STUNNING Hot Air Balloon Ride over LUXOR, Egypt - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

Ep.44 We were blown away (pun intended) by our ride in a hot air balloon over Egyptian ruins in Luxor. Add a beautiful sunrise to that experience and we have a memory that will float in our brains forever. Follow along as we share our top tips while gliding above the Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Temple of Karnak, and Hatshepsut Temple on the West Bank of the Nile. ❤️
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Chapters:
00:00 - Start
00:55 - Where is the hot air balloon launch site?
01:17 - What to wear on a hot air balloon ride?
01:59 - How safe is a hot air balloon ride?
02:39 - How many people fit in a balloon basket?
04:16 - Do they weigh people before flying?
04:35 - What does it feel like to fly in a balloon?
06:15 - The peacefulness of a hot air balloon
07:00 - What can you see in Luxor on your ride?
07:55 - Sunrise flight was the best for us
09:07 - How long is a hot air balloon ride?
10:03 - How high do you fly?
10:35 - How was the hot air balloon landing?
11:27 - What happens after you land?
13:04 - Tip #1 - Book Early
14:08 - Tip #2 - Costs will vary
14:55 - WARNING: Lower priced riders may get bumped
15:11 - Tip #3 - Book the best time for you
15:31 - Tip #4 - Be on time for your pickup
15:47 - Tip #5 - Stay in contact with your vendor
16:56 - What did our hot air balloon ride cost?
17:42 - Would we do this again?
Finding Gina Marie is where we share our lives as full-time travelers and the connections we make along the way.
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📹 VIDEO EQUIPMENT
* Primary Camera: Sony FX30
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#findingGinaMarie #worldtraveler #worldtravel #livingthedream #slowtravel #digitalnomad #digitalnomadlife #africatravel #retireearly#retireearlyandtravel #egypttravel

[@GlobetrotterGranny]

I love how you really described the experience and how it’s not scary. I have been fairly resistant to going up in a balloon over the years due to some fears of heights. Then I purposely did a zip line to overcome my fear of heights at the Grand Canyon and I’ve been sooooooooooooooo much more at ease in trying new things. You have inspired me to try this experience. Thank you!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much, Rebecca! I'm so impressed about the way you chose to face your fear of heights. That's so brave! We did a zipline in Florida many years ago and the climb itself was a bit nerve-racking. That was over a swamp, but the Grand Canyon is at a whole other level! If you can do that, then a hot air balloon is a piece of cake! And if you try it-which I highly recommend-you will love it. Although I'd love if you came back here and shared your experience with us! -Judy

[@zaidett]

Not scary at all, there is a feeling of peace

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@zaidett We felt the same! Thanks so much for watching! -Judy

[@judgetulfo7281]

Can you imagine that I am Egyptian and will never enjoy a balloon ride before? I thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this video with us, and I wish you lasting happiness and good health. Good luck to you.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching. I hope you will be inspired to try a hot air balloon ride at some point. It was an amazing adventure! Thanks for your very kind comment. We loved Egypt. You might also want to check out our other videos from there, linked below. -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@luzejo28]

Love the end. Thanks for including the outtakes. That made me smile big! 😁😄 Riding in a hot air balloon is in my bucket list. 🎈 Thanks also for all the valuable info. 👌👍

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! Kevin was very patient through all my “sunset” comments! 🤣 I hope you can make your dream a reality. It is so worthwhile! -Judy

[@annetterobinson3213]

Yet another thing to add to my ever growing bucket list! Looks amazing, lots of great information….thank you 🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching, Annette! Our bucket list grows the more we travel! But we wouldn't have it any other way! -Judy

[@claudiahansen4938]

That is so cool! Hot air ballooning is on the list of activities I have never done. Including bungee jumping, skydiving, skiing, parasailing, or walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain! But I am a certified scuba diver, waterskiier, snorkeler and swimmer and bicyclist. Thanks for your video!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

I think you’ve got an impressive list of credentials there, Claudia! No talent or special skills needed for this one, so go ahead and work to add this to your accomplishments! It really was an awesome experience. Thank you so much for watching and for your inspiring comment. We’ve got some bicycling on our achievements list, but that’s about it! -Judy

[@claudiahansen4938]

@@FindingGinaMarie yes, I can add it, as it doesn't involve rapid speed as bungee jumping does, for example.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Exactly! No stress to your body, you fly in a wide open space so unlikely to crash into a building, unlikely to break a bone like skiing. Just happiness. -Judy

[@vishantbatra]

