Hot Air Balloon Ride in Tinghir Oasis
Located 155 km from Ouarzazate, 80 km from the Mehguine Valley in Tinéghir, and at the foothills of the Moroccan Atlas, the Tinghir oasis is composed of 25 micro-oases extending over about fifteen kilometers and containing more than 130 000 palm trees. Crossed by the Bougmez and Todhra rivers, the oasis does not suffer from a shortage of water, as each micro-oasis, which belongs to a family from the region, is supplied with water by a khettara. The water at the level of each micro-oasis is collected by small ditches present at the foot of the palm trees.
The palm grove of Tineghir is the only major oasis located at the junction of the southern and eastern Moroccan Atlas. Located in a setting of great beauty, it occupies a strategic place on the Saharan route. Formerly crossed by the caravans coming from the north to exchange their products with the Saharan cities, the Tinghir oasis is today the cradle of the Berber Arahl Souf valley, a people whose ancestors conquered the southern regions of Algeria and settled there. During the summer, the men would come back to the oasis where their families lived as they were experiencing torrid summers in the Saharan area. The oasis of Tineghir was, until the 1960s, a transition area for Saharan traffic. The palm grove, still fruitful, stretches today on each side of the Todra valley, from Tinerhir until the town of Tinghir, at the foothills of the small hills accidentally capped with rock and gorges hollowed out in pink limestone.
4. Preparation for the Ride
The only challenge that remains for a hot air balloon ride operator is to prepare the passengers before their once in a lifetime adventure. The preparation is composed of two parts; choosing the correct gear for the ride and a safety briefing. For a balloon ride there are no special requirements: just be yourself. However, we love to give useful tips to enhance your experience! First of all, wear contrasting colors; hot air balloons are incredibly colorful. Besides making amazing balloon ride photos, it will also create an amazing professional photo of the passengers with the colorful balloon. Also think about the weather; hot air balloons usually fly in chilly climates. In the morning, the ground tends to be colder. So, if you don’t want to be cold, make sure to wear enough clothes! It’s also advisable to wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty; you may have to step on the basket in a dusty environment. Remember, you will be returning to the ground and unload the balloon. It’s recommended to wear closed shoes, especially as you might have to step on the outside rim of the basket. Last but not least: have a good mood and a positive attitude!
The second aspect of the preparation is the safety briefing. Notice that we call it a safety briefing, not a safety procedure. Leaving the ground in a hot air balloon is something unique. It felt good to entice people with our fascination with hot air balloons. After fetching the passengers at their hotel, we brought them to the take off point, a lovely open flat field bathed in sunlight, with palm trees around it. To avoid them having an awkward moment with the balloon being inflated but not full, we let them watch the take-off ground lock her stall and get fully inflated. When each passenger was standing behind the basket, I gave a pre-flight safety briefing, while the hot air balloon was standing… I want to say up… but the reality is: standing down!
4.1. Clothing and Gear
While required outfits for your sunrise hot air ballooning adventure in the Tinghir Oasis depend on the season, you’ll only need the same few essentials all year long. So here are my recommendations on what to wear during a hot air balloon ride in Tinghir: 1. Warm Clothes The temperature on the ground will be lower than in the rest of the valley. When you take off, you’ll be exposed to the elements on what is usually a breezy morning above the orchard and nearby village. If viewed in advance, the weather forecast can help you dress properly but is not going to be accurate enough for you to determine whether a guaranteed cold morning is to be spent wearing just long sleeves or a warm winter jacket. My best advice is to wear long clothes of warmer material that you can cover up even further with a warm jacket. Since mornings during summer can get quite warm, be advised that the aforementioned layering may come off pretty fast after the sun has risen. 2. Sturdy, Closed Shoes You are not actually going to hop into the balloon from a 6-foot ladder, meaning closed shoes that are sturdy enough to allow walking on uneven ground for a couple of minutes should suffice. However, if you want to make sure you’re not going to look out of place in your pictures — or that your balloonist is not going to scowl at you — opt for sturdy closed shoes without much color. This way, no distracting colors are left in the field of view that the pilot might want you to avoid while taking his photos from the chase vehicle. Some balloonists will even offer to suspend you in the air for a fun photo while keeping their burner going, so you might as well give them your best bet.
4.2. Safety Briefing
As with any other adventure activity, a hot air balloon ride requires preparation and some safety measures to be taken. In our case, the preparation is very little as you are not doing anything physically demanding. However, safety is a priority as you are going to fly in an inflatable object and you have to follow some basic rules during the ballooning excursion. In the bright side, the hot air balloon is about the safest flying method nowadays.
Once you arrive at the launching site, you are going to meet the pilots and the ride team that is here and that will take care of you and your hot air balloon. You will first see the pilots working to prepare the hot air balloon envelope and basket. They will also prepare all the necessary equipment and work hard to receive a weather approval so that everyone is clear to fly and enjoy the experience. During that time, you are allowed to take a few pictures of the balloon inflation and launch. Soon after that, you are called to attend the important safety briefing.
