Spain Hot Air Balloon Ride - Sunrise Flight over Catalonia from Barcelona

A. The balloon ride starts in the early morning (pick up from Barcelona at dawn) and ends around 12 noon. The exact time is set according to the flying season, time of year and weather conditions. Your balloon flight time will last between 1 - 1.5 hours. The whole experience (including transportation from Barcelona) is half a day or approximately 5 - 6 hours.

A. It is necessary to have good weather conditions for a good flight. Hot-air ballooning is an activity directly dependant on weather conditions. To ensure the flight goes ahead, weak winds (less than 20 km per hour) and no rain are required. In case of unsuitable weather conditions, your flight will be postponed to another day.

The flying season in Catalonia Spain is possible all year round. In fact, flying in winter offers travellers an advantages because the weather is generally more stable allowing for a longer duration flight. You can sleep in longer too because dawn takes place later in the morning.

A. No, because there is no physical link between the balloon and the ground. There is no feeling of dizziness or vertigo. During the flight the basket remains stable and there is a feeling of incredible ease during the take-off.

A. The most popular model is the 2.200 m3 with a diameter of 17 meters and height of 23 meters. It is comparable to a 6-floor building. This is a specialized hot air balloon ride from Barcelona. The aim is for you to have an experience of a lifetime so groups are kept small to maximise your enjoyment. You will share a flight with a maximum of 8 people in the hot air balloon basket.

A. The morning. The climate is usually fresh and winds are stable. Balloons cannot fly during the middle of the day because of thermals and turbulences caused by the warming sun. The extra advantage is that you'll be hot-air ballooning early in the morning around sunrise.

A. The only possible action for a hot-air balloon pilot is to heat the balloon to make it ascend or to let it cool down which causes the balloon descent. The horizontal direction is controlled by the winds. Depending on the altitude, the pilot will find different winds going in different directions and at different speeds. The pilot will use his/her experience to identify and handle the winds that will make it possible for the hot-air balloon navigation.

A. The temperature is not much colder than on the ground, during the hot-air balloon flight. Temperature decreases 1°C every 200 meters but the lost of temperature is not as important at the altitude reached during a normal flight. During the winter flights, the burner acts as a heater. Yet, we strongly advise to wear a jersey while the inflating phases of the balloon and after the landing.

A. No, all passengers should stand for the duration of the flight and have bent knees for the landing.

A. Passengers are more than welcome to bring friends and family to see them off. Those wishing to follow the balloon in their own vehicle are also welcome. This option can be a great way of involving everyone in the fun. You must advise details at time of booking.

A. A hot-air balloon doesn't fly, but rather floats in the air. This kind of flight is based on a physical scientific law (Archimede theory of impetus) which applies to the air making hot-air lighter than cold-air, therefore allowing elevation.

A. Flying in a balloon is an experience of a lifetime. It's a unique sensation of floating freely through the air. It's like standing inside an open-air elevator in the sky. The flight is quiet and silent. You can live this emotional adventure flight with 360º panoramic views around you.

The wind is the master of your flight moving the balloon and its travellers on an undefined route. The pilots control the altitude, direction and speed. The balloon burner is (6 meter flame) heats the huge hot-air balloon in order to ascend higher and higher. From above the landscape and villages below are amazing and looks so tiny. The air is pure and you will feel no sensation of cold. Without heating the balloon, you will descend slowly and enjoy the landing. You'll fly a few metres from the village rooftops and local people are always astonished by a big balloon that floats quietly above their heads. Your pilot will announce the time to land and pull the rope linked to the main parachute valve to let hot air escape and then the basket touches slowly to the earth. The hot-air balloon stands still ... your dream had become a reality!