Hot air balloon flights are categorized as a type of extreme sport. However, despite this classification, they are considered to be one of the safest and most reliable forms of flight ever discovered by humanity.
It’s been several years since Armenia has been offering extreme sports enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the charm and beauty of the Armenian nature from a bird’s eye view.
Hot air ballooning provides a great opportunity to see both: well-known and lesser- known sights from different perspectives. In Armenia you can find both: group and individual air balloon flight services. Technically it is possible to ride an air balloon at any time of the year. The main condition is that the wind speed needs to not exceed 5 m/s, with no rain, thunder or dense fog. The hot air balloon flights in Armenia are organised on the territory of the village Garni, which is 30 km far from Yerevan.
After landing, a traditional ceremony awards participants an honorary air traveler’s certificate, following a tradition established in 1783.
Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Yerevan
The hot air balloon festival is an event where dozens of balloons are launched simultaneously from one location. During the event, you can either fly in one of the balloons or watch numerous balloons launch from the ground.
Every autumn Yerevan hosts the annual hot air balloon festival, attracting dozens of participants. The duration of flights, depending on the wind speed, will vary from 30 to 90 minutes. The festival consists of 2 stages: demonstration and sporting competition. The demonstration stage includes free flights over Yerevan, Garni, and the Aparan Reservoir. During the sporting competition, each balloon team completes a task, and winners are selected based on their performance.
