Booking choice: The sunrise flight with breakfast, from $239 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
People searching for a Scottsdale or Phoenix balloon ride land on the same few operators. Hot Air Expeditions checks in at Deer Valley in north Phoenix, Rainbow Ryders at Glendale in the West Valley, and Arizona Balloon Safaris in Ahwatukee in the south. All fly over the Sonoran Desert and end with a champagne toast.
The quick answer
Pick Hot Air Expeditions for breakfast and optional hotel transport ($239), Rainbow Ryders for the top rating and a small-feeling basket of 10 to 16 ($209), and Arizona Balloon Safaris for the lowest price and a giant balloon with up to 24 passengers ($199).
How do the three companies compare?
All three rate 4.8 or higher; Hot Air Expeditions adds breakfast and transport, Rainbow Ryders rates highest, Arizona Balloon Safaris costs least.
| Hot Air Expeditions | Rainbow Ryders | Arizona Balloon Safaris | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From (sunrise) | $239 | $209 | $199 |
| Rating | 4.8 (2,168) | 4.9 (769) | 4.8 (816) |
| After landing | Toast + catered breakfast | Toast + snacks | Toast, juice, water |
| Check-in | Deer Valley, north Phoenix | Glendale, West Valley | Ahwatukee, south Phoenix |
| Basket | Shared | 10 to 16 passengers | Up to 24 passengers |
| Hotel transport | Optional add-on | No | No |
| Minimum age | 5 (48 in) | 5 | 6 |
Leaning towards breakfast? Check dates for the Hot Air Expeditions sunrise flight.
Check dates for the sunrise flight with breakfastHot Air Expeditions: best for breakfast
The breakfast flight: a sunrise float over the north Phoenix desert, then a catered breakfast with linens and china at the landing site.
It is the most reviewed Phoenix flight on Viator, with 2,168 reviews, and the only one with a hotel transport option. The company has flown for over 30 years and also runs flights near Tucson. See balloon rides with breakfast.
Rainbow Ryders: best rated
A long-established company, over 40 years in the Southwest, flying from Glendale over the West Valley desert, with live commentary and a toast with snacks.
It rates 4.9 from 769 reviews, and flyers name individual pilots again and again. Views can take in the White Tank Mountains and Lake Pleasant. A couple of reviewers found the flight did not travel far on a very calm morning.
Want the top-rated crew? Rainbow Ryders flies sunrise from Glendale every day.
Explore Rainbow Ryders at sunriseArizona Balloon Safaris: best price
The lowest-priced flight, in what the operator calls the largest passenger balloon in the US, carrying up to 24 people.
You meet at a Safeway parking lot in Ahwatukee and ride a van to the launch site. The flight is about 45 minutes, followed by a champagne toast with juice and water. Its Viator web address still says "with breakfast", but breakfast is not in the inclusions.
Which is best for Scottsdale visitors?
Hot Air Expeditions, because it offers hotel transport; otherwise all three check-in points are roughly 30 to 45 minutes' drive from Scottsdale at dawn.
Driving at 5 AM is quick because the roads are empty, but allow time to find the check-in in the dark. From south Phoenix or Tempe, Arizona Balloon Safaris' Ahwatukee meeting point is the closest.
Which has the most room in the basket?
None is spacious: shared baskets are divided into compartments, and Rainbow Ryders carries 10 to 16 people while Arizona Balloon Safaris carries up to 24.
A few reviewers of different companies felt crowded. If personal space matters, ask about private flights, which Hot Air Expeditions lists from $649 per adult on its own site.
What about the sunset and Tucson flights?
Rainbow Ryders and Hot Air Expeditions both fly sunsets in the cool season, and Hot Air Expeditions runs a sunrise flight with breakfast near Tucson.
Sunset flights cost $250 with Rainbow Ryders and $269 with Hot Air Expeditions. See sunrise vs sunset.
So which company should you book?
Match the company to your morning: breakfast, ratings or price.
- Want breakfast or hotel transport: Hot Air Expeditions.
- Want the best-reviewed crew: Rainbow Ryders.
- Want the lowest price: Arizona Balloon Safaris.
- Staying in the West Valley: Rainbow Ryders.
- Staying in Tempe or south Phoenix: Arizona Balloon Safaris.
Made up your mind? Check your date before planning the rest of the trip.
Check dates for the sunrise flight with breakfastFrequently asked questions
What is the best hot air balloon company in Phoenix?
All three are well rated. Rainbow Ryders has the highest Viator rating (4.9), Hot Air Expeditions the most reviews and the only breakfast, and Arizona Balloon Safaris the lowest price.
Are there balloon rides in Scottsdale?
Flights for Scottsdale visitors launch in the open desert north and west of Phoenix; Hot Air Expeditions offers hotel transport from the Phoenix area.
Do all Phoenix balloon companies fly every day?
Sunrise flights run daily all year, weather permitting. Sunset flights run only in the cooler months.
Ready to book
Choose your flight
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Sunrise Balloon Ride with Champagne Breakfast
- A 45 to 60 minute sunrise flight with an FAA-licensed pilot
- Champagne or sparkling cider toast at the landing site
- Catered breakfast in the desert, served at tables
Rainbow Ryders Sunrise Balloon Flight
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight of about 45 to 60 minutes
- Live commentary from the pilot
- Option to help the crew inflate the balloon
Sunrise Balloon Ride with Champagne Toast
- About 45 minutes in the air at sunrise
- Van from the meeting point to the launch site and back
- Champagne toast, orange juice and bottled water after landing
