Sunrise Sonoran Desert Hot Air Balloon Ride from Phoenix
Phoenix, USA
Sunrise Sonoran Desert Hot Air Balloon Ride from Phoenix
Phoenix, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Wake up early to experience a Sonoran Desert sunrise, and transform it into a story by seeing it from a birds-eye view. This hot air balloon ride from Phoenix takes you into the air with a professional guide who will narrate your trip. You’ll learn about the wildlife and history of this unique desert, then celebrate with Champagne and breakfast hors d’oeuvres.
- Perfect for solo travelers, couples or families
- Champagne and gourmet hors d’oeuvres are ready to enjoy post-ride
- Informative guide will tell you about the plants, animals and history of the Sonoran Desert
- Photo opportunities: views of the landscape and sunrise will make excellent souvenirs
What's Included
Meeting and Pickup
Itinerary
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.9
based on 317 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Mariah_F, Jun 2026
I loved this balloon ride experience with this agency! Our crew wasted no time and ensured everything went smoothly, our pilot was informative and funny, and to top it all off the view was spectacular! I would recommend this experience to any of my friends!
Natalie_M, Jun 2026
The reason I felt the need to give this experience a poor rating was because of how incredibly rude the pilot was. Beautiful ride. We felt safe. But this man sadly was the biggest stand out of the experience because his negative attitude was so off putting and made all of his passengers uncomfortable. Very unprofessional words and profanities were spoken. I would look somewhere else before booking this place. His crew was helpful and kind. The van was also extremely run down on the inside, and reeked of weed and cigarettes, which our pilot was smoking a cigarette right by the hot air balloon once we landed, which did not seem safe.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the balloon ride itself, felt safe throughout the flight, and found our crew members helpful and kind.
That said, we are very concerned to hear about your experience with the pilot's behavior. The level of professionalism you described does not reflect the standards we strive to uphold, and we understand how uncomfortable and disappointing that must have been. We also take your comments regarding the condition and cleanliness of the transportation vehicle seriously.
Your feedback has been shared with management for review, as we are committed to providing a positive and welcoming experience for all guests from start to finish. We appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention and apologize that your experience did not meet expectations.
Thank you again for your honest feedback.
Anju_P, Jun 2026
This was my first time in a hot air balloon. The team did a great job. The pick up was on time. They assembled the balloon fast and we saw the rising Sun at the east. The ride was smooth and enjoyable. The pilot guided us well for the landing process as well even though we land on our sides. It all went smooth!
Karthika_M, Jun 2026
Overall experience is good and it’s our first time. Adventure on getting in and landing. But safe. The crew was good and the guide explained historical things. One thing to improve is to let them know that the fruits and champagne is after landing so that travelers plan any snack with them. Good memory
SHAWN_H, May 2026
Be prepared to chase the wind. Flight takes off from where the wind is best at. Mimosas at end of flight. If your tall stand on outer edge of basket to avoid heat from burners.
Enoch_M, May 2026
Definitely rude and unprofessional from the very beginning. My ride had mostly blacks and he was telling us we couldn’t count when it was time to split up into the vans. By time we got up in the air somehow the conversation became heavily about the term crackers and saying the N word. Also about how he’s a redneck and he shoots to kill not injure if anybody tried to come to his house to harass him. Keep in mind this conversation is happening about 5000ft above the ground while your life is in his hands.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience. We are deeply concerned by the behavior and comments described in your review.
Our goal is to provide every guest with a safe, enjoyable, and welcoming experience, and the type of language and topics you mentioned have no place in a professional customer environment. We understand how uncomfortable and inappropriate such conversations would be, particularly during a flight when passengers are placing their trust in the pilot and crew.
We take allegations regarding unprofessional conduct very seriously and will be reviewing this matter internally. We appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention, as guest feedback helps us identify areas where we need to improve.
We apologize that your experience did not meet the standards you expected and deserved.
christelle_f, May 2026
The person leading the hot air balloon was very weird and making uncomfortable comments.
Very weird man.
But other people working beside him were great.
Kailah_R, May 2026
They were on time and safe and made us all feel really comfortable. Also very educational. Would definitely do again
John_P, May 2026
I missed the balloon flight because the tour operator, through Viator, gave the wrong flight time and the wrong address for the flight. I called the Office Manager of the tour operator to demand a refund and was exposed to a very unpleasant, nasty, and unreasonable person who showed no understanding and had but one concern: that I, his customer, should pay for a trip that I was not able to take due to the tour operator's incompetence
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear about your experience and understand how disappointing it must have been to miss a flight you were looking forward to.
