Whenever people think of Napa Valley, their main thoughts turn to wine, wineries, and fantastic Dining. And that is to be expected as these are pretty much the highlights of the Region! However, another image does spring to a lot of people’s minds when thinking of Napa and that is evocative images of hot air balloons slowly drifting over the vineyards in the cool morning air. Napa Valley is one of those few locations in the world where conditions are perfect for the wistful art of piloting these noble aircraft.
Often cited as one of the best locations in the world to enjoy a Hot Air Balloon Ride, Napa has developed a thriving collection of competing businesses willing and able to take you aloft into the stunning Napa heights and let you experience one of the most stunning and romantic experiences imaginable. We take a look at the best hot air balloon rides in Napa Valley to help you find the perfect experience.
There are several companies offering flights and we take a look at our pick. We have a quick run-down of what to expect from a Hot Air Balloon Flight in Napa, and when the best time to Fly is, along with the issues surrounding the Bay Area Fog. We then show you the best hot air balloon rides in napa valley and where to book, them before a few hints and tips on your Ballon Adventure.
Hot Air Ballooning is not cheap, but follow our guide and you are sure to have a really stunning and memorable experience over Napa with memories to last a lifetime.
What to Expect
Conditions for ballooning need to be just right. Cool Air, preferably in layers, Still wind, and good visibility. These conditions typically occur first thing in the morning. Just before the sun comes p and starts creating all kings of up currents and side winds from its warmth. So one thing you can expect from a Ballon flight is a very early alarm call. On the morning of our flight, we set our alarm for 4 AM.
We know, it’s supposed to be a Vacation, but let’s be honest, your Balloon ride will be over by 8-9 am and you can sit by a pool with a nice glass of Napa CAhrdonay for the rest of the day, and not feel like you have done nothing. It’s a small sacrifice for a stunning experience.
After being jarred awake it’s time to head to the location in the dead of night. It was quite amazing how busy everywhere was even at this early hour, clearly folks making their way to a hard days wine-making. Like Ballooning, with vineyards, it’s better to get things done in the cool of the morning before the sun heats everything up too much.
After arriving at your Meeting location you will typically receive a light breakfast, sign a few forms as part of the Check-in and then meet your pilot a flying group.
As we were visiting in Late may the skies were ominously grey, as expected. This meant we would not be launching from the primary site in Napa Valley. With our recommended tour provider this is no issue, but for most companies, this means a long journey out of the valley to the Sacramento Valley where June Gloom is less of an Issue…More on this Below.
We instead hopped into a mini-van and were whisked 30mins over the hills to Pope Valley, a small offshoot of Napa Valley that is just as scenic and beautiful, more so infact as it still retains the old-timey Napa charm that has become a bit more modernized in recent years. The key is you are still in Napa and Still flying above the Wineries and Vineyards.
When you arrive at the launch site, the flight teams will be well underway inflating the balloons and getting you ready for the flight. Often Photos will be taken and you get to see the last few minutes of the balloon inflation. This is really interesting and beautiful part of the experience. The light is still low and the balloons glow as the burners heat the air and inflate the balloons. You will also get to see all the balloons in one place filling up, it’s quite the spectacle!
Once the Balloons are inflated it’s time to hop in and then get ready for take-off. Once all aboard the Pilot will ready the balloon and give everyone a warning before the balloon super gently lifts off into the air. This is the most gentle take-off you can possibly imagine. The basket just starts floating and until touch-down, this is about the most excitement you are likely to experience.
The balloon will now gently float into the air up and away on a gentle breeze. These first 5-10 minutes are seriously magical as the valley floor falls away and the stunning scenery opens out before you.
We were lucky enough to be on the last flight off the ground, which meant we had 3 stunning balloons floating away in the distance in front f us. and behind stunning Napa Valley scenery. As we rose up into the morning air the temperature rose and we started to gently move along the valley floor slowly toward our landing zone.
