A flight in a hot air balloon is a unique and unforgettable experience to enjoy personally or to prepare as an original gift for a couple or a small private party. So where can we fly?
I am Massimo Arnò, a balloonist with over 2500 flight hours logged, and I am here to tell you about the best Italian destinations for exclusive and reserved balloon rides.
But a little side note first. The majority of balloon companies that you find online organise their flights for mixed groups of people. As you can imagine, a ride with complete strangers is very much different from an adventure shared only with your special someone or with a closed group of family members, colleagues or friends, where the few of you remain one on one with the world, the boundless skies and your deepest emotions.
This is exactly the kind of experience that we at Discover The Sky specialise in: exclusive flights reserved for couples and small private groups
This approach lets you organise a flight faster (without waiting for months before your booking is confirmed) and customise it with extra options according to your tastes and needs: from an in-flight aperitif to a cake to celebrate your special occasion, from personalised banners to our Premium Experience packages involving several days of memorable activities.
Besides, we operate from various airfields and this article will help you to choose the one that suits you better and reflects your idea of an exclusive and reserved balloon flight. What do you say, let’s go?
What do you say, shall we take off?
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Reserved flights for small groups in Piedmont
Why have I chosen Piedmont and specifically the airfield in Mondovì (Cuneo)?
Well, did you know that thanks to its excellent weather conditions Mondovì is considered the capital of Italian balloon flights? The town is protected by the Alpine ridge both from the west and from the north and this contributes to a perfect wind situation combined with practically zero cloud coverage for most part of the year.
On average, in Mondovì you can fly for about 200 days a year, which is really a lot in the world of hot air ballooning!
Moreover, Mondovì is home to the Italian representative of Cameron Balloons, the world leader in the manufacture of lighter-than-air aircraft and fabric structures And, besides, the flight schools that can be found here will help you master the fascinating art of flying.
I have received my training in Mondovì from some of the best flight instructors of the world: just think that my final flight exam was supervised by Brian Jones himself, the holder of the world record for an uninterrupted circumnavigation of the world on board a balloon.
This is a great advantage that Piedmont in general has to offer: you can fly all the year round here and I assure you that flying over snowy mountain peaks in winter is pure magic.
Needless to say, that the colours of autumn and spring landscapes are simply mesmerising! Check it out in our photo gallery.
Still, why would we choose to fly in Mondovì instead of the more famous and less distant area of the Langhe Hills in Southern Piedmont? I will be honest with you, as always. The Langhe scenery, with its legendary vineyards, is undoubtedly fantastic, but to fly in this area means to follow nearly “obligatory” routes and directions and only under certain wind conditions. This poses the risk of not being able to leave the vineyard area for a landing, with all the difficulties it can bring on.
On the other hand, Mondovì allows significantly more freedom of manoeuvre, while the town and the surrounding hills are just as beautiful, with their more authentic and natural appeal. Depending on how the winds blow, you will have an opportunity to admire the attractions of the Piazza district (the historical heart of Mondovì) or to fly above the Pesio River Valley that offers a visitor a variety of inimitable natural landscapes. Of course, the beauty of this land can be appreciated not only from the bird’s eye view, that is why I have put together a Guide to Mondovì providing advice as to what to see, where to eat and where to sleep in this wonderful corner of Italy.
I have been visiting this town for many years and have always wanted to create a truly unique flight offer, – the Piedmont Premium Experience, that lets you explore the beauty in and around Mondovì in the course of several days.
Flights for small groups in Lombardy
Not only Piedmont! All our airfields have one thing in common: our commitment to help you discover one-of-a-kind, authentic places and to provide you with top-quality service even before takeoff and after landing.
If you are looking for an unforgettable but easily accessible experience, what can be better than a balloon flight for a couple or a small group near Milan, from an airfield that can be reached comfortably within a day’s time from any place in Italy?
Our offers in this region comprise exclusive and reserved balloon flights over Crema, with its charm of a typical Padan Plain town surrounded by countless country estates in the magnificent framework of the Alps.
To the east of Milan, we will fly over one of the most beautiful Italian burghs, Morimondo, situated in the Park of the Ticino. We will be able to admire this splendid natural reserve, as well as the skyline of Milan from above, a truly rare experience. From Morimondo it is also possible to observe the Alpine range: on the best days you can see Monte Rosa on the horizon and even planes taking off from the Malpensa airport! This is going to be an un-for-get-table balloon flight for you and your partner or your friends.
Balloon flights for couples or small groups in Umbria
Other places that I have chosen for Discover The Sky flights are in Umbria, and namely in the town of Montefalco and in the Todi area.
These two locations need no introduction, being really popular touristic destinations.
Montefalco (Perugia) is our main location. The charming little town of Montefalco, listed among the Most Beautiful Burghs of Italy, rises on a hilltop, along the famous Sagrantino Wine Road, in the midst of wonderful vineyards and uncontaminated nature. We will take off not far from cosy farm houses and wineries that will welcome us afterwards for a delicious mid-morning meal. This will be an easy and warm get-together moment when we all will be able to exchange our emotions inspired by the flight and when you will receive a certificate of flight baptism commemorating your experience.
In Umbria we can fly only from mid-April till the end of October, since fields are cultivated and safe landing on agricultural lands becomes more difficult during the rest of the year. We care deeply about the safety of our guests and respect the cycles of nature and the efforts of people who work on the land.
If you still have questions regarding launch locations for our balloon flights for couples and small private groups, please, feel free to send us an email, without any commitment. Together we will plan your own flying experience or a balloon flight intended as a gift for a couple or a small group. Do not miss this opportunity!