This safety briefing is short and fun and is prepared in the most exciting way possible. Our pilots are fully qualified and experienced – most of them have years of experience and are licensed to teach. You will listen to a fun explanation of how a hot air balloon ride goes while watching and looking at a great number of images that explain every step of your journey. You will hear about the fall, the flight or the rise, the landing, the basket and the burner. You then listen to the safety rules and elements such as how to properly board and disembark from the hot air balloon basket, the rules to follow during the inflation and firing of the burner and their use during flight, the rules to be followed during the landing and everyone’s positions inside the basket, and many other useful and fun information regarding your ride.
5. Booking Your Experience
By now, you may be thinking that a once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon experience high above the desert oasis sounds amazing. If that is the case, here’s how to book an experience for yourself.
5.1. Choosing a Service Provider
When it comes to hot air balloon rides in the Tinghir Oasis, we stand out as the best and most expert local team. While there are several companies offering similar experiences, our commitment to excellence sets us apart. It’s essential to book in advance to secure your spot, as this popular tour often fills up quickly. In fact, many of our guests like to reserve their spots well ahead of time; we recommend booking at least two months prior to your visit to Morocco for the best chance of securing your desired date. Additionally, you may consider whether you want a private hot air balloon tour. Although some companies charge a premium for this service, we believe it’s a worthwhile investment for an intimate experience, free from the distractions of sharing the balloon with other guests. After conducting research on private tours, many travelers have found our availability and service to be unmatched. In the end, those who choose us leave with unforgettable memories and the satisfaction of having booked with the leading balloon company in Tinghir Oasis.
5.2. Pricing and Packages
As mentioned at the beginning, prices are similar but different. One provider did not offer brunch after the flight while the others did. However, they quoted us a slightly better price and, more importantly, they could do it on the date of our choice. And being the first company that kicked off ballooning in the area, it made us lean more towards them. In the end, it cost us $230 each for a sunrise ride, without brunch. Considering that buoyancy balloons travel a lot higher and longer than your regular hot air ballooning, it was worth every penny!
5.1. Choosing a Service Provider
Experiencing hot air ballooning in the beautiful desert of the Tinghir Oasis is a unique and unforgettable experience. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t just book blindly the first available offer. There are some providers with bad equipment and unsafe practices. Pay attention to what the companies offer and what kind of experience you are looking for. Obviously, the cheapest offers are likely to compromise on quality and most probably safety. Hot air ballooning is not the kind of activity where you want to save money!
So, what should you pay attention to? First, one of the most important points is that the business is highly seasonal. Balloon rides are only operated in the winter, roughly from September to April, depending on wind conditions. If you’re in the area during summer, you will not be able to book your ride. Anyone offering you a ride outside of the “hot air balloon season” is probably not a certified balloon operator. Riding with non-certified companies can be a huge risk! These hot air balloon rides operated by un- or underqualified companies are neglecting the safety rules and damaging the image of all other companies, who are taking their responsibilities seriously. Such unofficial companies do not have any permissions and don’t have to respect any regulations. Often, they don’t even have insurance for these activities. Flying with unlicensed operators can easily ruin your holidays. Fake companies often use social media to lure their clients in, using very low prices. Those companies are lying to you! Using those types of companies normally means you will be paying your ride without any guarantees, and even paying for accidents. Your safety and your experience are the most important!
5.2. Pricing and Packages
Prices for hot air balloon rides in Tinghir Oasis vary based on several factors. Shared rides are typically less expensive than private rides; rides that start after sunrise are generally less expensive than rides that take place during sunrise and sunset; and ash bathed in the golden light of sunrise is more spectacular than the view from 30 minutes later on. Most vendors offer two packages: one with pickup/drop-off service from/to your Tinghir hotel, and another that does not include transport and is recommended for people with their own vehicles.
The following examples of prices and package options from two service providers give a good idea of what to expect when pricing your hot air balloon ride in Tinghir Oasis. One provider offers a sunrise hot air balloon ride for 200€ per passenger for a shared ride that lasts 45 minutes to one hour, and for 1200€ for a private ride for up to five people. Pickup and drop-off service from/at your accommodation in Tinghir is included in the price, and earlier pickup is scheduled when the group is larger than three people. After the flight, the group is invited to enjoy breakfast at the balloonist’s provide in Tinghir, and an educational invitation on the mysteries of the ballooning and its flight preparations is available in all available languages (in addition to the soft drinks). Morning rides are also offered, for 150€ per passenger for a shared ride (inside a small basket) or 850€ for a private ride (for three people) and without transport service, and if the group has their own vehicle or transport is scheduled for an earlier time.
6. The Hot Air Balloon Ride
A balloon ride is a truly unique experience – serene yet dynamic, there is nothing quite like taking in the world from a hot air balloon, gently floating above it all. If you are looking to rent a hot air balloon, there are numerous options for you. Hot air balloon rides are not incredibly common and rather difficult to recreate so my advice is to hop on board if you find a hot air balloon tour, you won’t regret it! A great place for first-time balloon alumni, if you are in this region, add a ride to your bucket list!
6.1. Launching Process There are a couple of different ways to get a hot air balloon into the air – hot air balloons work on the principle that hot air rises, effectively making the balloon lighter than the surrounding cold air. The first step is to blow cold air into the balloon, usually through a rather beefy leaf blower device. After some time, the air inside the balloon becomes heavier than the surrounding air and a small amount of hot air is added to the mix. As the air inside the balloon becomes less dense with the help of propane tanks, bozzles and flames, the balloon will begin to rise. In other words, the first step is to get a hot air balloon quite literally hot, before embarking on the hot air balloon ride.