You both explain so well. I am cent percent sure your channel's going to grow tremendously and you both will get immense popularity in the youtube world!!!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching and for your very kind comment. It means a lot to us! If you haven't already seen the rest of our Egypt series, I'll link it below. -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

Again I see such an underrated channel. I just came across to this channel and definitely loved them! It's obviously better than so many KZbinrs travellers guys etc. Lovely couple, cool video editing and clean speaking without any exaggerations and not promoting any company. From now on wherever I go, I will check you videos. Appreciated your work. Thanks!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Tunahan, and for this very kind comment. We appreciate you! You might want to check out the rest of our videos from our month in Egypt. Also, we'll be in Morocco this fall. If you have recommendations for us, we'd love to hear them! -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

@@FindingGinaMarie Sure I will check all of your videos. I've been to Morocco, different experience. It was my first desert experience. Just be careful with scammers. Especially in Marrakech. Don't miss the Fes, like time is frozen around 12th century in the old city. Take a first class train ride from Fes to Marrakech, otherwise without AC second class is a disaster train.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for the suggestions and warning. We appreciate it a lot! -Judy

[@carolinacadabra8278]

I would love to ride in a hot air balloon! Thanks for taking me along. 🌅🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for choosing to come along with us, Carolina! We are so glad to have you here! I mentioned to someone else that we didn't want to interrupt the music in this video by putting in our standard intro music. Should we continue to leave it out on future videos, or is our 11-second intro worth keeping? -Judy

[@ericaakananawilliams]

Thank you for sharing your experience… traveling to Egypt 3/14-26/2024- your video has helped me to make the decision to go up “balloon ride “!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We hope you love it, Erica! We highly recommend using our preferred hot air balloon company, Hod-Hod Soliman. We chose them specifically for their safety record and were not disappointed. If you decide to use our link, we'll get a small commission at no cost to you: link.findingginamarie.com/balloon Someone just mentioned that the Egyptian pound has lowered in value even more than when we were there, so keep that in mind when you are looking at costs. Have an absolutely amazing trip, and we'd love to know what you think when you return. It's right around the corner for you! -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@merrillmixer1190]

Thank you for this detailed video. We are going to Egypt in September and am feeling stressed and unsure. I was debating whether to do the hot air balloon ride and your info has made me feel confident in going forward with it. We hate 4am wake up calls too.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Merrill, and for your sweet comment. We are so glad we have given you some confidence. It really is a magical experience! We hope you have a wonderful time in Egypt, and we’d love to hear your thoughts when you return. And there is nothing wrong with taking a nap when you get back, but it will be an exhilarating and wonderful experience! If you haven’t seen the rest of our playlist for Egypt, I am linking it here. There is a lot of great information to help you prepare. -Judy Egypt kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@michaelgraden6690]

Wow! I’m planning a trip to Egypt for sometime in the future, doing a lot of research and your guy’s videos have been very helpful. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do the air balloon ride until I saw this video. Thanks! 🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching and for letting us know that our video eased your mind. It's an incredible experience and we absolutely loved it! We highly recommend it! -Judy

[@svitlana1500]

Great video with a lot of useful info. I’m planning a trip to Egypt ,and now I will definitely include a ballon ride to my bucket list. Thank you

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Svitlana, Thanks so much for watching. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact our guide in Egypt. He led us on our Nile River cruise and we were super impressed. He speaks excellent English, is passionate, knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. We have an entire video series from our month in Egypt that we'll include below if you want to watch it, including our cruise, where you can see Mahmoud in action. We loved Egypt and hope you will as well. We'd love to hear about your trip when you return! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@eugenejamesconnor951]

Thanks for posting! My wife's dream trip is Egypt and I plan to take her there next year 2025, for our 10th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, she is very afraid of heights but my daughter and I want to do this. It looks GORGEOUS!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Early congratulations on your 10th anniversary, Eugene! You might want to catch the rest of our series from our month in Egypt, which is linked below. Also, We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. You can watch him in our Nile River cruise episode. He speaks excellent English, he’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. We wish we had found him earlier in our travels! You can book him for one or two days to see places you want to tour, so don't worry about needing a guide 24/7-you don't! -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@jennyjames808]

🎈 ☀️. Thank you for sharing this amazing experience!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We had so much fun riding in this hot air balloon. It ranks among our very top experiences ever! Thanks for watching, Jenny! -Judy

[@floydoconnell2811]

Great information. Thank you so much. Got my trip booked for December, with a hot air balloon ride 👍

