Hot air balloon flight in Saône-et-Loire

Book a hot air balloon flight in Saône-et-Loire

I have always been amazed when I see hot air balloons flying in the sky, like majestic colorful bubbles floating peacefully above the landscape.

While planning my trip to Saône-et-Loire, I discovered on the Saône Doubs Bresse tourist office website that it is possible to book a hot air balloon flight from Verdun-sur-le-Doubs, a charming village at the confluence of the Saône and Doubs rivers, capital of the pôchouse. Seduced by the idea, I quickly booked directly online via the page dedicated to the activity. In just a few clicks, you can choose the date and time of the flight, either early in the morning or at sunset. You have to fill out a short form with your contact details, height, weight, etc. Nothing too complicated !

An experience in the heart of nature that is not to be missed !

Book a flight

Flight day: preparation and meeting the crew

The big day has arrived! I arrive at 5:30 p.m. on the banks of the Doubs River. The weather is mild, around 20 degrees Celsius, and I meet Yannick, Florian the pilot, and the rest of his team. It only takes a few minutes to feel at ease. Everyone is friendly, and there's a good atmosphere, which helps calm my slight apprehension before the flight.

Including our pilot, there are four of us boarding the basket, while the rest of the team stays on the ground to pick us up after landing. That's right! Flying in a hot air balloon involves a lot of logistics, because you don't steer a hot air balloon like you steer a plane. In fact, you don't really steer it at all; it always flies with the wind, i.e., in the direction and at the speed of the wind. As a result, you never really know where you're going to land!

The crew starts by unloading the trailer containing the basket, the balloon, and the gas cylinders. They explain the safety instructions and how the flight will unfold.

It's already time to unroll the huge canvas which, once filled with air, forms the majestic balloon. We each hold one side of the canvas to facilitate the flow of air sent by the powerful fan and make inflation easier. It takes between 15 and 20 minutes to prepare, which is already a fascinating sight to behold.

Hot air balloon flight over Burgundy

The long-awaited moment arrives. The balloon slowly rises, as if coming to life. The crew gently tilts the basket to bring it into a vertical position, and we are invited to quickly settle in.

That's it, the burners are firing up, my heart is racing. The takeoff is smooth, almost imperceptible. Gently, we leave the ground behind and gain altitude. I am overcome with emotion, my breath already taken away by such beauty.

The confluence of the Saône and Doubs rivers unfolds before our eyes, while the sun begins to bathe the landscape in golden light.

During the first moments of flight, a variety of emotions mingle. The excitement of takeoff, the apprehension of height, intrusive thoughts (if I lean too far, will I fall?), but very quickly, the beauty of the landscape brings us back to the present moment. It is a moment outside of time.

We are already at an altitude of 1,500 meters, contemplating the rivers, forests, and fields, and we can see the vineyards of Burgundy (Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise) in the distance, as well as the cities of Beaune and Dijon. Time seems to stand still, yet the hours pass silently. Only the sunset, with its soft glow, reminds us that time continues to pass. Every moment is a total immersion in the beauty and immensity of the Burgundy landscape.

Landing and end of the adventure

After an hour's flight, we slowly approach a field, carried by the wind, to land. We lose altitude quickly and approach the ground with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Don't worry, by holding on tight and crouching down, the landing causes a few jolts, but above all, lots of laughter!

Night is falling, and it's now time to pack everything away.

We help fold up the balloon and put it in its bag, but how is it possible that it fits in there? You'll have to find out for yourself if you decide to try this experience! All that's left to do is pack up the basket. After a good half hour of tidying up, we find a quiet spot to share a friendly moment over a glass of Crémant de Bourgogne. What better way to end the evening?

Yannick and his team take great care of us, we laugh, we talk about our experiences... It's pitch black, and the team takes us back to the take-off point in Verdun-sur-le-Doubs to retrieve our vehicles.

And so this exceptional adventure comes to an end, with just one word in mind: wow!