Dubai Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Tour & Desert with Pickup

What's it like to float 2,000 feet above the red dunes at dawn?

You're collected from your hotel before dawn, driven to the desert launch site, and flown 30 to 60 minutes over the red dunes as the sun rises. Breakfast, a flight certificate, and refreshments are included. VIP options add dune bashing, a camel ride and a falcon photo. The whole outing takes five hours door-to-door, and you're back at your hotel by mid-morning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon sunrise tour

• Pickup from hotel
• Travel to desert
• Receive training and briefing
• Take off early morning balloon flight
• Fly 2000 to 4000 feet above desert
• Enjoy sunrise and desert views
• Balloon flight lasts 30 to 60 minutes
• Return to hotel

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel while Dubai is still quiet, and driven out to the launch site in the desert. The whole experience takes about five hours from pickup to drop-off, but the actual hot air balloon flight itself is 30 to 60 minutes depending on the wind and conditions that morning. The balloon lifts off early, timed to catch the sun rising over the dunes. That's when the light is best and the air is coolest and most stable. You'll climb to between 2,000 and 4,000 feet, high enough that the desert spreads out below you in a way that changes how you see it.

Before the balloon goes up, there's a training session on the ground, and afterward you get a certificate to take home. Breakfast is included (the deluxe and VIP options are more elaborate) along with refreshments during and after the flight. If you book the VIP package, you also get 30 minutes of dune bashing in a 4X4 afterward, a camel ride, and a photo with a falcon. The standard option is simpler but still includes the core thing: the balloon ride itself, the pickup, and the meal. Groups stay small, which matters when you're in a basket with strangers at that height.

The timing is non-negotiable. You can't choose your own hour or delay if the weather looks better later. The balloon goes when conditions allow, and if wind or visibility is poor, the flight gets shortened or rescheduled. That's the trade-off for the fixed price and the convenience of not arranging transport and breakfast yourself. You land back at your hotel by mid-morning, which leaves the rest of your day open.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off on a shared basis.
• hot air balloon flight lasting 30 to 60 minutes at 2,000 to 4,000 feet.
• morning breakfast.
• refreshments during and after the flight.
• flight certificate.
• camel ride and falcon photo (deluxe and VIP only).
• 30 minutes of dune bashing by 4X4 (VIP only).

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard balloon rideGuide in English · No fixed timeIncludes pickup

Deluxe rideGuide in English · No fixed timeFalconry and camel ride: Take a camel ride to a Bedouin-style camp and enjoy photography with a falcon. Deluxe with breakfast: Pickup and drop-off by 4X4, plus a gourmet breakfast at a traditional Bedouin camp after the landing. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by POINT CLICK TOURISM

Is this one for you?Right for anyone staying in Dubai who wants to see the desert from above without arranging their own transport or timing: the early start and fixed schedule are what make the sunrise flight possible and keep the whole thing contained in one morning.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Under 5: they 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. No refund if you cancel.

What time does the hot air balloon tour start?

Pickup happens early in the morning to reach the launch site before sunrise. The exact time depends on the season and when sunrise occurs, but it's typically between 5 and 6 a.m.

How long is the actual balloon flight?

The flight lasts 30 to 60 minutes depending on weather conditions. You'll climb to between 2,000 and 4,000 feet above the desert.

What's included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, breakfast, the balloon flight, a flight certificate, and refreshments. VIP packages add 30 minutes of dune bashing, a camel ride, and a falcon photo.

Is the tour cancelled if the weather is bad?

The balloon only flies if conditions are safe. If wind or visibility is poor, the flight may be shortened or rescheduled for another day.

How long is the entire experience from pickup to drop-off?

About five hours total. This includes hotel pickup, ground training, the balloon flight, breakfast, and the return drive to your hotel.

Can I choose what time the balloon takes off?

No. The balloon launches at a fixed time in the early morning to catch the sunrise and take advantage of the best weather conditions.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. All packages include breakfast. The deluxe and VIP options offer more elaborate meals than the standard option.

What's the difference between standard, deluxe and VIP?

Standard includes the balloon flight, breakfast and refreshments. Deluxe and VIP add a camel ride and falcon photo. VIP also includes 30 minutes of dune bashing in a 4X4 vehicle.