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Frequently Asked Questions

All the answers to your questions
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General

  • Loire Montgolfières is a family business, founded by passionate pilots eager to share their 10,000+ hours of hot air ballooning experience with you.
    With over 60 years of combined flying experience in France and around the world, we're experts in our field.

    Your safety is our main concern.
    We're proud to be the first company in the Loire Valley to introduce seat belts into our equipment, setting a new standard for hot air balloon safety.
    Although seat belts aren't mandatory, we're leading the way in this transition.

    Plus, all our pilots are trained in first aid and fire fighting.

    A focus on exclusive and intimate flights to suit your needs: VIP, EXLUSIVE and a VISTA basket with seats - safety, comfort and panoramic views - ideal for people with reduced mobility

    Flight photos with the GOPRO camera

    Our flights are available 7 days a week from April to October. Tickets are valid for 24 months for maximum flexibility.

  • A hot air balloon works on the principle of lift. Hot air is introduced into the envelope of the balloon by gas burners, which heats the air inside. As hot air is less dense than the surrounding cold air, it creates an upward thrust, allowing the balloon to rise into the air. The pilot can control the altitude by adjusting the amount of heat produced by the burners. To descend, the pilot can allow the air inside the envelope to cool naturally.

  • At Loire Montgolfières, we do our best to find the right winds and direction to ensure the best possible flight experience.

    This means our pilots adjust the balloon's altitude to find winds blowing in the desired direction. However, it's important to note that the exact flight direction largely depends on the weather conditions and available winds.

  • The ideal conditions for a balloon flight are generally clear skies, calm winds and stable weather.

  • The hot air ballooning season in the Loire Valley starts in April and continues until October.

Your Booking
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    1. Select the ticket of your choice and follow the purchase procedure. At the end of the transaction, please be sure to complete the passenger identification form. You will then receive an e-mail confirming your order.

    2. A few hours later, you'll receive the ticket(s) as an attachment. Use the details on the ticket to access the online calendar and book the specific date of your flight.

    3. If you have any difficulties or cannot make your flight, you can contact us by sending an e-mail to bonjour@loiremontgolfieres.fr or by calling us on +33 7 44 99 19 27 to make a reservation.

    4. You'll receive the weather update for your flight the day before by email and SMS between 2pm and 4pm. When the flight is confirmed, the exact meeting time, location and GPS point are indicated. If the flight is cancelled, you will be invited to choose a new flight date - depending on the validity of your ticket.

    5. Meet at the exact time at:Domaine Viticole des PIERRETTES9 Le Meunet, 41150, Rilly sur Loire

  • Your ticket is valid for 2 years from the date of purchase.

    You will find all the necessary information on this subject in the General Terms and Conditions of Sale.

    Our hot air balloon tickets are valid for 24 months from the date of purchase. If two reservations per flight season have been made during the period of validity and canceled by Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers, tickets at the end of their validity will be extended by one flight season at no additional cost. If two reservations per flight season have not been made, the ticket may be extended for a period of one year after payment of an additional extension fee of €50 per ticket, and this request must be made before the ticket's expiry date. Any ticket older than three years will be permanently expired.

  • Loire Montgolfières sends flight confirmation by SMS the day before your flight between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. This SMS will indicate whether the flight is confirmed = the meeting point and time / if the flight is pending / the weather report is delayed or if the flight is canceled.

    We are not responsible for poor reception of the SMS sent depending on the proper functioning of the operators or the wrong phone number entered.

    Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers reserve the right to cancel a flight due to poor weather conditions, for safety reasons, in the event of pilot unavailability, or if the number of passengers registered on a flight is insufficient. This cancellation may occur just before take-off, and in this case, Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers shall not be held responsible for expenses incurred by the passenger to get to the meeting point (travel, accommodation, catering).

    If you have not received an update by at least 4:00 PM the day before your flight, please contact us.

  • Our flights are directly dependent on the weather. We can only fly in a hot air balloon in light winds (less than 15 km/h), with no gusts and no rain. If the flight is cancelled due to bad weather, your ticket remains valid until the end of its validity period, and you will need to make a new booking online.

