Winter vs. Summer Hot Air Ballooning

dependentHot air balloon flights are a whimsical and fun way of getting to see a city or region from above. Cappadocia is the most well-known place for this activity, but the truth is that you can find a hot air balloon flight on every continent and all year round. So, should you take a winter or summer hot air balloon flight? That is up to you. But we'll tell you about the big differences between the two, so you can make an informed choice!

Here are other things to consider when booking a hot air balloon flight in the winter versus the summer.

Weather

One thing to know before deciding whether to go hot air ballooning in winter or summer is that hot air balloons need stable weather conditions to fly, which is why most flights only take place at dawn, before the sun has warmed the air too much, and when there's less likelihood for rain or strong winds.

The warmer the weather, the more fuel and heat will be needed to get the balloon in the air, since it rises thanks to the change in atmospheric temperature. This means that, environmentally, winter is technically a better season to take a hot air balloon flight, since less heat will be needed to Inflate the balloon. However, the volatile winter weather, which tends to bring heavy storms and winds, can be the cause of cancellations of flights for everyone's safety.

Clothes

One of the things to consider when taking a hot air balloon flight is the clothing you'll wear. Since you will be ascending to great heights (between 300 and 900 meters), and the basket of the balloon is not a closed environment, even in the summer you'll feel a bit of the chill of the height.

In the summer, you might simply wear a light jacket or windbreaker to avoid being cold. However, in the winter, you'll need to be fully geared up to protect yourself from the chill, which will make the flight a bit more cramped, even though the heat from the balloon's mechanism alone should keep you from facing overly cold temperatures.

Wake up time

As we mentioned earlier, hot air balloon rides usually take place at sunrise, for the sake of ideal weather conditions. This means that for a hot air balloon flight in the summer, you'll have to wake up at around 4 am to make it to the meeting point, which tends to be a bit remote. However, in the winter, since the sunrise takes place much later -depending on where you are-, you will be able to sleep until a 'normal' time and still watch the wondrous sun coming out of the horizon whilst gliding above the world.

Landscapes

One of the clearest differences between summer and winter hot air ballooning is, of course, the kind of landscapes you'll see on your flight. If you choose a summer flight, you will probably get to see lush fields, full of greenery and, depending on where you are, colorful crops full of flowers or blooming vegetables and fruits. If you're in a city, you'll probably get to see people in their colorful summer outfits, enjoying the weather and marveling at the spectacle you're giving them as you glide among the clouds.

However, if you take a winter hot air balloon flight, the leafless trees will let you see much farther into the landscape. If you're in a city, the buildings will be clearer, and if you're lucky enough to go hot air ballooning in a place where it snows, you'll get to see fields, trees, and roofs covered in a sparkling white blanket that will mesmerize you. The city and town roads will probably be emptier, so you'll get to observe them as if you were the only one there.

Price

Hot air balloon flights are a pricey activity, no matter where or when you want to try one. In the summer, when most of the world is on vacation and looking for fun and innovative activities to do with their partners, families, or friends, the price for a hot air balloon flight may be higher than during the rest of the year.

In the winter, even though people still travel a lot, outdoor activities other than skiing, snowboarding, and other snow-based sports take a bit of a back seat with travelers and this might be an advantage for someone looking to experience the thrill of a hot air balloon on a small budget. Now, this is not true of every place and company, but, for example, in Cappadocia, the mecca for hot air balloons, flights tend to be cheaper in the winter, because of the lower demand.

Crowds

Taking from the last point, the summer might be the time you choose to take a hot air balloon flight because it's the time for an awesome, warm-weather vacation. This is an idea a lot of people are going to have. This means that hot air balloon rides might not only be more expensive but also more crowded!

Unless you have the budget for a private hot air balloon flight, which would be great in either season, the demand might mean that, within safety regulations, your summer hot air balloon flight might be completely booked so you'll have to share it with a lot of other people. In the winter, because of the bulkier clothes you have to wear, and the lower overall demand for hot air balloon rides, you might only have to share your flight with a handful of other travelers.

With all of the aspects we've mentioned, you'll have a clearer idea of what a hot air balloon flight is like in the summer versus the winter. It's important to keep in mind that this is all dependant on where you go and at what time of year. If you try a hot air balloon flight in places along the Equator Line, such as Colombia, the Canary Islands, or the Azores, whether it's winter or summer at home, it won't make much of a difference in these places. However, if you visit places like Spain, Turkey, France, or Canada, the time of year you choose for a hot air balloon will very much dictate how your experience will turn out.

Learn more about hot air ballooning and find your own hot air balloon flight with Manawa, today!