Take a magical hot air balloon flight in Kent, choose from either a weekday morning or evening flight - it's your choice!
Your adventure starts with meeting the balloon flight crew and what a truly delightful team they are! A family-run concern with years of experience flying hot air balloons all over the world, you will be made to feel at ease and relaxed as soon as you arrive. Just watching how the team work together to inflate the balloon ready for take-off is fascinating and is bound to get the heart racing in anticipation of your balloon flight.
Once in the basket, Michael, your balloon flight Pilot, will give the burners a quick blast and before you know it you're floating gently away above the Kent countryside. It is a truly unique way to see the sights and indeed seasoned hot air balloon riders always say the world looks different from a balloon.
As you gently head where the wind takes you, Michael will tell you all about navigation, how to fly the balloon and give a guided commentary on what you can see below you. With seven different take-off locations for these hot air balloon flights in the Kent area, you might find yourself over the downs, near the glorious coast or heading over impressive country manors.
Your hot air balloon flight in Kent will last around an hour in total and once you've landed you will be treated to a glass of Champagne or Kent's finest ale as you take photos as you chat to your fellow passengers or even assist with the packing away of the balloon.
A 3-4 hour Weekday ballooning experience including:
- Greeting & passenger registration
- Full Pilot briefing, learn how the balloon works and is inflated
- Unforgettable flight across the Kent countryside, lasting approximately 1 hour
- Opportunity to join in the fun packing the balloon away
- Champagne celebration (or Spitfire Ale) with nibbles
- Personalised certificate signed by your pilot
- Return transfers to the launch site in fully licenced minibus
- Free weather Insurance*
- You'll usually be in a basket carrying 8 or 16 passengers and travel 5 - 25 miles
This voucher is valid for weekday (Monday to Friday) mornings or evenings from April till October, weather permitting. If conditions are not suitable on the day then your flight can be rescheduled to a later date. *Weather insurance is offered as standard so if you are unlucky enough to have your flight cancelled on 5 occasions due to unsuitable weather conditions your Flight Voucher will be extended for a further period of 3 months by the operator.
There are 7 launch sites across Kent including:
- Kingsmead Leisure Centre , Canterbury
- Broome Park Country Club, Barham
- Etchinghill Golf Club near Folkestone
- Evegate Craft Centre, Ashford
- Great Chart Golf and Leisure, Ashford
- Headcorn Aerodrome, Headcorn
- Ramada Hotel & Resort, Hollingbourne (near Leeds Castle)
Please note that the launch site will be chosen by your pilot on the day of the flight according to the wind direction. All launch sites are easy to get to and most are within 3 miles of a motorway junction.
There are no age limits, you need to be fit enough to climb into the basket and stand for an hour. Children over 7 are welcome but they must be over 1.4m / 4'6" high, children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. You cannot fly if you are suffering from any serious medical condition or are pregnant. Camera's and binoculars are a good idea however personal possessions are carried at your own risk.
You are welcome to bring family and friends to watch the launch. If you have a large group of spectators we would recommend they stay behind for a picnic or visit the nearest pub, as congestion can often be caused on narrow country roads with a long queue of vehicles following the balloon! Please note that we only have space for passengers in the retrieve vehicles. Sometimes the champagne celebration will be held back at the launch site to allow friends and family to join in with the experience. Photo prints of the experience are available to purchase for £10 and image CD's cost £20.