Hot-air balloon flight with views of Lake Garda

If there’s one experience that deserves a place on your bucket list, it’s seeing the world wake up from a hot-air balloon.

Imagine Lake Garda at the first light of dawn, the silence up there and the landscape slowly coming to life beneath you. Now imagine enjoying all this whilst suspended in the sky, aboard a hot-air balloon, letting the wind carry you for about an hour alongside an experienced pilot.

In Ponti sul Mincio, you’re in for an experience lasting around three hours, culminating in a fitting end to your journey: back on solid ground, yes, but with a toast and local specialities waiting for you.

What we will do

We’re meeting at dawn in Ponte sul Mincio (MN), just as the sky begins to lighten. We’ll be welcomed by the pilot and the ground crew, who are already busy with the preparations: we’ll watch as the hot-air balloon is inflated, seeing it gradually take shape until it’s ready for take-off.

After a brief briefing, we’ll climb into the basket. The burner will be lit above our heads and, almost without realising it, we’ll begin to rise gently from the ground. Below us, the landscape will grow ever smaller, whilst the first light of day begins to illuminate Lake Garda and the surrounding countryside.

From here on, the wind will dictate our route. We won’t have a set course: for about an hour, we’ll let the currents carry us along at their own pace and in their own direction, enjoying the silence of the heights and a panorama that will constantly change before our eyes. And that’s precisely the beauty of it: no two hot-air balloon flights are ever the same.

When it’s time to return to the ground, the pilot will identify the most suitable spot for landing, which will vary depending on the path taken by the wind. The ground crew will join us and then escort us back to the meeting point.

But before we say goodbye, we’ll celebrate the experience with a toast accompanied by typical local produce, including cured meats, cheeses, taralli, roasted hazelnuts and other specialities, as well as wine, fruit juices and water.

Including the inflation of the hot-air balloon, approximately 1 hour’s flight, landing, transfers and the toast, the experience will last a total of around 3 hours.

Who it is aimed at

This experience is suitable for everyone aged 6 and over who is at least 120 cm tall. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult, whilst those under 18 must provide parental consent. Please note: the age stated refers to the day of the flight, not the time of purchase.

The maximum weight allowed is 130 kg per participant.

To take part, you must be in good health: for safety reasons, pregnant women, people with reduced mobility or those with injuries that prevent them from climbing into the wicker basket unaided or from bending their knees are not permitted to fly; people with heart conditions, and people who have been diving within 24 hours of the flight or who have recently undergone invasive surgery.

Participants are solely responsible for ensuring they are fit to fly. It is recommended that you consult your doctor if you have undergone surgery or received medical treatment within the two months prior to the flight.

Other information

The experience is available from May to November, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and is confirmed subject to a minimum of 6 participants.

The exact time of the flight will be confirmed the day before the flight. You will receive the organisers’ contact details once your booking has been confirmed.

The scenery you may see during the flight may vary, as the direction of the hot-air balloon journey depends on the direction of the wind.

The price of the flight includes transport to and from the take-off and landing sites, insurance and a toast with typical local products ( cold cuts, cheeses and local wines, taralli, roasted hazelnuts, dried pears, fruit juices, water and, on request, hazelnut cake) . If you have any food allergies or intolerances, please inform the organisers using the contact details provided in your booking confirmation email.

Free parking is available on site. The meeting point is difficult to reach by public transport, so we recommend travelling by car.

Recommended clothing

• Comfortable, seasonal clothing
• Flat shoes