Hot Air Ballooning

The Arizona Balloon Classic marks the return of a major balloon festival to the Phoenix area. Get the schedule, prices, see photos and read my tips for attending.

Photos from Arizona Balloon Classic near Phoenix, AZ.

See a photo tour of my hot air balloon ride in Phoenix, Arizona.

Photos from my hot air balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders in Phoenix, AZ.

See a video about hot air ballooning in Phoenix, Arizona and get tips about whether or not you would enjoy a hot air balloon ride.

Photos from Cave Creek Balloon Festival near Phoenix, AZ.

The Cave Creek Balloon Festival is held each winter, just north of Phoenix, AZ.

Apex Balloons is a full-time hot air balloon company offering hot air balloon rides in the Greater Phoenix area.

Founded in 1974 as The Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian Hot Air Balloon and Airship Ascension Social Society, Inc. The Club is dedicated to perpetuating the sport of Hot Air Ballooning. It is made up mostly of sport balloonists and a few experienced gas balloonists as well as, several commercial balloonists.

A combination balloon adventure and Jeep tour may be just right for you!

Choose a morning flight at sunrise, or choose to charter a sunset flight (November through March). Each flight lasts an hour to an hour and a half.

You can include a gourmet breakfast or sunset hors d'oeuvres with your trip. Launches from northeast Scottsdale.

Here are the acceptable launch locations, and the places you definitely must avoid when ballooning in the Phoenix area. From Arizona Balloon Club.

This site provides a pretty good description of what to expect, from the time you call to check the weather until your flight is over and you are sipping your champagne.

In business for 27 years. Launch times at sunrise and sunset. Year round flights are approximately one hour in the air over the North Scottsdale and Sonoran desert area.

Hot air balloons depart daily from sites near Scottsdale and Carefree. Summer launches commence shortly after sunrise, departures during fall and winter are later. The duration of flights varies between 1 and 2 hours.