A hot air balloon ride from Marrakech takes off from fields in the countryside a short drive outside the city, about 30 to 45 minutes away; the exact field changes with the wind each morning. Pickup from any hotel or riad in Marrakech is included, about an hour and a half before sunrise, and you are back late morning.
Every hot air balloon ride from Marrakech starts in the same way: a car at your door in the dark, and a drive out of the city into open farmland. The balloons cannot launch among the streets and rooftops of the city, so they take off from fields in the countryside, where there is space to inflate and room to land.
This page answers the practical 'where' questions: where the launch site is, how far it is, how pickup works from a hotel or a medina riad, why we have no shop to visit, and how to fit the flight around your arrival at the airport.
Hot air balloon Marrakech: where do you take off?
The launch fields are in the countryside outside Marrakech, about 30 to 45 minutes' drive from the centre. There is no single fixed spot. Each morning the pilot studies the wind and picks the field that will give a good route and a safe landing area, so the place changes from day to day.
From there the balloon drifts over Berber villages, olive groves, farms and dry riverbeds, with the High Atlas on the horizon. It does not fly over the medina itself. On clear mornings you can see the city in the distance. Our page on what you see from the balloon describes the views in detail.
How near Marrakech is the hot air balloon ride?
Close enough that you never need to stay outside the city. A hot air balloon near Marrakech means a short drive outside the city on quiet early-morning roads. You sit back while our driver handles the dark lanes, and it is a fine moment for a short doze.
Because the field moves with the wind, nobody can give you one map pin in advance. That is normal for ballooning. It is also why the hot air balloon ride near Marrakech always includes transport: you do not need to find the field yourself, and the crew collects you again after landing, wherever the wind has taken you.
Taxi drivers cannot take you to the launch field, because it changes every morning. Use the included pickup.
Pickup from hotels and riads
Pickup and drop-off are included from any hotel or riad in Marrakech. The time is about an hour and a half before sunrise, roughly 5:00 in summer and 7:00 in winter, and we send the exact time the evening before.
What are hotels called in Marrakech? Large ones are simply hotels, but many travellers stay in riads: traditional guesthouses built around an inner courtyard, often in the narrow lanes of the medina. Cars cannot reach many riad doors, so we meet you at the nearest point a car can reach. Your host will know the spot.
- Medina riads: meeting point at the nearest road or square
- Hotels in Gueliz, Hivernage or the Palmeraie: pickup at the main entrance
- Villas and resorts outside the centre: send us the location when booking
- Famous hotel in Marrakech or a small guesthouse: same pickup, same service
Famous hotels, riads and where you stay
Guests often ask whether we collect from a famous hotel in Marrakech such as La Mamounia, or only from smaller places. The answer is simple: pickup is included from any hotel or riad in the city, large or small. Just give us the name when you book.
If you have not booked your stay yet, the choice of hotel does not change the flight. A riad in the medina puts you close to the souks, a hotel in the new town or the Palmeraie is easier for cars. Both work well for an early balloon pickup.
Hot air balloon Marrakech address: do we have an office?
We are a local team based in Marrakech, but we do not run a shop or office for walk-in visits. Our address is simply Marrakech, and the place you meet us is your own hotel or riad door. This keeps things simple: no need to cross the city to pay or collect tickets.
You book on this website (book now, pay later, no card online) or on WhatsApp at +212 600 643 098, and we confirm by WhatsApp or email. For questions, use our contact form, which goes straight to our team.
Arriving by air: how many airports in Marrakech?
Marrakech has one international airport, Marrakech Menara (RAK), about 15 to 20 minutes from the centre. Most visitors land there, settle into their hotel or riad, and take the hot air balloon from Marrakech on one of the following mornings.
We suggest you do not plan the flight for the morning after a late-night arrival, and never for the morning you fly home. The best choice is your first or second full morning. It gives you time to rest, and a spare morning if the weather moves the flight. The season guide shows pickup times for each month.
Questions about hot air balloon ride from marrakech
How far is the balloon launch site from Marrakech?
The launch fields are in the countryside, about 30 to 45 minutes' drive from the centre of Marrakech. The exact field depends on the wind and changes each morning, which is why the drive time can vary a little. Transport there and back is included.
Can I drive myself to the launch field?
We do not recommend it. The field is chosen at dawn according to the wind, and it is usually reached on farm tracks. Our included pickup takes you straight there and brings you back after breakfast, so you do not need a car.
Do you pick up from riads in the medina?
Yes. Cars cannot reach most riad doors in the medina, so we meet you at the nearest point a car can reach, usually a road or small square nearby. Ask your riad where that is; they can usually show you the way.
Do you pick up from outside Marrakech?
We pick up from hotels and riads in Marrakech. If you are staying in a villa or resort outside the city, send us the location when you book and we will tell you whether pickup is possible and where to meet.
Can I fly on the morning I arrive at Marrakech airport?
Only if you land the day before. The flight starts before sunrise, with pickup up to an hour and a half earlier. Plan it for your first or second full morning in Marrakech, so a weather day can still be moved.
Is there a shop where I can book in person?
No. We have no walk-in office, and we ask guests to book online or by WhatsApp so that every detail is in writing. You do not pay by card online: you book now, pay later, and we confirm everything with you by message.
