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Hot Air Balloons in Saumur

operated by Montgolfière Sensation

The Loire and Saumur’s château, from the basket

Lift off near Saumur at sunrise or sunset and drift over a valley of white tufa stone, vineyards and the wide Loire. Depending on the wind, you may pass over the château above the river, the vineyards of Saumur-Champigny or the troglodyte villages cut into the cliffs.

Two colourful hot air balloons float above the historic town of Saumur on the Loire, with the turreted château and church spire reflected in the calm river below on a clear summer morning.
When
Sunrise or sunset
April to end of October
In the air
About an hour
Around 3h30 in all
Age
7 and up
Weather/Take-off
Moved free of charge
Meeting point confirmed the evening before a morning flight, the same day for an evening one

Your flight, step by step

A view looking up from inside a hot air balloon basket, showing a gloved hand operating the burner with an open flame heating the purple and red envelope above against a clear blue sky.

Inflation

The envelope fills with air, then the burner’s flame lifts it upright

A wide, calm stretch of the Loire river under a clear blue summer sky, with sandy banks and green trees lining both shores.

Up, up and away

The Loire spreads out below, with its islands, sandbanks and white tufa villages

Two crew members in matching dark shirts and red caps work together to manage the rigging ropes of a red hot air balloon as it deflates on landing in an open field at dusk or dawn.

Landing

Down in a field, then a toast to the flight

Choose your flight

A large group of smiling people with arms raised in celebration standing in a golden field in front of a hot air balloon basket after landing.

Shared basket flight

Fly with other passengers in a shared basket: about an hour in the air, around three and a half hours in all, with a toast, a hand-written certificate and photos. Sunrise or sunset, any day of the season

Book on their site

A smiling couple stand together in a wicker hot air balloon basket on the ground, with the colourful balloon inflating above them in a green field at dusk or dawn.

Private flight

Your group only, from 2 to 8 people. A tailor-made proposal can be arranged

Book on their site

Three hot air balloons float above the medieval château and church of Montreuil-Bellay on a sunny summer evening, their reflections visible in the calm river below.

Discovery flight

A lower-cost flight on weekday mornings (not bank holidays), valid for two seasons

Book on their site

Two people in knitted jumpers exchange a ribbon-tied gift box in the basket of a hot air balloon, with a golden sunrise and numerous other balloons floating over a sweeping valley landscape below.

Gift box

An e-ticket or a boxed gift, valid for two years: the person you give it to chooses where and when to fly

Book on their site

About Montgolfière Sensation

Montgolfière Sensation is a hot-air balloon company based in Villebernier, near Saumur, approved by the DGAC, the French civil aviation authority. In the Loire Valley they fly from Saumur, Chinon, Amboise and Chenonceaux, at sunrise or sunset, from April to the end of October. A flight is about an hour in the air and around three and a half hours in all, and ends with a toast and a hand-written certificate. If the weather stops a flight, it is moved to another day free of charge.

Hot Air Balloons in Saumur, with Montgolfière Sensation