The sound of burners in the cold morning air, the envelope righting itself over the meadow, then the basket leaving the ground without the slightest jolt: in a hot-air balloon, you discover the Mont-Blanc massif at the pace of the wind. Around Megève, flights depart from the neighbouring village of Praz-sur-Arly, in the Arly valley, almost year-round. Here is who flies, how a morning in a balloon unfolds, and when to see the Montgolfiades, which bring together some twenty balloons each winter.
Hot-air ballooning in practice
- Operator: Alpes Montgolfière, an airline based in Praz-sur-Arly, the only one referenced by Megève’s tourist office.
- Season: year-round, except for an autumn break (November, and until mid-December according to some of the company’s pages).
- Times: flights in the morning only, rendezvous between 7:30am and 9:30am depending on the season.
- Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes of flight, 3 to 4 hours in total.
- Age: from 7 years old according to the company, accompanied by an adult until 14 years old; the tourist offices also indicate a minimum height of 1.35m.
- Basket: 6 or 7 passengers, or a private basket for 4 to 6 people.
An operator based in Praz-sur-Arly
Megève’s tourist office references only one operator: Alpes Montgolfière, a company registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, founded in 2006 and based in Praz-sur-Arly, between Megève and Flumet. The village’s tourist office attributes this location to the aerology of the Arly valley, which allows flying in all four seasons. The company’s permanent pilots each have over 2,000 hours of flying experience, and one of them, Clément, won the world championship title in 2024. On the Combloux side, the tourist office places the take-off base 15 minutes’ drive away.
From the basket, the eye ranges over the Mont-Blanc massif, the Aravis, the Beaufortain, the Bauges, the Fiz chain, and as far as the Swiss and Italian Alps.
How a morning in a balloon unfolds
Once you have purchased your ticket, you choose your date from the company’s schedule. The pilots study the weather and confirm or cancel the flight by SMS the day before, with the exact time of the rendezvous. Flights only take place in the morning: later, the sun warms the ground, creates thermal updrafts and makes the air too turbulent for a balloon.
At the take-off site, a safety briefing precedes the inflation, which takes around twenty minutes. Less than half an hour after the rendezvous, you board. The balloon quickly gains 2,000m, and can climb to 3,500m depending on the day’s aerology. The direction follows the wind and changes every day: the pilot chooses the landing site in flight, sometimes a path, to spare the grass of the meadows. Once the balloon is packed away, a glass of champagne is shared with the crew, then the company’s vehicles return everyone to the starting point.
Baskets, passengers and conditions
Alpes Montgolfière’s baskets carry 6 to 7 passengers. The fleet numbers five balloons, which most often take off together, allowing for up to 32 people per flight. For a birthday or a family flight, you can hire a private basket, for 4 to 6 people.
No sporting ability is required: you must be able to stand during the hour of flight, and get in and out of the basket under your own steam. Pregnant women are not accepted, and the tourist office’s information sheet notes that baskets cannot accommodate people with reduced mobility. According to the company, it is no colder in flight than on the ground: closed shoes, trousers and a jacket suitable for the season, as the balloon sometimes lands in a meadow with wet grass.
AEC’s tip. Arrange your flight for the first few days of your stay: if the weather forces a postponement, you will still have mornings left to try again. And in winter, slip gloves and a hat into your pocket for the wait on the ground whilst the balloon is being inflated, in the early morning.
The Montgolfiades of Praz-sur-Arly
In 1990, organisers of air shows spotted a vast undeveloped plot of land at the entrance to Praz-sur-Arly; a year later, twelve balloons took part in the first gathering. The International Montgolfiades will celebrate their 36th edition from 9 to 17 January 2027, every day. Close to 20 hot-air balloons are expected: you can watch the inflation, touch the baskets, meet the pilots, with a brass band, tethered flights and, at weekends, an evening spectacle with lighting.
The event takes place on the Île field, route des Varins. The tourist office recommends parking at the snow-front car parks, 5 or 6 minutes’ walk away. Take-offs remain subject to the weather: on five occasions, in 1993, 1999, 2015, 2018 and 2022, the balloons were unable to take off over the weekend. In 2013, Claude Lelouch, patron of the event, filmed a sequence of his film “Salaud, on t’aime” there with Johnny Hallyday in a hot-air balloon.
Where to stay
The rendezvous takes place early, in Praz-sur-Arly: a chalet in Megève on the Praz-sur-Arly side shortens the early morning journey. For the afternoon, see our page on paragliding in Megève, whose summer flights land precisely in the Praz-sur-Arly plain, the one on Megève’s ski area, and our guide What to do in Megève in winter. Our agents will guide you according to your group: find our chalets and apartments in Megève.
The silence between burner blasts, Mont-Blanc at eye level, then champagne in a meadow left to the mercy of the wind: an hour in the air that gives the rest of your stay quite another perspective.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you take off for a hot-air balloon flight near Megève?
Flights depart from Alpes Montgolfière’s take-off base in Praz-sur-Arly, a neighbouring village to Megève in the Arly valley. It is the only operator referenced by Megève’s tourist office.
From what age can you go up in a hot-air balloon?
The company accepts children from 7 years old, accompanied by an adult until 14 years old. The tourist offices of Praz-sur-Arly and Combloux also indicate a minimum height of 1.35m: to be confirmed at booking.
How long does a hot-air balloon flight last?
The flight lasts from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes depending on the day’s aerology. With inflation, landing, balloon packing, the glass of champagne and the return to the starting point, allow 3 to 4 hours.
Can you fly in a hot-air balloon in winter?
Yes. Alpes Montgolfière flies year-round, including during the Christmas and February holidays, except for an autumn break (November, and until mid-December according to some of the company’s pages). Flights always take place in the morning.
What happens if the weather does not permit flying?
The pilots confirm or cancel the flight by SMS the day before. In the event of cancellation, you choose another date: tickets are valid for 24 months.
Can you hire a private basket?
Yes, the company offers a private basket for 4 to 6 people. Standard baskets carry 6 to 7 passengers.
When do the Montgolfiades of Praz-sur-Arly take place in 2027?
The 36th edition of the International Montgolfiades takes place from 9 to 17 January 2027, every day, on the Île field in Praz-sur-Arly. Close to 20 hot-air balloons are expected, weather permitting.
