Preparing your hot air balloon flight
Everything you need to know to make the most of your flight.
Meeting point and take-off sites
- Doussard (74210), car park of the village hall (salle polyvalente), at the junction of route du Pont Monnet and route de la Plaine. Open in Google Maps
- Meet 30 to 40 minutes before or after sunrise, depending on the season and the weather. Please arrive a few minutes early.
- Parking is paid from 1 May to 30 September, with the PayByPhone app. Toilets available.
- Please confirm your attendance by text message the evening before to the pilot: +33 6 36 97 48 14
Three sites around the lake
Depending on the wind direction, the balloon takes off from one of our three take-off sites around Lake Annecy: Doussard, Saint-Jorioz or Alex. The chosen site is confirmed the evening before.
Doussard, meeting point other take-off sites
Planning your flight
Flight confirmation
Once the date is set, get back in touch with us 48 hours before if you are coming from far away and have booked accommodation. Otherwise, final confirmation is given the evening before, around 7 pm.
Duration
The flight lasts 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on the weather, the balloon’s autonomy and the landing options. Allow about 3.5 hours in total: briefing, inflation (with your help), flight, packing up, 4×4 return and a coffee.
Payment
Online by credit card, when you buy your ticket on our Capcadeau shop. If you book directly with the pilot: deposit by bank transfer or cheque, then the balance on the day of the flight by cheque or in cash.
Who can fly and what to wear?
Who can fly
- Minimum height: 1.30 m (4 ft 3 in).
- Any minor who is not accompanied by both parents, or whose parents are separated, must present a parental authorisation.
- Be able to stand throughout the flight and stay firm on your feet at landing.
- Pregnant women cannot fly.
- If you are ill or in any doubt (heart condition…), ask your doctor for advice.
What to wear
- Closed shoes and long trousers: the fields are often wet.
- A cap or beanie, recommended because of the heat of the burners.
- A warm layer: it is colder at altitude, up to 3,000 m.
- Clothes that are neither fragile nor light-coloured; avoid scarves and synthetic fabrics.
- A small bottle of water. No luggage on board; cameras are welcome.
Learn more: what to wear for a balloon flight (article in French) →
Afraid of heights?
If you are sensitive to it, you may feel slightly uneasy during the first minutes of the flight. It passes very quickly.
Photos and videos of the flight
The pilot takes photos and videos during the flight, which may be published on our website and social media. Would you rather not appear? Just tell the pilot on the day of the flight, or send us a message (text, email or contact form), before or after the flight: your face will be blurred or the image removed.
Personal belongings remain the responsibility of their owners.
Weather, load and cancellation
The right conditions
In the mountains, we only fly early in the morning, at sunrise. There must be enough wind to travel, but not too much. The flight is cancelled if there is no wind or too much wind, poor visibility, rain, extreme heat, a risk of storms or balloon maintenance.
Load calculation
A hot air balloon must respect a load chart, which depends on the total weight, the outside temperature and the altitude. If it is exceeded, the flight is cancelled, postponed or its configuration changed.
Cancellation and postponement
We cannot guarantee take-off 100%: the final decision is made on site, the same morning. If the weather does not allow flying, the flight is postponed, free of charge:
- you booked directly with Aero-Mountains: we set a new date together;
- you booked through a partner platform: it is up to you to contact them to postpone your booking or put it on hold. Also keep an eye on your ticket’s expiry date.
The pilot cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred (accommodation, travel). A balloon flight sometimes requires a little patience!
Coming from far away? Book accommodation with free cancellation and refund, and contact us before setting off to check whether the flight can go ahead.
How does a hot air balloon fly?
How does a hot air balloon work?
A propane burner heats the air inside the envelope, which makes the balloon rise. It takes about 600 m³ of hot air to lift one passenger.
Do we fly high?
Yes, it is possible to fly at more than 3,000 m above sea level!
Can you steer a hot air balloon?
Yes… and no! The pilot controls the climb and descent, then uses the winds, which change with altitude, to steer and find a landing field. It is hard to come back to the starting point: every flight is a different adventure.
When can you fly?
Flights take place all year round, as long as the weather allows. The total weight of the passengers is also taken into account.
Learn more: when to fly in a hot air balloon (article in French) →
Can the pilot call on another professional?
To deal with cancellations, Aero-Mountains reserves the right to call on another professional registered with the civil aviation authority and compliant with European legislation. In that case, the flight is carried out under the sole responsibility of that subcontractor.
Where to stay nearby?
After the flight, enjoy the lake! Activities, food trails and discovery tours: our free guide (in French), to take along on your phone.
Hôtel Florimont
1006 rue du Champ Canon, 74210 Saint-Ferréol
+33 4 50 44 50 05 · 10 min from the meeting point
Au Refuge de Blanche
37 passage des Prés d'Arin, 74210 Faverges
+33 6 83 14 22 04 · 15 min from the meeting point
Gîte Le Cyclamon
471 route de la Cochette, 74410 Saint-Eustache
+33 6 21 10 56 05 · 20 min from the meeting point
Au pied du Charbon
Airbnb rental
airbnb.com/h/aupiedducharbon · 5 min from the meeting point
You will also find other accommodation on Gîtes de France Haute-Savoie.
The pilot, the balloon, the insurance
- Operator
- AERO-MOUNTAINS, sole proprietorship of Yannick Dacheux · SIRET 513 294 892 00023
- Pilot
- Certified balloonist and paragliding instructor (about the pilot)
- Pilot licence
- FRA.BFCL.PB00338059
- Balloon
- Chaize 4,000 m³, 4 to 6 passengers depending on weight + 1 pilot · airworthiness certificates (CEN and CDN) up to date
- Insurance
- SAAM Aviation, policy no. DPB-2021-68, valid until 1 April 2027 · cover of €310,000 per passenger, €115,000 per passenger for bodily injury
A question before your flight?
We answer every day from 9 am to 6 pm.