6.2. Flight Experience From the balloon, you can see how the sunrise paints the desert a variety of colors, constantly shifting every few seconds. Underneath, you can enjoy the contrasting colors of oases and palm trees against the browns and reds of the mountains. When we flew at sunrise, we could even see some camels walking through the desert. The sun rises quickly, so the changes are swift and drastic. As the ground starts to become warmer, you may notice random puffs of mist escaping the ground, making the view even more surreal.
6.3. Landing Techniques The usual protocol is that the balloon lands in the opposite direction of the wind. Typically, the pilot maneuvers to a large field and descends, bringing the basket close to the ground. Then, as the landing gets nearer, the pilot will usually cut the burner, letting the balloon float and land down a little heavier than usual directly on its bottom – while it may look intimidating, the technique is practical.
6.1. Launching Process
Preparing for a hot air balloon ride is an exciting process. Upon arrival at the launch site, usually in an open area near the balloon company headquarters, passengers are briefed on the activities and safety rules during the flight. A small traditional Moroccan breakfast is usually provided during the short waiting time of approximately 30 minutes, which is necessary for sufficient sunrise. Afterward, a vehicle brings you to the launch area. Depending on wind conditions and the altitude of the next planned waypoints, the starting point is adapted accordingly. The ground crew starts unloading the balloon from the trailer, connects the balloon envelope to the burner and the propane tanks, and lays out the balloon and the passenger basket on the ground.
In this moment, the passengers can help set up the balloon, held at the same time in its center by the crew members and a custodian. The fun part starts with the inflation process. Usually, the balloon is inflated with a continuous fan, also known as the cold inflation. Once the balloon is opened, air begins to fill it as an object laid flat on the ground. But this is just the first step in the launch process. The second part is the heating part, and this is when the adventure truly starts. The fan is turned off; the burner is lit, and now the hot air begins to create buoyancy. Travelers will notice, at this moment, two particular circumstances that make this activity unique. First, the burner creates a loud sound during the heating phase, just like a rocket. You probably have seen some people covering their ears at the launching step in the movies. Well, that’s not only for fun.
6.2. Flight Experience
After the preparation work, passengers are boarded and secured in the gondola, the balloon is inflated and connected to the burner that will give it lift. The professional pilot performs a last check of weather and wind conditions and the team prepares for launch. Having woken up very early and provided with a hot drink, the passengers are now excited and impatient for take-off. As soon as the balloon starts to rise, the passengers go silent. This is a moment of strong emotion. It is generally towards sunrise that the pilot will take the passengers to explore the beauty of the valley in the soft morning light. Few balloons are regularly in the sky and the valley is deserted, devoid of all activity. We no longer feel the wind at the envelope of the balloon and a strange feeling of levitation in still air is established. Once the balloon is away from the distant noises of the valley, the passengers feel like they are evolving in their own spaceship and they are completely taken by the beauty of the first rays of the sun illuminating the ochre walls of the valley. No one speaks.
The first difficult moments of the flight are behind us and we can now enjoy the magic of hot air ballooning. The dream is established. It is recommended to make a miniature flight, in the immediate vicinity of the take-off site to get used to flying in a hot air balloon. Balloons take off all around the planet, and for this flight, we are surprised to see several balloons at the same time far or near. The first moments of flight are still moments of fleeting emotion for those who do not yet practice. Our gondola basket is not yet stabilized and it rolls while we take off, while we climb, the situation becomes stable.
6.3. Landing Techniques
Soft Landings and Hard Landings The technique we use for the descent and landing depends on the wind, the nature of the terrain and the size of the balloon. We usually ignore those influenced by the latter two factors. If the wind is strong on landing and the ground is not too spongy, we do a hard landing, meaning that when the basket touches the ground we let the rest of the balloon come down fully. Generally, the burning hot air escapes very quickly from the envelope and the descent becomes suspended before high above the ground. We can easily imagine the sequence of events in such a case. The part of the envelope that is released moves upwards much faster than that of the balloon above the basket which moves downwards. In addition to the very high forces acting on the envelope during the soft landing, there are also negative forces depending on the drag provided by the presence of the pilot at the other end of the suspension cables. At the point where the cables are attached to the basket, these are given by the differential between the velocity of the envelope and that of the basket: Therefore, these negative forces reduce the very high positive forces on the envelope during the soft landing. In the limit, they eventually bring the velocity of the bottom point of the envelope to zero at the instant of the bounce before full contact with the ground. If the landing area is a little spongy, this bounce is smoother. If the envelope does not touch the ground again because the pilot had a good direct contact, there is no bounce and the pilot pulls on the suspension cables to decelerate the downward motion of the part of the envelope below the basket in such a way that it does not move down more quickly than the basket at that moment.
