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Frequently asked questions

All the answers to your questions
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General

  • 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 flying experience in France and around the world, we are experts in our field.

    Your safety is our primary concern.
    We are proud to be the first company in the Loire Valley to introduce safety belts into the equipment we use, setting a new standard for ballooning safety.
    Although seatbelts are not mandatory, we are at the forefront of this transition.

    What's more, all our pilots have undergone first-aid and fire-fighting training.

    A focus on exclusive and intimate flights to suit your needs: VIP, EXLUSIVE and a VISTA basket with seats - safety, comfort and panoramic views - ideal for people with reduced mobility

    Flight photos with the GOPRO camera

    Our flights are available 7 days a week from April to October. Tickets valid for 24 months for maximum flexibility.

  • A hot-air balloon operates on the principle of lift. Hot air is introduced into the balloon envelope via gas burners, heating the air inside. As the warm air is less dense than the surrounding cold air, it creates upward thrust, enabling the balloon to rise into the air. The pilot can control altitude by adjusting the amount of heat produced by the burners. To descend, the pilot can let the air inside the envelope cool naturally.

  • At Loire Montgolfières, we do our best to find the right wind and direction to ensure the best possible flying experience.

    This means that our pilots adjust the altitude of the balloon to seek out winds blowing in the desired direction, but it's important to note that the exact direction of flight depends largely on the weather conditions and available winds.

  • The ideal conditions for a balloon flight are generally clear skies, calm winds and stable weather.

  • The hot-air ballooning season in the Loire Valley starts in April and continues until October.

Your Reservation
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    1. Select the ticket of your choice and follow the purchase procedure. At the end of the transaction, please fill in the passenger identification form. You will then receive an e-mail confirming your order.

    2. A few hours later, the ticket(s) are attached. Use the details on the ticket to access the online calendar and book the exact date of your flight.

    3. If you encounter any difficulties or are unable to make your flight, you can contact us by sending an e-mail to bonjour@loiremontgolfieres.fr or by calling us on +33 7 44 99 19 27 to make a reservation.

    4. You receive the weather forecast for your flight the day before by e-mail and SMS between 2 and 4 pm. When the flight is confirmed, the exact rendezvous time, location and GPS point are indicated. If the flight is cancelled, you are invited to reschedule your flight - depending on the validity of your ticket.

    5. Meet at the exact time at:Domaine Viticole des PIERRETTES9 Le Meunet, 41150, Rilly sur Loire

  • Your ticket is valid for 2 years from the date of purchase.

    You will find all the information you need at Terms and Conditions .

    Our hot-air balloon tickets are valid for 24 months from the date of purchase. If two bookings per flight season have been made within the validity period and cancelled by Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers, tickets at the end of their validity period will be extended by one flight season at no extra charge. If two bookings per flight season have not been made, the ticket may be extended for one year after payment of an additional extension fee of €50 per ticket, and this request must be made before the ticket's expiry date. Any ticket older than three years will be definitively expired.

  • Loire Montgolfières sends flight confirmation by SMS the day before your flight between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. This SMS will tell you if the flight has been confirmed = meeting place and time / if the flight is on hold / if the weather report is delayed or if the flight has been cancelled.

    We are not responsible for the poor reception of the SMS sent due to the proper functioning of operators or the wrong telephone number entered.

    Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers reserve the right to cancel a flight due to adverse weather conditions, for safety reasons, in the event of pilot unavailability, or if the number of passengers booked on a flight is insufficient. Cancellation may occur just before take-off, in which case Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers will not be held responsible for any expenses incurred by the passenger in getting to the meeting point (travel, accommodation, catering).

    If you have not received an update by at least 4:00 pm the day before your flight, please contact us.

  • Our flights depend directly on the weather. We can only fly in light winds (less than 15 km/h), without gusts or rain. If the flight is cancelled due to bad weather, your ticket will remain valid until the end of its validity, but you will need to make a new reservation online.

