Hot air balloon over Marrakech (Ciel d'Afrique)

Ciel d'Afrique

Atlas and the city at first light

⚠ Dawn start; wind cancels flights

Hours

Dawn departure timed to sunrise

Address

Departs from the Palmeraie area; the exact launch site comes with your booking

You stand in the hotel lobby after 5am until a van shows up. In the dark a huge balloon inflates, and once you're in the basket the ground slips away slowly. As the sun comes up, the palm grove, the red city and the snowy Atlas behind it appear in turn. The flight runs about an hour, followed by a Moroccan breakfast on landing. Bad weather cancels flights, so book early in your trip.