Go on a balloon flight

Some bucket list items feel like dreams—beautiful but kind of... unattainable. For me, a hot air balloon ride was one of those. I wasn’t about to drop a pile of euros just to float above some damp Belgian fields alone. But as fate would have it, the universe had other plans—and honestly? It delivered.

A while ago, I booked a group trip to Morocco. (If you don’t know what a group trip is—it’s like adult summer camp with strangers. Everything’s planned for you, it’s all about adventure, sustainability, and doing cool stuff with people you’ve never met before.)

As I scrolled through the itinerary, something jumped out: horseback riding, biking, a cooking class... and then:Hot. Air. Balloon. Flight.Over the desert.

I didn’t even hesitate. I knew right then—I was doing it.

Fast forward to February. We’d been in Marrakech for a few days, bonding with the group, eating amazing food, and testing our comfort zones. But on this day, we had to wake up before the sun. