FAQs
Yes, we all know that flying is the safest form of transportation and on top of that, ballooning is statistically the safest form of flight. The landing is the most dangerous part of the hot air balloon flight, it can be bumpy, but our experienced hot air balloon pilots will warn you well in advance. Upballooning and Balloon Team have skilled and experienced pilots and crew with impeccable safety records so you can rest assured you are in good hands.
The temperature in the air is the same, if not warmer, than that on the ground. Wear comfortable, layered clothing and trekking or sports shoes.
Depending on weather conditions, we will decide how high and for how long the hot air balloon will stay at a specific height. A typical hot air balloon flight can be anywhere from tree level to approximately 3,000 ft (900m).
The hot air balloon moves with the direction of the wind. However, at different heights the wind will usually change speed and direction. A balloonist uses these varying currents to guide the hot air balloon to an appropriate landing site. If you imagine the air as having currents in different directions, much like a river, our pilots will go up and down to catch a wind going in a particular direction, this way he can steer the hot air balloon to a safe landing area. You will not feel the change in direction, and the up and down movement is extremely gentle.
Most people can fly in a hot air balloon without any problems. However we must follow safety guidelines and in order to fly in the hot air balloon, it’s generally said that a person needs to be in good health. Unfortunately it is not possible to fly in our hot air balloons if you use a wheelchair, or are otherwise unable to climb over the basket to get in and out of the hot air balloon ride. People with heart conditions and pregnant women cannot fly. If you are at all unsure, please contact us or seek medical advice before making your booking.
We have a large fleet of hot air balloons as we are part of Balloon Team Italia. Our fleet of hot air balloons consists of 10 hot air balloons. We have 2 hot air balloons to carry 2 passengers, 3 hot air balloons to carry 5 passengers, 1 hot air balloon to carry 6 passengers, 2 hot air balloons to carry 10 passengers, 1 hot air balloon to carry 16 passengers and one Vista hot air balloon (a sitting down flight with seatbelts) that can carry 4 passengers. The size of the hot air balloon for your hot air balloon flight is determined by the amount of guests in your party. All of our balloons are EASA certified.
Hot air balloons fly best in cool, calm, stable air which is usually just after sunrise. Takeoff times will vary throughout the year to reflect the change in sunrise times. Your outdoor adventure in Florence reflects the time of sunrise!
No, because the hot air balloon moves at the same speed and direction as the wind, so the passengers in the hot air balloon adventure experience little if any sense of motion.
Rather than a specific age, our passengers need to be over 3.4 ft (1,1m) tall. Children love the hot air balloon adventure it is a wonderful outdoor activity in Florence to do with the family.
We only take off when it’s 100% safe to do so. In case we cannot fly on the day of the booking of your outdoor adventure, we will do our best to reschedule. If, for any reason, we cannot find another suitable date, you will receive a full refund. The day before the hot air balloon flight, after the last weather bulletin at 6pm, we will confirm the next day’s flights. Remember that this is a weather dependent activity, and we always say ‘it’s better to be down here wishing to be flying than to be up in the sky wishing you were down here’. We only fly if it’s 100% safe to do so, our pilot has an impeccable safety record and he’s not going to risk it!
