Below are some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to our hot air balloon operations. We encourage you to take a moment reading our FAQ’s and if you have any additional questions afterwards, please contact us.
We only fly once per day, around sunrise (weather permitting) and our departure times are listed below. Winds are generally most favorable the first hours after sunrise. In the morning, it takes a few hours for the sun to heat the earth’s surface enough to generate the thermal activity that creates wind and unstable conditions. Ideal winds are three to six miles per hour on the surface. Remember, reservations are required in advance. We do not take “walk-ins.”
Please give yourselves plenty of time for parking and check-in. Our staff will reach out to confirm with you the evening before your flight. Be sure to have your cell phone on and ensure that you can receive voicemail/text messages. We will shuttle all guests directly to the designated launch site for the morning accordingly. Like any outdoor sporting activity, there is no set end time, so plan to be with us anywhere between 3-4 hours in total.
| December – January | 7:00 AM |
| February & March | 6:30 AM |
| April | 6:00 AM |
| May – August | 5:30 AM |
| September | 6:00 AM |
| October 1 – 15 | 6:30 AM |
| October 16 – Day Light Savings Time | 6:45 AM |
| Day Light Savings Time – November | 6:15 AM |
*Times may be subject to change, so please refer to your reservation confirmation and keep your cell phones on to receive any calls or text message updates from our team as you get closer to your flight date. Guests should give themselves plenty of time to arrive as we cannot wait for late arrivals.
If you miss your flight, your payment remains forfeited (“no shows” will not be rebooked).
There is free parking at the Hilton Garden Inn. Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to departure so you have time to park, secure your belongings and get checked in.
The average flight lasts between 45 minutes to 1 Hour based on wind conditions for the morning. With travel time to and from the launch and landing sites, ballooning logistics and the flight itself, plus the post-flight celebration, anticipate on being with us anywhere between 3-4 Hours. As an outdoor adventure sport, there is no definitive end time, therefore please plan your itineraries accordingly.
Yes! With decades of experience we demand safety first and it is a culture not an act. All of our pilots have a FAA Certified Lighter Than Air Commercial Pilot’s license and undergo routine physicals. If our pilots do not deem the weather conditions safe, we will not fly. Feel free to check-out our safety section for more info.
Here in Santa Rosa, we have some wonderful launch locations to choose from! Our primary launch location is where we meet. We have several other launch sites within a few minutes shuttle ride from our meeting location. If weather does not permit a flight in Santa Rosa but allows for a safe flight at another one of the areas balloon ports (Windsor, Cloverdale, Ukiah) you will be given the option to join us.
We look for big open areas for landings, away from livestock and near a road for easy access to our shuttle vehicles. There are multiple properties that we’ve partnered with where the owners absolutely love seeing our balloons! Since we fly where the winds take us, some places we have not yet been and in that case, we will ask permission first.
Children must be 8 years old AND at least 57″ inches tall to participate. At no time are children allowed to be carried or picked up during flight. Your child must be able to understand directions, stand for the duration of the flight and not be fearful of loud noises (from the burners). Safety is a top priority, therefore if your pilot asks for your child’s proof of age, or your child does not meet the height requirement, you will not be permitted to fly. Any charges will be refunded in full. If you have any doubt that your child may be scared of this activity, it’s best that you leave him/her with a babysitter to ensure that all guests can enjoy the flight stress-free.
For the safety of mother and child, expecting mothers or those who may possibly be pregnant, are not permitted to fly.
All guests must be able to stand unassisted during the entire flight and be in good overall health, able bodied and can understand and follow instructions. Guests must also be able to climb into and out of the gondola (balloon basket) unassisted, and often times those shorter in stature, may need to hop down. We have step holes built into the gondolas to make entry and exiting easier. Guests should also be able to walk/hike unassisted as it’s not uncommon for us to land in park-like settings with tall grass or slightly uneven terrain. If you have any medical concerns you should consult your physician. Our gondolas are not wheelchair accessible, nor can they accommodate service dogs, oxygen tanks, crutches, canes, etc.
The average flight altitude is from tree top level to 3,000 feet. The flight plan depends upon wind velocity and direction therefore there is no set minimum or maximum height.
