A Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Up up and away with Sundance Balloons!

Who said that you had to travel abroad to fulfill your bucketlist?  Yes, if you look, you can find your dream adventure right at home and it can be just as rewarding as if you travelled abroad.

This is not a sponsored post and as always, all opinions expressed are my own.

High up on my list of adventures to do was hot air ballooning.  While it is true that I did envision fulfilling this dream while ballooning over a vineyard in Italy, or high above the Grand Canyon, I am just as happy to have had this fantastic experience right here in Ontario with Sundance Balloons.  Ontario offers so many activities and adventures and a hot air balloon ride must be added to the list.

Book a hot air balloon ride with Sundance Balloons when visiting the Waterloo Region in Ontario
Hot Air Balloon Adventure with Sundance Balloons

About Sundance Balloons

Sundance Balloons has its head office in London, Ontario, and has flown over 30,000 passengers across Canada.   Since beginning its operation in 1985, Sundance Balloons has grown to be one of the world’s largest hot air balloon operators, offering flights in cities across Canada:

Due to the weather found in Canada, flights are only offered during the spring, summer and fall between the months of May and October.

Booking Your Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Booking your hot air balloon adventure with Sundance Balloons is as easy as 1, 2, 3.  You can either book online or call and book over the phone.

Just One Tip: I recommend booking your hot air balloon adventure at least one month in advance

You are able to book a flight for one and join other adventurers, you can book the entire balloon for a group of your friends, or if it is romance that you are seeking, book a private flight for two.  Being a solo traveller, I booked a flight for one and I joined nine other passengers on this adventure.

Before booking your hot air balloon adventure, you must take into consideration the time of day you prefer to fly. Do you want to take a sunrise flight or sunset flight. I am definitely not a morning person, but I decided to take a morning flight in order to watch the sun rise across my city.

When booking a hot air balloon ride with Sundance Balloons, you will have the option of a sunrise or sunset flight
Preparing for a sunrise hot air balloon ride adventure in Kitchener-Waterloo

Immediately after booking your flight, email confirmation will be sent outlining the flight date and time, as well as an instruction sheet, waiver form (bring this with you on the day of the flight), and newly added is the COVID questionnaire, which is also to be brought with you on the day of  your flight.

Preparing for a Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Confirming Your Hot Air Balloon Adventure

The instructions received upon booking, contain the telephone number for the flight line.  If taking a morning flight, you will be instructed to call the flight line number after 11:00 p.m. the evening before.  If taking an evening flight, you will be instructed to call after 2:15 p.m. on the day of the flight.  At this time you will be advised as to whether your flight will be taking off, based on the weather (more on this below), as well as the meeting place for take-off.

My adventure departed in the Kitchener-Waterloo area of Ontario. There were 3 places that the captain could choose to depart from. The departure time and spot is given when contacting the flight line.

Cancellation of Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Safety is always of the upmost concern when taking a hot air balloon adventure. If the weather isn’t just perfect, the hot air balloon adventure will be cancelled and you will then have to re-schedule.  Unfortunately, the weather in Canada is extremely unpredictable and flights are often cancelled.  The status of the scheduled flight will be determined prior to the designated time for contacting the flight center.

What Weather Conditions are needed for a Hot Air Balloon Ride?

In order for a hot air balloon flight to proceed as scheduled,  the winds must be less than 10 knots, with no rain or approaching storms in the forecast.  Flights also require a visibility of at least 4 kilometres (2.48 miles).

What to Wear and What to Bring on Your Hot Air Balloon Adventure

I know that it is safe for me to assume that not all of us have taken a hot air balloon flight in an open-air basket over 7,000 feet in air before and you may be wondering what to wear when going on this adventure.  I have only two recommendations on how to dress for a hot air balloon adventure:

  1. Dress in layers; 
  2. Do not wear flip flops or heeled shoes.  Running shoes are best (you will have to climb in and out of the basket);
  3. If you are sensitive to sun, bring a hat;
  4. Bring completed waiver form that is provided in your confirmation email;
  5. Bring completed COVID form which is provided in your confirmation email; and
  6. Bring a camera to capture the breath-taking views from above.

What to bring and what to wear for your hot air balloon adventure will also be addressed in the information sheet you will receive from Sundance Balloons upon booking or all of your questions will be answered by visiting their website.

COVID-19 Precautions Taken by Sundance Balloons

Like all businesses in Canada, the government has placed COVID-19 conditions and restrictions on hot air balloon adventures in order to keep employees and guests safe.  Sundance Balloons has introduced the following precautions for your enjoyment and safety:

  1. Each passenger must complete a COVID-19 questionnaire which is provided with your confirmation email;
  2. The number of guests have been reduced to 8, plus the pilot (usually it is 10 guests, plus the pilot);
  3. Plastic barriers have been installed to separate passengers;
  4. Post flight Champaign has been temporarily postponed;
  5. Guests must wear face masks.

