Arizona Hot Air Balloon Rides in Phoenix & Scottsdale

Phoenix hot air balloon rides have been a favorite attraction in Arizona for many years. Join Apex Balloons on your own hot air ballooning adventure - an unforgettable balloon expedition into the desert sky above beautiful Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona.

1/22/2021

We're Flying! Come Join Us!

While many states are still under lock and key this winter due to COVID restrictions, Arizona remains mostly accessible with proper precautions. Although Apex Balloons took a temporary hiatus from flying in March 2020, we resumed operations in May, and have been lifting people's spirits ever since. It's an exciting new year, the temperatures are perfect and it's awesome to be outside! It's a great thing that there are no crowds in the clouds!

But do you want to go on a hot air balloon ride with a bunch of other strangers?

We certainly didn't think so! Other balloon companies in town are continuing to offer shared hot air balloon flights with large baskets carrying 12 to 20 passengers. We also have some large balloon baskets like those, but we don't think it's quite time to be taking mixed groups of passengers together until social distancing restrictions are totally relaxed. This might take a long time.

To ensure the health & safety of our guests in the meantime, we have discontinued all shared basket hot air balloon flights for the foreseeable future. We will continue to offer Private Flights accommodating from two to ten people so that your party will be the only passengers on board the hot air balloon and there will be an abundance of room on board so nobody must be right next to the pilot.

We are extending a significant discount to Morning Private Flights while shared flights are unavailable. Enter "RECOVERY" in the coupon code box when making your reservation if it is not already pre-applied (all "BOOK NOW" links on our website should automatically apply the discount code).

We are taking additional precautions to keep everyone safe as we resume our Private Flights. Since widespread testing is still being rolled out, and many people could be virus carriers without being symptomatic, we must assume everyone has it. Therefore, the following new protocols will be followed:

  • We are operating Private Flights only. Nobody else but the pilot will be in your basket.
  • Large, roomy partitioned baskets will be used for our Private Flights, so that passengers will not be in close contact with the pilot. The pilot is in a separate compartment at one end of the basket. The baskets we will be using will accommodate up to ten passengers comfortably.
  • Small Group Size. We will only carry private groups of ten passengers or less to limit group size.
  • Complimentary facemasks will be available for passengers to wear during the van rides to and from the launch and landing sites. These will not be required in the balloon.
  • The pilot and all crew members will wear facemasks whenever appropriate.
  • We will be discontinuing providing champagne and refreshments due to sanitary concerns. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own water/refreshments in non-glass containers.
  • Before and after each flight, all portions of vehicles & equipment that passengers may contact will be sanitized.
  • If any pilot or crew member is not feeling well or has had a fever anytime in the previous two weeks, they will not be working.

I apologize for the inconvenience these changes may cause, and I thank you for your understanding. Stay healthy and safe out there, and hopefully this won't have to go on for very long!

Jon Radowski, Owner & Chief Pilot, Apex Balloons

 

Phoenix, Arizona Hot Air Balloon Rides

Apex Balloons is a professional hot air balloon company offering premier hot air balloon rides in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. We launch our Phoenix balloon rides seven days a week from October through May, with balloon flights scheduled daily at sunrise, weather permitting. Sunset flights are available from mid-November through mid-March. We specialize in private balloon flights for two or more guests, as well as group balloon excursions for up to 30 or more passengers.

Our Phoenix hot air balloon rides offer scenic views of the rugged desert landscape of Arizona. We'll have the ultimate vantage point of the Sonoran Desert from our balloon over North Phoenix as the sun wakes up the day or gently sets on the horizon. Wildlife is in abundance in certain areas, and we'll often see quail, jackrabbits, cottontails, and sometimes the occasional coyotes, mule deer, javelina, roadrunner, and others from our hot air balloon's basket!

Phoenix Arizona Hot Air Balloon Ride Reservations

Please take the time to read all the information on our website - most of the typical questions you'll probably have (like pricing) are answered on the Balloon Rides Page and the FAQ/Information Page. If there are any questions that aren't answered, please call us toll-free at 1-877-9-HOTAIR (1-877-946-8247) or locally at 602-903-7246 and we will be more than happy to help.

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About Us

Jon Radowski, the owner and chief pilot of Apex Balloons, has been involved in ballooning essentially his entire life. His interest took off at the age of two when attending a balloon festival with his family. Jon knew from a very early age that he would become a balloon pilot as soon as he grew old enough.

After the magic of his first flight, he became a student pilot at the age of 14, designed and constructed his first hot air balloon from 16-17 years old, earned his private pilot certificate soon after, and became a commercial pilot at 19 to begin ballooning as a full-time career. In addition to flying balloons, Jon is an FAA-certificated hot air balloon repairman/inspector, and still designs and builds hot air balloons and airships. Take a look at what's on the drawing board at the design & manufacturing end of Apex Balloons.

Jon now has more than 22 years of experience flying hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes. For years, he commanded one of the world's very tallest hot air balloons, the Space Shuttle Patriot. Towering at a height of nearly 190 feet and with a wingspan of 115 feet, the shuttle balloon is three times taller than most balloons and twice as wide! Jon has flown many of the largest hot air balloons in North America, corporate balloons, and numerous special shape balloons.

In addition to balloons, Jon is also certificated to fly airplanes, hot air airships, and gliders. He also flies powered paragliders, and is a B-licensed skydiver and rigger apprentice. He has flown in over 22 different states as well as Canada, Mexico, Australia, Switzerland and India. He has a natural skill at flying balloons and takes considerable pride in his unblemished safety record, with thousands of happy passengers flown without a single injury. Jon is also a hot air balloon flight instructor and has trained a number of students through to their private and commercial hot air balloon pilot certificates.

Jon's careful attention to detail, consideration for the enjoyment of guests, skill at controlling the balloon, and commitment to safety will ensure that you have a most incredible flight that will be remembered forever. Join us up there!

Phoenix Arizona Hot Air Balloon Ride Reservations

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