Operator reviewLuxor hot air balloon · operators
Luxor balloon operators — who actually flies you
A handful of licensed companies fly every balloon over Luxor, whichever platform sells the seat. Only a few publish their fleet, basket sizes and prices; we list what each operator's own website shows and what we couldn't verify.
- Fleet in 2018
- 8 companies, 32 balloons
- Regulator
- Egyptian Civil Aviation
- Oldest (own claim)
- Hod-Hod Soliman, 1993
- Largest basket
- up to about 28 people
Updated October 21, 2026
The short answer
- Best overallHot Air Balloon Ride over Luxor Relics4.81,873 reviewsfrom $88GetYourGuide
The most-reviewed balloon flight in Luxor, supplied by Sunrise Ballooning Luxor, with nearly 1,900 reviews at 4.8 stars and free cancellation on the platform.
- Most comfortableDeluxe Sunrise Hot Air Balloon4.6412 reviewsfrom $96GetYourGuide
A deluxe flight with hotel pickup and more than 400 reviews — the platform route to a premium basket. Check the basket size in the listing.
- Best valueWest Bank Hot Air Balloon Ride with Hotel Pickup4.7339 reviewsfrom $70GetYourGuide
About $70 with pickup and more than 300 reviews; cheaper than any operator's own published standard fare.
- Skip it ifYou want to choose the exact company
Platforms rarely name the operator. If that matters, book direct with Sindbad or Hod-Hod Soliman and accept their own cancellation terms.
Who are the balloon operators in Luxor?
Every hot air balloon over Luxor is flown by one of a small number of licensed local companies, whichever website or hotel desk sold you the seat. In January 2018 there were eight companies with 32 balloons between them, and 32 balloons flew together on one September morning in 2023. The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority licenses the balloons and pilots and can ground the whole fleet for weather.
Most travelers never deal with the operator directly. GetYourGuide, Headout and Tiqets buy seats from these companies and sell them with pickup, and they rarely say which company flies you. Of the balloon flights on this page, only two GetYourGuide listings name a supplier.
Scorecard: what each operator publishes
We checked each operator's own website in October 2026 for the things you'd want to know before booking: how long they've flown, how many balloons they have, how big the baskets are, what they charge and how cancellations work. The score is ours, out of 5, for how much can be verified — not a safety rating, which no outsider can give.
| Operator | Own website | Flying since (own claim) | Fleet (own claim) | Basket size (own claim) | Published price | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sindbad Balloons | yes | 2005 | not stated | standard up to 28; comfort max 20; private | €100 / €120 / €150 | 4/5 |
| Hod-Hod Soliman | yes (last updated 2019) | 1993 | 10 balloons | compartments of 2–5; most balloons up to 20 | not stated | 3/5 |
| Magic Horizon | yes | not stated | "largest fleet in Egypt", no number | not stated | $135 traditional, $1,500 private | 2.5/5 |
| Sunrise Balloon Luxor | yes (contact page only) | not stated | not stated | not stated | not stated | 1.5/5 |
| Dream Balloons | none found | — | — | — | — | 1/5 |
| Alaska Balloons | none found (social media only) | — | — | — | — | 1/5 |
| Sky Cruise | none found | — | — | — | — | not rated |
| Viking, Safari, Salem | none found | — | — | — | — | not rated |
Luxor balloon flights you can book today
US-dollar prices come from each platform's own feed and were checked on October 21, 2026. Dates and group size change them — the booking page has the final price.
Sindbad Balloons
Sindbad says it was established in 2005 as the third licensed hot air balloon company in Luxor, with ECAA-certified pilots. Its website is the most complete of any Luxor operator: four packages — standard (up to 28 guests, 30–40 minutes), deluxe (30–60 minutes), comfort (maximum 20 guests, 30–45 minutes) and a private balloon — with prices of €100, €120 and €150 and the private flight on request. The package pages give a 5:30 a.m. pickup and a 6:30 a.m. departure.
Its cancellation policy is published too: a full refund minus a 3% bank fee more than 48 hours ahead, nothing within 24 hours, and free rescheduling when the weather or the Civil Aviation Authority cancels the flight.
Hod-Hod Soliman
Hod-Hod Soliman says it has flown in Luxor since 1993 and calls itself the city's first ballooning company — though other accounts date the first commercial flights over Luxor to 1988. Its site lists 10 balloons, licensed and inspected every year by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority. Baskets are split into compartments of two to five people, and the most common balloon carries up to 20 passengers in four compartments; small balloons take up to four. Flights are nominally an hour. Flights the company cancels are fully refunded. The site carries a 2019 copyright and no prices, so confirm current details by message.
Magic Horizon
Magic Horizon's own site lists traditional flights at $135, private flights at $1,500 and a premium "Magic Horizon" flight, each with about 40 minutes in the air. It claims the largest fleet of any Egyptian balloon company but gives no number, and it doesn't mention licensing or cancellation terms.
