Hot Air Balloons

$395 plus taxes per person (non-refundable)

This basic package allows you to postpone your flight in case of bad weather conditions or if the pilot cancels the flight, for example. This package also allows you to transfer the flight to another person of your choice. This basic package does not allow for a refund, but you can easily purchase this option when you book.

$35 plus tax per person. By selecting this refund option at the time of booking, you will be able to request a refund on your basic package.

There is no age limit for a hot air balloon ride, but you have to be in good health!

However, for safety reasons, passengers must be tall enough to see over the edge of the basket. The rule of thumb is at least 12 years of age and two feet tall. In addition, for safety reasons, it is strongly recommended that a passenger be physically autonomous and able to stand for a minimum of 90 minutes. We recommend that anyone with serious medical issues, who has had an operation or who is receiving treatment obtain a medical opinion and all-clear before booking a ride. Pregnant women are not permitted to ride in a hot air balloon. The flights depend on the weather conditions and your physical condition. The pilot has the right and responsibility to refuse boarding of any person who has consumed alcohol or other substances prior to the flight and/or any passenger who is not been deemed fit to participate in a ballooning activity.

Your camera of course, but it must be fastened to your neck or your wrist. For safety reasons, backpacks, handbags and any loose items are not permitted in the basket. Leave them in your car or, if you prefer, in the chase car, where they will be waiting for you after the ride.

When you book a balloon flight, you will be able to plan the date and time on the online calendar of our computer system. Your flight is then registered in our system and we will confirm with you the evening before around 9 p.m. for a morning flight, or that same afternoon around 3 p.m. for an evening flight. However, it is entirely up to the pilot to decide whether the conditions are right. A flight may be postponed at any time if there are any safety concerns.

The pilot chooses the departure location according to the wind direction. He will then inform the passengers of the place and time of the meeting with the team responsible for the flight.  Usually, the meeting place is in the parking lot behind the La Cité Rapibus station (459 boulevard de la Cité), where our vehicles and trailers are parked. From there, the crew will be in charge of you until your return.

When you arrive at Parc La Baie, you must go to the passenger reception desk. You will check in and be given your boarding pass. A waiting area will be available for you until your pilot or a member of his team picks you up, or one of our passenger attendants takes you directly to your pilot. As soon as you meet your pilot, he will take charge of you until you return to the site.

After your flight, a chase team traveling in a van will take you back to the departure point. This team follows the balloon during its flight (roads permitting) and should ideally be on site to collect the balloon on landing. Every hot air balloon in the air requires a ground crew of three or four people who are in constant radio contact with it to ensure a successful flight.

A ride can last anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes, depending on wind direction and speed. The entire experience can take three to four hours, factoring in the time it takes to get the balloon ready.

If your flight is canceled due to weather conditions, or by a decision of the flight directors or your pilot, you have two options. Firstly, your flight can be rescheduled to another Festival flight or to a non-event flight, depending on availability. The second option, if you selected the refund option when you booked your flight, you can request a refund; this will be made within one month of the Festival.