7. Scenic Views from the Balloon
The highlight of your air balloon ride will definitely be the views of the oasis itself, so let’s first talk about what you can expect to see while floating peacefully in the sky. Unfortunately, the panoramic views of the valley are mostly blocked by the mountains at the southwest of the village, but if you are lucky to have a flight just shortly after sunrise, you will be able to enjoy the golden colors of the mountains while admiring the smooth sand dunes.
The valley of Tinghir is blessed with a breathtaking setting of mountains and cliffs carved out of sandstone, towering massively above the lush green palm groves that line the river. The shifting colors of the rocks, that range from deep red to light yellow, make for incredible views from a hot air balloon. Flying over the area also offers a unique perspective on the ancient villages with their ksars, the fortified buildings traditionally made from clay.
As breathtaking as these views from the air might seem, what we found even more impressive are the aerial photos we took during our flight. However, be mindful of the direction of the balloon since you will eventually be rotated for landing. Also, this is the twin-basket hot air balloon we rode, meaning that you will be sharing the ride with another group of passengers. Finally, if you would prefer to keep some distance from the other passengers while providing a unique experience for your special someone, you can choose to go for a private flight with the company of your choice. We ended up with some wonderful candid shots with our group while landing, but we also saw some videos from a private balloon ride that turned out great!
7.1. Landmarks and Attractions
Situated at the entrance to the Drâa Valley, the Tinghir oasis has an abundance of color and contrast that is truly stunning and is famous for its lush palm groves, its kasbahs, its breathtaking red cliffs, its many springs, and its mild climate. The town is located 100 kilometers East of Ouarzazate and 400 kilometers from Marrakech. It is a cultural and historical crossroads between Morocco’s Jewish and Arab Berber populations, a place where the past coexists so beautifully with the present. What better way to admire such a beautiful valley than a hot air balloon flight? Nothing! Breathtaking views of the famous Date Palms and the Kasbahs of the oasis spreading in all directions, followed by champagne toasts with your fellow passengers and witnesses at the most beautiful liftoff of the day, holding your breath watching the light of the moment illuminate the natural and human treasures of the valley in stunning gold colors, you may take something like a dozen pictures before the flight, then your flying companions, and finally you and your pilot fly back to your beautiful accommodations in the valley!
The most beautiful view from the air is of the Tinghir oasis. Look, at this time of year, at the golden color of the Date Palm leaves, at the beautiful contrast with the Reddish cliffs of the gorge and the Kasbahs. If you want clarification on anything don’t hesitate! In March, everything is still green, including the small fields scattered in the oasis-covered with wild poppies and colorful flowers. Look at the Kasbah of the oasis center built in the 17th century, and of the peasants with their donkeys at the foot of the cliffs. A little further on, next to the village of Tinghir, the ruin of the fort built in the 1930s.
7.2. Photography Tips
Create stunning images preparatory to your first hot-air balloon flight and pre-flight morning shoot. You can also capture the ground crew inflating the balloons as part of your experience. Make sure you don’t miss the show if you want to have those shots. While in the basket, use a wide-angle zoom so you can capture bits of the balloon in front or below you and be able to zoom in up to 70 mm to get those intricate desert details too. Take a polarizer filter; clear the air of dust particles and saturate the colors. Get ready for one of the best canvas of nature. Watch for ups and downs of the descent and ask the pilot if he can hold still for some aerial shots of the small desert town. Watch for heat distortion. When landing, stay clear of the mouth of the balloon to avoid being burned. When packing the balloon, watch for wind direction to avoid dust and sand. Bring your family here to experience the morning rides. You can be accompanied on the ride with friends, piloting the balloon yourself and having fun flying the balloon. Photo shooting and hot air balloon ride has never been this good. It is the only hot-air balloon operator in Tinghir Oasis which takes tourists on rides above the world’s most stunning and breathtaking location from where you can enjoy and photo shoot, the awe-inspiring gorges around Tinghir Oasis, dotted with traditional Berber mud houses, the majestic Great Atlas and Saghro mountain ranges covered with snow.
8. Cultural Significance of the Oasis
Although Tinghir is a thoroughly modern town, it is surrounded by an oasis and fortified mud-brick Kasbahs belonging to the local Berber people. Together with the palm trees, water-courses, the Kesbahs, the cliffs and the mountains, these sites reinforce the identity of this town. A local-type architecture characterizes the oasis with its richness of colors. In the palm grove, Berber families come and go in donkey carts, collecting dates or selling the vegetables at the market. It feels like a scene out of a storybook that brings the visitors to Tinghir back several centuries.
All around the valley, they can see terraces cultivated with barley, wheat, and vegetables. The palm tree offers its dates to a humbling Berber community. The Shikhs (sing. shaykh) is an honorable title gotten from the desert that designated in Tanamert, the marabout who receives a lot of homage and donations from the people. These “masters” of the towns of the South of Morocco have considerably profited from their privileged contacts with the Sultan and the millennial importance of the oases, in comparison to the aridity of the southern deserts, has largely contributed to increasing the Help for the Sham association, which enables isolated families to hold out.
Tourism promotes a fusion of Berbers and other populations and is one of the main. It is not rare to see vendors coming from the oasis to Tinghir to sell their goods. It allows a sharing of teams, notably in the area of craftwork, the oasis having preserved the ancient techniques of weaving. The discovery of the heritage, back-to-back Berbers of Tinghir is organized by the moonlight. Above all, it is possible to travel to the Ottoman offer to make a trip full of adventure…in the middle of an oasis! The holidays and festivities have not disappeared either, and Berber farmers still organize them to celebrate the date harvest.
