Hello Hive!
I have always dreamed of flying in a hot air balloon. To fly above the red dunes and watch the sunrise. The exhilaration upon takeoff, as we float away over the graceful and pristine Arabian sandhills.
One particular year almost a decade ago, I made a list of wishes, a bucket list of sorts. My husband @iamyohann offered the last unticked items on that list as a Christmas present. The balloon flight adventure was from a gift experience box while we were still living in the UAE. He surprised me with a hot air balloon ride along with a parasailing package that I had already claimed.
I used to have a fear of heights. Throughout the years, I indulged in activities that exposed me to this fear until I wasn't afraid anymore.
Before the Hot Air Balloon Tether Flight
It was a cloudless Friday morning, somewhere between the emirates of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi in the winter of 2012. 5:30 AM was the assembly meeting time. It was still dark when Yohann and I got there. The balloon flight was organized and operated by Balloon Adventures Dubai.
I would have preferred a private hot air couple balloon ride but Yohann wasn't interested, so I joined a group made up of various individuals and passenger couples instead.
The balloons were undergoing safety checks and inflation when we arrived. The basket we were told could accommodate up to 24 passengers.
When it was time to depart, I joined the group assembled around the hot air balloon for a quick safety briefing and hopped in the basket with the help of a stool. It was quite tricky getting in as fast as possible. I was the last to board and to my surprise, another passenger grabbed to pull me in before they released the rope anchors.
Watch the Sunrise at 4,000 feet
Our friendly pilot took us up in the air at 4,000 ft. The sun rose steadily and the aerial landscape of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve was nothing short of spectacular. The serenity and tranquility above the dunes in between pauses of hot air gushing forth was intoxicating.
I was fortunate to have had a nice spot for myself at the corner of the basket as it turned 360 degrees with a phenomenal view of gazelles, oryxes, and camels freely grazing on the dunes against the magnificent Hajar Mountains.
Balloon Adventures Dubai- Luxury Hot Air Balloon Flights have been present for many years since 2005.
Group selfie up in the air
Hot Air Baloon Ride Adventure
- Duration: Half Day - Mornings
- Price per person: AED 1,250 / adult (USD$ 340)
AED 1,100 / child (USD$ 300)
Their current ballooning package includes pick up and drop off at your hotel, a special desert ride on open-top 1950s vintage Land Rovers for sumptuous gourmet breakfast at an authentic Bedouin camp, and a desert camel ride.
The desert activities weren't included yet back then.
Looking for romantic ideas to surprise your partner? They have a private couple hot air ballooning with an in-flight falcon show. It is followed by a romantic dinner for two in the desert, perfect for celebrating a milestone or a special occasion.
Having said that, they also have special arrangements for a hot air balloon marriage proposal as well!
Another Desert Adventure Story After We Landed
We briefly gathered for some refreshments after landing and then the rest of the group disappeared.
We could have driven on the same road back home to Dubai, but we drove to the main city of Abu Dhabi instead through E66 and E20, for reasons I couldn't remember. Perhaps the thrill of the morning adventure was too good to cut short.
We ran dangerously low on petrol along an unfamiliar highway in the middle of the desert. There were no landmarks nor buildings anywhere. After 80 kilometers without a gas station, we started to panic.
As soon as we hit a 2 km mark of gas left on the dashboard, my husband was already getting ready to hitchhike. The tank was close to empty. Mental images of locking myself in the car until he returns with a can of fuel flashed before me.
We slowly drove as we mentally prepared ourselves for the worst.
As the last warning signal in the vehicle beeped, a gas station appeared from a distance, like a mirage! We reached it just when we hit zero. We were so lucky!
Thank you for reading! Have you tried a hot air balloon ride before? How was it? Is this aerial experience something that you would like to try?
Inspired by my original post
"I am an old soul who simply loves coffee, who finds joy and beauty in both tangible and the unseen."
Curiosity and imagination lead to unexpected experiences. Interested in Nature, Places, Roads Less Traveled, Minimalism, Authentic Living, Anything French, and International Cuisine. Feel free to follow her, re-blog, and upvote if you enjoy her content.