The Morning fog still lingered in patches and we could see banks of cloud and fog at the edges of the valley. The sun now illuminated the vineyards and the Shadow of the balloon contrasting with the vivid green vines. It was a wonderfully serene feeling just floating along on a breeze.
Our pilot was very chatty and as we floated along he kept us updated on what he was doing, where we were going, and even what the other balloons and pilots were doing. We found this incredibly interesting and this was a good thing really as, well actually it was quite boring up there…
Once you are aloft and floating along, not really much else happens. The balloons go up and down a little as they ride the currents but overall this has little impact on anything other than the view. The Balloon also does not really go very far, so the views do not change all that much. We floated approximately 2 miles in around an hour so you really are not motoring at all. In that short distance, the scenery really didn’t change much at all. It was just the same stunningly beautiful Valley.
This is not really a bad thing, it’s just the whole experience was utterly serene and peaceful, you really are just floating along on a breeze. But once you have seen the valley from the air, taken it all in, and grabbed some photos you really are just up there with very little to do but stare in wonder. This is why we were very lucky to have such a great Pilot who kept up the chatter and commentary and kept the whole flight interesting.
As we neared the landing site, we got to watch the balloons in front and behind touch down first. Some hit the mark perfectly, others had a little trouble. There is not so much in the way of steering on these balloons, and the local farmers and residents get a bit grumpy if balloons keep landing on their property!
Our pilot had made a big deal of how after decades of flying he could put his balloon down on a dime, so it was pretty funny when an errant gust had us well of course, and into the trees and nearly a lake. We had to be towed back to the landing spot on a tether, never in any danger, just a little humorous after his speech. All in good humor of course.
The landing was billed by our pilot as potentially the most violent part of ballooning and he drilled us on how to brace, and while he was right it was the most energetic part of the ride, it was hardly more than a gentle bump as we nudged the ground.
We then watched as the pilot released the air from the balloon and saw it fall to the earth in a crumpled heap, then out of the Basket and back into the Mini-van that had followed along while the crew packed up the balloon and gear. A short hop back towards the Meeting spot where our cars were, and back into the Fog.
There is usually an option for a Champagne Breakfast, normally an additional fee, and this is something you do not need to do, but we are not ones for turning down a champagne Breakkie so naturally added this on. Lashings of bubbles this early in the morning was just the ticket to end the experience and we enjoyed some fine food in excellent surroundings.
This was one of the real highlights of the trip. We have had so many life-changing experiences on our travels and it’s rare one still stands out to us in such a way as this. It really is a stunning way to see the Valley and a truly memorable experience we will never forget.
What is the best time of year for Ballooning in Napa Valley?
Before we get into the various operators we just want to point out something VERY important. The Pacific Marine Layer. Napa Valley has almost the perfect weather for Hot Air Ballooning. We say almost, as there is one issue with the area that seriously affects Balloon operations during April May June July, even into August, and potentially just about any other time of year as well. The Bleeping Fog!
May Gray, June Gloom, and beyond
The Bay area and infact the whole Pacific Seaboard is afflicted by what is known as the Pacific Marine Layer. This cool air layer causes fog to form over the Ocean and then overnight the warm land creates a low-pressure area sucking the fog in and covering the low-lying land areas. This is prevalent all along the California Coastline, but forms with the most vigor around the Bay area and can be sucked into the baya and right up into Napa and Sonoma Valleys. It is these cool, moist mornings that really help the Grapes grow, the Fog usually burns off by lunch leaving the valley in glorious sunshine, however, this is no good for Ballooning.
Even if the Pilots could fly in this, there would be nothing to see, the inside of a cloud is VERY boring. This fog can occur at any time of the year, but it’s most prevalent May-June. So much so it has earned the name June Gloom or May Gray. These foggy days can easily extend into No Sky July and Fogust as well, and don’t think April is out of the woods either! That’s pretty much all of the Summer season! What this actually means, is one of the most popular areas for Hot Air Ballooning in the States, is actually unflyable for much of the year!
