Loire Valley Hot Air Balloon Tours
Hours, prices and access verified by the Loire Valley Tours team — last checked 2026-09-16.
Loire Valley hot air balloon tours lift you over the river near Amboise, or over Chenonceau and the Cher, for about an hour at sunrise or in the evening. The pilot flies only in calm air, and a drink waits in the field where you land.
Hot air balloon tours in the Loire Valley
★★★★★ 4.7 (290 reviews · 3 to 4 hours)
In AmboiseHotel pick-up
Pickup within 15 km of Amboise, about an hour in the air over the Loire, then Champagne or sparkling grape juice and a tasting at Caves Plou et Fils. Children fly from age 6; souvenir photos cost extra.
From $299 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
★★★★★ 5.0 (167 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes)
Near Chenonceau
You meet at 4 Rue de Verdun in Saint-Georges-sur-Cher and fly over Château de Chenonceau and the Cher with an experienced pilot-guide. Wine, cheese and a certificate wait on landing; passengers from 13.
From $269 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Fly over Chenonceau and the Cher
An experienced pilot-guide, the château below you, and wine, cheese and a certificate on landing, from Saint-Georges-sur-Cher.
Check availability
What a Loire Valley hot air balloon tour is
It is an outing of three to four hours built around about an hour in the air. You meet the
pilot at sunrise or in the early evening, and the time that is not flying goes on the setup, the
landing and a drink in the field. The balloon lifts off only when the air is calm, and the wind
decides the route.
The flights take off from two places. Near Amboise, the balloon rises over the Loire, and
pickup from your address within 15 km is in the fare. From Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, it rises near
Château de Chenonceau and the Cher. Fares are $269 to $299 a person.
Why choose a balloon tour
You see a château from above
From the ground, Chenonceau is a gallery across a river. From the basket you see the whole
plan: the arches over the Cher and the formal gardens beside the château.
Calm air sets the hours
Balloons fly at sunrise and in the early evening, when the air is calmest. You book one of those
two slots, never a midday one.
It leaves the middle of your day free
Because the flights run early or late, the middle of your day stays open for a château, a
market or a tasting.
A drink on landing
Near Amboise it is Champagne or sparkling grape juice and a tasting at Caves Plou et Fils. Over
Chenonceau, wine, cheese and a flight certificate wait in the field.
Balloon flights vs a château day tour
The two flights differ in where you meet and who can come. A château day is the ground-level
alternative.
| Flight near Amboise | Flight over Chenonceau | Château day tour |
|---|
| Fare | $299 a person | $269 a person | $234 to $281 a person |
| Time | 3 to 4 hours | About 3 and a half hours | 8 to 9 and a half hours |
| Where it starts | Pickup within 15 km of Amboise | 4 Rue de Verdun, Saint-Georges-sur-Cher | Tours or Amboise tourist office |
| Youngest passenger | 6 | 13 | No limit listed |
| After landing | Champagne and a cellar tasting | Wine, cheese and a certificate | Not applicable |
| Inside a château | No | No | Yes, one to two hours each |
Check availability from $299
A flight is the view, not the rooms. Many visitors do both: a sunrise flight, then one of the
Loire Valley châteaux tours another day.
What you get, and what you don't
- The flight: about an hour in the air with a pilot, on both.
- Transport: pickup and drop-off within 15 km of Amboise on the Amboise flight.
For the Chenonceau flight you drive to the meeting point.
- The drink: Champagne or grape juice and a cellar tasting near Amboise; wine,
cheese and a certificate over Chenonceau.
- Not included: souvenir photos on the Amboise flight, and entry to any
château.
Or fly over the Loire near Amboise
Pickup within 15 km of Amboise, about an hour in the air, then Champagne and a tasting at Caves Plou et Fils. Children from 6.
Check availability
Planning a balloon flight
- Price band. $269 to $299 a person, with the drink in the fare.
- Keep a spare slot. Balloons fly only in calm air, and the pilot can move or
cancel a flight at short notice. Book early in your stay so there is time to fly another day.
- Dress for a field. Closed shoes and long trousers, and a layer at sunrise. You
may help pack the balloon away.
- Ages. From 6 near Amboise and from 13 over Chenonceau.
- Season. The weather by month shows when the valley is
calm and warm.
- Cancellation. Both flights refund in full up to 24 hours before.
Who should choose something else
- If you have one fixed morning. Weather can move a flight. If your only free
slot cannot move, book a ground tour.
- If you want to see Chenonceau for less. The
Loire Valley bike tours include an e-bike ride to a picnic facing the
château, for $99.
- If you want the rooms and the history. The
Loire Valley châteaux tours take you inside.
- If you have children under 6. Neither flight takes them. The Segway ride in
Amboise suits riders from 12.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a balloon tour take?
Three to four hours from meeting to goodbye. About an hour of that is in the air; the rest is the briefing, inflating the balloon, the landing and the drink afterwards.
When do balloon flights run?
At sunrise and in the early evening, in calm weather. The flight itself lasts about an hour inside an outing of three to four hours, including the setup and the landing.
What happens if my balloon flight is cancelled for weather?
Balloons fly only in calm air, so the operator can move or cancel a flight at short notice. Travellers describe flights moved to another slot or date, so leave a spare morning or evening in your plans if you can.
Can children fly in a balloon?
Yes, from age 6 on the flight near Amboise and from 13 over Chenonceau. Both flights meet early in the morning or in the evening.
Does the balloon fly over Château de Chenonceau?
The flight from Saint-Georges-sur-Cher takes off near Chenonceau and flies over the château and the Cher when the wind allows. The pilot chooses the route on the day.
What should I wear on a balloon flight?
Closed shoes and long trousers, because you land in a field and passengers often help pack the balloon away. Bring a layer for a sunrise take-off.
Can I cancel a tour booking?
Nearly every tour refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. The exception is the 2-day tour from Paris by train, which needs seven days' notice.