8.1. Local Traditions
The Tinghir oasis is more than just a picturesque geographical feature; it is also home to local traditions that arise from the precise interrelationships between the natural setting, the ethnos and culture, and the economy. These traditions have evolved over the years and have made it possible to build a local identity, maintaining some of the old ways of doing things while simultaneously adjusting to new developments: introducing electricity, opening to cultural contact via tourism, opening the economy to national tourism and planning tourist circuits in accordance with the conditions of the oasis (leave of absence for harvest periods, which last about two months, and the breadth of the circuits). The valley is part of a translation corridor, which links north and south by crossing the rivers. In the recent past, a wide variety of goods have crossed the valley to be brought to places such as Sibra, Guercif, Erfoud or even Rissani. Now that the tunnels link the valley to the eastern defile, people from the Sahara have become regular travelers in the defile. They complement the nomadic groups who live in reference zones over and above the service valley.
Thus, the oasis is an area of exchange, and the valley and oasis are spaces of travel for parts of the society to the north, periodically emptying the axis. The influence of the lost environment is still perceptible in the construction of gritstone Vale, or Adobe Guemat houses, located near dates rich at dates. The oases produced the materials for making the Berber woven or dyed wool and cotton garments that used to be sold in the markets located at the exit of the valley. The Moroccan move, a kind of embroidered wool shawl, had a function typical of north-european pullovers. Most local tradition is seen in the Berber rug weaving work by women. The thin and elegant carpets borrow designs from the local fauna and from the abstract symbols that have significance in Berber cosmography.
8.2. Influence on Tourism
Oasis are today’s popular tourist sites, and hence are secondary for the local population. The overwhelming pressure of the tourists and the associated economic benefit are forcing the local authorities to put tourism development before careful management of the available natural resources. Both Phrygian and Tinghir oases are recently attractive for tourists. Services which are necessary for the tourists are built; hotels offering vegetarian meals are opened in the basin. Surprising old and modern buildings are newly constructed in the Tinghir oasis. New tourists’ attractions – air balloon flights and car transits through the canyon country – have been developed near the Tinghir oasis. Different individual and organized one-day and multi-day low-budget and expensive tourist transits through the Tarn Valley are organized. It seems that an advertisement of the Tinghir oasis and air balloon flight is enough to increase the number of tourists in the future.
The number of tourists will depend on political-criminal situation stability. It will contact restricted zones which are popular for tourists. The orientation on active, bizarre and amazing tourism can degrade the landscape. Sunset on pleased oases structures once a year is really wonderful. But accidental vandalism may occur during bizarre tourism. The constructed buildings will grow in number. Local traditions will be destroyed. Family tourism is by far a better form than bizarre and organized tourism. It may save some old traditions, family relations and visible oasis communality. Increasing number of tourists will have both positive and negative effects. It does not seem that the high number of tourists may be wanted.
9. Environmental Considerations
Environmental Considerations: The hot air balloon activity is an environmentally aware practice promoting minimal ecological impact on the landscape of the Tinghir Oasis. The pilot and crew have extensive training in environmental awareness and ensure that the activity has as little impact as possible on the local ecosystem. All balloons are made by manufacturers who have sound environmental policies. In the last decade, hot air balloon manufacturers have been sensitive to the fact that hot air balloons can have a big visual impact on the development of air tourism. For that reason, they paint or dye their balloons in deep colors with special pigments.
Sustainability Practices: All hot air balloons organize their activity in an eco-friendly way in order to respect the land in which they develop their commercial activity. They have policies to minimize their use of resources and equipment during the whole life cycle of their products. More specifically, the company respects the following five commitments: They fly with hot air balloons sized in order to work during the fewest possible flights. They bring and take off their passengers from the best view points, thus avoiding the use of cars as much as possible. They use the least number of staff as possible; they restore and recycle the land of your flight as if they had never flown over it, using the minimal fuel possible; and finally, they are involved in cultural partnerships and will support research on sociological changes in the region. By practicing hot air balloon flights in this eco-friendly manner, the company promotes the preservation of the stunning landscapes over which they fly. The activities undertaken promote biodiversity and the protection of Natural Parks around the world. It also allows financial resources to be injected in an area which is nearly destroyed, offering locals a new form of sustainable and alternative tourism.
9.1. Sustainability Practices
It is essential that tourism and adventure sports activities protect the environment and natural resources that attract visitors. Efforts are made with our hot air balloon tour in Tinghir Oasis to minimize our group’s environmental impact while visiting the local community of the Tinejdad oasis. Our balloon tour operator is involved in many environmental efforts and activities to educate all travelers about the importance of protecting the natural area. We partner with local and environmental organizations to do community service to remove trash, cigarette butts, and other pollutants strewn in nature. We do this to help protect the environment for local residents, animals, and travelers. We avoid using plastic water bottles during our hot air balloon tours and prefer reusable containers. We provide travelers with reusable containers to fill up with purified drinking water instead of using bottled water. Our hot air balloon tour offers bottled water on the balloon, but we ask you to reuse the bottle for as long as possible and leave it for recycling. Our tour recommends locally sourced and produced snacks that support the local economy. Our flight crew works with local snack vendors to offer local snacks for our travelers in Tinghir so you can enjoy the delicious samples while riding in the balloon. Our hot air balloon ride in Tinghir and surrounding areas is committed to creating a unique experience that protects the environment and empowers the local community.
