California > San Francisco > Flying Experience Gifts Experiences

Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride

Name: Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride
Brand: Virgin Experience Gifts
SKU: AIR-SFR-0015
Price: 275.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (24 reviews)

Yountville, CA

From: $275

Item #: AIR-SFR-0015

(24 Reviews)

Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride in San Francisco

In-Flight Photo on Napa Valley Balloon Ride

Ride a Balloon in San Francisco Napa Valley

Soar over Napa Valley for spectacular California views on a calm, peaceful and beautiful hot air balloon ride!

Your balloon operator is Federal Aviation Administration certified
Founded in 1980, your ride provider has been featured on the Today Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show
Glide above the treetops and beyond for breathtaking views of the land below
Capture the lasting memory with an in-flight photo!

From: $275

Option & Pricing:

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Overview

Soar over Napa Valley for spectacular California views on a calm, peaceful and beautiful hot air balloon ride!

Your balloon operator is Federal Aviation Administration certified
Founded in 1980, your ride provider has been featured on the Today Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show
Glide above the treetops and beyond for breathtaking views of the land below
Capture the lasting memory with an in-flight photo!

Full Description

Availability

When Do I Choose A Date?

If giving as a gift, your recipient can choose a date at their convenience; otherwise, you can choose one after checkout.

Year-Round:
Daily - Sunrise

UPCOMING AVAILABLE DATES:

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Important Details

Essential Information

Participants must be at least 8 years of age and be at least 48 inches tall
Children must be accompanied by a legal guardian
There is a weight limit of 275 lbs per individual
Because the basket is designed for a limited number of passengers, individuals weighing more than 250 lbs must contact Virgin Experience Gifts for specific details; additional charges may apply
Expecting mothers are not permitted to fly

Duration

This experience will be about 4-5 hours total with approximately 1 hour of flight time.

Experience Provider Info

Complete information for your Experience Provider, including contact information, will be included on your booking confirmation email once you or your gift recipient have scheduled the experience. Our Product Management team handpicks top-rated experience providers, removing the guesswork for you and ensuring your peace of mind.

Maximum Participants

The balloon baskets are certified to carry 6, 12 or 16 passengers, but they are rarely filled to capacity in order to leave space for added comfort.

Spectators

Spectators are allowed but arrangements must be made with your experience provider prior to your flight.

Weather Dependent

This experience is weather dependent. Always contact the experience provider with any questions regarding weather conditions.

What To Wear

Wear comfortable clothing appropriate for weather conditions and shoes you can wear in a field or vineyard. We also recommend dressing in layers and bringing sunglasses and/or a brimmed hat, and don't forget your camera!

COVID-19 Safety

For this experience, our partners are taking added measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They are having their staff wear gloves and masks, offering hand sanitizer to all who wish to use it, and are sanitizing all shared surfaces and areas. Additionally, they will be taking the temperature of all guests prior to any guest being permitted to boarding their vehicles. If a participant's temperature exceeds 100.4, they will kindly be asked to reschedule. At this time, all flights are strictly for your party only. Please note, public restroom access is limited and may not be available, please plan accordingly. Our partners kindly ask that all participants please bring and wear a face mask, if you do not have one, one may be provided to you. Participants without face masks will not be permitted to fly.

Due to COVID-19, there is a 2 person minimum in order to be confirmed for your flight. These Covid-19 safety measures are subject to change.

FAQs

Why do you fly so early in the morning?

Balloons fly best in cool, calm, stable air which in Napa is usually just after sunrise.

What are hot air balloons made of?

The envelope is typically constructed with fire-treated nylon or dacron that meet specific manufacturer requirements. This material is lightweight but very strong. The baskets are made of rattan, each one individually woven by hand onto a rigid frame.

How high do balloons fly?

Most balloonists enjoy low-level flight. The typical balloon flight would be anywhere from tree level to approximately 2,000 ft.

Does it get cold in the balloon? What should I wear?