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Floyd, thank you so much for watching. We are thrilled to hear you will be taking a hot air balloon ride in Egypt. It truly is an incredible experience. We hope you have a fabulous time, and we would love to hear about your time in Egypt when you return. If you missed it, we have an entire Egypt playlist of seven videos from our time there. I'll link to it below. -Judy kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@lindareeves5410]

Thank you very informative😊

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We can't express how much we loved this experience. If you ever go to Egypt, we HIGHLY recommend taking a hot air balloon tour. Thanks for your comment and for watching, Linda! -Judy

[@chartingwithliv]

Once again love the channel and the reviews you guys have!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much, Liv! We appreciate you so much! The music in this video seemed to trump our standard intro music. Should we continue to leave it out on future videos, or is our 11-second intro worth keeping? -Judy

[@chartingwithliv]

@@FindingGinaMarie The music is excellent and yes i would keep it. The quality of the content you guys make is TV worth imo!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Wow, thank you so much! We want to make sure that we always are providing value. You all are so important to us! -Judy

[@chartingwithliv]

@@FindingGinaMarie 😄

[@lisap0204]

Wow! Looks like you had an amazing time! Great video. So informative. I think the sunset rides could be interesting. 😉

[@FindingGinaMarie]

LOL! You might not see what you signed up for that way, unfortunately! But so glad to hear you enjoyed it; it was a fabulous experience! Thank you so much for watching! -Judy

[@GingerDeBrosse]

What a wonderful experience 🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching, Ginger! It means a lot to us to have you comment, especially such a nice one! It also really helps our channel! -Judy

[@dawnrearden2374]

We took a balloon ride on our last morning in Luxor last week. There were many forms we had to fill out, a safety briefing and the most amazing experience with a great pilot, watching the sun rise and seeing a different perspective of the sites. Amazing. Do it.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Dawn, I don't actually remember us having to fill out much paperwork, and our safety briefing was thorough but quick. It was amazing for all the reasons you are mentioning. Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your experience. I think it is a great encouragement to people on the fence. -Judy

[@morpheuszzz662]

What a beautiful video! I've never seen footage like this of the Great Pyramids. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience in the hot air balloon, etc. Your information makes the idea of visiting Egypt must less scary.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We are so glad you feel this way. We had such an exhilarating time and felt very safe. It was such a cool experience! Thanks for watching! -Judy

[@eggy384]

Awesome makes me wanna check into this! What a great experience 🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

It really was! And it was unlike anything we expected it to be. We felt very comfortable with the vendor we used. Truly an experience we will never forget. You may also want to watch the rest of our video series from our month in Egypt, which I will link below. Thanks so much for watching and for taking the time to leave such a nice comment! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@holbrrr]

I'm a 31 year old female who is planning a solo trip to Egypt next year. I love your videos, thank you so much for all the information, I have found them really helpful and you've eased some anxieties I have had! xx

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! I'm going to share a link to our entire series from Egypt in case you missed any. Also, we did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. He is expanding his services and speaks excellent English. He’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@lbunnygordon1133]

Amazing times.. so glad you liked it😊 It s definitely cheaper.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

It was absolutely incredible. We loved every second! Thanks so much for watching! -Judy

[@ayshaaali1306]

You two have a great way of describing places. You really need more followers because your content is fantastic. Keep doing the amazing work that you’re doing 👍🏾👍🏾

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much! We had such a great experience in Egypt and would recommend visiting! Here’s a link to our other videos from our month there. We’d love you to watch and share with your friends! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@lyssadeson4379]

Love this video

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We do, too! Not that I'm biased, but I love the music Kevin put underneath it. It really captured the experience so well. Have an amazing ride in Cappadocia! -Judy

[@erinaustin9968]

Beautiful! Balloo🎈🌅 🇪🇬❤

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Erin! It was so much fun!

[@nadiavolonte3143]

Hi again, Judy! I'm really enjoying your videos! Thank you! I wanted to share also that in Capadocia, Turkey, I paid USD 180 for the hot balloon ride. It was at sunrise too, and below it was all snowy so it was really really beautiful! If God allows, I'll be definitely taking the hot b ride in Egypt too! It's just got to be the most amazing one overseeing all the temples and valleys! And for a good price, too! Thanks so much again for taking all the trouble to make all your wonderful videos! It's helping me a lot to put my trip together!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for your comment, Nadia! We hope to be in Turkey in 2024 (we were detoured because of the earthquake in February). We don't have Capadocia on our list, but if you recommend it, we'll put it down as someplace to visit while we're there. We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. I spoke with him yesterday and he is expanding his services. He’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable...and he speaks English perfectly. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. We'd love to know what you think of Egypt when you return. And I love that you are going to ride a hot air balloon! Highly recommend the tour company who flew us. It was very safe! And truly the pleasure is ours. We love having you as a viewer! -Judy

