Hot Air Balloon at the Pyramids? The New Giza Tethered Balloon, Explained

Quick answer: As of September 2026 you can go up in a balloon at the Giza Pyramids — but it is not a traditional hot air balloon. It is a tethered helium balloon that rises straight up on a steel cable to about 150 metres, holds for roughly 15 minutes, then comes back down. It began trial operation on 30 August 2026. For a free-flying sunrise hot air balloon, Egypt's classic experience is still in Luxor.

What the Giza tethered balloon is

The balloon is a large helium aerostat built by the French company Aerophile — the firm behind tethered balloons in Paris and other cities — and operated locally by Tashreef for Tourism Marketing. Unlike a hot air balloon, it is filled with non-flammable helium and stays anchored to the ground by a strong steel cable the entire time, so it goes straight up and straight down rather than drifting with the wind.

How it works

• Height: rises vertically to about 150 metres (roughly 490 feet).
• Duration: each ride lasts around 15 minutes.
• Capacity: a large gondola lifts a group together.
• On board: an audio guide talks you through the plateau and its monuments as you climb.

Where it is

The balloon sits outside the immediate archaeological boundary of the plateau — about 2 km from the Pyramids and 2.2 km from the Sphinx. That distance was chosen deliberately, so the structure does not intrude on the classic view of the pyramids. You are looking at the Giza skyline from height, not floating directly above the pyramids.

Is it worth it?

If you want a novel, low-effort, family-friendly way to get an elevated panorama of the whole plateau — the three pyramids, the Sphinx, and the desert meeting the city — it is a genuinely new vantage point. It is not an adventure flight: you don't drift, you don't steer, and you are back down in 15 minutes. Think of it as an observation deck that floats, not as the Luxor balloon.

Because it only entered trial operation at the end of August 2026, public pricing and opening hours are still settling. Confirm current details before you go, and treat it as an add-on to a Pyramids visit rather than the main event.

Pair it with the Pyramids

The balloon is a 15-minute stop; the plateau deserves half a day. Use our Pyramids of Giza guide and things to do in Giza to build the day around it, and read balloon over the pyramids vs Luxor if you're choosing between the two.