This hot air balloon ride in Tinghir Oasis emphasizes the importance of practicing sustainable tourism. We cater to smaller groups up to 12 people to ensure a unique and comfortable experience while flying over the beautiful oasis. We remain in contact with locals who populate the oasis below. Community members benefit because they are able to share their centuries-old knowledge of the area with our travelers and spread the message of sustainable tourism. The hot air balloon tour starts in the dark early morning hours and finishes just before the Tinejdad market opens. Passengers get back to the ground just in time for breakfast before taking their next adventure trip. Travelers should know that this ride has low impact on the environment and local goods.
9.2. Impact on Local Ecosystem
The choice of an outdoor balloon flight over the west-facing foothills of the eastern high Atlas towards the significant Jbel Sarhro volcanic massif makes this activity a non-ecologic heavy pollutant. The current decision-making relies on the sole despoliation of the Jbel Sarhro volcanic massif with the dropping inflating gas, which has already burned all the vegetation cover and continues to do so heavily, is only partially restored. The large fire produced by any hot-air balloon for drifting and inflating, which has already occurred for a very long time and is still insufficient to bum the sensitive mountain environment to the extent of all the Jbel Sarhro volcanic massif, which is almost free of any vegetation cover. This choice made the hot-air balloon activity a heavy and continued source of pollution of the environment of the Tinghir valley and its precious oasis because of the daily expulsion of the large burnt hot gas which has a high concentration of water vapor, destroying the riparian vegetation, the date palms, and all the other plants of the oasis which have a high water requirement. All these negative effects have a considerable and very important value in the Tinghir oasis region, where there is great meteorological solar sunshine while being in a country that is pretty deserted generally and very poor in thermal comfort. The global measures, which are used to show the atmosphere dependence to the double diffusion mechanism, are the best to be privileged to use to analyze these effects.
10. Post-Ride Activities
As evidenced by our itinerary, we included an array of activities, but once you complete your hot air balloon ride, you could spend the rest of the day in the oasis: go trekking, and biking, or just stroll through the date palms and listen to the birds sing. If you like hiking or riding a bike, there’s a fantastic circuit along several palm groves around Tinghir that could take you hours. In Tizri, a Berber village, there are some minor caves, but don’t expect any wonders. And while you’re at Tizri by bike or on foot, you can check out a couple of charming traditional sites dotted about, such as the mosques. Ask the locals for directions; they’ll steer you toward these historic neighborhoods. Actually, if you want to find out what life is like inside Berber villages, just keep on going past Tizri and head for Izerbi (two hours on foot; no bike) where you’ll get a taste of the traditional life of the red adobe houses that the villagers have not abandoned. Here, women still make bread in traditional outdoor ovens and men tend to small flocks of sheep.
Otherwise, explore the town of Tinghir itself. Walk through its narrow alleys lined with adobe houses; pay a visit to its narrow and tranquil souk; and don’t forget to drop by around prayer time to experience the mosque at the center of town bustling with activity, and also the veil shop, home to a wide selection of Berber tribal veils. If you arrive on a Wednesday or Saturday, you’ll catch the souk, and those looking for a good meal can try out a tagine at either of the huge local joints next to the mosque.
Don’t miss authentic Berber food at least once, especially if you haven’t tried it yet. Local specialty: food cooked in a tadjine – the medieval cooking pots from Southern Morocco. If you don’t want to eat near the mosque, check the menu prices ahead at the village’s little houses. Otherwise, at the top of the town, after the last houses, there’s an outlet where every day they bake bread or thin doughs in their communal ovens.
10.1. Exploring Tinghir
When the sun rises again and the other ballooning crew members have left to go for their own breakfast, we’ll head back home into our traditional kasbah located in the heart of the famous Tinghir Oasis where guests can relax and get their energy back while enjoying a delicious local breakfast. Just as during the balloon ride, you’ll be pampered with enchanted morning views of the Jewish kasbah, the palm trees in the valley and the Atlas mountains at the horizon. Once we’ve recovered from the ride and breakfast, we’ll set out for the rest of the morning to explore the area surrounding Tinghir. Just a 5 minutes walk away from our kasbah, you’ll reach a bridge above the amazing oasis and can take fantastic pictures of the kasbah with the palm trees in front and the Atlas mountains at the back. Then we’ll head back on the road and cross the palm trees, looking for a place where we can climb up to the hills on the right. Walk silently on the cliffs and have your sight at the valley to enjoy the view of the oasis amenities. Consider walking around to see how the local Berbers maintain their ancestral customs: women getting water at the fountains, make-up, cooking, and youth getting around with the traditional hand-woven carpets for sale. Or visit the old granary, the only one left around Tinghir, and learn more about its surroundings’ relevance in the past for agricultural production. Tired of the walk? Hop on the donkey and head back down the dunes for a rest at the kasbah. What’s next? Laze around while gazing at the colorful play of light on the kasbah, palm trees or Atlas Mountains as the sun sets, or enjoy a traditional Moroccan meal before going back up to your room and spending another night in this beautiful kasbah. We’d recommend you go for a shower, dinner, and early sleep to prepare for your next day’s activities!
