About ballooning

We usually spend about an hour in the air. However, this depends entirely on terrain and weather conditions. Sometimes we land after just 50 minutes, as continuing the flight would require staying in the air much longer (for example, when approaching a city or dense forest). At other times, we may fly for 70 or even 80 minutes if the situation requires it (for example, when flying over a city in light wind and waiting to find a safe landing spot). Our balloons are always equipped with enough gas to safely remain airborne for 100–120 minutes.

However, you should set aside about 3–4 hours for the entire adventure. This includes a short passenger briefing, balloon setup, the flight itself, packing up the balloon, and a celebratory glass of sparkling wine shared with fellow passengers and the crew.

Yes, it’s definitely worth bringing a camera, a video recorder, or even binoculars. There are no restrictions on using them during the flight, and the experience itself will surely provide countless opportunities for truly unique photos. Our crew will let you know when you should put your camera away for safety reasons.

In general, the temperature during a balloon flight is almost the same as on the ground (any differences in air temperature are very small and often balanced by the lack of noticeable wind inside the balloon). So, always dress according to the weather conditions on the day of your flight. However, keep in mind that the entire adventure lasts about 3–4 hours. It may happen that you leave home during the day when it’s warm, but return in the evening after sunset. That’s why it’s always a good idea to bring an extra sweater or jacket.

Tall passengers should consider bringing a cap with a visor. The balloon burners are positioned at a safe distance above the head, but the radiant heat can sometimes cause slight discomfort for taller people. A cap with a visor completely eliminates this issue.

Footwear is an important part of your outfit. Please make sure your shoes are comfortable and, ideally, cover your entire foot and ankle. If that’s not possible, make sure they at least have soft, sporty soles.

Of course! Spectators are always very welcome. They can not only watch the take-off and see the balloon in flight, but also follow its route live on our website www.mojlotbalonem.pl. If they follow the balloon efficiently, there’s a good chance they’ll even witness the landing.
Please remember to inform your family that there are no toilets at the take-off or landing sites. We usually choose open, undeveloped areas for take-off.

We always want to deliver everything our passengers hope for. However, sometimes it’s simply not possible. A balloon travels in the direction and at the speed of the wind. Therefore, it’s difficult to plan a flight directly over specific places that are not along the flight path. However, it’s very possible that you’ll see your home — or at least your neighbourhood — from above if the flight takes place nearby.

A hot air balloon flight itself is a calm and peaceful experience. Even when flying in stronger winds, you don’t feel the speed — the balloon remains stable, as from the moment of take-off, it becomes “a part of the air.” That’s why nobody in the balloon feels fear of heights. Everything feels natural, and time seems to pass much faster. However, the most sensitive moments are take-off and landing. While the pilot can usually control the balloon well during take-off — choosing the right location depending on wind direction and speed — landing always requires proper preparation. Our pilots always explain this clearly to all passengers before the flight. Every passenger has the opportunity to enter the basket before the flight. The landing position is carefully practised with everyone — both before and during the flight.
When following all the instructions carefully, landing often turns out to be the most exciting part of the entire flight.

That’s something we never know for sure. The direction of the wind is the only factor that determines the balloon’s flight path — and it’s also the one that changes the most quickly. The wind direction can shift by several dozen degrees during the flight, so no pilot can precisely predict the landing site beforehand. Of course, every pilot makes such predictions, and all passengers are informed about the planned route — but those forecasts always come with a considerable margin of error. That’s why we provide all our passengers — as well as their families and friends — with access to live flight tracking at www.mojlotbalonem.pl.
There, you simply select the pilot you’re flying with, and the site will show you the ongoing flight in real time. The flight path can be revisited for up to 24 months after your flight. You can also share it on social media.

A hot air balloon flight can be controlled only to a limited extent. We have no control over the speed or direction of the flight. These factors are entirely determined by the wind. The pilot can only control the altitude of the flight. Of course, before take-off, the pilot checks the wind directions at different altitudes and adjusts the flight plan accordingly. That’s why it’s difficult to specify the exact distance a balloon will travel. The pilot can estimate an approximate distance shortly before take-off — although even that may still change. In practice, we usually cover between a few and 20 kilometres in an hour, though under certain conditions — when the wind speed differs significantly between ground level and higher altitudes — the distance can reach up to 30 kilometres.

For passenger flights, a hot air balloon typically flies between 1,000 and 3,000 feet (300–1,000 metres). At lower altitudes, you can clearly see everything below you in stunning detail. Above 500 metres, you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views stretching for dozens of kilometres in every direction. Sometimes we ascend to higher altitudes, but only when we are sure that all passengers feel comfortable and experience no fear. During the flight, we also descend very low — sometimes just a few metres above the ground. Most passengers agree that the most exciting moments are during the low-altitude parts of the flight.

It’s directly related to flight safety. During spring, summer, and early autumn, a phenomenon called thermals occurs. At that time, the ground heats up from the sun, and warm air rises from it in the form of invisible “bubbles.” Although invisible to the naked eye, this can directly affect a balloon flight — in extreme cases, the pilot may lose control of the altitude. This phenomenon begins about three hours after sunrise and disappears around two hours before sunset. That’s why we can safely fly only during those times — early morning and late evening.

Below is the approximate meeting time. You will receive the exact meeting time and location on the day of your flight, no later than 2:00 PM, or for a morning flight, no later than 9:00 PM on the day before your flight.

During the autumn–winter months and early spring, flights can be conducted at various times of the day (even around noon). Therefore, for the months not listed in the table above, flight times are provided directly on the day of the flight.

Balloon flights can only take place within three hours after sunrise or three hours before sunset. Therefore, the flight time varies each month but is always either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This is due to the vertical movement of air known as thermals. Thermals occur when the ground heats up and warm air rises from heated surfaces. This phenomenon can be dangerous for balloons, so to avoid it, we schedule flights only when the ground hasn’t yet heated up or when the sun is no longer warming it intensely.