The Marrakech Hot Air Balloon

Why every shared seat in Marrakech costs almost the same

Three of the four shared seats sit within a few dollars of each other, and the cheapest of them, $145, buys you the same morning as the ones either side of it: hotel pick-up, a shared basket, a Berber breakfast in a tent, a certificate with your name on it. Marrakech Dream Ballooning at $233 is the odd one out, and what it sells for the difference is airborne time, a 45-minute to 1-hour flight rather than the 40 minutes BallOOning Marrakech puts in writing. Everything else is close enough that price shouldn't pick this for you. The inclusions and the review counts should.

4.50am, 5am and 6am are three different mornings, not three prices

The slot you choose changes what you actually see, because a balloon that lifts off in daylight has already missed the bit you came for.

	The 4.50am and 5am starts	The 6am and 7am starts
What you get	Airborne while the sun comes up over the Jbilet	Inflation and take-off in full light, warmer basket
Cheapest collected	$146	$145
Pick-up	Roughly an hour before that, so a 3am alarm is real	Civilised, and better with kids

The gap is small enough that I'd take the early one every time. More on that in the 5am and 6am slots.

When paying for the whole balloon is worth it

Shared baskets here take up to 16 or 19 people, so you're sharing four corners with strangers and taking turns at the good side. Only two listings sell the balloon outright, $1,284 with Marrakech By Air and $1,329 with The best quad ever, and one sells a middle option, the Comfort Flight at $169. Read private versus shared before you dismiss the number.

So which one should you book?

Book Marrakech By Air's 5am at $152 if you want the most-reviewed pilots in the sky, 13,734 reviews at 4.8, and the option to upgrade the basket later. Book The best quad ever's 4.50am at $146 if the sunrise is the whole point and you'd rather spend the difference on breakfast in the Medina.

FAQ

Which Marrakech hot air balloon flight is cheapest?

The best quad ever's 6am departure at $145, with its 4.50am and 5am sunrise slots at $146. BallOOning Marrakech and Marrakech By Air both sell a 6am at $146, so you're choosing on operator, not on cost. Full breakdown on the price page.

How long does the whole morning take?

Marrakech By Air and The best quad ever advertise 5 hours, Marrakech Dream Ballooning 4 hours, and BallOOning Marrakech 3 to 4 hours. The flight itself is a fraction of that. See how long it takes.

What happens if the weather cancels my flight?

All four offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and book now, pay later. The best quad ever states that if the flight is rescheduled or cancelled for unsafe weather you're offered another date, or a full refund if that doesn't work. Book it for your first morning in Marrakech, not your last.

Is hotel pick-up included?

Yes, on all four. BallOOning Marrakech adds 1,200 dh per vehicle if your hotel is outside Marrakech, and Marrakech Dream Ballooning covers accommodation within a 14 km radius. Riads down narrow streets get a nearby meeting point instead. Details on hotel pick-up.

Can I fly if heights make me nervous?

The best quad ever lists its flight as not suitable for people afraid of heights, as does Marrakech By Air for people with heart problems. If nerves are the issue rather than a medical one, read flying when heights worry you.

Are there weight or age limits?

Marrakech By Air caps passengers at 110 kg and sets a minimum age of 3 years, plus a 3 ft height rule. BallOOning Marrakech won't take children under 4 or pregnant women, and Marrakech Dream Ballooning excludes babies under 1. The full set is on the safety page.