How about flying over the Auvergne volcanoes during a hot air balloon flight in the Puy de Dôme?
Hot air balloon flight in Puy de Dôme
When you come to Clermont Ferrand, you can visit the famous Puy de Dôme volcano in many different ways: on foot, by rack train, by paragliding, but you can also discover it from the air during a hot air balloon flight. Let's have a look at this activity and the different ballooning experiences in Puy de Dôme.
How does a ballooning experience work?
To really get up in the air like Cyrus Smith in Jules Verne's Mysterious Island, nothing beats a hot air balloon flight.
After confirming the weather forecast, meet the pilot and the whole team at the departure point on the day of the flight.
It must be said that participating in the inflation of a hot air balloon is an impressive experience. Watching the balloon grow in size and then rise again, eventually becoming lighter than the surrounding air, is truly amazing.
Once in the basket, you change your reference point. You take off from the ground without realizing it and drift in the surrounding breeze. You move at the same speed as the air mass. You no longer feel any air current on your face and yet you climb and move forward in complete silence with a surprising perception of the surrounding noises. Only the jet of flame from the burner is there to remind us that it takes a little energy to keep the balloon in the air.
During the flight it is time to take out the camera because, well installed in the basket, you will have the possibility to take pictures of the Auvergne volcanoes as you have never seen them.
The landing is perhaps the most sensational phase of the flight because depending on the strength of the wind, the return to the ground can be as gentle as the take-off or a little more athletic. So if in doubt, hang on to the handles.
Once on the ground, simply lower the balloon (lay it on its side) and deflate the balloon, then store all the equipment (balloon and basket) on the trailers and in the 4x4.
Is it possible to fly over the Puy de Dôme in a hot air balloon?
Yes, of course it is. It is quite possible to fly over the Puy de Dôme in a hot air balloon and even a good part of the Chaîne des Puys. Balloonists are very good at analysing the weather forecast and the direction of the wind at different altitudes. It is only by adjusting the altitude of the balloon that the pilot can change the direction of the flight. By taking off "upwind" from the Puy de Dôme it is then very easy to fly over it and the neighbouring puys such as the puy de Côme, the puy du Pariou, or a little further away the puys de la Vache and Lassolas.
As you approach the Puy de Dôme you will probably have the opportunity to come and play with the paragliders which often share the same flight slots as the hot air balloons at the end of the day. A most incredible encounter for both of them!
When can I fly in a hot air balloon?
Hot air ballooning is usually done early in the morning or late in the afternoon. It is important to choose these times of the day when the sun is not yet high on the horizon in order to take advantage of the calmest possible atmospheric conditions.
In winter, flights can be spread out over a longer period of time during the day, as the sun remains fairly low and nightfall arrives quickly.
How long does a balloon flight in the Puy de Dôme last?
Generally, a balloon flight over the volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys lasts about 1 hour. This can vary according to the outside temperature which affects the density of the air and the ease with which the balloon can rise for a given temperature of hot air. Gas consumption can thus vary greatly between a flight in summer and one in winter. Winter often offers better efficiency and therefore allows slightly longer flights for the same gas consumption.
Video of an evening flight between paragliding and hot air ballooning :
Meeting of a hot air balloon and a paragliding flight in Puy de Dôme :
Where to go hot air ballooning in Auvergne?
If flying over the Puy de Dôme and the Puys chain is one of the most popular flights, it is also possible to make magnificent hot air balloon flights in the Auvergne in other areas. You will be able to take off on the Sancy massif and discover all the most famous peaks of the region such as the Puy de Sancy, the Puy Ferrand, the chain of the Dore mountains from the Puy de la Tâche to the Puy de l'Angle. You will also discover the magnificent crater lakes that dot the area, such as the famous Lake Pavin or, a little further north, Lake Guéry... You can also take off from Lake Chambon and fly over the castle of Murol perched on its rock.
Another destination to discover in a hot-air balloon: the southern Limagne, also called the little Tuscany of Auvergne. This area near Issoire is full of small basaltic mounds which make it an extremely hilly territory. At sunset, each hillock casts its shadow over the fields below, offering a splendid panorama.
A little further afield you can also take a hot air balloon ride in the Cantal. This massif offers even more valleys than the Sancy massif. Here again you will drift over this ancient strato volcano to discover unsuspected landscapes: Puy Mary, Griou, Roc d'Hoziere, brèche de Rolland... This flight is simply magnificent. From the top you will also see the Sancy massif in the distance, to the north, and if the atmosphere is really clear, maybe even the Pyrenees far away on the horizon.
Auvergne Montgolfière : the regional specialist
To make such a flight in a hot-air balloon in the Puy de Dôme, in the Sancy or even in the Cantal: the specialist in this field is without any doubt Auvergne Montgolfière. Equipped with a dozen hot-air balloons of different sizes and numerous pilots, Auvergne Montgolfière will allow you to discover this activity and to fly gently in the air. Whether you are flying solo, as a duo or for a group event such as a team building or seminar, this ballooning service provider will be able to adapt to your needs to give you an unforgettable experience.
Would you like to try? Contact Auvergne Montgoflière on 04 73 88 40 00.
What is the price for a hot air balloon ride over the Chaîne des Puys?
Approximate price of a balloon flight in the Puy de Dôme of about 1 hour:
- 1 adult: 290€ to 305€.
- 2 adults: 490€ to 505€
- 1 child: 210€.
- Private hot air balloon for 2 adults 800€
In case of cancellation due to weather conditions, the flight will of course be postponed to a later date.
Photo credit: Auvergne Montgolfière