Fall, Autumn, and Winter
The good news is, outside the 4-5 months of near-continuous foggy mornings, the mornings are clear calm, and wonderful. Fall is a fantastic time to Fly in the Valley with cool mornings but clear sunny skies. The Vines also start to die off and turn the valley floor into a fantastic mosaic of reds and browns and oranges. For many, this is peak season and a reason to head to Napa in general. The summer is cooling off and the scenery is seriously spectacular.
Winter is pretty cold in the early mornings, but expect wonderful crisp days and clear skies for the most part. It can still be Foggy in the Winter but it’s a different fog and not as predictable, and there is more chance of storm fronts passing through, or cloudy days with poor flying conditions, but it’s still a better chance of flying in the valley than the Summer.
For most people, the Summer is the time they head to Napa and it can feel pretty disappointing that there are no flights. A quick look at the Booking Calendars of the companies will show they are happy to book you on any day throughout April, May, June, July, August…So what’s the crack? can you fly in the Valley in the summer or not?
No, you can’t, at least not on most mornings. Through May, June, And July, most mornings will be Fogged Off, the Valley Socked in by the dense fog. There is always the chance the Fog does not roll this far up, but you are betting on a very long shot. So how come the companies still offer flights? Simple, Alternate Launch Sites…Phew!
Yep, if the Valley is Socked in, then they will load you up on a Mini-Van and whisk you off to an alternate Venue that is not affected by the fog. This is great as you will still get your Balloon ride, but less great as some of the Venues are not quite what you imagine. These tend to be ver in Sacramento Valley in towns such as Winters. It is still picturesque and it’s still a really beautiful experience, but it’s just not quite what you sign up for, and there is very little mention of this on the promotional material, which is a bit naughty!
There is one exception to this, and it’s the main reason we have chosen our number one recommendation (we happen to really like the company regardless) and that is Napa Aloft. They are super lucky to own property just over the hill in Pope Valley. This means you are actually able to fly in Napa almost year-round.
1 – Napa Aloft
- Price: $280 weekday – $300 Weekends – per person
- Location: V Marketplace – Yountville
- Flight Location: Primary: Napa Valley – Alternate: Pope Valley
- Duration: 45 mins -1 hr, depending on winds and flight conditions – 3-4 hrs overall
- Extras: Champagne Brunch – $40 Per Person – Shuttle – $10 local
Napa Aloft is probably our top pick at any time of the year. They are a great company with great pilots, Top equipment, and offer a fantastic service and flight experience. But before we look at that let’s get the Elephant out of the Room. On Foggy days Napa Aloft is the only company to fly in Napa, not Napa Valley, but Napa. They fly just over the hill, past Lake Henesey in Pope Valley. And honestly, we wish they flew there all the time!
Pope Valley is like a little piece of Napa that time forgot, and while it’s not technically Napa Vally it is Napa County and still has all the look and feel of Napa. Gorguos Vinyards, ponds and lakes, Rustic wineries, mountain tops, and forests. It’s picture-postcard Napa, and infact more beautiful than the landscapes around Yountville where the flying is supposed to take place.
For this reason, if you are traveling during the summer months, Then Napa Aloft is the ONLY company we would fly with. It’s even clear from their Website and promotional material that Napa Valley is compromised during the summer, and they are the only company to point this out, and it’s due to their vastly superior Alternate Launch site.
Outside of this colossal advantage, they are a fantastic company to fly with. The meeting point is inside the V Marketplace in Yountville, where you are greeted by free coffee and breakfast pastries. In the wonderful little courtyard, you sign your paperwork and then meet the Pilots before being whisked off to the Launch.
Aloft uses the latest tech and high-end balloons and really the only downside is some of the baskets are simply huge. Whopping great 16-man baskets can feel pretty crowded, but the Pilots make sure you are swapped around several times during the flight to get the best views.
Our Pilot had around 50 years of experience and was joined by several pilots of equal experience who just seemed to adore their work and taking clients up into the Skiys.
