What weather conditions are needed?
Balloon flights require light wind conditions, good visibility, stable air and no precipitation!
What weather conditions are needed?
Balloon flights require light wind conditions, good visibility, stable air and no precipitation!
When do we fly?
All year round, seven days a week! The flights are early in the morning or late in the day, shortly before sunset. It is at these times that we have the optimal conditions for this activity. Check here flight times according to the season.
Where do we fly from?
From April to the end of October, our flights operate in Lake Geneva region (Geneva, Lausanne, Rolle and Yverdon-Les-Bains), from Fribourg region and the Alps.
From November to March we take off from Château d’Oex and Gstaad area.
The exact location of the flight is chosen based on weather conditions and regulations. Feel free to tell us about your favorite flying region so that we can, as far as possible, satisfy you at best. Visit our map for more details.
How long does the flight last?
In general, the flight lasts an average of one hour. However, it takes three to four hours for the whole adventure.
The Adventure flight offers two hours of flight and takes six hours of your time.
How far do we go?
It all depends on the direction and speed of the winds. The balloon is the only aircraft to navigate according to the wind. The average distance traveled during a flight varies between 12 and 18 kilometers.
What to wear?
Nothing in particular. However, we recommend natural fibers for clothes and walking shoes. In general, an outfit similar to the one you would use for hiking.
Physical condition?
Anyone wishing to fly in a hot air balloon must be able to stand up for the duration of the flight. Unfortunately, we cannot accept pregnant women, people with heart problems or anyone who has had a recent surgery. In case you have a doubt, consult your doctor. People under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be able to board.
What to bring?
Très certainement votre appareil photo… Et votre bonne humeur ! 🙂
Can I help?
Absolutely if you wish to do so! Your pilot will encourage you to help setting everything up and preparing the hot air balloon! Our team will be there to brief you on what needs to be done!
Will the weather be cold?
Not necessarily, the temperatures at normal altitudes aren’t very different from the ones at ground level.
What if I suffer from vertigo?
Very few people who normally suffer from vertigo have this kind of issue when they are flying in a hot air balloon. Vertigo normally happens when there is a connection between the ground and where you are (the Eiffel Tower, a ladder, a chair, etc.). When you fly, you aren’t connected to the ground, therefore there is very little chance you would suffer from vertigo.
How high do we fly?
Sometimes we fly just skimming the trees, sometimes at more than 6000 feet. But usually, the hot air balloon stays between 500 and 4000 feet.
Any age and height requirements?
There is no minimum age to fly in a hot air balloon. Our passengers must be at least 1m20 (4 feet) tall. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
What about our friends who wants to tag along without flying?
They are welcome to participate to the preparation of the balloon and can follow our vehicle with their own car to the landing spot.
Where is the meeting point?
We will communicate the meeting point address and time by text message on your mobile phone either on the day of the flight, if you’re flying in the evening, or the day before if it is a morning flight. If you don’t receive our text, we ask you to give us a call between 1.30pm and 2.30pm CET if your flight is in the evening or the day before between 6 and 7pm CET if your flight is in the morning. If the forecast isn’t good enough to fly, we will reschedule the flight with you.
How to book a flight?
Once you’ve made the payment which activate your boarding ticket, we invite you to check our availability on the calendar. You can then fill in the online request form to schedule your flight. You will then receive an email confirmation with all the details. You can also send us an email at booking@ballons-du-leman.ch
How to buy a flight?
You can either do it online by clicking on the buy a ticket page, or you can simply call our office. The flights can be paid by credit card, cash or bank transfer. If you chose to pay by bank transfer, we will send you our bank details by email or post.
Will there be champagne to celebrate?
Yes, all our flights are celebrated with champagne, juices and other soft drinks after the flight. We also serve nibbles to go with the drinks.
Can I cancel my flight if the weather is not sunny?
Unfortunately, that is not possible. It is up to the pilot to decide if the weather conditions are good to operate the flight, which means when the air is stable, there is no rain and there is a light wind.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the weather conditions are too bad to do the flight, we will reschedule it for another date. It happens on very rare occasions that we have to cancel the flight at the last moment, sometimes even just before taking off. Security comes first, and we don’t compromise on that.
How many people can participate to the flight?
Our balloons have different size and capacity but always have a human scale. Our smallest balloons welcome from 2 to 4 passengers, the medium size ones can fit up to 8 passengers and our largest balloons have a capacity of 12 to 14 people.
What happens if I need to change the date of my flight or cancel it?
That is not a problem. As long as you contact us at least 48 hours before the date of the flight. The ticket will be considered as used if the flight was cancelled after this deadline or in case of no-show.
Is it dangerous?
Statistics prove it: hot air ballooning is one of the safest air sports there is. Security is our first priority and we will not do any compromise on it.
My flight ticket has expired. How to extend it?
No worries. You can buy a validity extension of 24 months for your ticket.
My question is not on this list?
In that case, don’t hesitate to drop us an email or give us a call.