We strive to provide guests with clear and accurate information regarding meeting locations and flight times, and we regret that there appears to have been confusion surrounding your reservation. We also take concerns regarding customer service seriously, as every guest deserves to be treated with professionalism and respect, even when addressing difficult situations.
Because reservations made through third-party booking platforms involve information that may be distributed through multiple channels, we encourage guests to contact us directly so that we can review the details of the booking and communications associated with the reservation.
We appreciate your feedback and are sorry that your experience left you with a negative impression of our company. Guest comments such as yours help us evaluate our processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Kendra_E, May 2026
I booked the hot air balloon sunrise ride with two friends, and hoped to receive a respectable and pleasant experience. Unfortunately booking with Aerogelic Ballooning was not a pleasant experience. When we initially arrived to the hotel air balloon location out in the desert, we were already late and the host decided to find someone closer instead of driving 10 minutes out to proper release and prep spot for the balloons. Then, we did not receive a full detail and debrief of what to expect before, during, and after the hot air balloon ride. It appeared that a lot of the crew members who assisted in setting up the balloon were fairly new, contributing to a shaky and poorly communicated inflation of the balloon. Then, the pilot started yelling that the balloon was starting to deflated and that the participants needed to begin hopping in balloon immediately. None of this was as communicated by any other crew members expect one, who started yelling (barely) at us at the last minute to jump in. By that point, the pilot already appeared to be in a mindset that the balloon ride was canceled. The pilot then attempted to depict to the participants that it was our fault for not jumping in the balloon and listening to the crew members. Every participant then said that no crew members were communicating with us during lift off, and said that the group had an “attitude” and did not want to listen. The pilot confirmed that the ride was canceled and did not attempted to reset the balloon to attempt another lift off. The experience overall was horrible, and as much I as understand weather and wind changes happen, I do not think this was fully the case of the matter. The experience was let down by lack of communication and lack of awareness and preparation. Hopefully I will be able to find another booking later with an hot air balloon later in the future!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are sorry to hear that your flight did not meet your expectations.
Safety is always our highest priority, and hot air balloon operations require precise timing, coordination, and the ability to respond quickly to changing conditions. While weather and balloon inflation conditions can change rapidly, we understand that clear communication from our crew is essential so that guests feel informed and confident throughout the process.
We regret that you felt there was confusion regarding instructions and that the experience left you feeling unprepared for what was happening during the launch process. We also take your comments regarding communication and professionalism seriously and will review them with our team.
When safety concerns arise during inflation or launch, our pilots must make decisions based on current conditions and the safety of everyone involved. While these decisions can be disappointing, they are never made lightly.
We appreciate your feedback and are sorry that we were unable to provide the experience you had hoped for. We wish you the best in finding another opportunity to enjoy the unique experience of hot air ballooning in the future.
Javae_M, May 2026
This was the worse experience. We were not from here and we woke up at 3am to make sure we made it to the reservation because it stated that they would leave everyone at 4:40am. We get there and the crew was 15 minutes late. The instructor/driver was rude and had an attitude before we even left the Starbucks. We get to the launch area, we missed the sunrise which was the point of the hot air balloon at 4:30am. The build the balloon, and we never took off. The instructor indicated it was our fault because we didn’t get on the air balloon, we were never instructed too. The balloon started to take off before we anyone was on it. The instructor blamed it on everyone because it was no one on it. NO ONE HAS EVER DONE THIS, how are we expected to know when to get on the balloon. Their mistake and unprofessionalism cost everyone a hot air balloon ride. The instructor cancelled the entire launch and was rude about it. As they were packing the balloon back up, we all proceeded to load back on the van in which we all heard the instructor and the crew talking negatively about the customers. This was so unprofessional. I will not book with them again. The instructors name was Shane. This was very upsetting as this was supposed to be our first time experiencing this.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your first hot air balloon experience was disappointing and did not meet your expectations.
We understand how frustrating it is to wake up early, travel to a launch site, and look forward to a special experience only to have the flight canceled. We also recognize the importance of clear communication during the launch process, particularly for first-time balloon passengers who may not know what to expect.
Safety decisions during balloon inflation and launch must often be made quickly and are based on real-time conditions. However, guests should feel informed throughout the process, and we regret that you felt instructions were unclear and that communication from our team fell short of your expectations.
We are also concerned by your comments regarding interactions with our staff and the perception that guests were being spoken about negatively. Professionalism and respect are values we take seriously, and we appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention.