The Champagne Breakfast was pretty pricey, but there were endless pours, of quality Champagne (I was suddenly regretting driving), and a really good Breakfast Buffet, with pastries fruit, eggs, bacon, cereal, toast, and just about everything you could ask for.
Overall these are a top-quality outfit and you really couldn’t ask for more, but with the added security of the alternate site, they really are our number 1 pick, infact, they are the ONLY company we would sign-up to fly with! It really is rare we can be so assured of our top pick!
Note – To fund the Website we sometimes get small commissions on certain tours we promote, we never allow this to affect our reviews and opinions but for transparency, we must mention it. However, to be completely clear, we do not receive a penny from Napa Aloft if you do go ahead and book with them We have no affiliation whatsoever. We just really rate them as a company and tour provider, it’s the only company we really recommend in the spring and early summer, and even at other times of the year, the only way to guarantee a Napa flight is to use Napa Aloft.
2 – Napa Valley Balloons
- Price: $299 Per Person
- Location: Vintners Golf Club – Yountville
- Flight Location: Primary: Napa Valley – Secondary: Winters, Sacramento
- Duration: 45 mins -1 hr, depending on winds and flight conditions – 3-5 hrs overall
- Extras: Concierge Service
Our second choice is another really good company offering a similar experience to Napa Aloft. Located in Yountville, and with a primary launch site just down the road, it offers fantastic ballooning when the weather is right. Great Pilots, fantastic equipment, and a really good ground crew. There is much to like about Napa Valley Balloons.
They do not offer a Champagne Brunch but can organize wine tastings through their concierge. Overall when the skis are clear, if you are not fussed about the Champagne Brunch, or are happy making your own arrangements for breakfast, maybe it’s included at your hotel, then these are a really great company.
The only issue is their secondary launch site. This is in Winters Sacramento. It’s not really wine country, although there are still a few vineyards dotted around, and it’s a bit more built up than Napa Valley. It is still really scenic and you will see the hills and valleys of Napa in the distance, probably filled with fog which looks really atmospheric. It is actually a really nice launch site, it’s just not actually Napa, and you can feel a little short-changed…
3 – Napa Balloon Rides / Balloons Above Napa
- Price: $299 Per Person
- Location: Modal Bakery – Downtown Napa
- Flight Location: Primary: Napa Town – Secondary: Yolo, Sacramento
- Duration: 45 mins -1 hr, depending on winds and flight conditions – 3-4 hrs overall
- Extras: Pre Flight Photos $20 – Champagne Toasts – $20
Napa Ballon Rides actually offer Balloon rides Anove Napa Itself. While most other companies try and get you up above Napa Valley, only Balloons Above Napa focuses on the actual town. Honestly, that’s not necessarily a good thing, Napa Town is probably the least scenic part of the Valley, but once a couple of thousand feet in the air the whole Valley opens up and you get a really spectacular vantage point.
Being over the town gives a really interesting view and you see a little more than the near stationary views most of the other flight’s offer.
The fact it’s based in Napa Itself means it s really accessible for the many people staying in the town, and could give you an extra 20mins in bed.
But like most, the issue of Fog is ever present and the Secondary location of Yolo is not the best. It is a good hour’s drive from Napa and while there are some vineyards but it’s pretty flat and feels agricultural.
5 – Sonoma Ballooning
- Price: $275 Per Person
- Location: Sonoma
- Flight Location: Primary: Sonomo – Secondary: Winters, Sacramento / Napa /
- Duration: 45 mins -1 hr, depending on winds and flight conditions – 3-4 hrs overall
- Extras: Post-Flight Champagne Toast (included)
If you want to Fly in a Balloon over Napa Valley this is the worst option! However, that is only as the flight will take place over Sonoma. Like most things in Sonoma, these balloon rides are just as good, but a little bit cheaper…but we might get in trouble for saying that!
Like Napa Aloft, Sonoma Ballooning are far more open about their alternate launch sites, they may even offer you the chance to fly in Napa if the conditions allow over there but not Sonoma. They also offer you the option of declining an alternate, rather than it being a bit forced upon you. This is probably because no one gets upset about not flying over Sonoma, it’s more a case of Ballooning inver Wine Country and any of the backup sites offer this.
