Hot Air Balloon Rides in Las Vegas

Among the combo of activities and things to see and do in Las Vegas, you can't miss a hot air balloon ride to enjoy the most amazing panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. When you think of Las Vegas, images of neon lights, casinos, neon signs and crazy weddings are bound to come to mind. But Nevada's main city has so much more to offer, including the unique experience of seeing it from the sky and taking in its best views.

You can discover the vastness of the Mojave Desert and its natural beauty, get the best views of Death Valley and its spectacular formations, enjoy the best sunrise or sunset from the height of the balloon or even live a romantic experience contemplating the landscape from the sky. Here's everything you need to know about the best balloon rides in Las Vegas.

You can start the day with a dreamy sunrise or end it with a movie-like sunset, it's your choice. The important thing is that it will be from a colourful hot air balloon, appreciating the best views of the city of Las Vegas, with the first rays of sun that begin to appear on the horizon of Nevada or with the characteristic neon lights of this unique city that begins to prepare for its typical nights of casino and fun.

For about an hour, an expert and certified pilot will fly the balloon and you can enjoy the best landscapes and see all the magic of Las Vegas from the sky, unmissable! I assure you that its impressive buildings and monuments, such as the Stratosphere Tower, one of the tallest, are even more spectacular from above. In this experience you will also get the best pictures of the trip, without a doubt.

When the time for flying is over, you will have a glass of champagne included, to start the day in the best Las Vegas style or to start the night in the city of sin. In case you want to visit the inside of the Stratosphere Tower, here is an article with everything you need to know to visit this building.

Interesting details

• Price: you can live an experience of this kind for a price from 190 € per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours and a half.
• Time: every day of the year at sunrise or sunset.
• Advantages: it is a unique experience to get the best panoramic views of the city.
• Disadvantages: this type of experience is designed to be done at two predetermined times of the day, so you will have to adapt to these options, without much flexibility.

The Mojave Desert is one of the most breathtaking landscapes, occupying a large part of southern and a smaller part of northern California, linking southwestern Utah, southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. Along the way you will skirt the mountains of Las Vegas and Pahrump, the small town where at the end of the flight, you will have the chance to have breakfast at Sanders Family Winery.

These desert hot air balloon rides are an incredible experience, you will be able to see the best scenery from 10,000 feet in the air and see the Mojave Desert from a new perspective and observe its wildlife from the sky.

In addition, you will be accompanied by a specialised pilot and you will be able to witness the moment when the balloon begins to inflate and the sensation of take-off is one of the most adrenaline-pumping you will ever experience. Also, on this type of experience you will learn the curious history behind hot air ballooning.

You will spend approximately one hour aboard the balloon and get the best views and pictures of the Spring and Nopah mountain ranges, Death Valley, Pahrump Valley and eastern California on the horizon.

Details of interest

• Price: You can experience this for as little as €309 per person.
• Duration: up to 6 hours in total, including transfers to the launch site, a safety briefing, balloon setup, as well as the return trip.
• Time: every day of the year at sunrise.
• Advantages: a unique experience to fly over the desert and learn all about hot air ballooning.
• Disadvantages: this is an experience that will definitely take at least half a day. It's important to consider this if you're short on time to explore the city.

You can live a unique romantic experience as a couple aboard a hot air balloon, to commemorate a special date, to make the best wedding proposal with all the adrenaline or simply to enjoy an intimate moment. In these balloon rides you will fly over the best landscapes and enjoy the serenity away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

These romantic rides start shortly before sunrise to give you unparalleled views, for approximately 1 hour of flight with the company of an expert pilot. In addition, these experiences include a professional photographer to make the best memories, and a champagne toast - a real treat!

Without a doubt this is a unique experience to live a moment of intimacy, in the calm of the sky, appreciating the best landscapes reproduced by the sun rising at dawn, and the best views of the city and amazing places such as Red Rock Canyon.

Details of interest

• Price: You can experience this for as little as €3,000 for two people.
• Duration: about 4 hours in total, including transfers, toast and balloon flight.
• Time: every day of the year at dawn.
• Advantages: it is a very exclusive and private experience, including a photographer and a glass of champagne.
• Disadvantages: One of the most expensive experiences.

You can purchase any of these tours online and you will receive confirmation of your booking immediately after you have made your purchase.

Just remember that you will have to choose the exact date you want to do the tour, but in case your plans change or are modified for any reason, don't worry, there will be no problems, you can cancel the purchase for free with 24 hours notice before the time of the experience.

Although the balloon ride usually lasts no more than 1 hour, between the transfers, the briefing and what the experience includes, you will need a minimum of 3.5 hours and a maximum of 6 hours to take a balloon ride over Las Vegas.