[@ghada2602]

You are amazing couple. Very detailed and informative. I am really enjoying your videos.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for saying this! I will admit that this hot air balloon ride exceeded our expectations. It was the bucket list item I didn't know I had. We really appreciate having you along with us! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@MaxNM]

I'm in Luxor now and I pre-planned the hot air balloon with the tour agency I chose to take me around Egypt called Egypt Tours Portal and it cost me $140. It's a little after 12 am here and its hitting me now, I'm not afraid of heights but I can't handle Rollercoaster rides, so feeling the scary butterflies before my ride. I know it's an experience of a lifetime but the fear is getting to me 😮. I'll still go with it, your explanation definitely helps, worse comes to worse I'll sit down 😅.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

I really don’t think you will find it to be scary. Kevin had no issues, and it really didn’t feel like there was movement. Nothing at all like a roller coaster. You get amazing views and none of the butterflies. I promise! We used that company for our Nile River cruise and they did a great job. Let me know how it goes. I will send you positive thoughts and good energy. Truly it was so fun. Not a single person was afraid of the movement once we were on the balloon. -Judy

[@MaxNM]

@FindingGinaMarie It started great but ended pretty bumpy. It didn't take long for me wanting to go even higher, views were fantastic, we did fly into a tree, then nearly twice we flew into power lines. Our time in the air was much longer, and we ended up landing way on the other side in the middle of the mud. Ending was definitely acary.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

I wonder who the vendor on the ground was (Egypt Tours Portal is only the middle man). It's a curious situation. Was the weather windy or concerning to you at all? Would you do it again if you knew it would be a similar experience? Ours was so clean and easy. Also interesting that there was mud. It had been dry the entire month we were there, but that was in early March. Thanks for the update. -Judy

[@MaxNM]

@FindingGinaMarie I think we had the better experience than another hot air balloon that we saw land too soon and crash. It was not windy at all, our time up in the air was almost 2 hours because we couldn't land. Ended up lading in someone's backyard and almost crashing into donkeys. We were a foot away from Nile river, and our Hot Air Balloon captain was screaming into his radio nonstop. Would I do it again, maybe in an open field where landing won't be this disastrous. I did not feel scared once up there, and the feeling was very peaceful before the end.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@MaxNM Wow. Why do you think you couldn't land? Did they say? I am clueless as to why they allowed your balloon to travel so far. Offhand, I don't think we could even see the river. You did take off on the West Bank, correct? Sheesh. Sorry to hear you had a less ideal experience. -Judy

[@MrRene1968]

awesome!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

If you can squeeze it in, we HIGHLY recommend a hot air balloon ride! -Judy

[@zaidett]

Hello! I rode a hot air balloon in Capadoccia Turkey. I paid 256 USD for 45 minutes and fucsia sparkling something. The highlight of my trip

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Zaida, What a fun experience for you! Would you say that our experience matched yours in all the significant ways? Egypt was a good bit cheaper, but it was so worth it! Thanks for sharing your experience and for watching! -Judy

[@kelleyprice3450]

Try to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta sometime - you get a whole new appreciation for hot air balloons. This video was amazing, I was undecided, but think now I will try to go when we're there next February. Your videos have been SUPER helpful, so thank you so much!! (and definitely, ABQ Balloon Fiesta is worth your time! So fun to watch 150 balloons all ascending at the same time!).

[@FindingGinaMarie]

It really is an amazing experience and nothing like I thought it would be! I am so happy to hear that our videos are helpful; one of the major reasons we have a KZbin channel is to help others (and learn and connect with other travelers!). I'd love to hear what you think of Egypt. I'm not sure when we'll get to Albuquerque, but I will definitely add it to our bucket list. It sounds like it is spectacular! Thanks for sharing this with us and for watching! -Judy

[@lindab5789]

My husband really wants to do this, but I am still not sure that I can get over my fear of heights and flying, despite how peaceful it seems to be. You have done a great job describing every facet of this experience though! Thanks for an excellent video!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks, Linda, for watching. I promise when I say that Kevin does not like heights, I absolutely mean it. It truly does not feel like anything at all, except for having exquisite views. I was quite surprised myself! Is there a place your husband would like to fly over? We appreciate your kind words, and if you ever decide to try one, we would love to hear about it! 😍 -Judy