The coldest part of your morning will be on the ground! Come dressed in comfortable layered clothing. Walking shoes and a hat are also recommended and of course don't forget your camera.

Do passengers ever get sick?

No, becuase the balloon moves at the same speed and direction as the wind, passengers experience no sense of motion.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

Leave bags of any kind behind. Purses, backpacks, camera bags, etc. are NOT permitted on the flight (bring the camera, leave the bag). We recommend your bring a camera with a strap to capture your exciting adventure!

Returns, Exchanges & Cancellations

Returns
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be returned hassle-free within 30 days. All refunds will be made to the original purchaser.

Exchanges
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be exchanged for anything else in our marketplace at any time. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs more, you'll simply have to pay the difference. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs less, you'll have a credit towards your next booking with Virgin Experience Gifts.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have scheduled a date and received a booking confirmation, you may cancel or reschedule with your experience provider a minimum of 72 hours prior to your scheduled flight. In the event your flight is cancelled due to inclement weather, you will have the option of rescheduling your flight or exchanging for another experience through Virgin Experience Gifts.

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Customer Reviews

This experience has a customer rating of 5
based on 24 reviews.

View More Reviews:

Wonderful pilot. Safe and informative.

— Akash G | Nov 02, 2020

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi, Akash! We love that you have a fun flight! Having a pilot who makes sure that you feel safe and knowledgeable is so crucial -- We can't wait to pass along the kind words. Best, Sophia

Very impressive almost 1-hour ride over vineyards, hills and highways.

— Nadiia K | Jul 20, 2020

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi Nadiia, It sounds like your flight was spectacular and truly met all expectations! We are so happy to hear that you had fun. Best, Sophia

Really enjoyed this experience. Amazing sunrise views and great to see the other balloons out and about. We were able to get some lovely photographs of the scenery and the balloons. The landing was much better than I expected, great piloting! Covid-19 precautions were taken seriously by all involved so felt very safe, this was our first 'non-essential' outing since March so we were a bit nervous but no need.

— Linda H | Jul 14, 2020

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi there Linda, Thank you so much for sharing with us! It sounds like it was a marvelous morning with a perfect sunrise, and balloons drifting in the sky. Talk about dreamy! We will be sure to let our partners know that you enjoyed the flight from start to finish. We are so happy that you not only enjoyed the experience, but felt safe and all apprehensions were calmed during your flight. Our partners do truly have their guests' safety in mind, and really go above and beyond, especially during this unique time. We love that your enjoyed your outing and hope you created some stellar memories! Best, Sophia

Exhilarating is the word I kept using to describe the experience! Such beautiful views in the air and of the ground below us! Mike, our hot air balloon pilot was experienced (35 yrs) and entertaining. The crew was courteous and helpful getting us into and out of the basket. The weather in Yountville was not good for ballooning that morning, so they whisked us into vans and drove us to Winters, where we took to the air. Extraordinary!

— Cheryl C | Sep 09, 2019

Had a great time with the Napa Valley Balloons team! Day starts with a nice coffee and pastry bar while everyone arrives and mingles. The balloon flight is amazing! The experience ends with a delicious breakfast and mimosas back at the winery.

— Josh N | Sep 18, 2018

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi Josh! Thanks for sharing this day with us and we're so happy that you had such an amazing balloon ride! We hope to see you back again soon for another great time. Regards, Cloud 9 Living Team

This was an incredible experience. The staff and crew were all amazing. The pilot, Bob, was very experienced, and I felt completely comfortable. They really do a great job at providing a great experience from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone! Not only do you get amazing views early before the rest of Napa Valley is up, but you have a yummy breakfast filled with mimosas before the winery opens as well!

— Kelly W | Jun 07, 2018

It was truly a wonderful experience. If I had to give any feedback it would be to give more time between check-in and take-off. The email said to arrive at 5:30, and we arrived exactly on time but there was no more coffee or pastries. We found a cup of tea but as soon as we poured it, it was time to take off and we had to throw it out. A very small complaint for an otherwise fantastic service!

