12 incredible destinations for hot air balloon rides

I’m sure you’re familiar with some of the following destinations around the world. Some may be on your bucket list while you may even have visited a few already. But whether you’ve already visited or not, a hot air balloon ride is an amazing way to experience a destination, to see inaccessible landscapes and archaeological sites, or view scenery and man-made topography from a completely differently perspective.

Inaccessible waterways and islands, like those in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, or extreme dryland environments, like the sand dunes of Sossusvlei Desert in Namibia, unusual rock formations, like the pinnacles and cave dwellings in Cappadocia, Türkiye, or the peaks and valleys of the Teton Mountains in Wyoming, USA, create patterns on the landscape that you can only see from above.

Floating above vast desert plains of Kafue National Park in Zambia or through the red sandstone canyons of Red Rock State Park in Sedona, Arizona, or skimming treetops and watching unsuspecting herds of elephants as they quench their thirst in a receding watering hole in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, are exhilarating and breathtaking experiences like no other.

Viewing rugged topography, such as the area surrounding Queenstown in New Zealand, ancient archaeological artifacts, like those in AlUla, Saudi Arabia or even modern day cities, such as Canberra, Australia, from a hot air balloon, is a unique, exciting and thrilling way to enjoy and even learn more about the geography, spatial history and environmental impact of a destination that you’re visiting.

As you float on the air and look down below, large animals on the Masai Mara in Kenya will seem like dots on a vast canvas, familiar objects may look completely different from above or even seem unrecognizable until close-up. You’ll see features you didn’t even know existed or may only have read about in books or seen online. Witnessing them for yourself on a hot air balloon ride will be a memory of a lifetime that will never fade.

In the early morning or late evening, the sun’s low angle in the sky creates shadowy horizons that will look surreal and magical from above. Many tour operators that offer balloon rides also include an early morning breakfast or dinner under the stars. The perfect way to begin or end your day, especially if you’re travelling with your partner.

See photos below of my top 12 pick destinations where you can enjoy an incredible hot air balloon ride experience. If you’re planning a trip to any of these destinations, add a hot air balloon ride to your itinerary, and view amazing landscapes and rock formations as well as ancient archaeology or other man-made topography and structures from a different perspective!

I’ve rambled on long enough. I’ll let following 12 photos speak for themselves.