My Hot Air Balloon Adventure

Arrival for Hot Air Balloon Adventure

I was scheduled for a sunrise flight from Kitchener-Waterloo which typically has 3 departure locations:

  • Victoria Park
  • Concordia Club
  • Waterloo Rod & Gun Club

When I contacted the flight line the night before, I was advised that my flight would be departing at 7:30 a.m. the next morning, and I was to be at the Waterloo Rod & Gun Club by 7:00 a.m.

Wear layers when taking a hot air balloon ride
Preparing the hot air balloon for take-off

Upon arrival, I checked in with a member of the flight crew and gave him my waiver form and COVID questionnaire.  I then waited until all passengers arrived while watching one of the hot air balloons being fired up for a private flight.

The flight crew are the employees who remain on the ground throughout the flight and follow the hot air balloon to meet it at the landing site

Hot Air Balloon Departure

Once all passengers had arrived and checked in, we were given a safety briefing and the hot air balloon that I would be riding in was fired up and prepared for departure.

Arrive for your hot air balloon ride 15 minutes before the scheduled flight and receive a safety briefing

Once the air in the balloon reaches a certain limit, we climbed in the basket while the pilot continued to use the fire to blow up the balloon even more.

The pilot releases fire into the balloon approximately every 2 minutes throughout the flight. It is very loud!

I was giddy with joy to finally be taking this hot air adventure which had been on my bucketlist for so long and I couldn’t wait to see the views from high above.  Since this hot air ballo0n adventure departed from the city, I expected to see city streets, houses and high-rise building. I was pleasantly surprised to see farmland as far as the eye could see, as well as forests and numerous streams.  The scenery was spectacular and out of this world! It was like being transported into another world.

Hot Air Balloon Flight

The pilot said that the weather conditions for my flight were absolutely perfect and we were able to do tree-tops and water-dips throughout the flight.  The hot air balloon was lowered enough for us to grab leaves from tree branches and it was lowered even further so that we were able to skim the water of the river.  The water was so clear and we were able to see the bottom.  The highest we flew during our 1 hour flight was approximately 2,500 feet.

Expect to do some tree topping and water dipping during a hot air balloon ride with Sundance Balloons in the Region of Waterloo
Beautiful forest from above! We were lowered into the forest close enough to grab leaves from the trees
admire the mennonite-farmland-in-st.-jacobs-ontario
Farmland in St. Jacob’s, Ontario
Water dipping in a hot air balloon with Sundance Balloons
The basket skimming the water during our hot air balloon adventure

At the end of our hour long flight, we landed in a farmer’s field.  The landing was so smooth that I didn’t even fell the slightest bump.

The flight crew were on the ground to meet us, as was the Mennonite family whose field we landed in.  The flight crew packed up the hot air balloon while we chatted with the Mennonite family and had some pictures taken.

Expect to land the hot air balloon in a farmer's field near St. Jacobs, Ontario
Coming in for the landing!

Once everything was packed up, we all loaded into the van and we were transported back to our departure location.  It is at this point that we normally would have been served our Champaign, but instead we all went on our merry way.

Take a Champaign flight in a hot air balloon with Sundance Balloons
We were met by the flight crew at our landing spot and driven back to where we departed from

Check That One Off My Bucketlist

This adventure had been on my bucketlist forever, and while I had always envisioned having this adventure somewhere abroad, I am more than happy that I was able to do it right here at home.    For those of you afraid of heights, you need not worry, as I am also terrified of heights.  The pilot will keep entertained throughout the hot air adventure and believe me when I tell you that you will be so immersed in the beauty below, that you will not even notice that you are so high in the air. 

The hot air balloon flight with Sundance Balloons was so much fun and a bucket list experience.
Check that adventure off my bucketlist!

JOIN ME FOR MORE ADVENTURES

Taking a ride on a hot air balloon is one adventure that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves beauty and adventures and I for one can’t wait to do it again!

SAFE ADVENTURES 🙂

Kelly xoxo

PIN FOR AN ONTARIO ADVENTURE!

63 thoughts on “A Hot Air Balloon Adventure”

    1. Just One Passport

      Yes. They took every precaution possible (for the most part). The only issue was that I went solo so I had to share my little space with another stranger who also went solo. Each pod holds 2 people.

