Hot Air Balloon Scotland

A ride in a hot air balloon in Scotland is unlike any other experience. Floating gently above the landscape, travellers get a peaceful view of rolling hills, open fields and city skylines. MakeMyTrip offers 15 hot air balloon tours in Scotland for 2026, with both sunrise and sunset options. The flights are led by trained personnel who ensure safety while sharing insights about the region below. The calm journey makes it ideal for couples, photographers and families who want to see the city from a unique angle. With Scotland hot air balloon ticket prices starting from INR 696, this activity is within reach for most travellers. Book your hot air balloon ride in Scotland this January with MakeMyTrip and create moments worth remembering.

Floating into the Highlands: Hot Air Balloon Ride Scotland

It starts quiet, just the sound of damp grass under your shoes and the early light stretching thin across the field. The balloon looks almost lifeless at first, a heap of fabric until the burners roar and the colours flare against the pale sky. You climb into the basket, steady yourself, and before you realise it, the ground has eased away. That’s how a hot air balloon ride Scotland begins, slowly, without fuss, the world beneath you shrinking inch by inch.

From above, the land feels endless. Fields stitched with stone walls, rivers curling silver through valleys, and lochs holding on to the last of the morning mist. Sheep scatter across hillsides, villages huddle in the folds, and the Highlands rise like shadows at the edge of it all. Every hot air balloon Scotland flight feels unhurried, carried by the wind more than by any plan.

The air is still, broken now and then by the hiss of the flame. Sunlight slides over the hills, turning greens into golds, and for a while, you just drift. No rush, no noise, just the slow rhythm of floating. Among all the activities you could try here, this one stays with you, not because it’s dramatic, but because it makes you stop and look. By the time you land, you’ll know why a hot air balloon ride Scotland feels less like sightseeing and more like being part of the sky.

When to Go

Peak Season: Summer is when the fields are at their greenest and the skies often clearer, though you’ll share the air with more travellers. A hot air balloon ride Scotland in June or July gives you long days and soft light that lingers late into the evening. The views stretch far, from rolling farmland to distant lochs.

Shoulder Seasons: Spring and autumn feel calmer. In April and May, blossoms scatter the countryside, and in September the Highlands take on rusty tones. Flying then gives you quieter skies and cooler air brushing past your face. For many, this is the best balance—fewer crowds, but all the colour. A hot air balloon Scotland flight in these months feels more personal, like the land is showing you its quieter side.

Winter Season: Cold mornings in December or January can bring mist that clings low over the valleys. The flight feels different, sharper, stiller. You’ll see snow dusting the hills and fields edged with frost, while villages glow with smoke from chimneys. It’s one of those activities that feels more like a secret in winter, less about distance and more about mood.

Types of Hot Air Balloon Experiences

Hot Air Balloon Ride from Perthshire

Overview: When you join this hot air balloon ride, you don’t just float, you ease into the sky the way Scotland wakes up. The lift is calm, the basket steady, and before you notice, the land below has turned into a map of fields, rivers, and stone walls. A hot air balloon ride Scotland through this operator feels less like a thrill ride and more like being carried by the day itself.

Locations: Flights take off from Perthshire, right in the heart of the country. From here, you’ll drift over farmland dotted with villages, see forests breaking into open fields, and catch the outline of the Highlands far off in the distance. It’s a side of hot air balloon Scotland that shows both quiet countryside and rugged edges in a single sweep.

What you’ll see: Morning is when it shines. Mist lingers in valleys, sheep graze like small white specks on green hills, and rivers glint in the new light. On clearer days, you’ll spot castles tucked into the landscape, their towers rising like reminders of another time. It’s the kind of view that keeps you leaning over the basket, not wanting to miss a detail.

Package options: You can choose a standard shared flight that lasts about an hour, or go for something more private. Either way, the setup often includes a light refreshment before or after the flight, and a small keepsake to mark the journey.

Cost: It starts from INR 22,000 per person, which covers the flight, ground crew, and the full experience from takeoff to landing.

Premium vs. Standard: Standard flights usually mean a larger group, where you share the basket with others and drift together. Premium upgrades bring smaller groups or even private baskets, giving you more space and a quieter ride. Sometimes it includes an upgraded breakfast or a longer flight path—the little touches that make the experience feel more your own.

Hot Air Balloon Ride – Shieldhill Castle, Nr Biggar and Lanark

Overview: There’s something about lifting off beside an old castle that makes the whole flight feel like stepping into another time. At Shieldhill Castle, the basket rises slowly, the stone walls shrinking beneath you, until all that history turns into part of the landscape. A hot air balloon ride Scotland here mixes the drama of heritage with the quiet of drifting over open fields.

Locations: From this launch site near Biggar and Lanark, the view stretches far across rolling countryside. You’ll see patchwork farmland, rivers curling through valleys, and the Southern Uplands pushing up in the distance. It’s a setting that captures the softer side of hot air balloon Scotland, away from cities and into wide open space.

What you’ll see: The morning air is cool and still, and as the sun climbs, the castle grounds glow golden below. Sheep scatter across fields, roads cut clean lines through the hills, and woodland patches break the green with darker tones. Every shift of the balloon brings another detail—a village tucked into a hollow, or a ruined tower catching the light. It feels steady, unhurried, and completely your own.

Package options: You can book a standard shared flight, usually around an hour, with other passengers in the basket. Or you can opt for a private flight if you want the sky to yourself, often paired with a simple refreshment or toast once you land.

Cost: It starts from INR 25,500 per person, covering the full flight and ground support.

Premium vs. Standard: Standard flights give you the sociable energy of sharing the view with others. Premium options keep the group small, sometimes even private, making it easier to take in the scenery without distraction. A longer route or upgraded treats after landing are often part of the package, details that turn a flight into something closer to memory than just an outing.

What to Expect on a Hot Air Balloon Ride

• The balloon starts as a bundle of fabric on the ground, nothing much to look at. Then the burners kick in and the colours rise with the heat. You stand close and feel that sudden warmth against the morning chill.
• Getting into the basket isn’t graceful—a bit of a climb, maybe a stumble—but once you’re inside, the lift is almost too smooth. The earth drifts away under your feet, fields shrinking until they look like squares on a map.
• A hot air balloon ride Scotland doesn’t roar like a plane. It’s quiet, broken only by the whoosh of fire now and then. Between those bursts, you can hear the breeze and sometimes even dogs barking far below.
• The land spreads out in every direction: green fields cut by stone walls, rivers twisting silver, and the faint outline of castles or church towers. A hot air balloon Scotland flight always surprises you with details you’d never notice driving on the road.
• The air is cool and clean. You lean a little over the basket, half nervous, half curious, watching sheep scatter across a field. Every hot air balloon ride Scotland feels slow, steady, like time has taken a break just for you.
• Most flights last close to an hour. Long enough to take a few pictures, but also long enough to stop fiddling with your camera and just stand there, letting the country roll out beneath you. It’s one of those activities that feels simple, but you’ll carry the memory for years.

Safety and Tips

• Always check the weather before heading out. A hot air balloon ride Scotland depends on calm skies, and wind can cancel things at the last minute. It’s frustrating, yes, but safety always comes first up here.
• Dress in layers. Early mornings are cold, your hands might feel stiff at first, but once the sun is up the basket warms quickly. Comfortable shoes help too—climbing into the balloon isn’t tricky, but you don’t want to be slipping about.
• Keep your belongings light. A camera, maybe a phone, but not much more. You’ll want your hands free to hold the edge of the basket and take in the view. That’s when a hot air balloon Scotland flight feels less like an activity and more like pausing life for a while.
• Children over a certain age can usually join, but very young kids and anyone with heart concerns may need to skip. The rides last nearly an hour, and standing still that long is part of the deal.
• The hot air balloon ride Scotland price isn’t just the basket time. It starts from INR 24,000 and covers skilled pilots, ground crews, and all the quiet safety checks that make the floating feel so effortless.
• Don’t be surprised if your launch time changes. The winds decide when you fly, not the clock. Think of it as part of the rhythm of ballooning—a reminder that you’re working with nature, not against it.