    Weather is not an exact science. Our pilots are responsible for deciding whether or not to confirm the flight, based on the professional meteorological data available to them. Public weather sites are not sufficiently reliable and do not provide a relevant basis for analysis when making your flight decision.

    Despite all our precautions, in very rare cases the flight may be cancelled on the spot, without Loire Montgolfières or its service providers being held responsible. Only the pilot, as pilot-in-command, can decide whether or not to cancel the flight, or how long it should last, depending on the weather conditions and the terrain encountered for landing.

  • You will need to book an appointment online within the validity period of your ticket.

    Very often, depending on the weather and availability at the time, we send you SMS messages to suggest a flight with favorable weather around your cancelled appointment.

    It's important not to wait for your tickets to expire before booking your flight.

  • Our recommended answer is No!

    As your flight is totally dependent on the weather, and is sometimes cancelled the day before, our passengers have to make last-minute arrangements to avoid incurring unnecessary costs in the event of flight cancellation.

    We advise you to wait for the weather confirmation SMS before planning your trip and booking your accommodation. In this region, it's very easy to find quality accommodation at the last minute. You can even book accommodation that offers a free cancellation option. This way, you can save yourself the hassle of traveling or spending money on a hotel for nothing.

    Loire Montgolfieres or its suppliers reserve the right to cancel a flight due to bad weather conditions, for safety reasons, if a pilot is unavailable, or if the number of passengers booked on a flight is insufficient. Cancellation may occur just before take-off, in which case Loire Montgolfieres or its service providers will not be held responsible for any expenses incurred by the passenger to reach the meeting point (travel, accommodation, catering).

  • This is not necessary. As part of our efforts to be more environmentally friendly, we ask you not to print the tickets in order to limit the use of paper. All we need is a precise update of your first and last names, enabling us to call you on the day. We do not collect paper tickets or appointment confirmations, as our booking tool will do the necessary without the excessive use of paper.

  • Your ticket is valid for 2 years from the date of purchase.
    Our tickets are non-refundable, unless you have purchased the Liberté option for flights.

Your flight
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  • We take off from one of the following sites: Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont sur Loire, Cheverny, Chambord, Blois, Montrichard. The take-off location is subject to change depending on weather conditions, and the final decision on take-off rests with the pilot. We do our best to fly over the castles of the region, but this is never guaranteed, as the wind decides where the balloon will go.

    Ballooning is an unpredictable adventure where nothing is written in advance. We sail with the winds, where the art of piloting consists in playing with them to steer the balloon.

    The pilot's aim is to create a flight full of sights and splendors to discover, such as the chateaux and magnificent landscapes of the Loire Valley. However, we cannot guarantee a view of the châteaux, as this always depends on weather conditions and flight safety.

    What's more, the region abounds in remarkable biodiversity, with a variety of wildlife inhabiting its forests, rivers and marshes. During your hot-air balloon flight, keep your eyes peeled for birds such as herons, swans and wild ducks flying over the bodies of water, as well as land mammals like deer and wild boar moving through the surrounding woods. It's a unique experience to see the region's wildlife from the air.

  • In general, we fly at wind speed, usually up to 20 km/h. Flight altitude varies from treetop to 1000 meters.

  • In hot-air ballooning, it's difficult to predict the exact landing spot, as it depends on weather conditions and winds at altitude.

    At Loire Montgolfières, we believe that in life, it's the journey that really counts. It's life's fleeting moments that should be appreciated. Wherever we land, we know that at least during our flight, we have truly experienced something magical.

  • The appointment time is set the day before at 2:00 - 4:00 pm by SMS validation.
    It depends on the weather forecast and the time of sunrise or sunset.

    In general, appointment times are: in the morning 1 hour before sunrise and in the evening 3 hours before sunset.