[@lindab5789]

@@FindingGinaMarie Yes, Luxor! Egypt is on the bucket list!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@lindab5789 It would be amazing! 🤞🤞🤞

[@capeofstormz5974]

Have you seen the video of a hot air balloon falling out of the sky a few years ago.Anyway,don't let me spoil your fun.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@capeofstormz5974 We had a great experience with Hod Hod Soliman and recommend them for their focus on safety. We think this is safer than parasailing and a lot of other things, and for us it was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We still recommend this experience. -Judy

[@sylvaindupuis5595]

I signed for that tour when I was in Egypt in 2010, all the ballon went up except the one I was assigned to. They brought another one to replace the defective one, but it was too late, they have to be up in the air before 9 AM at the latest. The ballon was almost ready to leave then, but it's regulation due to air controller. The tour operator offered me to reschedule at a later date, but I couldn't so they offered me the tour to Abou Simbel instead witch was about the same price. If I ever go back to Egypt, that is on my todo list.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Sylvain, What a shame that your balloon didn't go off as scheduled, but I guess it's good if there was something amiss with it. We do make a point to tell people to schedule their hot air balloon ride for as soon as you arrive in Luxor so that you have time in case weather or other issues cause it to not go off as scheduled. Thanks for watching, and I hope you get back to Egypt fairly soon. We have an entire playlist from our month in Egypt if you're interested in watching it. Thanks for sharing your story with us and for watching. -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@geetharajapaksha9114]

You both are so lovely ❤

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Geetha, and for your very, very kind words! You might also enjoy the rest of our series from our month in Egypt, which is linked below. -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@jasminejazziej8787]

Great video we are headed Egypt and will definitely 🎈🎈!! Did you have to stand the whole time or was there an option to sit. For someone that might need too

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching, Jasmine! Unfortunately you are standing the entire time. There is not a lot of room to even move around based on the way the basket is arranged. I highly recommend our vendor, Hod-Hod Soliman (hodhodsolimanballoons.com). We have an entire playlist of videos from our month in Egypt that I'll link below if you haven't seen them yet. Have an absolutely awesome trip and hot air balloon ride! Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. He is expanding his services and speaks excellent English. He’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. -Judy

[@jasminejazziej8787]

@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you so much for the response and the thorough information and recommendation it is greatly appreciated!! I will definitely keep your guide in mind. And I plan on watching your whole Egypt playlist!! Thanks again!!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@jasminejazziej8787 So glad to help! -Judy

[@drhabibaijaz1408]

Hi Love to you both ❤ We had hot air balloon ride in Turkey Cappadocia .It was out of the world exp.❤

[@FindingGinaMarie]

I have been hearing that there are terrific hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia. We haven't visited Turkey yet, but we will have to try this when we get there. Thanks for watching! -Judy

[@shahfam]

firstly, it is a brilliantly engaging yet informative video....thoroughly enjoyed it...secondly, I just wanted to know if you saw many parents on the ride with young kids? We are off to Luxor soon and were wondering if we should take the balloon ride with our 10 year old....I am mainly concerned about the landing possibly getting a little bumpy and how my son would cope...just need to get a perspective and understand it's impossible to tell for certain how it may turn out..thanks

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks so much for watching. We have an entire video series from our month in Egypt we hope you will check out. I'll link it below. When we were there, we didn't see many children at all visiting. I don't know why though. I'd almost have to go back to our videos to see if we captured any! Absolutely we saw Egyptian children, but not a lot who were tourists. The biggest issue would be how tall your child would be since younger kids who are short might be unable to see the views below. We highly recommend Hod-Hod Soliman for $85 per person: hodhodsolimanballoons.com/the-balloon-rides/ (not an affiliate link). We think that they have the best safety record. Also, if they quote more than that, see if you can negotiate to a cheaper rate. I'm currently seeing $145/per person on Viator and that is too high. But I trust them the most and would pay their price if they can't negotiate lower. We hope you love Egypt as much as we do! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@shahfam]

Thank you for your prompt response. I have already watched your video on cairo and will definitely view more. That's a very valid point about height but something I believe we can cope with...yes I had a look at their site and they are quoting circa £115pp(similar to what you mentioned in USD) , but will get in touch to see see if we can do better. Thanks again for your help! And I shall definitely watch more videos prior to our trip

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@shahfam Let us know what you think of the experience if you go. What an incredible experience it will be in Egypt for your 10-year old! I would understand so much more about history if I learned it through lived experiences versus learning in a classroom! -Judy

[@shahfam]

Hi Judy, I totally agree and look forward to his reactions on the tours especially the balloon ride...will definitely let you know how it is and once again thank you for the insights on Egypt!