    The weather is not an exact science. Our pilots are responsible for confirming or not the flight according to the professional meteorological elements they have. Public weather sites are not reliable enough and do not constitute a relevant basis for analyzing and making decisions about your flight.

    Despite all our precautions, in very rare cases, the flight may be canceled on the spot, without Loire Montgolfières or its service providers being held responsible. Only the pilot, as commander of the aircraft, can decide to cancel the flight or its duration, depending on weather conditions and the terrain encountered for landing.

  • You will need to make an appointment online within the validity period of your ticket.

    Very often, depending on the weather and availability at the time, we send you SMS messages to offer you a flight with favorable weather around your cancelled appointment.

    It is important not to wait until the end of the validity of your tickets to think about booking your flight.

  • We usually advise against it!

    Since your flight is totally weather-dependent and sometimes cancelled the day before, our passengers need to organise themselves at the last minute to avoid unnecessary costs if the flight is cancelled.

    We advise you to wait for the weather confirmation SMS before planning your trip and booking your accommodation. In this region, it's very easy to find quality accommodation at the last minute. You can even book accommodation that offers a free cancellation option. This way, you can save yourself the hassle of a trip or hotel expense for nothing.

    Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers reserve the right to cancel a flight due to bad weather conditions, for safety reasons, in the event of pilot unavailability, or if the number of passengers registered on a flight is insufficient. This cancellation may occur just before take-off, in which case Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers will not be held responsible for expenses incurred by the passenger to get to the meeting point (travel, accommodation, meals).

  • No need to! As part of our effort to be more environmentally friendly, we ask you not to print your tickets to reduce paper use. All we need is an accurate update of your first and last names so we can call you on the day. We don't collect paper tickets or appointment confirmations because our booking tool will handle everything without excessive paper use.

  • Your ticket is valid for 2 years from the date of purchase.
    Our tickets are non-refundable, unless you have purchased the Freedom option for flights.

Your Flight
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  • We take off from one of the following sites: Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont sur Loire, Cheverny, Chambord, Blois, Montrichard. The take-off location may change depending on weather conditions, and the final decision on take-off rests with the pilot. We do our best to fly over the châteaux in the region, but this is never guaranteed as the wind decides where the balloon goes.

    A hot air balloon flight is an unpredictable adventure where nothing is written in advance. We navigate with the winds, where the art of piloting consists of playing with them to direct the balloon.

    The pilot's goal is to create a flight full of curiosities and splendours to discover, such as the châteaux and the magnificent landscapes of the Loire. However, we cannot guarantee views of the châteaux, as this always depends on weather conditions and flight safety.

    What's more, the region is teeming with remarkable biodiversity, with a variety of wild animals inhabiting its forests, rivers and marshes. During your hot-air balloon flight, keep an eye out for birds such as herons, swans and wild ducks flying over the expanses of water, as well as land mammals such as deer and wild boar moving through the surrounding woods. It's a unique experience to see the region's wildlife from the air.

  • Generally, we fly at wind speed, usually up to 20 km/h. The flight altitude varies between treetop level and 1000 meters.

  • In a hot air balloon, it's difficult to predict the landing site precisely, as it depends on weather conditions and winds at altitude.

    At Loire Montgolfières, we believe that in life, it's the journey that truly matters. It's the fleeting moments in life that we should cherish. Wherever we land, we know that at least during our flight, we've truly experienced something magical.

  • The meeting time is set the day before between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM via SMS confirmation.
    It depends on the weather forecast and the time of sunrise and sunset.

    In general, meeting times are: in the morning 1 hour before sunrise and in the evening 3 hours before sunset.

    Approximate meeting times for hot air balloon flights, depending on the season:

    Spring - Summer:
    Morning: Between 05:00 and 07:00
    Evening: Between 17:00 and 19:00

    Autumn - Winter:
    Morning: Between 07:00 and 09:00
    Evening: Between 15:00 and 17:00

    These times are subject to adjustment depending on weather forecasts and the specific conditions of each day.

