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Our Story

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Who We Are?
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View of a valley with a castle on the banks of a river, seen from a hot-air balloon basket at sunset.

Loire Montgolfières a company founded by hot-air balloon enthusiasts.

Driven by a desire to help visitors discover the Loire Valley in a new light, we assist them in planning their flight experience over the region’s iconic castles, vineyards, and landscapes.

Our goal is simple: to offer you much more than just a hot-air balloon ride—an authentic experience that combines discovery, excitement, serenity, and the art of living along the Loire River.

Flight services are sold, confirmed, and provided by Air Magic Montgolfières / EIRL Jérôme Hallier, a certified air operator, or by partner air operators holding the required regulatory authorizations.

Loire Montgolfières as a booking platform, customer support provider, and business facilitator. Contractual reservations, ticket issuance, flight operations, and operational liability are the sole responsibility of the relevant certified air operator.

Much more than just a scenic flight, Loire Montgolfières helps Loire Montgolfières plan a hot-air balloon ride in the heart of the Loire Valley.

Based in Blois, in the heart of the Loire Valley—a UNESCO World Heritage Site— Loire Montgolfières customers with certified hot-air balloon operators, including Montgolfières Air Magic / EIRL Jérôme Hallier, for hot-air balloon flights conducted under their operational responsibility.

Depending on the weather and wind direction, discover the region’s iconic landscapes: the châteaux of Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Cheverny, Chambord, and Blois, as well as the vineyards, forests, and meandering Loire River that have made this exceptional region famous.

Book your hot-air balloon ride in the Loire Valley and enjoy a unique experience that combines history, nature, and excitement.

A person in gloves handling a rocket launch basket with several motors. The sky is visible in the background.

Much More Than Just a Hot-Air Balloon Ride

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An Exceptional Service

• Sunrise or sunset flight
• Approximately 1-hour flight
• Priority access to the best time slots

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Ticket
Validity

Flights available 5 days a week or 7 days a week (April–October); tickets are valid for 24 months.

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Aerial Photos
Free

Your adventure captured on GoPro.

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Presentation of the Certificate
Flight Certificate

A memento of your adventure in the sky.

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A network of passionate professional pilots

• Over 10,000 hours and 60 years of combined experience
• 4 continents
• FR / EN

Cellar Visit and Tasting

Courtesy of Domaine des Pierrettes

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Red icon of a stylized dirigible balloon with a grid representing the balloon cage and basket at the bottom.

Le Lamantin Open-Air Café

This summer, take a moment to relax after your evening flight

Our Network of Partner Pilots
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2026

  • Loire Montgolfières Richard Flight over Loire Valley Chateau

    Richard

    Richard began his career in hot-air ballooning in 2009, giving him over 17 years of experience in the field. He has been flying in the Loire Valley since 2010 and has logged over 3,000 flight hours to date.

    A hot-air balloon pilot and instructor, he has also flown over some of the world’s most extraordinary locations: Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, Jaipur, Agra, and the Taj Mahal in India, as well as the spectacular landscapes of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

    With a passion for wind, sports, and adventure, Richard also enjoys kitesurfing and basketball.

    You may also run into him during your experience, whether on the ground, during the setup, or sometimes in flight.

  • Loire Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride with Jérôme in the Loire Valley and its Châteaux

    Jérôme

    Jérôme has been flying hot-air balloons since 2000, which means he has over 25 years of experience in the air and has logged approximately 3,000 flight hours.

    Before discovering his true passion for hot-air ballooning, he worked in the restaurant industry. Ballooning then became his true calling, taking him far beyond the Loire Valley: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Dubai, Libya, England… all experiences that have fueled his love of flight and adventure.

    With a passion for everything related to wind and air, Jérôme also enjoys kitesurfing and paragliding.

    He is one of the people you might run into during your experience

  • Loire Montgolfières Paco Flight over Loire Valley Chateau

    Paco

    Paco, who has logged more than 4,500 hours of hot-air balloon flight time, discovered his passion at the age of 16 after seeing a hot-air balloon glide silently across the sky.

