Our history
Who are we?
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Loire Montgolfières is a family business, founded by passionate pilots eager to share their 10,000+ hours of ballooning experience with you. With over 60 years of combined flying experience in France and around the world, we are experts in our field. Inspired by the rave reviews and memorable experiences of our valued customers, we created Loire Montgolfières to offer a unique experience, combining adventure, intimacy, authenticity, serenity and tasting of local products from the region.
Loire Montgolfières is based in Blois, nestled between UNESCO World Heritage sites and castles such as Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont sur Loire, Cheverny, Chambord, Blois and Montrichard.
Welcome to Loire Montgolfières, your gateway to the extraordinary beauty nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of the Loire Valley. Our aim is to create memories that will stay with you forever.
As your partners in discovering the magic and wonder that lies between the vineyards and chateaux that define the panorama of the Loire Valley, we strive to create an experience that connects you to history, nature and yourself in an exhilarating way.
What We Offer
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Ticket validity
Tickets valid for 24 months for maximum flexibility.
Family business
We are a family business dedicated to making every flight unique.
In-flight photos
Immortalize your adventure with shots captured by our in-flight GoPro camera.
Various flight options
Choose from our different flight options: Decouvérte, VIP, Vista (basket with seats), Exclusif.
Delivery of Flight Certificate
Receive a certificate to commemorate your adventure in the skies.
Drivers
Bilingual
Our pilots speak French and English, ensuring a seamless experience for all our passengers.
Cellar visit and tasting
Discover a cellar tour followed by a tasting to enrich your experience.
Valid 7 days a week from April to October
Our flights are available every day of the week from April to October.
Exceptional pilots
3 pilots with over 10,000 flight hours and 60 years' combined experience on 4 continents
basket
Vista
Approved for passengers with reduced mobility, this basket offers an exceptional experience.
Meet Your Pilots
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Richard
Richard, with 15 years of flying over the Loire Valley and over 3000 hours of flying experience, is also an experienced hot-air balloon instructor.
He has explored exotic lands, flying over such iconic sites as Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, the Pink City of Jaipur, the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra, India, and the breathtaking horizons of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
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Paco
Paco, with over 4,500 hours of flying experience, began his career at the tender age of 16, moved by the sight of a hot-air balloon gliding through the skies.
30 years have passed since that first wonderment, and his passion has continued to grow, tinged with a deep fascination for the heights and infinity of the sky.
Paco has spent more time in the air than on the ground, making him a true expert in hot-air ballooning.
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Nicholas
Nicholas, affectionately known as Nick, is our seasoned balloon pilot with a heart as warm and generous as Santa's. With thirty-four years' experience as a professional pilot, Nick has flown the skies in a variety of roles.
From 2004 to 2021, he was an A380 captain for Emirates Airline, flying all over the world.
He began his hot-air ballooning adventure in Burgundy and with Governors' hot-air balloon safaris, flying over the magnificent landscapes of central France and the Maasai Mara.
With Nick at the helm, every balloon flight becomes a magical adventure, imbued with his passion for flying and his dedication to providing unforgettable experiences.
Our Commitment
At Loire Montgolfières, we believe in offering much more than just a flight over the Loire Valley. We promise a memorable journey that takes you beyond the ordinary, allowing you to discover your inner explorer and awaken all your senses as you float over captivating UNESCO World Heritage landscapes.
Safety and Expertise
Your safety is our primary concern. We only recruit experienced pilots with thousands of hours of flying experience. We adhere to the highest industry standards and work closely with local authorities to ensure that your trip is not only impressive, but safe beyond measure.
We're proud to be the first company in the Loire Valley to introduce seat belts in the equipment we use, setting a new standard for hot-air balloon safety. Although safety belts are not mandatory, we are at the forefront of this transition, and some of our baskets are already equipped with this feature.
What's more, all our pilots and crew have undergone first-aid and fire-fighting training.
At Loire Montgolfières, 0.5% of our revenues is devoted to eliminating carbon dioxide
At Loire Montgolfières, we are proud to be one of the few hot-air balloon companies in Europe fully committed to the fight against climate change.
We dedicate 0.5% of our revenues to the elimination of carbon dioxide, as we firmly believe that this action is essential to counter global warming and protect our planet. We recognize the technological gap in the field of CO₂ capture and are committed to closing this gap.
Every purchase from Loire Montgolfières helps support the development of new technologies to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
What's more, we're proud to be part of the Stripe Climate program, a coalition of companies determined to take concrete action to reduce CO₂ emissions and invest in sustainable solutions for the future of our planet. In this way, we can continue to fly over the chateaux of the Loire Valley while preserving our environment and ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable future for all. Join us in our commitment to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.
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At Loire Montgolfières, we are committed to providing you with the most experienced pilots and crew, ensuring that your ballooning experience is truly unforgettable.