Tuscany: Hot Air Balloon Ride & Champagne Toast from Florence

Summary

Drift over Chianti’s hills at sunrise then toast with Champagne

You’ll float quietly above Tuscany’s rolling hills on a hot air balloon flight from San Casciano near Florence, watching castles and vineyards drift by as the sun rises. With a local captain guiding you, you’ll toast your landing with sparkling wine and picnic breakfast before heading back—leaving you with that rare feeling of being both tiny and limitless.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the quiet to feel so big up there. We met our balloon crew just outside Florence, near San Casciano in Val di Pesa — early enough that the grass was still wet and my shoes got soaked before we even left the field. Our pilot, Paolo, had this calm way of talking about wind like it was an old friend. He let us help a bit with the balloon prep (which I definitely fumbled), and then suddenly we were rising — not fast, but in that slow way where you barely notice until you’re above the cypress trees.

The Tuscan countryside looked like a painting — honestly, I know that’s what everyone says, but it really did. Villages with terracotta roofs tucked between vineyards and olive groves. There was this one moment when the sun hit a distant castle just right and Paolo pointed it out — “Castello di Gabbiano,” he said, waving his hand like he’d done this a thousand times. The air smelled faintly sweet, maybe wildflowers or someone baking bread down below? Hard to tell from 2,000 feet up. I kept trying to take photos but mostly just stared.

Landing was softer than I expected (I’d braced for something dramatic). Afterward, we all sort of laughed at how shaky our legs felt stepping out of the basket. Paolo poured us glasses of sparkling wine right there in the field — not quite Champagne technically, but honestly better because it tasted cold and real after all that floating. We sat on picnic blankets with croissants and local cheese while the crew packed up around us. I still think about that view sometimes when I’m back home making coffee — how small everything looked from up there.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hot air balloon flight over Tuscany

• Receive meeting point details
• Travel to San Casciano in Val di Pesa
• Meet captain and crew
• Attend safety briefing
• Help prepare balloon (optional)
• Take off for 1-hour flight
• Admire Tuscan countryside views
• Land and toast with Champagne
• Return to launch site or hotel

Top questions

How long is the hot air balloon flight in Tuscany?

The flight lasts about one hour above the Tuscan countryside.

Where does the Tuscany hot air balloon tour start?

The meeting point is near San Casciano in Val di Pesa, about 20 minutes from Florence.

Is pickup included for the Tuscany hot air balloon ride?

Pickup can be arranged after booking for an extra cost; it’s not included by default.

What do you see during the Tuscany hot air balloon ride?

You’ll see rolling hills, villages, castles, vineyards, olive groves, and orchards from above.

What happens after landing from the hot air balloon?

You’ll have a glass of sparkling wine and a picnic-style breakfast before returning to your launch point or hotel if transfer is booked.

Is breakfast included on this Tuscany hot air balloon tour?

Yes, breakfast with croissant and local products is included after landing.

Are public transportation options available nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available close to the meeting point.

What’s included

Your morning includes meeting your expert captain and crew near San Casciano in Val di Pesa (with optional hotel pickup), a safety briefing before takeoff, roughly one hour floating above Tuscany’s hills and villages by hot air balloon, followed by sparkling wine and a picnic breakfast of croissant and local products upon landing—and transfer back to your starting point or hotel if arranged.