While we regret that we were unable to provide the memorable first flight experience you had hoped for, we value your feedback and will use it as an opportunity to review our communication and guest experience procedures. We wish you the very best and hope you have the opportunity to enjoy a hot air balloon flight in the future.
Mady_P, May 2026
A must do if you are in Arizona, exceptional experience with friendly people. The team makes sure your experience is seamless. Sonoran desert 🌵 is beautiful, I don’t think we could see this much of it if we didn’t see it via hot air balloon.
Randy_V, Apr 2026
This was an amazing adventure!! Great crew, pilot and views. Organized and professional.
Highly recommend!!
Chad_P, Mar 2026
The experience itself was cool but the instructor was unprofessional and rude. He was complaining about and arguing with his coworkers during and after the ride. And he didn’t know how to talk respectfully and professional. I will not choose this company ever again.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and I’m truly sorry this was your experience. What you described is not reflective of the level of professionalism and atmosphere we work hard to provide for every guest.
We take this kind of feedback very seriously. The crew member involved is no longer with our company, and we’ve addressed the situation internally to ensure this does not happen again.
We’re glad you were still able to enjoy the flight itself, but we completely understand how important the overall experience is: both in the air and on the ground.
Thank you again for your feedback, it helps us continue to improve as a company.
Analia_P, Mar 2026
Our pilot, Shane, was fantastic and we had a great conversation the whole time. He is so knowledgeable and experienced and we felt so comfortable for the entirety of the ride. We missed the sunrise by a little bit, but it was cool watching them set the balloon up. Definitely recommend if you’re in the Phoenix area!!
Sherrie_Z, Mar 2026
The ride came 10 minutes late. We were still on the ground when the sunrise occurred. There was a land use permission dispute between the police and the company. We were concerned if we would be able to take off or not.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We are very sorry for the late launching. We do have permissions for the launch sites we use. However the police are doing their jobs as well and have to confirm there is no trespassing issues. Of course this may have set us back. I’m very sorry this happened for your experience.
lisa_v, Feb 2026
The ride was smooth, the staff knowledgeable regarding history and how to manipulate the hot air balloon. The guide explained the process which was comforting. And the landing was smooth! End it off with a drink! Highly recommend .
Angie_G, Feb 2026
The hot air balloon ride was totally worth it! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it and we definitely recommend! Great adventure!
Forest_H, Feb 2026
My wife is terrified of heights. She was so nervous she was shaking. The pilot, Shane, and all the helpers helped her feel so comfortable before and during our flight. Beautiful, amazing, once in a lifetime experience! Thank you so much!!!
Kenya_B, Jan 2026
The crew was kind of rude, took away from the experience. Overall the air ballon was a decent experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
I apologize our crew wasn’t the friendliest. That’s definitely not the experience we want anyone to have. We will do better in the future.
Keeona_C, Jan 2026
Everyone was very polite and friendly! The Pilot knew everything ! He was extremely funny too ! very safe , super fun , mark it off the bucket list !!
Alondra_T, Jan 2026
This experience was 100/10. Our pilot was amazing!! And to meet up, and get to our location was super easy and smooth. I definitely recommend this to anyone traveling here. The views are amazing.
We ended up doing the sunset instead but never the less, the site was beautiful.
Aleka_H, Jan 2026
We had a good time! The ride was eventful for sure. But the team was very experienced and we felt like we were in good hands. Would do it again with the same crew.
Deepankar_D, Dec 2025
Amazing experience. Kept it safe and patient landing the balloon. Stories were fun and engaging. Thanks for the experience.
Sandra_C, Dec 2025
Great Experience! Shane is a great pilot! Come enjoy the memory of a lifetime! ♥️♥️ loved sharing it with my sister!
Tiania_W, Nov 2025
Had a great time! Literally was one of my bucket list items! Saw the sunrise! Shane was awesome and so was his crew!!!!
Amber_G, Oct 2025
10/10 experience from start to finish. I went solo but ended up making connections! The crew was very hands on and effective.
Deanna_G, Oct 2025
Our guide was absolutely amazing! The crew seemed very knowledgeable and insured our safety throughout the entire experience.
Carly_W, Oct 2025
Thank you so much to Shane and the crew!!! Kept us very safe!!!! It was very windy and we weren’t sure if we would get to fly but the crew and Shane worked VERY hard to make that happen while also keeping us safe!!!!!
Syncha_T, Oct 2025
Shane and his crew were amazing. So professional and mindful of our safety the entire time. Wish I could book with this crew in every city.
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