10.2. Local Cuisine
Tinghir is well-known for its sweets, especially in the form of pastries and cookies called “Gayla,” “Karfa,” and “Ghriba.” People from all over the surrounding valleys come to this area to taste and buy them. As such, before your ride, it is a good idea to visit a shop selling baked sweets, plus some local taboult or teas with mint and spices, which is a perfect way to experience local tradition. People commonly ask for potatoes fried in oil, sometimes with a local chili pepper (hot but very flavored). Immediately after that, you can find many small shops selling pieces of pizza or scrumptious small bread baked over direct fire with a filling of eggs and spices, usually served warm. People call it “Bedia,” and it is, for sure, an experience. Dishes served in most local restaurants include tajines and grilled meat. People generally think that the best lamb meat comes from the valley of Tinghir. However, beef is certainly the best meat to prepare brochettes or grilled meat. The area of Tinghir has many places allowing for such preparation, which locals like to enjoy. Road stops and the way from and to the valleys also have many options, where you can taste sandwiched and checkered brochettes. As for drinks, people are big consumers of dairies, sour milk, and white cheese. However, people are very fond of drinking mint tea, especially travelers. It has become a habit. Tea is prepared in a rustic way to experience smooth drinks. Locals present food, and dishes laid out in a friendly family atmosphere. In addition to that, you are often visible sitting with neighbors or friends tasting local products around the same table. During the month of Ramadan, locals stop consuming food and drinks during the day. When night falls, it is true their customs change. The city of Tinghir is essentially quiet and turned on family celebrations.
11. Testimonials and Experiences
Almost everyone who tried a hot air balloon ride in Tinghir said that it was one of the most beautiful things they had ever done in their life. It was a unique experience and increasingly wanted by many travelers. The majority of them had never tried this activity before. You will be above the ground without making a sound in a traditional hot air balloon made of silk and synthetic materials and that makes you feel unique in the world. Different from paragliding, the hot air balloon is a soothing and peaceful activity and not adrenaline rush. You will see different shades of colors, moving dunes of the Erg Chebbi desert, and thus being charmed. The satisfaction of climbing in a hot air balloon gives way to the wonder at the beauty of the views that unfold before your eyes. Here we present to you several testimonials made by travelers who lived this wonderful experience:
“I am going to write this review with a heavy heart because I don’t want to share such a beautiful experience. But to help other tourists who want to travel to Morocco, I will. On our visit to the Tinghir Oasis, we rode a hot air balloon and, at first, we thought on it was crazy and we would never push the red button in the air and with Taz on the passenger seat. But the experience was so wonderful and with a mesmerizing landscape that these fears were blown away. Hot air ballooning in Tinghir Oasis was a must-do in Morocco.” “I’m not sure if the hot air balloon in Tinghir was the main reason why I flew thousands of kilometers to Morocco, however it certainly was on the shortlist. When you fly a hot air balloon you get a particular feeling of peace which fills your heart.” “Our hot air balloon ride in Tinghir Oasis could not have been a more beautiful experience – the colors at sunset, the desolation, the tranquility, the little villages in the middle of nowhere, the warm colors of the clay in contrast with the surrounding earthy landscape.” “It was airborne before we knew it and I can’t tell you the feeling of flying through the valley and over the mountains… it was magical. It was pleasure and fun, silence and peace.”
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Are hot air balloon rides safe? Yes, hot air ballooning is a very safe activity when performed by licensed companies with qualified and trained pilots. Always fly during summer to lower the risks of wind and weather for your air flight. Aim for air zones where there are no mountains, towers, or other structures nearby. What clothes do you wear for a hot air balloon ride? Comfortable shoes and long trousers. Ceilings in heated hot air balloons are high but low in cooler air and cold air balloons. Hot air balloon burners can be quite noisy, so ear protection can also help. When can you go hot air ballooning? Hot air ballooning is all year around but depends on the weather. In hot air balloons, you fly in good weather. You can’t fly in bad weather. Hot air ballooning is done in the early morning or late afternoon around sunrise and sunset because the wind is calm. How long does a hot air balloon ride last? You might read that a trip lasts an hour, but that is only the flight time if the winds are light. A hot air balloon flight takes about three hours, including pick up and drop off and about 20-60 minutes in the air. Will I get air sick? Hot air ballooning is the simplest form of aviation and the ride is smooth and gentle, but if you are prone to airsickness, it is advisable to take some anti-motion sickness meds before the flight. But the majority of people do not have any problems like this as hot air ballooning is a very nice experience. I am not a morning person, do I HAVE to get up early? As aides, we know that some ballooning guests are not morning people, but it really does need to be done. Air is cooler when the sun is not out and cooler air allows the balloon to climb higher and faster than it would in the heat of the day.
