Hot Air Balloon - World Explorers

Hi, my name is Nik, and I’m the organizer of this group.

I discovered hot air ballooning in autumn 2025 and quickly realized that, for me, it’s much more than a one-time experience. Flying opened a completely new way of seeing the world — slower, deeper, and more intentional. Over time, I understood that I wanted to explore this path not alone, but together with like-minded people.

I’m currently based in Barcelona, Spain. I’ve already flown on several commercial balloon flights with different local operators and locations across Spain, and I’ve also experienced balloon flights in the UAE and Cappadocia. Through these experiences, one thing became clear: what matters most is not just the flight itself, but the people you share it with.

The goal of this group is to bring together a community of people who feel drawn to aerial adventures, who enjoy discovering landscapes from a bird’s-eye view, and who are excited to explore new places together — step by step, flight by flight.

Who We Are
We’re a community for people who see hot air balloons as a lifestyle and travel experience, not a one-off tourist attraction.

We include passengers, photographers, aviation lovers, and curious explorers who are interested in ballooning as a repeatable, intentional way of discovering the world — not as a checklist item.

What We Do Together

• Organize group hot air balloon flights across Catalonia and other regions of Spain
• Plan flights in other European countries such as Portugal, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK.
• Visit hot air balloon festivals in Europe and occasionally beyond, including: USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE and Turkey
• Coordinate logistics and share information about professional, licensed balloon operators
• Exchange experiences, tips, and stories from our flights
• Gradually build a real, long-term community around this shared passion

How We Work
We plan trips together by choosing interesting locations and suitable dates and then connecting with licensed commercial balloon operators.

Each participant books and pays for their own balloon flight directly with the operator. This group does not sell flights or operate balloons.

Local trips (Spain / nearby regions)

• Usually early-morning flights
• Travel by car (individually or carpooling)
• Sometimes shared transfers if it makes sense

International trips and festivals

• Participants independently organize and pay for: flights, accommodation,
  local transport
• The group helps coordinate timing, locations, and shared plans, but everyone manages their own travel arrangements.
• This keeps the group flexible and non-commercial, while still allowing us to travel together.

What to Expect
✓ Early morning flights (most balloon launches happen at sunrise)
✓ Trips that may involve driving 1–2+ hours from Barcelona or flying to another country
✓ Flexibility — ballooning is always weather-dependent
✓ Occasional festival-based trips that require more planning (travel, accommodation, logistics)
✓ A genuine, calm, and curious community

✗ No pilot training or certification
✗ No commercial booking or tour-selling service
✗ Not designed for one-time tourists or extreme sports seekers

Who Should Join

• People who want to fly regularly, not just once
• Travelers who enjoy planning meaningful trips, including international ones
• Landscape photographers and nature lovers
• Aviation enthusiasts and curious first-timers
• Anyone interested in building a community around ballooning as a shared experience

The Spirit of This Group
This group is about building something together.

We value the experience, the people, and the journey itself — discovering landscapes from the sky at our own pace, with others who truly understand why this way of traveling feels special.