The shared hot air balloon Marrakech sunrise flight costs €135 per person and includes hotel or riad pickup, tea and msemen at the field, a briefing from the pilot, 45 to 60 minutes in the air, a Moroccan breakfast after landing and a flight certificate. Pickup is about 1 h 30 before sunrise and you are back in Marrakech late in the morning, roughly 4 to 5 hours later.
Hot air balloon, Marrakech, sunrise: those three words sum up our shared flight, and the order matters. The balloon is the reason you set the alarm, the countryside outside Marrakech is what you look at, and the sunrise is the only time we fly. You share a large basket with other guests, each with a place at the edge, and the pilot takes you up as the first light reaches the plain.
This is the flight most of our guests choose. It costs €135 per person, and the transfer, the breakfast and the certificate are already in that figure. Nothing is added at the field. If you would rather have the basket to yourselves, see the private balloon; if you want to eat while you fly, there is breakfast on board.
What is included
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
- Tea, coffee and msemen at the launch field
- Safety briefing in person from your pilot
- 45 to 60 minutes in the air at sunrise
- A place at the edge of a large shared basket
- Moroccan breakfast on Berber rugs after landing
- Flight certificate
- Insurance for every flight
- Professional photographer or video (on request, ask us)
- Camel ride or afternoon quad biking (on request, with a partner)
- A private basket (see the private balloon)
Your morning, step by step
Pickup at your hotel
Our driver collects you – around 5:00 in summer, around 7:00 in winter. We send the exact time the evening before.
Drive to the field
A short drive outside the city to the launch field picked for that morning’s wind. Bring your layers; it is cool out here.
Tea and inflation
Mint tea, coffee and warm msemen while the crew unrolls the envelope, fills it and lights the burner. This is the moment to film.
Briefing and lift-off
Your pilot explains how to stand, what to hold and how the landing goes, then shows you the landing position. The basket leaves the ground gently.
The flight
You drift over farms, olive groves and villages as the sun rises. The pilot changes height and keeps explaining what you are seeing.
Breakfast and return
After landing, breakfast on the rugs and your certificate. Then we drive you back to Marrakech, about 4 to 5 hours after pickup.
Hot air balloon Marrakech sunrise price: €135 per person
The price covers the full morning, not just the time in the air. You pay €135 per person for the transfer both ways, tea at the field, the flight, the breakfast and the certificate. Children pay a reduced price that we confirm once we know their ages.
We work on a book now, pay later basis. You fill in the booking box with your date and number of guests, nothing is charged online, and we confirm by WhatsApp or email. For every option side by side, see our full price guide.
Timing your hot air balloon ride: Marrakech sunrise times by season
Sunrise moves by more than an hour across the year, so the pickup moves with it. We always aim to have you in the air as the sun appears. The times below are approximate; the real one arrives in a message the evening before your flight.
| Months | Approx. pickup | What the morning feels like |
|---|---|---|
| June – August | Around 5:00 | Mild before dawn, hot by late morning; golden, dry fields |
| March – May, September – October | Between 5:00 and 7:00, depending on the date | Fresh at the field, pleasant at breakfast; green fields in spring |
| November – February | Around 7:00 | Cold before sunrise; snow often visible on the Atlas from about December |
A later winter pickup is a small gift: you get a little more sleep and the same sunrise.
What you see on a sunrise hot air balloon flight: Marrakech countryside from above
We do not fly over the medina. The launch fields are out in the countryside, and the route depends on where the wind carries the balloon that morning. Expect olive groves, small farms, dry riverbeds and Berber villages, with the High Atlas Mountains along the horizon. From about December to April the peaks are often white on clear days.
On busy mornings many balloons from several companies rise at the same time, and seeing them spread across the plain is part of the pleasure. On a clear day you can also pick out Marrakech in the distance. For a longer look at the views, read what you see from a balloon over Marrakech.
Who the shared flight suits
The shared basket fits most travellers: couples, friends, solo visitors and families happy to fly alongside other guests. It is less suited to a proposal or anyone who wants privacy; then the private balloon is better. For health, pregnancy, weight or mobility questions, ask us before booking.
Sunrise hot air balloon Marrakech reviews: how to judge an operator
We are a new website and we are collecting reviews from our guests now. They will appear here once published; we will not fill the space with quotes we cannot show you are real.
Until then, read reviews with a sharp eye. Useful ones mention the pickup, the briefing, the landing and the breakfast. Be wary of very short reviews posted in bunches. Our guide to reading balloon reviews lists more signs to look for.
Good to know
Sunrise only
We fly every morning of the year when the weather allows, and never in the afternoon or evening. Calm air at dawn is the reason: once the ground warms, the air becomes lively and unpredictable for a balloon.
Dress for two seasons
The hour before dawn is cold, especially from December to February, and breakfast can be warm. Wear layers you can take off, closed flat shoes and a cap. Leave long loose scarves at the hotel.
The pilot decides
Wind, rain, low cloud or fog can stop a flight. If we cancel for weather or safety, you choose a new date or a full refund. If it happens at the field, we drive you back.
Children and seniors
Children fly at a reduced price with an adult; send us their ages. For reduced mobility we have an accessible basket with a door and a seat – ask before booking so we can arrange it.
Questions about the shared sunrise flight
Will I see the sun come up from the air?
That is the aim of every flight. We time pickup and inflation so the balloon is up as the sun appears over the hills. The exact moment of take-off depends on the wind and the crew’s checks, so on some mornings the sun rises just as you leave the ground.
Can I bring my phone or camera?
Yes, and most guests do. Use a wrist strap, keep a firm grip when leaning towards the edge, and do not use a selfie stick over the side. Drones are not allowed. The inflation before take-off, lit by the burner, often gives the best pictures.
How cold is it before the sunrise flight?
It depends on the month. From December to February the field can feel properly cold before dawn, while in summer it is only cool. In every season it warms up quickly once the sun is out, so layers you can remove are the answer.
Can I join if I am travelling alone?
Yes. The shared basket suits solo travellers well: you book a single place, fly with other guests and share the breakfast table afterwards. Just give us your hotel or riad name so we can plan the pickup for the morning.
