Marrakesh: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon & Berber Breakfast Tour

Summary

Sunrise flight over Marrakesh desert with Berber breakfast

You’ll float over Marrakesh at sunrise in a hot air balloon, watching the Atlas Mountains come alive beneath you before sharing warm Berber bread and tea in a nomad kasbah. Includes hotel pickup and a keepsake certificate with your name written in Arabic — plus those small moments you’ll remember long after you land.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to feel so awake at 5am in Marrakesh. Our driver pulled up right on time — still dark, city mostly asleep except for a few cats darting between scooters. I sipped the mint tea they handed me at the launch site, hands wrapped around the cup just to keep warm. The crew was already busy with ropes and burners, and there was this low whoosh every time someone tested the flame. It smelled faintly of gas and dust, but not in a bad way.

Our pilot, Youssef, explained everything as we watched the balloon fill — he joked about his “crazy French” accent but honestly his English was better than mine before coffee. The basket felt sturdier than I’d imagined. When we lifted off, it was so gentle I barely noticed until suddenly Marrakesh was just a patchwork below us and the Atlas Mountains started glowing pink. There’s this hush up there that’s hard to describe — you hear your own breath, maybe someone’s nervous laugh, and that’s about it. I tried to take photos but mostly just stared out over the desert because it didn’t feel real.

After landing (which was less bumpy than my last Ryanair flight), we drove to a nomad kasbah for breakfast. Warm bread straight from the fire, olives that tasted saltier than usual — or maybe it was just me being hungry after all that adrenaline. The older woman who served us smiled when I tried to thank her in Arabic; she laughed and corrected my pronunciation but then pressed more tea into my hand anyway. They gave us these flight certificates with our names in Arabic script — mine looked beautiful even though I probably mispronounced that too.

I still think about that sunrise sometimes — how quiet it felt above everything, how small the city looked from up there. If you’re looking for a hot air balloon ride in Marrakesh that actually feels personal (and includes pickup so you don’t have to stress), this one’s worth waking up early for.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hot air balloon ride and breakfast

• Pickup from hotel or residence
• Greeted with coffee and refreshments
• Watch balloon preparation and inflation
• Receive safety briefing from pilot
• Lift off over Atlas Mountains and desert
• Watch sunrise during flight
• Land and enjoy Berber breakfast
• Receive personalized flight certificate

Top questions

How long does the hot air balloon ride last?

The flight lasts about 1 hour.

Is hotel pickup included for this Marrakesh hot air balloon tour?

Yes, roundtrip transportation from your hotel or riad is included.

What do you get for breakfast after landing?

You’ll have a traditional Berber breakfast served in a nomad kasbah.

Do I get anything to remember the experience?

You receive a personalized flight certificate with your name written in Arabic.

Is there coffee or tea before the flight?

Yes, you’re greeted with warm coffee, tea, and refreshments at the base before takeoff.

Who leads the hot air balloon ride?

An experienced pilot provides safety briefing and flies the balloon.

Are infants allowed on this tour?

Infants are allowed but must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it’s not recommended for pregnant travelers.

What’s included

Your morning includes roundtrip hotel pickup from anywhere in Marrakesh, welcome coffee or tea with light refreshments at the base while watching balloon preparation, an hour-long sunrise hot air balloon ride over Marrakesh and Atlas landscapes led by an experienced pilot (with safety briefing), then Berber breakfast served inside a nomad kasbah after landing—plus your own flight certificate written in Arabic as a keepsake before heading back into town.