I have always envisioned looking down from the sky and seeing the desert come to life. But nothing could have adequately prepared me for the surreal, quiet, and surprisingly moving essence of our morning in the clouds. As a father, I always find myself looking for something special and meaningful to do with my children when we travel. Our Dubai Hot Air Balloon was just that – an experience that transcended traditional “thrill.” Our time in the early morning air was so quiet, so soft, and so deeply humbling, that sunrise felt irrelevant.
Before booking, I thought I read a few reviews about Hot Air Balloon Dubai, and now I wish I had read a lot more from a parent’s viewpoint. There were small details I did not know about the experience – things I may have packed, prepared, or things I may have better explained to the kids. So, in case you are planning your own ride, here is everything I would have wanted to know.
What I Would Have Liked to Know

1. The Early Start Is Not A Joke

We were picked up from the hotel shortly after 5 a.m., and I can truly say it takes some strong persuasion to wake children up that early into a vacation. And then we were out, into the cool dark desert night, and something changed. It was peacefully quiet, the stars were still out and the anticipation helped shift the mood of my daughter and son slowly to be a bit more agreeable. I would also have liked to have packed one more snack, but the excitement helped negate the missing breakfast.
2. The Takeoff Is Weirdly smooth

I had expected a very exciting ascent but it turned out that the balloon ascended so slowly that we barely knew we were in the air. My boy inhaled sharply as he found out we were floating. When we turned around you could see dunes turning a dark bronze color and then gold when the light started to scatter across the horizon. Our air balloon ride in Dubai had already given us more than we could have ever dreamed of and we hadn’t even seen the sun yet.