Practical information

Flight schedules

Flights take place in the late afternoon (2 to 3 hours before sunset) or just after sunrise. These moments offer the most beautiful light and low thermal activity, allowing hot air balloons to navigate safely with the wind.

Hot air ballooning is a gentle aerial sport, which is why we only fly in favorable weather conditions (without rain or thunderstorms) and with ground winds below 20 km/h. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions, the flight will simply be postponed, and you will be able to choose a new date yourself in our flight calendar.

The meeting times for balloon takeoffs listed below are provided for informational purposes only and naturally depend on weather conditions.

A flight decision is made before 2:30 PM on the same day for late-day flights, and before 6:30 PM the day before for morning flights. We wait for the latest weather bulletin from the Skeyes organization in order to inform you quickly and accurately, thus guaranteeing flights in complete safety.

We will quickly inform you by SMS and email of our decision regarding the flight, as well as the takeoff site chosen by the pilot according to the wind direction and the various airspaces prohibited to hot air balloons. You will also receive the exact meeting time, allowing you to organize yourself as early as possible and travel calmly to the launch field. If you do not receive the SMS or email, please do not hesitate to contact us quickly at 02 358 30 30.

We recommend choosing casual or sportswear, along with walking shoes (sneakers, boots, etc...) and a cap to protect yourself from the heat of the burner.

Return transport:

For the Brabant and Namur regions, we strongly recommend planning your return transportation. If you do not have a solution, we can easily bring your driver back to the takeoff point to retrieve your vehicle.

For the Durbuy, Terres-de-Meuse, and Spa regions, it is necessary to arrange your return transportation from the landing site. Your friends or family can follow our recovery vehicle or join you at the landing site, which you can communicate to them by phone. Many people take the opportunity to organize a walk with a picnic during the return from the morning flight.

Please note that the landing location is random, and unfortunately it is not known in advance as it depends on the wind direction (a hot air balloon cannot be steered and flies with the wind). In general, the balloon travels about fifteen kilometers depending on the strength of the wind.

Cancellation conditions:

Important: If you do not show up for your appointment or arrive late for any reason, your tickets will unfortunately be considered used. Montgolfiere.be accepts no responsibility for traffic jams or other circumstances causing delays. It is therefore strongly advised to allow plenty of time to arrive early.

Cancellations are not possible less than 168 hours (7 days) before the flight, unless you purchased "Flex" insurance when buying your ticket. This insurance, available only when purchasing your gift voucher, allows you to cancel your appointment up to 24 hours before the flight. Please note that it can only be used once.

The flights take place every year, from the beginning of April to the end of October, depending on the weather conditions. In winter, conditions are generally unfavorable, and the muddy fields make dry landings impossible. However, our gift voucher service remains open and available to you throughout the year.

Flight duration: approximately 1 hour
Total adventure duration: approximately 2.5 to 3 hours

Meeting point for late afternoon flights

Period	Meet us there
First half of April Second half of April	+/- 18h30 +/- 19h00
First half of May Second half of May	+/- 19h30 +/- 20h00
Juin	+/- 20h30
First half of MaySecond half of May	+/- 20h30 +/- 20h00
First half of August Second half of August	+/- 19h30 +/- 19h00
First half of September Second half of September	+/- 18h30 +/- 18h00
First 3 weeks of October	+/- 17h30
last week of October	+/- 16h15

Morning flight appointments

Période	RDV sur place
early April to late October	+/- 6:30 - 7:00 Takeoffs take place around 8:00 AM at the beginning (spring) and end (October) of the season

Morning flights offer a unique opportunity to explore nature from an exceptional perspective. By choosing this time slot, passengers significantly increase their chances of observing animals in the fields, enjoying an immersive experience in the heart of nature.

Upon landing, a breakfast accompanied by champagne is offered, providing a convivial moment enjoyed by all participants. We highly recommend the morning flights.

It is important to note that takeoffs are 20 minutes after the scheduled meeting time; no delays are possible. This timeframe allows for adequate preparation before the flight.

Luc Trullemans

Our meteorological consultant is Luc Trullemans, a renowned international expert in long-duration flights and a long-time friend. His exceptional experience and intuition were crucial for Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones during their round-the-world voyage aboard the Breitling-Orbiter III. Furthermore, he was the one who routed Steve Fossett during his solo round-the-world flight. Luc Trullemans' expertise allows us to conduct our flights safely.

IT'S NOT COLD IN THE AIR

A pair of comfortable boots, a cap to protect you from the burner's heat, gardening gloves to avoid scratching the wicker basket, and casual clothing are ideal. The balloons drift with the wind, and there's no need to worry about feeling cold below 700 meters. We typically fly at around 450 meters.

CHILDREN CAN ALSO FLY IN A HOT AIR BALLOON

Children must be at least 1 meter tall, with no minimum age limit. To prevent them from being frightened by the flames and the noise of the burner, it is strongly recommended that they be shown videos of a hot air balloon flight beforehand, for example on YouTube. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY

All our passengers are covered by insurance during the flight.

Our pilots are all qualified professionals, and all our flights are approved and supervised by the Ministry of Transport, in accordance with strict EASA standards.

We reserve the right to refuse boarding to passengers who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

Conditions pour monter à bord d'une montgolfière

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN A HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

Not to be pregnant, regardless of the stage of pregnancy.
Must be at least 1 meter tall. There is no minimum age for children.
The maximum weight per person must not exceed 100 kg. For example, for two people, the total combined weight must not exceed 200 kg; for three people, 300 kg, and so on. If necessary, you can distribute the excess weight among the passengers, but it is essential that the declared total weight is accurate, as this directly impacts your safety. Remember that a hot air balloon must be lighter than air to fly safely.
It is essential to be in good physical condition, able to stand for an hour, and have sufficient knee flexibility for landing. It is important to exercise discretion and take precautions, especially for older people. If in doubt, we recommend consulting your doctor. It is better to abstain than to take risks, as hot air ballooning requires adequate physical fitness. If you need a cane to walk, if you need support to stand, or if you have difficulty climbing stairs, it is unfortunately best to forgo this experience. If you are not in good physical condition, the pilot reserves the right to refuse you boarding on the day of the flight if they deem that safety cannot be guaranteed.