[@nelonwaa]

This is very helpful. What hotel did you stay in luxor?

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Nelo, Thank you so much for watching! We actually stayed in a great Airbnb. For 15 days we paid only $332.77 ($22.18 per night). It was more space than we needed, but we were happy with the location on the West Bank. It wasn't the most luxurious part of Luxor, but we actually preferred the area over the more touristy East Bank: www.airbnb.com/rooms/22134790?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=fc4d5af9-5fd6-4d02-b78d-7f02440a3bf2 Here's a link to our full series from our month in Egypt. -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@nelonwaa]

@@FindingGinaMarie thank you

[@sagreenaidoo04]

Hi… just found you guys yesterday. Enjoying your channel so far. Please can you tell me which company you used. I’m planning to go in April. Thank you

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks so much for watching and for your comment, Sagree! You can book through TripAdvisor, but we went directly to their website and saved a little bit of money. We used and recommend Hod Hod Soliman, which we think has a great track record of safety. Not all hot air balloon vendors are the same: hodhodsolimanballoons.com We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. He is expanding his services and speaks excellent English. He’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. You might also enjoy the rest of our series from our month in Egypt, which is linked below. We'd love to hear your experience! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@sagreenaidoo04]

@@FindingGinaMarie …. Thank you so much. Will definitely contact him. I have watched all your videos on Egypt . Has been very helpful with my planning. Thank you again for responding so promptly and for all the advice. Take care

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@sagreenaidoo04 We wish you all the best and hope you have a wonderful experience in Egypt! -Judy

[@shudhabhattacharyya3966]

Hi really nice video. We are also planning this trip. Did you plan the hot air balloon ride with the cruise itself - like do it the last day when you came to Luxor or the second day? Thanks and regards

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching! We were in Luxor for several days before our Nile River cruise. We recommend that if you are going to be there for any amount of time in Luxor that you go ahead and book the hot air balloon ride for as soon as possible after you arrive. It wasn't ideal, but we arrived in Luxor at 10pm and booked our ride for a 5am departure the next morning. The reason for booking early is that you are at the mercy of the weather. You could book it as part of your cruise, but there are only a few days that can work when you are on the ship, and you could miss out if there is a string of days where the wind or weather doesn't work. We highly recommend using Hod-Hod Soliman because we were super impressed with their professionalism and safety record. (www.viator.com/tours/Luxor/Hod-Hod-Soliman-balloon-flight-over-Luxor/d826-121314P1?pid=P00118448&mcid=42383&medium=link). Hope this helps! -Judy

[@leoceballos1698]

Amazing guys! what was the company you chose for the balloon ride, please?

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Leo, We highly recommend Hod-Hod Soloman (link.findingginamarie.com/balloon). We chose them because of their strong safety record and how experienced they are. Not all hot air balloon ride companies have the same attention to safety. We had such an amazing time and we hope you do, too! Also, We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. He speaks excellent English, is passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. You might also enjoy the rest of our videos from our month in Egypt, which are linked below. We would LOVE to know what you think about Egypt (and the hot air balloon ride) when you return! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@leoceballos1698]

Thank you so much for your help. So you reserved directly through Viator, correct? For sure, I´ll let you know about my experience and I´ll the the rest of the videos @@FindingGinaMarie

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We initially reached out through Viator, but we ended up paying them directly through a PayPal link through WhatsApp because we had questions about their pickup location. The price was the same either way. It worked out okay, but I'd be leery to recommend someone do that. Thanks so much! -Judy

[@lyssadeson4379]

We are going to take a ride while we are in Cappadocia!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

How very exciting! Someone else mentioned that they did that when they were in Cappadocia, too! It is so much fun! Thanks for watching 😉 -Judy

[@eugenejamesconnor951]

What company or operator did you use and what site did you book it on? Thanks again.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We highly recommend Hod-Hod Soliman due to their safety record. You can book directly on their website (hodhodsolimanballoons.com) or through our affiliate Viator link if you have any issues working through their website: link.findingginamarie.com/balloon We had a great time and we'd love to hear about your experience after you go! -Judy

[@user-gg7do2kp3y]

Do they include parachutes or do you need to bring your own?

