Booking choice: The sunrise flight with breakfast, from $239 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Every shared balloon ride in Phoenix follows the same shape: an early check-in, a drive to the launch site, about an hour in the air at sunrise, and a toast on landing. Prices differ by around $40 between the three sunrise operators, and the gap mostly reflects breakfast, transport and the size of the basket.
Prices below are the live Viator from-prices and the operators' own published rates in 2026. They move with the season, so the checkout price is the one that counts.
The quick answer
Shared sunrise flights cost $199 with Arizona Balloon Safaris, $209 with Rainbow Ryders and $239 with Hot Air Expeditions, the only one with a catered breakfast. Sunset flights start at $250. Children 5 to 12 cost $189 direct with Hot Air Expeditions, hotel transport adds $39 per person, and tips are extra.
How much does a hot air balloon ride cost in Phoenix?
A shared sunrise flight costs $199 to $239 per adult on Viator in 2026, and a sunset flight $250 to $269.
Here is every Phoenix-area flight we compare, with what comes after landing.
| Flight | From | After landing | Check-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Balloon Safaris sunrise | $199 | Champagne, juice, water | Ahwatukee |
| Rainbow Ryders sunrise | $209 | Champagne, light snacks | Glendale |
| Hot Air Expeditions sunrise | $239 | Champagne, catered breakfast | Deer Valley |
| Rainbow Ryders sunset | $250 | Champagne, snacks | Glendale |
| Hot Air Expeditions sunset | $269 | Champagne, fruit and cheese | Deer Valley |
Want breakfast in the price? The Hot Air Expeditions sunrise flight includes it, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the sunrise flight with breakfastWhy is one sunrise flight $40 more than another?
Mostly breakfast: the $239 Hot Air Expeditions flight includes a catered breakfast at tables in the desert, while the $199 and $209 flights end with a toast and snacks.
The flights themselves are similar: 45 to 60 minutes over the Sonoran Desert with an FAA-licensed pilot. Arizona Balloon Safaris flies a very large balloon with up to 24 passengers, Rainbow Ryders puts 10 to 16 people in a basket, and Hot Air Expeditions offers hotel transport as an option. See which balloon rides include breakfast.
How much is it for children?
Hot Air Expeditions charges $189 for children 5 to 12 on its own site, against $239 for adults; Viator also prices a child band for ages 5 to 12.
Rainbow Ryders and Arizona Balloon Safaris list child age bands on Viator too, and their minimum ages are 5 and 6. Check the child price on the booking calendar for your date. Under-21s get juice or cider instead of champagne. See balloon rides with kids.
Is hotel pickup included?
No, except as an option: Hot Air Expeditions adds round-trip hotel transport for $39 per person on its own site, and the other flights start at their check-in points.
With transport the morning grows from three to three and a half hours to four to four and a half. Arizona Balloon Safaris includes the van from its meeting point to the launch site and back, but not from your hotel.
Is it cheaper to book direct or on Viator?
Roughly the same headline: Hot Air Expeditions lists $239 per adult on its own site plus 9% taxes and fees, and Viator shows a from-price of $239, so compare the final totals.
The real differences are the fine print. Viator lets you cancel free up to 24 hours before; Hot Air Expeditions' own policy needs 48 hours' notice. Viator also puts thousands of flyer reviews in one place. Direct booking is where you find private baskets and add-ons.
Free cancellation to 24 hours before: lock in a date and keep your options open.
Check dates for the sunrise flight with breakfastWhat does a private balloon ride cost?
Hot Air Expeditions lists a private sunrise flight at $649 per adult on its own site, about two and a half times the shared price.
Private flights suit proposals and milestone birthdays. On shared flights, operators often help with a quieter corner of the basket for a celebration if you ask when booking.
What extras should you budget for?
Gratuities for the pilot and crew, any souvenir photos, and breakfast in town if your flight does not include it.
- Tips: not included in any listing; cash is easiest
- Breakfast or brunch afterwards on the toast-only flights
- Hotel transfers if you are not driving
- Souvenirs and photos sold by some operators
Rather keep it simple? The lowest-priced flight ends with a champagne toast and gets you back by mid-morning.
Explore the sunrise flight with champagneIs a balloon ride worth the money?
For most flyers, yes: all three sunrise flights rate 4.8 or higher from hundreds or thousands of reviews, and the most common word in them is peaceful.
The unhappy reviews are mostly about wind cancellations, which are refunded or rebooked, and occasionally about crowded baskets or bumpy landings. Book early in your trip so a cancelled morning can be moved.
Ready to pick a morning? Sunrise, a toast and breakfast in the desert in one booking.
Check dates for the sunrise flight with breakfastFrequently asked questions
What is the cheapest hot air balloon ride in Phoenix?
On Viator, the Arizona Balloon Safaris sunrise flight at $199 per adult, with a champagne toast after landing.
Do you tip on a hot air balloon ride?
Tips are not included in any listing. Tipping the pilot and crew is customary in the US if you enjoyed the flight.
Are sunset balloon rides more expensive?
Yes. Sunset flights start at $250 with Rainbow Ryders and $269 with Hot Air Expeditions, and run only from about November to March.
Do I get a refund if the flight is cancelled?
Yes. Weather cancellations are rebooked or refunded, and on Viator you can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
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
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
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
