Our review
Ciel d'Afrique has been flying hot air balloons over Marrakech since 1990, under the guidance of a founder who has been piloting since 1982. The classic flight carries 16 to 20 passengers for 40 to 60 minutes, up to a kilometre in altitude, at the moment the sun rises over the Atlas. Take-offs are mainly from the north, on the Jbilets side, beyond the Palmeraie, or from the south, above the Agafay desert.
The morning is scheduled like clockwork: hotel pickup in a 4x4, van or minibus, tea or coffee upon arrival at the airfield, then the flight, commented by the pilot, over the villages, the palm groves and the first hills. On the return, a Berber breakfast awaits the passengers, and everyone leaves with a flight certificate. Depending on the formula—Découverte, VIP, Exclusive or à la carte—you fly in a group or in a small party, with an optional souvenir video. Family first flight, birthday, gift for two: this is the kind of outing you offer.
Things to know: the alarm goes off in the middle of the night, since the airfield is 30 or 45 minutes away and you fly at sunrise, and the post-flight breakfast is simple, with few seats. Expect to pay more than 2,400 dirhams. Once up there, no one regrets setting the alarm.
