Last updated: · by the Ballooning Experience team
Why don't balloons fly at sunset in Marrakech?
Two words: heat and turbulence. All day the sun heats the fields, the stones and the villages. In the evening that heat is still rising from the ground, and the air above it keeps moving, with rising currents and gusts. A balloon goes wherever the air takes it, so this is exactly the air a pilot wants to avoid.
At sunrise it is the opposite: the air has cooled and settled during the night, and the morning is the calmest moment of the day. That is why our pilots fly only then, and why we don't offer a second or third flight later in the morning either.
Is a sunset balloon ride safe?
Not in our opinion, and not in Marrakech. We would rather tell you no than take you up in air our pilots don't trust. Safety is the reason we exist: your pilot checks the wind every morning, and if the air is not right even at sunrise, nobody flies and you choose a new date or a full refund. How we keep every flight safe.
How much is a sunset balloon ride?
We don't sell sunset flights, so there is no sunset price. Our sunrise flights cost the same all year:
- Classic flight: €165 per person, children 5 to 11 €130
- Private balloon: €330 per person, from 2 guests
- VIP flight with breakfast on board: €620 per person
Hotel pickup, the briefing, 45 to 60 minutes in the air and breakfast after landing are included. What the price covers.
Sunrise or sunset: which is better?
| Sunrise flight (with us) | Sunset in Marrakech | |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | Calm, cool air: the safest time to fly | Heat and turbulence: we don't fly |
| The light | Dark blue, then pink and gold, growing brighter | Golden, then fading to dark |
| Below you | Villages waking up, mist in the fields, the Atlas on clear mornings | Best enjoyed from the ground |
| Your day | Back by late morning, the day is free | Perfect for dinner in Agafay or the medina |
Our answer is simple: the sky at sunrise, the sunset on the ground. You get the best of both.
Can I fly over the Agafay desert at sunset?
No. Our flights take off at sunrise from the countryside north-east of Marrakech, over villages and farmland, and they don't go over Agafay. But Agafay is one of the best places to watch the sunset from the ground: a camel ride, a quad or a dinner as the stony hills turn orange. Where our balloons fly.
Do I really have to wake up so early?
Yes, and it is worth it. We pick you up 1h30 to 2 hours before sunrise and send your exact time the evening before. Tea, coffee and local biscuits are waiting at our base, your pilot briefs you, and then you watch the sun come up from the sky. Most of our guests say it was the best morning of their trip.
Where to watch the sunset in Marrakech
- The Agafay desert: camel ride or dinner under the open sky.
- A rooftop terrace in the medina: watch Jemaa el-Fna fill with food stalls and music as the sun goes down.
- Your riad or hotel: a mint tea by the pool after your early start.
Sunset hot air balloon in Marrakech: more questions
Is there a sunset hot air balloon ride in Marrakech?
Not with us. In Marrakech the evening air is too hot and turbulent for a safe balloon flight, so we only fly at sunrise, on the first flight of the day.
Why don't hot air balloons fly at sunset in Marrakech?
Because of the heat and the turbulence. After a day of sun the ground is hot and the air above it keeps moving, with rising currents and gusts until the evening. For a balloon, that is not safe.
Is a sunset balloon ride in Marrakech safe?
We don't consider it safe, and our pilots don't fly in the evening. Safety comes first for us: calm, cool morning air is what a balloon needs.
How much is a sunset hot air balloon ride in Marrakech?
We don't sell sunset flights. Our sunrise flights are €165 per person for the classic flight (children 5 to 11 €130), €330 per person for a private balloon and €620 per person for the VIP flight with breakfast on board.
Hot air balloon in Marrakech: sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise. It is the safest time to fly, the light is magical, and you are back at your hotel by late morning with the whole day free.
Can I do a sunset balloon ride over the Agafay desert?
No. Our flights take place at sunrise, north-east of Marrakech, over villages and farmland. For the sunset, Agafay is beautiful from the ground: a camel ride or dinner as the stony hills turn orange.
Is there an evening or night hot air balloon ride in Marrakech?
No. We don't fly in the evening or at night. Our flights take off at sunrise, after a briefing and tea at our base.
Can I book a private sunset balloon flight?
No, but you can book a private sunrise flight: a basket of your own, with your own pilot, at the best and safest time of day.
What time does the sunrise balloon flight start?
We pick you up 1h30 to 2 hours before sunrise, depending on the season, and send your exact pickup time the evening before.
Is a sunrise balloon flight as beautiful as a sunset?
Many guests say it is even more beautiful: the sky turns from dark blue to pink and gold, the sun rises over the horizon and the first light touches the villages and the Atlas. And the light grows stronger as you fly, instead of fading.
I don't like waking up early. Is it worth it?
Most of our guests are not morning people either, and almost all of them say the same after landing: it was worth every minute of lost sleep.
Can I fly at sunrise and see the sunset on the same day?
Yes. The balloon morning ends by late morning, so you can rest in the afternoon and still go to the Agafay desert or a rooftop terrace for the sunset.
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Learn more: Jemaa el-Fna square on Wikipedia.