equipment.

The flight: 40 to 60 minutes

Take-off happens as day breaks. The flight has two stages: a high-altitude phase for the panorama, with the snow-capped High Atlas to the south, the Tensift valley and the Jbilet hills on a clear day, then a low-altitude phase over douars (villages), fields and flocks. The direction depends on the wind: nobody knows in advance where the balloon will land. Shared flights use large partitioned baskets for 16 to 20 passengers.

After landing: breakfast

4x4s follow the balloon on the ground and pick up passengers wherever it lands. Breakfast is served in a Berber tent or in a village: freshly baked bread, mint tea and local produce depending on the operator. You then receive a flight certificate, and the vehicle drives you back to your accommodation by late morning. Some packages add a short camel ride.

Packages and prices

All operators offer the same range: a shared flight, a reserved compartment in a shared basket, a private balloon, and "gourmet" flights with breakfast served in the air.

Prices checked in October 2026. Prices vary with the season and the booking channel: compare the operator's website with the platforms, and check that transfers are included. A flight you miss is generally not refunded (see below).

Prices shown as "from" often apply to the low season or to pick-ups from certain districts only. A price well below the ranges above, offered in the street or by a tout, should raise suspicion: our guide to scams to avoid in Marrakech covers the traps of excursions sold on the spot. To fit this expense into your trip, see our Marrakech travel budget.

Choosing a reliable operator

More than a dozen companies run flights around Marrakech. A balloon flight is passenger air transport: each company must be authorised by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, which issues the licences, and each balloon carries a Moroccan registration starting with CN.

In May 2025, after an airline pilot reported balloons flying too high on the approach path to Marrakech-Menara airport, the ministry sanctioned several companies: permanent withdrawal of authorisation and suspensions of two months to a year, for flying without authorisation or above the permitted altitude. The rules were tightened, with a ceiling of 3,000 feet (about 900 m), a radio on board and advance flight notice to the authorities.

Before paying:

• Ask for the exact name of the company operating the flight, not just the agency or platform reselling it, and check that it has its own balloons and base camp.
• Ask about the basket size: a "classic" flight with 20 passengers and a compartment for 2 do not offer the same comfort.
• Read the weather cancellation policy: a reliable operator reschedules or gives a full refund if the pilot decides not to take off.
• Check what is included: return transfers, breakfast, certificate, any camel ride.

Among the long-established companies, Ciel d'Afrique, flying north of the Palmeraie since 1990, is the oldest; others fly from the same area with similar packages.

Weather, season and cancellations

Balloons only fly at daybreak, when the air is calmest: once the sun warms the ground, air currents make flying harder. The wind must be light and without gusts (about 10 km/h at most according to one operator), with no rain and good visibility. Marrakech's dry weather allows flights on most days of the year; Ciel d'Afrique reports an average of 350 flying days a year.

• Cancellation by the operator: the pilot decides, sometimes on site after the tea. You then choose between another morning and a full refund. Book your flight early in your stay, to keep spare mornings.
• Cancellation by you: most operators refund up to 24 hours before the flight; after that, or if you miss the pick-up, the full price is due.
• Booking: possible until the evening before (8 pm at Ciel d'Afrique for the classic flight), but places sell out quickly in spring, during European school holidays and at the end of the year.

Spring and autumn bring the most pleasant mornings. In winter dawn is cold: average lows are around 6 °C in January, and the air is cooler at altitude, even though the burner warms the basket. In summer the very early start gets you back before the heat. To choose your dates, see our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech.

Practical tips

• Clothing: several layers (a jumper or fleece, a windproof jacket), trousers, closed shoes for walking through fields at landing, a cap or beanie against the heat of the burner.
• Health: operators advise against flying during pregnancy and do not take young children (under 4 as a rule). Mention any back, knee or mobility problem when booking: you have to climb over the side of the basket and landings can be a little bumpy.
• Luggage: a small bag only; large bags and suitcases are not allowed in the basket.
• Photos: use the wrist strap of your phone or camera; nothing must fall from the basket.
• The rest of the day: getting back by late morning leaves the afternoon free. Plan a quiet day, such as a stroll in the Palmeraie of Marrakech or a visit to the Jardin Majorelle, rather than a long excursion.

Other sunrise and sunset activities

The balloon is not the only outing built around morning or evening light. The Agafay desert, about forty kilometres south-west, is best enjoyed in the late afternoon, on a camel or a quad bike, before dinner facing the sunset. The Palmeraie, flown over at the start of the flight, can also be explored by camel or quad bike, ideally early in the morning or late in the day.

Further reading

To go deeper into the desert, our guide desert trips from Marrakech: Merzouga, Zagora or Agafay compares excursions from half a day to three days. If you are travelling as a family, see also Marrakech with kids, then plan your stay with our 3 days in Marrakech itinerary.