Sunrise, Dream and Alaska
The most-reviewed balloon product in Luxor — nearly 1,900 reviews on GetYourGuide — is supplied by a company listed as Sunrise Ballooning Luxor. A company called Sunrise Balloon Luxor has its own website, describing itself as one of the largest operators in the city, but it publishes no fleet, basket or price details, and we couldn't confirm the two are the same business. Dream Balloons and Alaska Balloons appear on review sites and social media, but we found no company website for either, so we can't verify their fleet or history.
Sky Cruise, Viking, Safari Balloons and Salem: what we could find
Sky Cruise operated the balloon — an Ultramagic N-425 — that caught fire on 26 February 2013, killing 19 people. The Civil Aviation Authority's final report blamed a leak in an aging fuel line. When flights resumed in April 2013, the company whose balloon crashed remained suspended. We found no current website or listing.
For Viking, Safari Balloons and Salem Hot Air Balloons we found no company website, platform listing or news coverage. They may be booking agents, or trade names of a licensed operator. That isn't necessarily a warning sign — many Luxor agents resell seats — but ask which company flies the balloon before you pay.
Booking direct or through a platform?
Pros of booking direct
- You choose the company, and you can ask about the basket and the pilot.
- Specific products — comfort baskets, private balloons, corporate flights — are easier to arrange.
- Weather cancellations are rescheduled by the people who fly you.
Cons of booking direct
- Usually more expensive: published fares start at €100 or $135, against about $63–88 on the platforms.
- Cancellation terms are stricter — at Sindbad, no refund within 24 hours and a 3% fee on all refunds.
- No independent, verified review history attached to the booking.
The platforms typically offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the flight — the Headout flights we checked do.
Verdict
No outsider can rank Luxor balloon operators on safety, and none of them publishes an incident record. What you can judge is openness. Sindbad (4/5) publishes the most: capacities, prices, times and a written refund policy. Hod-Hod Soliman (3/5) has the longest stated history and states its ECAA licensing, but its site is dated. Magic Horizon (2.5/5) gives prices but little else. The rest publish little or nothing we could verify.
For most travelers the practical answer is a platform flight with a long review history — the Sunrise Ballooning Luxor flight on GetYourGuide is the obvious benchmark — booked for an early morning in your stay so a weather cancellation can be rebooked. See the balloon overview for the safety record and the price guide for every current fare. For ground tour companies, see our Luxor tour operators reviews.
We earn a commission only when you book through GetYourGuide, Headout or Tiqets; we have no commercial relationship with any balloon operator named here.
Questions travellers ask
Which is the best balloon company in Luxor?
There's no independent ranking, and no operator publishes its safety record. Sindbad and Hod-Hod Soliman are the longest-established companies that publish real details about their flights. On the platforms, the flight supplied by Sunrise Ballooning Luxor has by far the most reviews. Choose a licensed operator with a long review history, not the cheapest quote.
How many balloon companies are there in Luxor?
In January 2018, eight companies operated 32 balloons over Luxor. The fleet flying on a single morning is similar today — 32 balloons carried 720 tourists on one Sunday in September 2023. The companies are represented by a federation of Luxor balloon operators.
Is Sky Cruise still operating in Luxor?
Sky Cruise operated the balloon that caught fire in February 2013. When flights resumed that April, the company whose balloon crashed stayed suspended. We found no current website or bookable listing under that name and could not confirm whether it flies today.
What about Safari Balloons and Salem Hot Air Balloons in Luxor?
We couldn't find a company website, a platform listing or news coverage for either name. They may be agents reselling seats from a licensed operator, or trade names of one. Before paying, ask which company holds the license and flies the balloon — a real operator will tell you.
Is it cheaper to book directly with the balloon company?
Not usually. Sindbad lists its standard flight at €100 and Magic Horizon its traditional flight at $135, while the platforms sell standard sunrise flights with pickup from about $63–88. Direct booking is worth it when you want a specific company or basket type, not to save money.
Do you earn a commission from balloon operators?
No. We have no arrangement with any balloon company. We earn a commission only when you book through GetYourGuide, Headout or Tiqets via our links, and that doesn't change the price you pay.
Sources and checks
- Sindbad Balloons — home page (packages, capacities, prices, pickup times) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Sindbad Balloons — about us (founded 2005, ECAA-certified pilots) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Sindbad Balloons — cancellation and refund policy — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Hod-Hod Soliman Hot Air Balloons — home page (since 1993, fleet, ECAA licensing) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Hod-Hod Soliman Hot Air Balloons — price FAQ (basket compartments, refunds) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Magic Horizon Balloons — official site (flight types, prices) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Sunrise Balloon Luxor — about us — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Balloonscanner — Luxor flight zone (history of ballooning in Luxor since 1988) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Wikipedia — Hot air ballooning in Luxor (operators and fleet, January 2018) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Wikipedia — 2013 Luxor hot air balloon crash (Sky Cruise, ECAA final report) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Morocco World News — Egypt balloon flights resume after deadly crash (April 2013) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Arab News — Hot air balloon flights boost Luxor tourism boom (Sep 2023) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- Headout — Luxor sunrise balloon flight (cancellation terms) — checked 21 Oct 2026
- GetYourGuide — Luxor balloon tours (feed prices, ratings, suppliers) — checked 21 Oct 2026
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