    Approximate meeting times for balloon flights, depending on the season:

    Spring - Summer:
    Morning: Between 05:00 and 07:00
    Evening: Between 17h00 and 19h00

    Autumn - Winter:
    Morning: Between 07:00 and 09:00
    Evening: Between 15h00 and 17h00

    These times are subject to adjustment according to weather forecasts and the specific conditions of each day.

  • During the day, you'll notice that it's windy as the sun heats the earth, creating disturbances and instability. To take advantage of the cool hours and steady wind.

  • Blue skies are no guarantee of flight. Above all, we assess whether the wind is too strong or not strong enough. If the wind speed is higher than 16-20 km/h, there is too much turbulence and the flight would be very risky.

    Similarly, if it's too hot, the air mass is unstable and may be the first signs of a thunderstorm in the making.
    Or simply excessive heat, which can cause temperature-related discomfort and fabric damage.

  • We focus on smaller, more intimate flights, so you can enjoy the experience with your loved ones. Our different baskets can accommodate from 2 to 19 passengers, depending on the type of ticket you have purchased.

    What's more, you can book a private hot-air balloon for you and your group, guaranteeing an even more exclusive experience.

  • The sensation of cold during a hot-air balloon flight generally depends on the temperature on the ground. As a general rule, temperatures at altitude can be up to 2°C cooler than those on the ground.

  • We'll meet you at a central location where you can park easily, safely and conveniently.

    Our meeting point at the exact time at:

    Domaine Viticole des PIERRETTES
    9 Le Meunet, 41150, Rilly sur Loire

    Once the passengers have been called, we'll pick you up with our teams and vehicles and take you to the chosen site on the day, depending on the weather.

  • Each balloon is followed by a "retrouving" crew in a 4x4 vehicle. They will take you back to your vehicles.

  • The total duration of the service generally varies between 3 and 4 hours, including all the necessary preparations.

    As far as the actual duration of the flight is concerned, it's usually around an hour, but depends mainly on weather conditions and the landing area. In the world of hot-air ballooning, nothing is predetermined, neither the itinerary nor the precise duration of the flight, as we are at the mercy of the winds, which have no pre-established timetable.

    Please note that flight times may vary, as the pilot may decide to shorten or extend the flight for safety reasons, depending on the weather conditions encountered en route.

  • Experiencing a "balloon trip" for the first time is an event we'd like to celebrate in the purest "aerostatic tradition". It's a moment of conviviality that's an integral part of our service... After traveling under a big bubble of hot air, everyone will appreciate the refreshing little bubbles. Many spectators, attracted by the spectacle of the hot-air balloons, join us to "celebrate our passengers of the wind"!

  • Clothing suitable for a walk in the woods is recommended for your comfort during the balloon flight, such as walking or sports shoes, clothing made of cotton or natural fibers, a hat or cap to protect you from the radiation of the burner, and a sweater to keep you warm after the flight. Dresses and heels are not recommended.

    It is important to note that any type of bag is forbidden during the flight. If you wish to take a camera or cell phone with you, make sure it is securely attached to avoid dropping it from the basket.

  • Of course, we only remind you that your personal belongings remain your responsibility for the duration of the theft.

    If you want to take a camera or cell phone with you, make sure it is securely fastened to avoid dropping it from the basket.

Your safety
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  • Hot-air balloon trips are very safe, but to ensure the safety of all our passengers, we do not allow the participation of pregnant women, people under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and children under the age of 7.

  • No, you just need to be in good physical condition. People with health problems or reduced mobility should ask us before booking. Our special vista flight with seats is a good option for people with reduced mobility.

  • Children under 6 or 1m10 are too small to see over the edge of the basket.

  • There's no upper age limit, just the ability to get in and out of the basket on your own.
    Flights are open to all, with no age limit, from 6 years old or 1m10 - provided you're in good physical shape and can get in and out of the basket on your own, and stay upright for an hour.

  • There's no sensation of vertigo when you fly in a hot-air balloon, because you're not physically connected to the ground. Vertigo generally occurs when you are in contact with the ground, which is not the case during a hot-air balloon flight.

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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.