[@FindingGinaMarie]

There are no parachutes that you bring or that are included. But we trusted our vendor Hod-Hod Soliman, who is focused on safety and we felt well cared for during our balloon ride. You might enjoy the rest of our series from our month in Egypt, which is linked below. Perhaps you'd prefer a Nile River cruise if a balloon ride isn't your thing! -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@user-gg7do2kp3y]

@@FindingGinaMarie Yes, the Nile River may be less stressful.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@user-gg7do2kp3y It's actually not as stressful as you might think it is. It was a very cool experience, and we aren't daredevils by any stretch. But if you at all are curious about the experience, we share it all here! -Judy

[@syeddihan4307]

Cab u do before sunset?

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Syed, We only heard about early morning hot air balloon rides, and our vendor, Hod Hod Soliman (hodhodsolimanballoons.com/hot-air-balloon-luxor-price/), only does sunrise tours. Perhaps at some points dusk rides were available, but I'm unaware of them. We would only recommend Hod Hod Soliman due to their focus on safety. Thanks for watching! We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. He is expanding his services and speaks excellent English. He’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed. Here's the rest of our series from our month in Egypt. -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@user-zu5wf1cm1i]

How long was the duration of the flight from take off to landing!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We mention it in our video, but you may have missed it. Here are the key things to be aware of regarding duration: "- You can expect to be in the air typically 40 minutes or so. If the conditions are optimal, as much as 1-1/2 hours, but that’s super generous. It’s usually between 40 minutes and an hour - From door to door, it likely will take 2.5 to 3 hours. You’ll be on a bus that picks up from your hotel that then meets up with a caravan of buses going to the launch site. You may bounce around between two or three buses and a felucca, if your hotel is on the West Bank" Thanks so much for watching, Vartika! -Judy

[@jerryphillips6593]

Could you tell me the tour package you use ???? 🎈🎈 please

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Absolutely! We highly recommend HodHod Soliman (hodhodsolimanballoons.com). They are very, very safe. Outside of a hot air balloon ride, we did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. He is expanding his services and speaks excellent English. He’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed.

[@orozcoaj69]

Sounds like you had a nice experience, ours was scary. We had a 5 compartment basket, middle is the pilot. There were about 20+ people in the basket, so crammed, hard to move, people in the middle of the basket had a blocked view. Our balloon appeared faulty, the pipe was catching fire, the ballon didn’t go as high as others, we almost hit the power lines and then a tree. Pilot didn’t even get close to the sites, he flew away from them. I suspect he knew that the balloon wasn’t functioning properly so he stayed away from the monuments. A terrible and painful landing 😵‍💫🥴🤯

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Yikes, that sounds very scary. Our vendor was Hod-Hod Soliman, and his website and focused information about safety really put our minds at ease. Our balloon was also tight, but no one had a bad view, thankfully. We're sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Not sure if you've watched the rest of our series from Egypt, but we hope some of them will bring back some happy memories from your time there. -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@thomasneagli3512]

We took a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Masai Mara viewing the animals. Then they had a breakfast for us and a loo with a view.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

That sounds amazing. A safari is on our bucket list. Do you recommend yours? And I bet that a hot air balloon was

[@thomasneagli3512]

I would not recommend the tour group because it was operated by the Maasai people, and they were taking advantage of us. We did the safari in Kenya then crossed the border in Tanzania to the Serengeti National Park. They passed us off to another guide. We also went to Ngorongoro Crater National Park back to Kenya. Again, they passed us off to another guide. Went to Amboseli National Park. A must do is to go to David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi and see the orphanage elephants and one blind rino. Enjoy your travels. We are headed to Jerusalem then Egypt. Oh, check the three-day river cruise on the Chobe River on the Zambezi Queen cruise. Where in Houston did y'all live? I was raised in Bellaire and have family in Jersey.@@FindingGinaMarie

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for expanding on your answer about your safari. We'll take a look at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. We lived in The Woodlands, Texas for nearly 30 years, but we were born and lived in Buffalo, NY until after we were married. What a small world! -Judy

[@Arab--Man]

cool couple , im from the mediterranean northern part of Egypt snd like many others , never tried it , i hope you been treated nicely by locals .. our country worths the tourism but some opportunistic citizens tend to scam foreigners specially Europeans/Americans/Australians .