    More than 30 years later, his fascination with free flight has never left him. Between competitions, expeditions, and flights all over the world, Paco has devoted much of his life to ballooning.

    Today, Paco is less active in the Loire Valley. However, he remains available on an ad hoc basis within our network and continues to offer his insights, experience, and advice on certain organizational matters.

    With his energy, high standards, and spirit of adventure, Paco inspires our team to continually improve the passenger experience.

Partner Drivers from Previous Seasons
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  • Loire Montgolfières Nicholas Flight over Loire Valley Chateau

    Nicholas

    Nicholas, whom many know as Nick, is a passionate pilot whose kindness and enthusiasm have left a lasting impression on the passengers who have had the good fortune to meet him.

    With over 34 years of professional experience in aviation, he has devoted much of his life to the skies. From 2004 to 2021, he served as a captain on the Airbus A380 for Emirates Airline, traveling the world and gaining exceptional aviation experience.

    His passion for hot-air ballooning has also taken him from the landscapes of Burgundy to the famous aerial safaris of the Maasai Mara in Kenya, where he has shared with his passengers the magic of soaring freely over spectacular scenery.

    Nick is one of the pilots you may have met during previous seasons through our partner network. With his professionalism, cheerful disposition, and love of flying, he has contributed to the spirit of adventure and camaraderie that continues to inspire us today.

All the pilots listed here operate under the authorization and responsibility of our authorized partner

Our Commitment

At Loire Montgolfières, we offer much more than just a hot-air balloon ride over the Loire Valley.

We assist you in planning your trip and help connect you with a licensed air carrier, which is solely responsible for the contractual booking, ticket issuance, and operation of the flight.

Two colorful heart-shaped hot-air balloons prepare for takeoff at sunrise in a field, with vehicles parked nearby and a forest in the background.

Safety and Expertise

Your safety is our top priority.

Loire Montgolfières an independent company dedicated to offering hot-air balloon flights in the Loire Valley and assisting customers in planning their flights.

Flight services are sold, confirmed, and operated by our authorized partner, Air Magic Montgolfières / EIRL Jérôme Hallier, an air operator holding the required regulatory authorizations, or by any other duly authorized partner air operator.

Loire Montgolfières solely as a promotional platform, customer support provider, and business facilitator. Contractual reservations, ticket issuance, technical operations, flight execution, and flight safety are the sole responsibility of the relevant certified air operator.

The pilots involved in the flights possess the necessary qualifications and experience. They operate under the authority and responsibility of the certified air operator, in accordance with applicable regulations and industry standards.

Some of the equipment used may be equipped with additional safety features, such as seat belts. While such equipment is not required in hot-air balloons, it can be incorporated as part of an ongoing effort to improve safety.

In addition, the airline operator’s operational teams are trained in safety procedures, including first aid and risk prevention.

One person adjusts a belt around his waist, assisted by another.

At Loire Montgolfières, 0.5% of our revenue is dedicated to carbon dioxide removal

Barley field with wind turbines at sunrise, cloudy sky

At Loire Montgolfières, we offer hot-air balloon flights operated by certified air operators, while supporting initiatives dedicated to combating climate change.

We dedicate 0.5% of our revenue to carbon dioxide removal because we strongly believe this action is essential to counteract global warming and protect our planet. We recognize the technological lag in the field of CO₂ capture and are committed to bridging this gap.

Every purchase made with Loire Montgolfières helps support the development of new technologies aimed at removing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

In addition, we are proud to be part of the Stripe Climate program, a coalition of companies determined to take concrete action to reduce CO₂ emissions and invest in sustainable solutions for the future of our planet. This way, we can continue to fly over the châteaux of the Loire Valley while preserving our environment and ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable future for all. Join us in our commitment to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.

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At Loire Montgolfières, we design hot-air balloon experiences in collaboration with selected professional operators, including Montgolfières Air Magic (EIRL Jérôme Hallier), which is responsible for conducting the flights.

Our role is to guide you and organize your experience so that we can provide you with a unique, safe, and unforgettable experience.