How to fly over the Loire Castles in the hot air balloon?

Would you like to visit the Loire Castles in an unusual way? Here's our mini-guide to fly over the balloon!

Did you find that visiting the Loire Castles was too cliché? Wanderlix offers an unusual way to see them: in balloon! This unusual excursion will offer you a unique experience, namely to explore, from the air, the riches of the history of France. The adventure tempts you? Prepare yourself to take the height with this mini-guide article to fly over the Castles of the Loire in balloon. Here is the main thing about this unusual experience: history, visiting tips, activities to do, reservations, cost, schedules, access and accommodation!

History of the Loire Castles

The Loire Castles are former fortresses erected in the Middle Ages. They were the favorite residence of the kings of France in the Renaissance. The Loire Valley is also known as the « Jardin de la France ». It consists of a set of buildings dating from the time when royal power was established on the banks of the Loire. It was in the 15th and 16th centuries, a hundred years before the royal power moved to Fontainebleau, then to Versailles. Because of their incredible state of preservation over the centuries, they have been classified as the world heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The most famous are the castles of Chambord, Cheverny and Chenonceau. There are about 15 other must-sees.

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The visit period

First thing to think about to fly over the Castles of the Loire in a hot air balloon: at what time of the day. If you love the beautiful colors that illuminate nature, fly to dawn or dusk. At dawn or at night, this unique historical and cultural heritage will be revealed under a thousand lights.

Weather

In times of rain, thunderstorms, fog or strong wind, the nacelle will not be able to fly. ♪ flights are deferred for free . The flight confirmation is communicated the day before in order to avoid overcosts of cancellation of travel and accommodation. The flight season extends 1 April to 31 October . Summer is therefore logically the best period to fly over the Castles of the Loire in balloon.

Equipment

To perform this unusual experience, it is necessary to adapt its outfit according to the season and humidity. Planned good walking or sport shoes sunglasses and what to cover. ♪ temperatures can be fresh , especially in the early spring and autumn.

What to see and what to do by flying over the Castles of the Loire in the hot air balloon?

The tour takes a total of 3 hours. It includes:

• The welcome of the passengers,
• The journey to the take-off site,
• The air balloon inflation,
• Boarding,
• The free flight, about an hour,
• Landing,
• The folding of the envelope,
• The delivery of the ascent certificates (with a toast from the aeronaut)
• The journey back to the terminal.

In the nacelle you will fly over the Castles of the Loire and see from above the most remarkable castles of the Renaissance. These include castles Chenonceau , Chambord , Amboise, Blois and Chaumont-sur-Loire. But overflying the Castles of the Loire in the hot air balloon does not offer that only. Visiting the Loire Valley through the airs allows you to admire the landscapes and the cities of Liguria, along the banks of the river. You will fly over these sites through vineyards and forests.

How much does a ticket cost to fly over the Châteaux de la Loire in a hot air balloon?

For a flight above the Loire Castles, you must count between 150 € and 195 € per person according to the provider. If you wish to book combined ticket with accommodation for two people , prices climb to more 300 € . For example, count around 500 € for one night in a partner hotel for two people and a flight for two people in hot air balloon.

How do I book online a ticket to fly over the Châteaux de la Loire in hot air?

Book an online ticket to fly over the Castles of the Loire in hot air balloon is very easy. There are about ten different providers, with departures from Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise or Orléans. The aeronauts include: France Montgolfières, Sport Découverte, Air Touraine, Aerocom Montgolfières, Les Ballons de la Loire, AdrenActive, Loire and Montgolfière or Montgolfière Sensation.

The reservation process is simple. All you need to do is to provide your contact details and civil status in a booking form. You then choose your desired flight schedule. The payment by credit card is sometimes impossible . It is then done by cheque. As a result, you will receive by email confirmation of the order and tickets, valid one year after the program.

Flight schedules in hot air balloon

The hours to fly over the Castles of the Loire in the hot air balloon are variable according to the providers. Generally, they vary depending on availability and are fixed in two times: morning flight and evening flight. Between March and October, the morning flight takes place between 6h and 12h30 By month. The evening flight is organized 16h to 11h by month.

How to access the Loire Valley Castles?

Several possibilities offer you to go to the region of the Loire Castles:

• Via the train, the TGV service the SNCF stations in Tours and Orleans from Paris, Nantes or Bordeaux. In TER, the Orléans-Tours line serves the stations near the Loire Castles.
• By car: If you come by car, car parks are nearby take-off sites.

After receiving the confirmation of the good weather conditions, the team will be waiting for you at the scheduled time on the take-off site. After the landing, a return to the starting point in 4×4 is planned.

Where to stay near the Loire Castles ?

To fully appreciate your visit to the Châteaux de la Loire in hot air balloons, it is often advisable to take off at dawn or dusk. This, in order to enjoy the best colors of the day. Therefore, it will certainly be necessary to sleep near take-off sites.

To sleep near the Loire Castles, you can target cities between Tours and Orleans either: Tours, Amboise, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Blois, Beaugency or Orléans. However, it will still be necessary to find a means of transport to go to the meeting point one hour before take-off.

To stay close to your meeting point, several accommodation solutions are possible. For example, traditional establishments such as hostels and hotels. ♪ hotel comparisons will then be a useful ally.

Other option, cottages and accommodations in the living room (via Airbnb in particular) are also a good option. You must first define your accommodation needs. The best thing is to find accommodation or a room a few steps from the rendezvous point for takeoff. In any case, the region is so touristic that the rentals are numerous in the region of the Loire Valley.