Hot Air Balloon Flight at Wadi Rum: Sunrise over desert

Sunrise over sandstone mountains, silence below, 2.5 hours aloft

A hot air balloon flight over Wadi Rum departs at sunrise, lifting you above the protected desert wilderness of Jordan's south where 1,700-meter sandstone and granite peaks rise from wide sandy valleys. The 2.5-hour experience includes pickup, bottled water, snacks, and coffee or tea. Children from age 5 can fly. Experienced pilots from the Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan operate the flights.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon flight over Wadi Rum

• Arrive at Wadi Rum desert area
• Board hot air balloon
• Fly over sandstone mountains and valleys
• Observe ancient rock drawings
• Enjoy scenic views and silence
• Land and disembark balloon

The experience

What makes a hot air balloon the right way to see Wadi Rum is the silence. From the ground, the desert is dramatic: sheer-sided mountains, narrow canyons, ancient rock drawings etched into stone. From the balloon, you float above all of it without engine noise, without the dust of a vehicle, watching the landscape shift color as the sun climbs. The 720-square-kilometer protected area spreads below you: the valleys widen, the peaks recede, the scale becomes real in a way no ground view quite captures.

Pickup is included, so the day starts at your hotel. You arrive at the launch site before dawn, when the air is calmest. The experienced pilots (worldwide-known balloon operators working with the Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan) handle the inflation and the flight itself. The basket holds a small group. Once airborne, the flight lasts about two and a half hours, drifting with the wind across the desert. Bedouin settlements and their goat-hair tents appear below, still part of the landscape as they have been for centuries. You descend back to the launch site, where the crew meets you with coffee, tea, water and snacks.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport.
• bottled water.
• snacks.
• coffee and tea.
• flight with an experienced pilot from the Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Royal Balloon - Oman

Is this one for you?The flight is piloted in English by experienced operators, so you follow the commentary and the landscape without language barriers. It suits anyone with moderate fitness who can stand in a wicker basket and handle the gentle motion of drifting flight. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How early does a Wadi Rum balloon flight depart?

Flights depart at sunrise, so pickup happens before dawn. The exact time depends on the season, but you should expect to leave your hotel in the dark and be aloft by first light.

What is Wadi Rum actually like from a hot air balloon?

Wadi Rum is a protected desert wilderness of 720 square kilometers where sandstone and granite mountains rise 1,700 meters or more from wide sandy valleys. From the balloon, you see the sheer-sided peaks, narrow canyons, and colored sand spread below without engine noise, and the Bedouin settlements that still occupy the landscape.

How long is the actual flight time?

The flight lasts approximately 2.5 hours from launch to landing. This includes the time aloft drifting across the desert. The full experience from pickup to return takes longer.

What happens after landing?

Once you descend and the crew secures the balloon, you receive bottled water, snacks, coffee and tea before returning to your hotel by the same pickup transport.