The balloon is fueled by propane.
Balloons operate through the basic principles of gravity and heat transfer. As air inside the balloon is heated, it rises. As the air inside the balloon cools, it descends. We also have control lines to let hot air vent out should we want to descend at a faster rate or during landing. Winds determine a balloon’s direction. Balloonists don’t have steering wheels like airplane pilots, but rather they “guide” a balloon by adjusting the balloon’s altitude to make use of different wind speeds and directions.
The attire for ballooning is casual. To maximize your enjoyment, dress appropriately for the outside air temperature. We recommend pants, workout bottoms, tennis or hiking shoes and a sweater, sweatshirt or jacket if it’s a little chilly. Open toed and high-heeled shoes are not permitted (you don’t want to stub a toe, break a high heel on uneven terrain or get an ankle roll do you?). Since you’ll be climbing in and out of the basket and we take off and land in open fields, you’ll definitely want to save those fancy shoes and dresses/skirts for wine tasting instead. 😉 Due to heat generated by the balloon’s burners, a hat may be preferable for our taller passengers. Sunglasses and sunscreen also come in handy.
We encourage you to BRING the following for your hot air balloon Sonoma tour:
- Appetite for Adventure
- Sense of Humor
- Cellphone/Camera (Camera bags are not allowed, so be sure to bring a neck strap.)
For the safety and enjoyment of all, the following are NOT permitted:
- Animals (including service/emotional support animals)
- Babies/Infants (remember, children must be at least 8 years of age AND 57 inches tall). At no time are children allowed to be picked-up or carried during flight.
- Backpacks, Purses, Camera Bags (these items can be left in our shuttle van or office at your own discretion, or lock them in the trunk of your car)
- Selfie Sticks (for the safety and enjoyment of others, no selfie sticks are permitted, unless you book a Private Flight)
- Food Or Drink (these items are not permitted in the hot air balloon)
Our modern baskets provide security, comfort and safety with 48-inch high sides and padded sidewalls. The balloon moves with the wind so unlike other aircraft motion sickness is also extremely rare.
Each gondola or hot air balloon “basket” is individually hand woven rattan into a rigid frame making them light weight and extremely durable. While the majority of landings are smooth, the gondola is designed to handle landings that might occur at higher speeds due to wind surface conditions. This is what balloonists call an exciting “rodeo landing!”
The balloon envelope is typically constructed using fire-treated nylon and a highly durable fire-treated fabric.
Please let us know ahead of time and we will make it extra special.
If we cancel due to inclement weather (rain, fog, high winds), we will do our best to reschedule you for another day that you’re in town, otherwise you will be refunded in full if charges have already been made.
Your adventure begins the moment you meet us at Hilton Garden Inn in Santa Rosa CA. Check out every step of the experience:
- Check-In & Pilot Briefing – Our team will greet you in the morning and go over important pre-flight details.*
- Get ready for artistry in motion! Witness the set-up and balloon inflation process by your pilot and crew.
- Relax and simply enjoy the ride! Flights typically last between 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the conditions for the morning.
- Post-Flight Celebration! Enjoy a champagne toast afterwards to commemorate becoming aeronauts!
*You may be shuttled to one of our designated wine country balloon launch locations depending on weather conditions. All are within a short 5 – 40 minute drive.
For our standard join-in flights, you must notify us three full days (72 hours) prior to your flight date. No shows will be charged in full. For our private flights, it is a 30 day cancellation/rescheduling policy and no shows will not receive a refund.
On average there are 256 sunny days in Santa Rosa, well over the US average of 205. During “bud break” season (spring) rain starts to disappear, and temperatures range from a low of 42F (5.5C) to an average high during the day of 70F (21C). In the “event” season (summer) there is almost no rain and the average low is 51F (10.5C) and the average high is 83F (28C). During “crush” (fall) the average low is 48F (9C) while the average high is 80F (26.7 C). In the “value” season of winter, there are far fewer crowds, the rain is the heaviest, and the temperatures range on average from a low of 38F (3.3C) to a high of around 60F (15.5C).