# Sunrise balloon flight over the Chaîne des Puys Hot-air balloon · 1 h flight, 3–4 h in total · From age 8 · From €329 Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/auvergne-rhone-alpes/chaine-des-puys/things-to-do/chaine-des-puys-hot-air-balloon-flight · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dónde: Chaîne des Puys From the ground you see the volcanoes one by one. From a balloon you see the whole line, with its craters, the forests and the lava flows running down to the plain. It is the most expensive plan in the area and the one that depends most on the weather. ## What it is and why it is worth it Auvergne Montgolfière has flown over the volcanoes of Auvergne since 2001 and has a take-off base in the Chaîne des Puys, near Volvic or Orcines; they send you the exact spot when confirming the flight. Flights go mostly at sunrise, when the air is stillest, and there are also afternoon flights. The balloon rises, depending on the wind and what the pilot decides, between 300 and 1,500 m above the ground, and the route is set by the wind: no one knows beforehand where it will land. You help inflate and pack up the balloon, and at the end there is a chat and a flight certificate. ## How it works The time is not fixed until the day before: that day you call the office before 11:30 to confirm that the flight is on and that you are coming. The flight lasts about an hour and the whole experience, with preparation, take-off, landing and the return, between three and four hours. The baskets take 6 to 12 passengers, plus the pilot. Arrive 15 minutes before the time for the safety briefing. ## Who it is for From age 8 and 1.30 m tall, and children fly with an adult. You do not need to be fit, but you do need to get up early and accept that the plan may change. ## How much it costs and what happens in bad weather The adult ticket for the Chaîne des Puys base costs €329. With free choice of base, €344, and the child's ticket up to age 14, €275. The ticket is valid for two years: if wind, temperature or cloud prevent flying, the flight is postponed within that period. So it is best to book it for the first day of your trip, and leave the other days as a margin. ## Paso a paso ### 15 min · Meeting and briefing At the take-off point they tell you the day before. ### 30 min · Inflation You help prepare and inflate the balloon. ### 1 h · Flight Over the Chaîne des Puys, wherever the wind takes it. ### 1 h · Landing and return Packing the balloon, chat, certificate and return to the starting point. ## Qué llevar - Warm clothes in layers, even in summer - Closed shoes: you land in a field - A cap or hat, the burner gives off heat from above - Your camera, with the strap well secured ## Consejos ### Book it for the first day If it cannot fly, you still have the other days of the trip to try again. ### Call the day before, before 11:30 That is when they confirm the flight and the meeting time. ### Sleep nearby With a sunrise meeting, staying in Orcines or Chamalières saves you the early start. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does a balloon flight over the Chaîne des Puys cost? €329 per adult and €275 per child up to age 14. ### How long does it last? About an hour of flight and between three and four hours in total. ### From what age? From age 8 and 1.30 m, with an adult. ### What happens if the weather is bad? The flight is postponed; the ticket is valid for two years. ### Where does it take off? Near Volvic or Orcines; the exact spot is confirmed the day before.