It is important that you take this time into account so that you can consider that you will only have a few extra hours on the day and plan accordingly. A good option might be to combine a balloon ride with a Las Vegas food tour or a night tour to end the day on a high note.

A hot air balloon ride is everyone's dream and in Las Vegas you can make it come true, but it's not just a simple flight, it's a unique experience with many other activities included.

Some balloons leave from Pahrump, a small town about 100 kilometres from Las Vegas. You can take the opportunity to get to know the town and appreciate all the surroundings and natural formations that surround it. Others, on the other hand, leave directly from Las Vegas, a few minutes from the Strip, so you won't have to travel.

Before embarking on the balloon adventure, you will have a short introductory talk in which you will meet the pilot and the staff who will accompany you on this experience and you will learn a little about the operation of the balloon and the safety measures to make your ride a success. Then you will see the moment when the colourful balloon takes shape and let the adventure begin! The adrenaline of the moment of take-off is unique and incomparable.

Over the course of an hour you will fly over the landscape and get the best views of the Mojave Desert and the Spring and Nopah mountain formations, Death Valley, Pahrump Valley, and much more. In addition, should you choose the city tour, you'll get a unique panoramic view of Las Vegas' finest buildings from a unique perspective. Once back at the starting point, you'll be able to have a drink or breakfast, depending on what your chosen experience includes.

Finally, to conclude the trip, you will receive a commemorative flight certificate at the end of the experience.

Of course it is! These flights are conducted daily with a specialised crew and a pilot certified by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to fly hot air balloons. In addition, balloons are recognised by experts as one of the safest ways to fly. So you have nothing to worry about.

It is a prerequisite for this experience that you attend a short training session where you will be provided with information about the operation of the balloon so that your trip will be safer and you won't have any inconveniences. All this is included in the experience.

First of all, I recommend that for this type of experience you wear comfortable clothing and footwear that is suitable for balloon rides. For example, you are not allowed to go up in high heels. Also bear in mind that you will be standing for several hours and you don't want to be uncomfortable.

As for clothing, even if you feel that it is hot in the Mojave Desert or in the city of Las Vegas, keep in mind that the surface temperature varies with altitude and decreases considerably, so I recommend that you always bring an extra coat.

If I may give you a piece of advice, book your balloon ride for the first or second day you are in town, as this tour is weather dependent and you will have more flexibility to reschedule it without missing it.

Last but not least, always check the additional information and requirements for each excursion, as this type of activity has certain physical restrictions to be taken into account. For example, it is not recommended for pregnant women or people with heart conditions or other serious medical problems. In addition, the balloons have a maximum weight limit of 127 kilograms, so it is likely that the necessary controls will be made before going up.

Whether it's worth it or not has a lot to do with the type of trip you want to take. My recommendation is to take a hot air balloon ride if you want to live a unique experience in a city like Las Vegas, because with this experience you can see the natural wonders surrounding the city, get another perspective or live a unique and special moment of intimacy. What I can assure you is that you will remember this Las Vegas balloon ride for the rest of your life.

If a hot air balloon ride is one of the things you want to do in life and you are travelling to Las Vegas, my recommendation is that you do it, you won't live another experience like it, the city is even more impressive from the heights and all the natural beauty that surrounds it has a particular charm if you fly over it in a hot air balloon. Do it, it's worth it!

On the other hand, if you're travelling to Las Vegas for a short time, you may prefer to prioritise other activities over a hot air balloon ride, which will take at least half a day. In that case, I recommend that you make a list of the main activities you want to do and places to see in Las Vegas and from there, decide whether or not you want to do this experience.

To help you with the organization of your trip, I leave you an itinerary of the best things to see and do in Las Vegas in 2 days and another one with the best things to do in Las Vegas in 3 days.

It is important to keep in mind that this experience is conditioned by the weather, as wind and temperature variations have a direct influence on this activity. Therefore, my recommendation is that if you have the possibility, you should do this activity at dawn, which is the best time of the day in terms of weather conditions.

As for the best time of the year to do this experience in Las Vegas, let me tell you that in the months of April, May, September and October, temperatures vary between 10°C minimum and 30°C maximum and weather conditions are ideal, as there is usually no rainfall. Winter in Las Vegas, on the other hand, tends to be rainier and while you can make other plans more suited to the weather at that time of year, a hot air balloon ride is not recommended.

If you are not convinced about taking a hot air balloon ride in Las Vegas or want to know what other activities you can combine them with, let me give you some tips. In case you want to experience that adrenaline rush at high altitude, but are not up for a hot air balloon ride, one of these helicopter tours can be a great alternative to tour the city and the surrounding area from high up and get the best views.

On the other hand, if you want to see the city from another perspective, but don't feel like flying, don't forget that you are in Las Vegas and you can access the best views without having to fly. Here's a guide to the best views of the city.