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      Reply

  3. Sarah Camp | In Search of Sarah

    This is awesome!!! I had no idea they were in TO and London area as well! Not sure if my fear of heights would let me do this but I’m going to check it out. It’s not something you get to do every day!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Just One Passport

      Sarah, I’m TERRIFIED of heights, but honestly I didn’t even notice. There was so much to look at and I was so busy taking pictures. You have to do it. It’s gorgeous! The one I went on was over the St. Jacab’s area.

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  5. mwantje

    Riding in a hot air balloon is on my bucket list too! I’m glad you got to check it off yours 🙂
    My only concern is as you mentioned in the comment before – I wish they were limit the pods to parties that know each other! I’m not sure I would want to ride with a stranger in these unknown times.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Krista

    This is giving me serious travel envy! I’ve always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride, and every time I research it in a place I’m travelling to it’s really expensive and not in my budget. It looks like an amazing experience and the views look unreal.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Ramya

    I like the way you defined and detailed everything. Somehow Turkey is able to sell its hot air balloon experience pretty well. I was pleasantly surprised to know, we have one in Ontario too. The only problem I see is they are little bit expensive. Though the way you described it seems the experience is worth it and definitely worth trying once in a lifetime. I am going to include this on my travel wish list.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Polly

    This is so amazing! I have wanted to do a hot air balloon adventure for so long and I have been looking at the options of doing this in Cappadocia – maybe one day. It is so cool that you got to do this at home. I do not think that we have these types of experiences locally here in Bulgaria, so I might need to wait until travelling abroad is safer again.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. 13weekstravel

    This is such a beautiful experience and I wish to go on hot air balloon one day. I have previously had 3 opportunities to have a go but unfortunately the weather was always an issue. Fingers crossed for a good weather and hot air balloon experience one day.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Just One Passport

      I had that same problem. I booked 3 times last summer, but all were cancelled due to weather. We have been having the perfect weather this year in Canada, so I was able to do it on my 1st attempt.

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      Reply

    1. Just One Passport

      I bet a hot air balloon flight would be breah-taking in Austria. You MUST do it! I’m also TERRIFIED of heights, but honestly, I didn’t even notice the fact that I was high up. I was too busy snapping pictures and taking in the beauty.

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      Reply

  15. Anuradha

    I once did hot air ballooning in Lithuania, and instantly loved the activity. We went in autumn and almost at the verge of sunset, so we got to see sunset on one side and moon rising on another side. Quiet a fascinating sight and great experience it was.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Stephanie

    This is such an amazing and detailed experience, I’m so happy to have read it! You’re so brave! I think the fire and the sound of it would definitely have me intimidated HAHA I felt a little nervous just watching the video. However, this IS on my bucket list, so this was really helpful information. I would never think to do a lot of these things like bring a hat or wear sneakers. If I didn’t read this I would definitely just roll up in flip flops and entirely unprepared (like I always do.) So THANK YOU!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Kelly

    This looks like such a great experience! I had no idea this was offered in so many places across Canada! I should look into here in BC and if not definitely check it out when I’m in another province 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. Courtney The Explorer

    Oh my gosh, this looks so amazing! What a perfect adventure during COVID – so far away from everyone in the air! haha Thanks for all the info – adding this to my bucket list!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  19. Kanupriyaa

    I love hot air balloon adventures! I did one in Kenya and it was lovely. This is so great that there are some so close by as well. I will def take one if I visit near Ontario!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  21. Medha Verma

    So cool that you managed to check one more thing off your bucket list and didn’t have to travel far for it! I’ve done the sunrise hot air balloon experience as well and loved the views of the desert in Dubai. I can see that your views were equally lovely. I would love to go for it again somewhere else in the world where I can either fly over mountains or the sea.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  22. Kendra

    You are so courageous! I am scared of heights too; I don’t know if I could do this, especially SOLO! I’ve been waiting to do it with someone I trust a lot who will hold my hand the whole time. You are an inspiration Kelly!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  23. bye:myself

    Normally, I’m afraid of heights so I’d think that this would be a nightmare. On the other hand, I’m not scared on planes, so maybe it would work for me. I simply should try it out. I would love to go up high in Cappadocia.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Sandy N Vyjay

    One of the most satisfying and thrilling experience is that of floating high among the clouds in a hot air balloon.As you feel the wind and watch the earth slowly recede below your feet, it is an awesome feeling. Really great that you were able to tick this off your bucket list right at home.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  25. Arnav Mathur

    Must’ve been quite the adventure. I so want to experience this. We were this close of experiencing it in Bagan, but it was all booked up.
    It’s amazing to know that the operators are taking proper steps and letting travellers experience this in these COVID Times.
    And those views are so so awesome. I bet that 1 hour would have literally flown by.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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