— Madeline S | Jul 08, 2017

I had the best experience using Cloud 9 Living to enjoy a hot air balloon ride and will recommend this company to anyone! Customer service was amazing and the experience was top notch. Thanks so much!

— Sarah T | Sep 26, 2016

This is one of the best experiences that I've had. My husband and I went on the Napa Valley hot air balloon ride. It was just such an amazing experience. The conductor was super-friendly. The experience overall from balloon flight to mimosas and breakfast at Chandons ...incredible!!!

— Lorena M | Aug 08, 2016

Beautifully executed from start to finish! Great experience. Thank you!

— Sigalit A | Aug 08, 2016

This was an awesome experience, I highly recommend this service!

— Michelle M | Apr 11, 2016

Wonderful experience -- first class!! Definitely recommend. Started the day with coffee and danish, and then met the pilot, Ken. He had 29+ years of experience so we felt very safe. He proved it with his knowledge of balloons, flying, and the area, and he ended with a perfect landing. Then back to the winery for a delicious brunch. October is a perfect time of year to go -- not too cold. Great time!

— Deborah Y | Oct 25, 2015

The staff was super-polite and knowledgeable. The balloon pilot was quite friendly and informative. The logistics were handled well. The food service could have been better in my opinion. I could have used little more to eat before the ride, and at breakfast there should have been more condiments. But the meal was good.

— John S | Aug 22, 2015

More fabulous than we expected!

— Linda P | Jun 30, 2015

Fabulous experience from start to finish!

— Leslie P | Jun 21, 2015

Breathtaking! Amazing experience!

— Megan W | Nov 12, 2014

Everything from the start was flawless. We were well prepped and then taken to the balloon take-off zone. Took off and stayed in the air for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Back on the ground and back for brunch with champagne ! Awesome from start to finish.

— Kirk N | Aug 14, 2014

It was great! So beautiful. One thing that I wish people told me (or that the service itself told me) was that the best times to fly are outside of July&August (because of the fog in Napa). So we flew over near Vacaville, which was still gorgeous but we were looking forward to flying above the scenery in Napa. Oh well, now we know!

— Mehrad M | Jul 19, 2014

Due to the loss of the balloon company that Cloud Nine had previously used, there were some issues that took some time to resolve regarding initial dates for the trip. The young lady who took care of us was very nice and kept in touch, but we were not quite sure that our chosen dates would be accepted until a short time had passed. Once the dates were scheduled, everything went perfectly. Our only other complaint was beyond anyone's control. We, unfortunately, could not fly out of Napa due to weather conditions. We were offered a reschedule, or a change of location. We, as everyone else, chose the change of location. The company bused us to the new location, and we flew over mostly yellow fields, with some walnut trees and ponds. The fly was still spectacular, and we were not at all disappointed in having made the decision to fly that day. I highly recommend that Cloud Nine continues to use this same company, Napa Valley Balloons. Our Pilot, and the complete crew, including the dog on the chase crew were all friendly, polite, and punctual. The brunch was also fantastic. Missed seeing the vineyards from the air, but everything else was beyond our expectations. Thanks for a great time.

— Bill M | Jun 27, 2011

Wonderful experience! Our pilot Mike was a comedian! I was originally nervous about the heights but it was totally fine!

— Ali V | Oct 29, 2017

We had an excellent balloon trip! Cloud9 made booking and checking in very easy and Napa Valley Balloons was wonderful!

— Kristen W | Nov 09, 2017

Awesome experience! The weather was perfect (with scattered cloud coverage which added to the experience). From beginning to the very end the staff was the best! Very pleased with the whole experience!

— Antioniette B | May 29, 2018

Great experience!

— Lauren C | Apr 22, 2019

Everything ran so smoothly and we had a great experience. This is a professional group and they were uber friendly. Even helped with taking photos from our phones. Highly recommend!

— Myrna B | May 02, 2017

Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride