Ballooning takes place at sunrise, which means a pre-dawn wake up with steaming coffee and a chilly drive to the launch. The sense of excitement ripples through you as the great balloons slowly fill with hot air, rising up ponderously above their tethered baskets. Take-off is a noisy, bumpy affair, which adds to the thrill and enhances the sudden serenity when you reach cruising altitude. The noise of the heating flame punctuates the quiet along with the soft whistle of air currents and occasional ‘ooohs’ from your fellow adventurers. Wrap up warmly – it’s cold up there!