[@FindingGinaMarie]

You should experience it once in your life. It was exhilarating! Thank you for watching. Yes, there were scammers, but it didn't detract from our enjoyment of everything beautiful in Egypt and all the very nice people we met while we were there. We would visit again. -Judy

[@willingwannamusic3144]

🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching! It was one of the most incredible experiences of our month in Egypt. -Judy 🎥 Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@ourenvironment3473]

I have enjoyed your videos and your channel But you are missing alot in your egyptian tour Sinai and Red sea coast also Mediterranean coast is a whole new experience Diving sites, snorkelling to see corals and coloerful sea life

[@FindingGinaMarie]

When we visited Egypt, we were focused on seeing the archeological sites. We really aren't beach people. But we are interested in returning because there is more we still want to see. You might want to watch our entire Egypt series, so that you can see we covered quite a lot when we were there. The link to those episodes is below. -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@paulcasey5204]

Should you tip the people helping you in and out of the basket

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Great question. When you get out of the basket, there is a whole production where they take photographs, give you the opportunity to buy a video, get things situated before bringing everyone back to their hotels/Airbnbs. While all this is taking place, there's a big depository where you are encouraged to provide tips for all the ground crew, for the staff onboard, for the drivers, etc. We gave our "tour guide" a separate tip because as I recall, he was not part of the tip pot that would be distributed equally. Yes you should tip. I can't remember how much we tipped, but I think it was around E£500-600 plus maybe E£200 for our guide. There also will be local farmers, children, etc. looking for a donation as well. Give as your heart leads you. If you will be in Egypt, I'm going to share our other videos from our month there.-Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him. He is expanding his services and speaks excellent English. He’s passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed.

[@MuhammadEgypt]

Imagine if in mid-air someone says: guys, we're overweight. Someone must jump. hahaha

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Fortunately, all they need to do is adjust the amount of air in the balloon. You'll know well in advance of takeoff because there's a limited amount of room in the basket, but I think they do a good job of sorting out space. So many balloons are going up sequentially that you shouldn't have to be left behind. -Judy

[@klsdad]

Yes JUST the place you want to see from the air!!! NOT!!!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Why do you say that? The archeological sites in Luxor are spectacular from above. -Judy

[@MuhammadEgypt]

Hey, you mispronounced Hatshepsut. You said Hapshitsuit. :)

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We did our absolute best. And in one of the videos from Egypt we included a blooper scene where you can hear me trying to correctly pronounce it. We did not mean any disrespect, and I think by the end of our time in Egypt, we figured it out! -Judy

[@MuhammadEgypt]

It's okay. I was just pointing it out to you. You're absolutely fine. No offense at all. Have a wonderful day!@@FindingGinaMarie

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@MuhammadEgypt Thank you so much. There are a LOT of hard to pronounce, multi-syllable names in Egypt, but we did try! -Judy

[@notmyrealname5162]

Cheap hot air Ballon, cheap sushi and cheap surgery nope no thank you

[@FindingGinaMarie]

You certainly don't have to go to Egypt, but you would be missing out on some incredible sights and experiences. -Judy

[@Skdjeis]

I wish I did have such a fear of heights. I recently flew in a helicopter and it was okay. It took me some time to overcome ski lifts!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching! Honestly, a hot air balloon is nothing like ski lifts or a helicopter. There are no butterflies at all. It's as if you're on solid ground, but the ground drops away, but you stay in position. Your stomach doesn't drop or any of the weird feelings that you'd expect. You might enjoy the rest of our Egypt playlist if you are considering traveling there. And the balloon ride is something I definitely recommend, especially using the same tour company, which has a deep record of safety. -Judy Egypt playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@Skdjeis]

@@FindingGinaMarie I booked the hot air balloon tour for Oct 23. Wish me luck!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@SkdjeisThat is awesome news. I would love to know what you think of it. Did you book with the vendor we used or someone else (we aren't affiliated with anyone). -Judy

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@Skdjeis If you need a guide when you are in Egypt, our Nile River cruise tour guide has expanded his services. We don't earn money by recommending him, but he was absolutely fabulous. Young guy, passionate, super knowledgeable and really made our trip memorable. Here's his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: [phone] * Email: [e-mail] * (let him know we recommended you-he is AWESOME and speaks excellent English!)

[@Skdjeis]

@@FindingGinaMarie the balloon was not scary at all! We just finished. We booked everything through our guide and it was $90 per person for sunrise

[@maryrosehidalgo6624]

🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching and for leaving us a balloon!!! If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy the rest of our amazing month in Egypt, which I'll link below. -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv

[@danielducsai9153]

🎈

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Daniel! Have you seen our other episodes from Egypt? We had such an amazing time during our month there! -Judy Egypt travel series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF1WcH9GxfK4ngH49MXf5oOv