If this article was headed Best “Wine Country” Balloon flights, then Sonoma Ballooning would be right near the top of the list, it’s just we titled the article Napa Balloon Rides and Sonoma Ballooning does not offer that (often). But it is a fantastic firm and we highly recommend them. If you are not bothered about actually being in Napa and just want an amazing Ballooning experience Sonoma Ballooning are a great bet.
FAQ and Things to Know
What Will We See?
Actually, not all that much. Napa Valley, and even any of the Alternate sites, are not really famous for landmarks or points of interest. Napa is more about the place, the Scenery, the Vineyards, and the wine. You won’t see much wine from the air, but there are plenty of Vineyards, wineries, and the scenery is stunning. But that’s about all you see the stunning scenery from above. It changes very little and you get a long time to take it in and admire it.
It’s very different from most forms of flying where the world whizzes by at hundreds of miles per hour, you really are all bu stationary admiring the scenery.
Oh, and you will probably see some other balloons too.
Will We Be Alone / How many will be in our Balloon/Basket?
Not usually these are large Balloons with large baskets, up to 16 people, and a pilot crammed into one balloon. These large baskets are separated into 5 sections. The middle is for the pilot and all his gear, then the side segments are split down the middle with 4 people in each. If like us you are a couple, you will be crammed in with another couple. It’s pretty tight in there and not much room to move about. As you can see we got one of the worst spots. But the views were still fantastic and once in the air, we had no complaints. The Pilot constantly turns the Basket around so you all get the same views.
Most companies offer private flights but these are fearsomely expensive, and even then, no, there will still be a pilot up there with you…thankfully! There are also options for Proposals and other romantic endeavors. Booing a mixed flight would definitely not be conducive to a good proposal, you could do it before, or after, but during the flight, there is just no room to get down on one knee.
What Should we wear?
We were pretty blown away by how warm it was in the air. A combination of the pilot finding the warm air currents and the giant fire-breathing burners just above our heads meant it really was a warm and present trip. There is almost no wind, as if there was we would not be flying, and wearing nothing more than a pair of jeans and a hoody we were both sweating!
In winter it can be a fair bit cooler, but again, you have the burners firing and still hunting out the currents, but wrap up warm as it can be very chilly in the morning.
The strange thing is, unlike most outdoor activities where you are getting high, it’s actually warmer in the Basket than on the ground. This gives you the perfect opportunity to get the right level of clothing. If you are warm enough on the ground before the flight, you will be fine in the air. Normally the higher up you get (helicopters, mountains, buildings, etc…) the colder it gets. With Ballooning this is just not the case. The Pilot is looking for warm air, and never discount how much heat those burners pump out…I honestly wish I had worn a hat. Not for warmth, but thermal protection as my scalp was burning!
Is Hot Air Ballooning Scary?
This is SO subjective. For some, it can be scary but on the whole, it’s not a very threatening activity. Fear of heights and Fear of flying manifest themselves in different ways. And despite being pretty high, there is something about the slow, serene, gentle way the elevation is gained that makes if feel less intimidating. You really are floating away under a cushion of warm air and the whole process is calm and soothing.
Looking down can give your tummy a couple of flips, and is best avoided if you are sensitive to heights, but overall it’s a feeling quite unlike any other and is just not as triggering to people who are afraid f flying or heights as other activities.
Of course, people are very different and for some, it would be way too much. Our pilot even told us stories of people who have lept from the basket during take-off, a big problem as the weight and buoyancy are finely balanced, due to sudden panic attacks. And once in the air there is not a lot the pilot can do for a scared flyer as you need to reach the landing site before touching down.
Most people will know if they are very scared of heights or flying and maybe should think twice, but if you only have a mild to moderate fear, the chances are that with the Enclosed basket (there is no way to fall) and super serene floaty feeling you will be absolutely fine.
