Wadi Rum Hot Air Balloon Flight
- Duration3.5 hours
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
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Overview
This Wadi Rum hot air balloon flight lifts you above one of the most spectacular deserts on earth at the start of the day. We pick you up from your camp in Wadi Rum before dawn and take you to the launch site, where coffee, tea, water and biscuits or cake are served while the crew prepares the balloon and gives a safety briefing. You then float for about an hour, depending on the wind and the landing site, over red sandstone mountains, deep canyons and dunes as the first light spreads across the valleys. The whole experience lasts about three and a half hours before you are back at your camp, and suits couples, families and friends looking for a once-in-a-lifetime view of Wadi Rum.
Highlights
- About one hour in the air above the Wadi Rum Protected Area
- Sunrise light on red sandstone mountains and canyons
- Views over the dunes, rock bridges and desert camps below
- Pickup and drop-off at camps in Wadi Rum
- Coffee, tea, water and biscuits or cake before take-off
- Full safety briefing from the balloon crew
- Back at your camp in time for breakfast
Full Description
Wadi Rum from the sky
Wadi Rum is a protected desert of sand valleys and sheer sandstone and granite mountains in southern Jordan, listed by UNESCO in 2011 for both its landscape and the rock art left by thousands of years of human life. From the ground its scale is hard to grasp; from a balloon you finally see how the mountains rise like islands from the red sand.
Is a Wadi Rum hot air balloon ride worth it? For many travellers it is the highlight of their time in Jordan, because no jeep route can show the whole pattern of valleys, cliffs and dunes at once. The silence of drifting with the wind, broken only by the burner, makes it a calm and unforgettable experience.
Sunrise over the sandstone mountains
Flights take off around sunrise, when the air is cool and still. As the sun clears the horizon, the cliffs change from grey to gold, orange and deep red, and long shadows stretch across the valley floor. Jabal Rum and the other great massifs of the protected area stand out sharply in the low light.
To the south lies Jabal Umm ad Dami, the highest mountain in Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia. The pilot steers by changing altitude to catch different winds, sometimes rising high for a wide panorama and sometimes descending close to the dunes. Bring a camera with a wide lens, and keep it on a strap for safety.
Canyons, dunes and Bedouin camps below
From above, the landmarks of a Wadi Rum jeep tour come together in one view: the narrow clefts of canyons such as Khazali, the great red dunes heaped against the cliffs, natural rock bridges and wind-carved domes of sandstone. The tracks of jeeps and camels draw thin lines across the sand.
You also see the Bedouin camps tucked against the rock walls, their tents just waking up, and perhaps camels grazing in the valleys. The exact route is never the same, because it follows the wind on the day, and the crew follows the balloon by vehicle to meet you at the landing site, which is part of the adventure.
Your balloon flight: practical details and best time
Pickup is around 4:30 am from camps in Wadi Rum, so it is best to stay in the desert the night before; transfers from remote camps or hotels outside Wadi Rum are not included and must be arranged separately. Please give us your phone number so the driver can confirm your exact pickup time and place.
At the launch site you enjoy coffee or tea while the balloon is inflated, then the crew gives a safety briefing on the flight and the landing position. The best time to fly over Wadi Rum is from autumn to spring, when mornings are calm and clear; all flights depend on the wind and may be moved for safety. Souvenir photos and videos are offered after landing, optionally.
Itinerary
- Pickup from your campOur driver collects you from your camp in Wadi Rum around 4:30 am.
- Launch site, coffee and briefingCoffee, tea, water and biscuits or cake while the crew inflates the balloon, followed by the safety briefing.
- Hot air balloon flightAbout one hour floating over Wadi Rum at sunrise, depending on the wind and the landing site.
- LandingA gentle landing in the desert, where the ground crew meets you.
- Return to your campDrive back to your camp; the experience lasts about three and a half hours in total.
What's included
- Pickup and drop-off at camps in Wadi Rum
- Coffee, tea, water and biscuits or cake before the flight
- Safety instructions and briefing
- Hot air balloon flight of about one hour (depending on wind and landing site)
Not included
- Transfers from remote camps and hotels outside Wadi Rum
- Souvenir photos and videos (optional after the flight)
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 3–11
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Travellers who want the view from the air
- A half-day plan — about 3.5 hours
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- You are afraid of heights
Not suitable for
- Pregnant women
- People with back problems, recent surgery or heart conditions
- Wheelchair users, as you climb into a basket and land on uneven ground
- People with a strong fear of heights
Meeting point
We pick you up from your camp in Wadi Rum around 4:30 am; a phone number is needed when booking so the driver can confirm the exact time and place with you. Pickup and drop-off cover camps in Wadi Rum, while transfers from remote camps and hotels outside Wadi Rum are not included. After the flight you are driven back to the same camp.
Important information
- Stay at a camp in Wadi Rum the night before, as pickup is around 4:30 am
- Provide your phone number and camp name when booking
- Wear warm layers; desert mornings are cold, especially from November to March
- Wear closed, flat shoes and a hat; avoid loose scarves in the basket
- Follow the crew's instructions at all times, especially during landing
- Flights depend on the wind and may be moved or cancelled for safety
- Tell us the ages of any children when booking
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private tour?
Places are booked per person, and you normally share the basket with other passengers on the same flight. If you would like a private basket for your party, ask our team before booking.
Can we change the itinerary or the pace?
The flight route is decided by the wind on the day, so it cannot be fixed in advance. The pilot adjusts the altitude to give you the best views.
How many people can join?
Families and friends can book several places together and fly in the same basket. Tell us the size of your party when booking.
Is the price per person or per group?
The price is per person. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for your date.
Is hotel pickup included?
Pickup and drop-off are included from camps in Wadi Rum. Transfers from remote camps or hotels outside Wadi Rum are not included.
What is included?
Camp pickup and drop-off in Wadi Rum, coffee, tea, water and biscuits or cake before the flight, a safety briefing and a hot air balloon flight of about one hour.
How long is the experience?
About three and a half hours from pickup to drop-off, with around one hour in the air.
Is it suitable for children or travellers with reduced mobility?
Children can fly with an adult if they are tall enough to see over the basket and can follow instructions; tell us their ages when booking. Climbing into the basket and the landing make it unsuitable for wheelchair users.
What should I bring?
Warm layers, closed flat shoes, a hat, sunglasses and a camera or phone on a strap.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Balloon flights only go ahead in safe wind conditions. If your flight is moved for weather, our team helps you find another date that fits your plans.
What is the best season?
Autumn to spring usually brings calm, clear mornings. Summer mornings are warm, but sunrise flights still avoid the heat of the day.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date in the booking panel on this page and include your phone number and camp name. Our team confirms your booking on WhatsApp within minutes.
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