Hot Air Ballons over Valley of the Kings

What is on your bucket list? My bucket list continues to fill with new thoughts and ideas, and one item, that has been fulfilled, took much longer than anticipated. If I really sat to think about the times I’ve visited Egypt, I could come up with an accurate number. However, I’d loosely guess a dozen visits has been my total. In all those times, the one thing I’ve always wanted to do included a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings.

On my first trip in 2009, Jenny and I booked the excursion. You couldn’t imagine how excited I had become knowing my dreams would be realized. Then, tragedy hit. An accident in Egypt occurred and a group of people traveling by balloon had veered off course and lost their lives. The resulting response from the Egyptian government ceased all hot air balloon travel. That included my flight with Jenny. Disappointed, our tour company pivoted and provided a beautiful carriage ride through the streets of Luxor. Lovely, but not the same.

Later, when I began visiting Egypt regularly, we would make plans to travel to Luxor, Egypt then awake to an amazing sunrise tour. Each time I would visit, the hot air balloon excursions would shut down. I kid you not…at least three more times I had my hopes dashed.

You might think, the trauma involved with hot air balloon travel would convince me this bucket list item should not be fulfilled. Alas, I could not be deterred. However, I never knew when the experience would take hold.

When Kara, Stephanie, and I traveled, we once more added the hot air balloon ride to the Egyptian itinerary. Guess what happened? Yep, tragedy and cancellation.

Then, I traveled to Morocco. We had the opportunity to try out hot air ballooning on “foreign soil”, and I figured we’d change our location to make it happen. Much to my chagrin, we declined to take flight.

Our traveling companions all went, returned from the experience, and raved at how amazing it was. Despite a pang of sadness, I knew my dream would one day be realized on Egyptian soil.

Morocco to Spain we went. Quite possibly the best trip of my life, we then traveled to be with family in Egypt. To see my sisters-in-law, and my nieces and nephews exceeded any expectation I could have.

Then, one morning I awoke, and we had a surprise flight to Luxor. There were some business obligations we had to fulfill (restaurant and hotel inspections), so I thought nothing of it. One evening as I was headed to bed, I was given directions. We would wake up at 3:35 am because a surprise event hit our calendar, and we could not miss it. Of course, I felt giddy because I knew–hot air ballooning was in my future!!!

To balloon, conditions had to be perfect. When you arrive on site, you don’t immediately get in a balloon and go. The companies run tests, and you have to travel to the starting point.

By 4:34 AM, we were on a boat. The boat took us across the Nile. While traveling, we were given directions and information about taking flight. First of all, the different hot air balloon companies had to test the wind. They used a mini hot air balloon to test the speed of the wind. If the mini balloon failed the test, we would not be able to go. I kept praying everything would work out.

After our debriefing on the boat, our small group exited the boat and got into vehicles. The vehicles moved quickly to the location, but we remained in the cars for quite some time. I thought just our little group was going up, but the area filled itself with cars and balloons. Many companies worked together, and each participant (there were hundreds) had to be assigned to a balloon after every test was performed to guarantee our safety.

My flight had only about ten people, but there were other flights that had upwards of 30 people in their basket. I’m sure we reserved a more intimate setting, so that is why we had reduced numbers. At any rate, the coordinators directed us to our balloon, and we watched the entire process. The basket laid on its side with the balloon laying like a blanket on the ground. The captain fired up the propane fuel burners while everyone watched. Other workers helped fill up the balloon by lifting up parts of the parachute. There was a section of the parachute-like balloon material that came into contact with the flames. I watched a hole form, but it did not hinder our opportunity to fly though.

Eventually our balloon filled enough that it was about to take flight. At that point, the people directed us to go to the basket. There were indentations on the outside of the basket that served as steps. They told us to step, step, get in. Each one of us did our best, and we were sectioned off within the basket. As our basket leveled out from all the new weight, our captain added more heat, and we began to rise.

It felt surreal as I was still, but my body rose. I watched things grow smaller, but I didn’t feel as though I was moving. Small moments of fear took over as I kept wondering when the cord from above would be cut, and we’d drop to the ground. FYI…no cords pulled us up!

As I looked around, other balloons were popping up. Some preceded us in flight, so they were already taking off and pulling away from the group. Other balloons looked as if they would never take flight.

Eventually, the sun began to rise, and I looked around. I witnessed the majestic Hatshepsut Temple. When I toured it on land, I felt its immense size, but as I flew past, I recognized that even the largest structures pale in comparison to the size of Earth. I also looked directly below and other buildings just zoomed by.

My heart leapt with joy, and the immense gratitude I had took over. We soared past Howard Carter’s home as well.

Our one goal was to land before reaching the Nile. I saw other balloons beyond what I deemed safe, but our group began to focus on the landing. We had to land between buildings and electrical wires 😳.

The captain gave us specific directions. Once we get close to the ground, tilt the basket but stay inside. The ground support will provide the all clear when we could get out. As you might imagine, not everyone listened. People began to get out and the basket began to rise. The teacher in me began to talk to those around, “You need to stay in so it doesn’t float away with the rest of us.” Some listened. Others grudgingly listened. Eventually we all received an all clear—it was safe to exit.

Friends, I still reflect on that day. I absolutely adored the experience—the fear, the peace, the adventure. Should you wonder if you should try it, I wholeheartedly say go. Go take the chance to experience the amazing and unique form of air travel. You will remember it always!