Is Hot Air Ballooning Safe?
No General Aviation flying is 100% safe, but hot air ballooning is actually one of the safest forms of flying. This is borne out by the FAA Database of Accidents and decades of Data on Balloon flying. There have only been six Commercial Balloon Accidents in the last 18 years worldwide and compare that to Helicopter rides, Fixed-wing Aircraft, or even Commerical Aviation and there are very low numbers of incidents.
Further to this, most accidents that do occur tend to be the result of slighting dubious companies and pilot behavior. Almost all of the accidents could have been avoided by the pilot. So choosing a reputable company can make Baloon flying almost 100% safe. An example is the Lockhart Texas Balloon Disaster. Almost all commercial flights that day had been canceled to poor weather, but one pilot knew better and took his group up. Flying into heavy fog they hit power lines and fell from the air. There were multiple points where the disater could have been avoided, and it was all down to a poor operation.
All of Napa Valleys operators are top notch. And as far as we know there has never been a serious incident in Napa Valley. This is inpart due to the excellent companies offering trips, partly due to the really docile and predictable conditions and also the Alternate Launch Sites. We have criticised these, but it actually takes the pressure off the companies to launch in dubious conditions. If the weather in the valley is not perfect, they can just head over to the alternates and launch there instead.
Overall No activity such as this can be risk-free, but Ballooning is about as safe as it gets! You are definitely in much greater danger on the drive over than during the actual flight!
Can I Bring My Own Camera?
Honestly, it would be a bit odd if you didn’t! We have been on a lot of tall things, and open-door helicopter flights, and all kinds of places where we could drop our cameras, and have never dropped anything.
Interestingly we have been on lots of Door-Off helicopter flights that have been very strict about making sure everything is strapped down, even if it’s just a lanyard. They are very particular about you not dropping anything, however, when quizzed this is not in case it hits someone on the ground, the odds are infinitesimally small. Instead, the risk with helicopters is the object hitting the tail rotor, which would then lead to a very exciting rapid descent. This isn’t an issue in Balloons and as such the rules are pretty slack. They would prefer you don’t drop anything, but we imagine you would prefer it too. Lanyards and straps are the way to go if you have butter fingers.
How High Do We Fly?
This is very variable, but we alternated between about 2000ft and 1000ft, depending on the air currents. Neither really felt very high, or very low, it just felt nice, giving a great panorama of the valley.
How Hot Is the Air in the Balloon?
Honestly, this is not a frequently asked question at all, we never even thought about it but Our pilot told us unprompted and we found it pretty interesting! The Operating temperature of the Balloons is over 100°C/210°F! We know these are called Hot Air Balloons, but we think we always thought they were warm air balloons, as long as the temp was hotter than the atmosphere they would float, we really didn’t think the air temps up in the balloon were that hot!
What happens in Bad weather?
We think we have the Fog covered right? But that is not the only form of bad weather. The Climate and weather conditions in Napa are surprisingly stable, that’s what makes good wine, but like everywhere in the world larger weather systems can push through and mess everything up. It does rain, the wind does blow, and it even snows occasionally. These larger weather patterns are more prevalent in the winter, but at any time of the year, a large storm can push through.
If the Visibility is bad, or the wind is strong the flight will not go ahead. Unlike the fog, these bigger weather patterns probably affect the whole region and it’s unlikely an alternate site can be used. In this case, the good news is you will not be sent up as a sacrifice to the weather gods. Instead, you will be offered a refund or re-schedule.
For this reason, we always book Activities like this as early as possible in the trip. This way you have maximum leeway to book another day. Bad weather often passes quickly so the next morning, or the one after may be fine. If you book on the last day you basically have no option but to cancel if things turn sour.
Have Your Say
Let us know your thoughts on Balloning In Napa Valley. Have you been for a once in lifetime trip? Ticking off your bucket list? Which company did you choose? How did you find the experience. Did you fly from Napa or an Alternate? Whatever you have to say just fire away in the comments and if you have any questions we are happy to help answer them below.
