FAQ

Frequent Questions

Table of Contents

Who, What, When, Where?

Who: We are happy to offer this adventure to mature, able-bodied people, ages 6 and up!

What: A mountain hot air balloon adventure!
Length: The flight lasts about an hour, give or take. Since our flights are weather-dependent, certain variables may affect the length of the flight. Regardless of length, the memory lasts a lifetime! The whole adventure, from inflation to post-landing celebration, lasts about 3 hours.

When: Daybreak
When the first pink rays of the sun are bathing the Tetons in marvelous pastel. The winds are the calmest of the day, the wildlife is often seen, and there is not a better way to start the day.
The adventure starts between 6:15-7:15 a.m. and often finishes around 9:30 a.m.

Where: Jackson Hole, WY
Meeting: We request our passengers meet with us at a designated location in Teton Village, where we provide a shuttle to our launch location down the road. Specific meeting details will be made clear upon booking.

Flights: We fly over the largest remaining private open space in Jackson Hole, a working ranch bordered by Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the Snake River. The Teton Mountain Range rises five thousand feet right from our launch site, without foothills. Commanding views of the Jackson Hole Ski and Mountain Resort, Teton Village, and all of Jackson Hole and seven mountain ranges, including the Yellowstone Plateau.

What physical condition does a passenger need to be in?

Taking a hot air balloon ride is an exciting outdoor activity, which has some restrictions on whom it is suitable for.

Each passenger must be able to enter the baskets, which do not have doors. This movement is similar to mounting and dismounting a horse.

For this experience, passengers should be able to stand for an hour’s length, and be able to jump off a bench.

Although we wish to be accommodating, we are not able to meet ADA standards of accessibility.
We ask passengers that are recovering from an injury, or have any inhibiting condition to let us know upon booking, or at the soonest possible point.

What about children?

We love families, and although we would love to accommodate children of all ages, they must be mature enough to understand what they are undertaking, which generally means at least 6 years of age. The child rate applies to children 6 to 12 years of age.

In order to keep hot air in the balloon, our pilots utilize the balloon’s burner system throughout the flight. This action causes a noise which can be too loud for some children’s ears. Our pilots generally keep ear plugs on hand that you may request for your child before the fight.

What about weather?

Since our pilots work with the winds to maneuver the aircraft, weather conditions are particularly important for embarking on a safe flight. There are a number of weather and wind conditions that our pilots consider before deciding to fly, always in the interest of giving our passengers a safe and enjoyable experience!

To give as much of a window of possibility for flights as we can, the final weather call is generally made the morning of the flight, around 5 a.m.

What about the pilots?

Our very experienced commercial pilots have over forty years of ballooning experience combined, on several continents. All of our pilots and balloons are fully certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. With the Wyoming Balloon Company, safety is always first.

How high do you fly?

Each flight is custom tailored to the weather conditions of the day by our experienced aeronauts. We may soar from 1500 to 4000 feet above the launch, depending upon conditions. But whether a mile or a millimeter above the meadow, that lighter-than-air feeling stays with you, and may last long after the gentle landing.

Where do you land and what are landings like?

Soft winds, gentle landings.
We fly on the lee side of the Tetons, where winds are generally light and marvelously varied. Differing winds may occur at different altitudes, which our pilots navigate deftly. Our landings take place upon Snake River Ranch, specific location varying by the winds of the day.

How many people can you take?

We have several different sized hot air balloons whose baskets can hold a range of party sizes. Each balloon flies dependent on weight, with our largest holding up to 16 people. We can accommodate parties of 1-16 people within the same balloon, split in compartments of 3-4 people.

What should we wear?

We recommend wearing the type of footwear you would use for hiking, as this is an outdoor activity, and dressing in layers that will keep you warm at sunrise but can be shed once the sun is out.
Summer mornings in the mountains can be in the low 40s F at the start, and warming up to 60s-70s later on.
Additionally, the burner system that creates the hot air for the balloon will emit heat which can be felt by passengers within the basket.

What are the prices?

Prices per person:
Group adult: $425
Group child (6-12): $325

Private: Pricing varies based on party size. Call (307) 739-0900 for details and booking. Thank you!

Included in the price: The whole balloon flight experience – witnessing (and optional participation in) the inflation process, the flight itself, and a post-flight celebration toast.

*Prices are subject to change at a later date if reservations are not previously confirmed, due to expenses that must be accounted for, such as employees, gas, and propane.

How long is the trip?

Time in the Air: “The Ultimate Float Trip”

A hot air balloon experience – floating on air – parallels in many ways with a white water rafting experience – floating on water. Time in the sky, like time in the river, is dependent on currents. For this reason, flights are not ensured to be a specific amount of time.
Though not guaranteed, our pilots do aim for 45 minutes to an hour from launch to landing.

The whole experience, from meeting to final return, includes transportation time, inflation of the balloons, time in the air, and a traditional post-flight toast. Please budget a four hour window for this experience!

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellations for parties of 6 or less made 72 hours or more in advance will be fully refunded.
Weather cancellations made by the company will also be fully refunded.

Cancellations for parties of 6 or less within 72 hours of the flight may not be refunded. However, if you are showing symptoms of sickness, please let us know immediately.

Cancellations for parties of 7 or more made within 30 days of flight may not be refunded.