The Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Ras Al Khaimah is a tethered flight that lifts you over 30 meters above Al Qurm for a short, low-risk introduction to hot air ballooning. The whole flight lasts about 10 minutes and departs at first light, before the desert heat sets in.
Boarding before sunrise (starts around 5:40 am)
You arrive at the launch site in Al Qurm while it is still dark, sign the waiver, and get briefed by your pilot on what to expect before you climb into the basket. The basket holds up to two passengers at a time, so boarding happens in small groups rather than a crowd. Since the balloon stays secured to the ground by high-tensile ropes throughout the flight, there is no drifting and no free flight involved. That makes it a gentler way to try ballooning for the first time, without the usual nerves that come with an untethered ride.
Views from 30 meters up
Once airborne, the balloon holds steady at a height of over 30 meters, giving you a wide view over Ras Al Khaimah as the morning light comes up. Look out over the city skyline on one side, the open desert and green mangroves on another, and Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest mountain, rising in the distance. The basket stays level and calm at this height, so it is a still, quiet few minutes best spent taking photos before the gradual descent back to the launch site.
After landing, a gourmet breakfast is served at the site, a relaxed way to close out an early start before the rest of your day in Ras Al Khaimah. It gives you time to look back over your photos while the balloon is packed away.
Rayna Tours’ own team runs this flight from check-in at the Al Qurm launch site through to landing and breakfast.
To make your Ras Al Khaimah adventure even more memorable, pair this gentle balloon ride with an exciting desert safari Ras Al Khaimah or the thrill of the Jebel Jais Zipline.<