13. Safety and Regulations
Safety is an essential aspect of hot air ballooning, especially after the several accidents in different places around the world. A passenger should perform any journey with a hot air balloon only from a reliable and certified company. There are also some bodies that are in charge of controlling first the companies and also the rides after the accidents these gentle giant suffered. Let me explain you who they are and what kind of security guidelines they put in place to guarantee these modern-day flights are completely safe. We hope that after reading this section, you will feel much more comfortable going on your first hot air balloon ride!
13.1. Regulatory Bodies
There are certain aviation authorities around the world who control the operations of hot air balloon companies and their flights. In the USA, the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of all the operations. In Europe, hot air ballooning is mainly controlled by the European Union Agency for Aviation Safety. The guidelines on balloon design and manufacture worldwide are realized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
In Maroc, the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile is in charge of controlling the hot air balloon business and avoiding accidents. This body was erected after the tragic accident of a hot air balloon in Marrakech in which all seven people (five French tourists, one pilot and a tourist of British nationality) who were on board died. Since then, regulations have gone stricter and stricter. The following paragraphs explain certain international safety standards you can follow to check that the company you are flying with follows.
13.2. Safety Standards
The balloon has to be designed according to the document “EAS-APP 20 (Airworthiness of Hot Air Balloons)” from EASA, be built by a manufacturer following the Part 31 (“Airworthiness Standards: Special Conditions”) from the Federal Aviation Administration and must respect the obligatory conditions present in the FAI’s Sporting Code Section 9. The Care and Maintenance may be done by any skilled technician as long as he follows the guidelines defined in those documents and also any maintenance manual drafted by the fabricant of the hot air balloon.
13.1. Regulatory Bodies
The regulation of commercial airships worldwide, including hot air balloons, is managed primarily in the USA by the Federal Aviation Administration and worldwide by Transport Canada – Civil Aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for enforcing compliance with federal aviation regulations concerning the manufacturing, repair, and operation of airship systems. Transport Canada ensures that all hot air balloons fly safely in Canada and governs the operation of all airships.
Regulations are designed to reduce the risks associated with hot air balloon rides, and no accessible activity exists in life that is free of exposure to risks. Hot air balloon flights are considered safe in the United States and Canada according to the statistics compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada requirements need to be satisfied to legally fly hot air balloons. The responsibility to meet the regulations rests with the balloon pilot, the airman responsible for the operation, and the pilot in command. Transport Canada requires hot air balloon operators to follow operational regulations, which include licensing, training, inspecting, and maintaining the ballooning equipment and its components.
Maintaining hot air balloons is accomplished by meeting the strict requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada regulations as mandated by the Aeronautics Act. The balloon blasting operation is controlled by the hot air balloon pilot that has a legal requirement to make every effort legally possible to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers. Considering other operations which can be equally rewarding and exciting, but present a higher risk profile, hot air balloons are subjected to the same parallel set of restrictions and pilot requirements as those of turbine or jet-engine aircraft.
13.2. Safety Standards
The reputation of hot air ballooning as a safe activity is partly due its long history of safe operation, but safety is also a product of the stringent procedures developed during that history. The various hot air balloon associations throughout the world have developed detailed safety standards. Information about hot air ballooning about balloon manufacture and maintenance is available from various national bodies representing recreational balloonists. Hot air ballooning is regulated in Canada and in the United States. They list requirements for hot air balloons and approved balloon companies, and enforce certification and maintenance of commercial ballooning. These safety procedures govern the construction and maintenance of hot air balloons, pilot training and certification, and the avoidance of disturbances to the passengers. Some procedures peculiar to hot air ballooning are in relation to the use of heat and cold during the flight, some procedures to avoid in-flight fire, the use of light to the pilot, hoop design and choice of ballast for hot air balloons, altitudinal control, and a note about hot air balloon aches.
14. Conclusion
What a surreal adventure the hot air balloon ride was that morning! The experience of floating weightlessly over a stunning desert landscape, while the sun came up slowly and unveiled the breathtaking scenery over the Tinghir oasis, and watching flocks of goats coming home and the life of the small towns in the valley’s palm groves waking up slowly in a distance, was more than worth the long drive to reach that place. I highly recommend this original activity as one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of the Moroccan desert.
If I had to redo this trip someday, I would not make any major changes to the itinerary we followed, as I think it was the best way to enjoy the different landscapes of the region in a relatively short period of time. The Lybia plateau, the painted rocks, the palm groves, vernacular architecture, high mountains, Kasbah, narrow Hercules valley, walk in the gorges, Berber culture, traditional clothing and cuisine, leisure and daily activities of the inhabitants, unique flora and fauna, warm colors of the sunset and sunrise, the inviting stillness of the small towns and villages, the long stony valleys, high mountains, and arid plateaus with their dramatic clay slopes, and the golden sand dunes, all these varied landscapes and experiences contributed to make that trip so enriching and different.
It allowed us to appreciate the Berber culture and enjoy the incredible warmth of its inhabitants who, despite their extremely difficult way of life, always greeted with a smile and a wave the few travelers who dared to cross those inhospitable corners of the earth. Finally, I would like to thank my husband Philippe for being so brave and persistent in his attempts to see the desert. I will never forget that life experience so rich in contrasts and su