  • During the day, you'll notice that it's windy because the sun heats the earth and creates disturbances and instability. To take advantage of the cool hours and a steady wind.

  • A blue sky is no guarantee of a flight. We mainly assess whether the wind is too strong or not strong enough. If the wind speed is above 16-20 km/h, there is too much turbulence and the flight would be very risky.

    Similarly, if it's too hot, the air mass is unstable and it could be the beginning of a thunderstorm forming.
    Or simply excessive heat that can cause discomfort due to the temperature and damage our fabric.

  • We focus on smaller, more intimate flights, giving you the chance to fully enjoy the experience with your loved ones. Our different baskets can accommodate from 2 to 19 passengers, depending on the type of ticket you purchased.

    Plus, you can book a private hot air balloon just for you and your group, guaranteeing an even more exclusive experience.

  • Whether you feel cold during the hot air balloon flight generally depends on the ground temperature. As a general rule, the temperature at altitude can be up to 2°C cooler than on the ground.

  • We'll meet you at a central location where you can park easily, safely and it's easy to find.

    Our meeting point at the exact time is:

    Domaine Viticole des PIERRETTES
    9 Le Meunet, 41150, Rilly sur Loire

    After calling the passengers, we will take you with our teams and vehicles to the field chosen on the same day depending on the weather.

  • Each hot air balloon is followed by a "retrieval" crew in a 4x4 vehicle. They are the ones who will take you back to your vehicles.

  • The total duration of the service generally varies between 3 and 4 hours, including all the necessary preparations.

    As for the actual flight time, it's usually about an hour, but it mainly depends on the weather conditions and the landing site. In the world of hot air ballooning, nothing is predetermined, neither the route nor the precise duration of the flight, because we are at the mercy of the winds which have no set schedules.

    It is important to note that the duration of the flight may vary, as the pilot may decide to shorten or extend the flight for safety reasons, depending on the weather conditions encountered along the way.

  • Experiencing a "balloon flight" for the first time is an event that we want to celebrate in the purest "aerostatic tradition". It's a convivial moment that is an integral part of our service... After traveling under a large bubble of hot air, everyone will appreciate the small refreshing bubbles. Often many spectators attracted by the spectacle of hot air balloons join us to "celebrate our passengers of the wind"!

  • Clothing suitable for a walk in the forest is recommended for your comfort during the hot air balloon flight, such as walking or sports shoes, clothing made of cotton or natural fibers, a hat or cap to protect you from the burner's radiation, and a sweater to keep you warm after the flight. It is not recommended to wear dresses and heels.

    Please note that all types of bags are prohibited during the flight. If you wish to bring a camera or mobile phone, make sure they are securely attached to avoid dropping them from the basket.

  • Of course, we only remind you that your personal belongings remain your responsibility for the duration of the flight.

    If you wish to bring a camera or mobile phone, make sure they are securely attached to avoid dropping them from the basket.

Your Safety
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  • Hot air balloon trips are very safe, but to ensure the safety of all our passengers, we do not allow pregnant women, people under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and children under 7 years of age to participate.

  • No, you just need to be in good physical shape. People with health problems or reduced mobility should ask us before booking. Our special vista flight with seats is a good option for people with reduced mobility.

  • Children under 6 years old or 1m10 tall are too small to see over the edge of the basket.

  • There's no upper age limit, just the ability to get in and out of the basket on your own.
    Flights are open to all, with no age limit, from 6 years old or 1m10 - provided you're in good physical shape and can get in and out of the basket on your own, and stay upright for an hour.

  • There's no sensation of vertigo during a hot air balloon flight because you're not physically connected to the ground. Vertigo usually happens when you're in contact with the ground, which isn't the case when you're in a hot air balloon.

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At Loire Montgolfières, we are committed to providing you with the most experienced pilots and team, ensuring that your hot air balloon experience is truly unforgettable.