Auvergne Montgolfière

Auvergne Montgolfière has organised balloon flights over the Auvergne volcanoes since 2001. It has its headquarters in Chambon-sur-Lac, in the Sancy, and two take-off areas: the Chaîne des Puys, near Volvic or Orcines, and the Sancy massif. It says it has carried more than 30,000 passengers, with qualified pilots with at least 200 flying hours and authorisation from French civil aviation for passenger transport.

How they work

The flight lasts about an hour and the whole experience, with preparation, take-off, landing and the return, between three and four hours. Flights are mostly at dawn, and there are also afternoon flights. The meeting time is not fixed until the evening before, depending on the weather: the day before you call the office before 11:30 to confirm. The baskets carry 6 to 12 passengers, plus the pilot, and you take part in inflating and packing away the balloon. At the end there is a chat and a flight certificate.

Prices and conditions

The adult ticket for the Chaîne des Puys base costs €329; with a free choice of base, €344, and the child's, up to age 14, €275. The season runs from April to November. Minimum age, 8 years, and minimum height, 1.30 m; children fly with an adult. The ticket is valid for two years: if the weather does not allow flying, the flight is postponed within that period.