Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Ride: 45-60 minute flight
Float 2,000-5,000 feet over Camelback Mountain and desert breakfast
You float 2,000–5,000 feet above the Sonoran Desert for nearly an hour, watching Camelback Mountain and Downtown Phoenix unfold below, then land to champagne and a plated breakfast served on linens in the sand. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you book that option, so you don't have to arrange transport or worry about timing. The crew handles the logistics and you handle the sunrise.
Step-by-step itinerary
Hot air balloon ride and breakfast
- Check in at Deer Valley Airport
- Float above Sonoran Desert
- View Camelback Mountain
- See Downtown Phoenix from above
- Land and enjoy breakfast with champagne
- Experience Balloonists Ceremony
The experience
The pilot meets you at Deer Valley Airport before sunrise: early enough that the desert is still cool and the light is soft. You're not the only one there. A handful of other travelers are checking in, some nervous, some giddy, all of them quiet in that way people get when they're about to do something they've only imagined. The balloon itself is already inflated, standing upright like a giant fabric ghost. The crew walks you through the basket, shows you where to stand, explains the landing. You'll step off the second rung of a ladder onto the ground, nothing dramatic. Then you're up.
The first minute is strange. The burner fires and there's no sense of acceleration, just a slow tilting of the world below. By the time you're a thousand feet up, the parking lot has shrunk to a toy, and the Sonoran Desert spreads out in every direction: creosote bushes, saguaro cacti, the whole landscape in shades of brown and green that look different from the ground. Your pilot points out Camelback Mountain off to one side, its hump-shaped silhouette unmistakable, and as you drift higher (two, three, four thousand feet) Downtown Phoenix appears in the distance, a cluster of glass and steel that looks almost unreal from up here. The flight lasts 45 to 60 minutes, and it's quieter than you'd expect. The burner roars occasionally, but mostly it's just wind and the creak of the basket and your own breathing.
When you descend, the crew is already waiting on the ground with a table: an actual table with linens and china, set up in the desert like someone's decided to have breakfast in the middle of nowhere. There's champagne, or sparkling cider if you prefer, and a pre-selected breakfast that's been catered and is still warm. If it's your first time, the pilot performs the Balloonists Ceremony, a tradition that's been going on for over a century. It's a bit theatrical, a bit silly, and somehow it sticks with you. You get a commemorative certificate, and then the crew loads you back into the van for the return to your hotel. If you booked the roundtrip pickup, they've been tracking your flight the whole time and know exactly when to be waiting.
The whole thing (from check-in to dropping you back at your door) takes about three hours. Hotel pickup is available from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Mesa, Arcadia, or Cave Creek, as long as you're within 30 minutes of the airport. If you're staying somewhere else, you'll need to get yourself to Deer Valley for the early start, but that's the trade you make for the view.
What’s included
Your experience includes a 45–60 minute hot air balloon flight over the Sonoran Desert, 360-degree views of Camelback Mountain and Downtown Phoenix, a champagne or sparkling cider toast, a pre-selected catered breakfast served at the desert landing site, a commemorative flight certificate, and roundtrip hotel pickup and drop-off if you select that option at booking.
Options for this experience
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Information
Lasts 4h, runs every day at 06:00, 06:15 and 05:45, from US$ 239 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Operated by Hot Air Expeditions Inc
Is this one for you?A good fit if you want a sunrise experience without the early-morning scramble: pickup from your hotel means you don't arrange transport, and the fixed timing keeps everything on schedule. The flight is 45–60 minutes, which is long enough to drift and absorb the view without feeling rushed, and the breakfast afterward gives you time to process what you've just done before heading back.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: 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.
What time does the hot air balloon ride start?
Check-in is before sunrise at Deer Valley Airport. The actual flight lasts 45–60 minutes.
Is hotel pickup included?
Roundtrip hotel pickup and drop-off are available if you select that option when booking. Pickup is available from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Mesa, Arcadia, and Cave Creek (within 30 minutes of the airport).
What's included in the breakfast?
A pre-selected catered breakfast and champagne (or sparkling cider) served at the desert landing site, plus a commemorative flight certificate.
How high do you go?
You float between 2,000 and 5,000 feet above the desert.
Is this suitable for pregnant travelers?
No, hot air balloon rides are not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries, back problems, broken bones, or recent surgery.
What's the minimum age?
Minimum age is 5 years old, and minimum height is 48 inches. Passengers must be able to step off the second rung of a ladder onto the ground.
What if I'm afraid of heights?
The ascent is gradual and the basket is open, so you have a clear view but no sense of falling. Many first-time flyers find it less scary than expected, though it's worth considering before booking.
Do I need to bring anything?
Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. The desert is cool at dawn, so bring a light jacket. Sunscreen is a good idea for after landing.
Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Ride: 45-60 minute flight
4h · EN
from US$ 239 per person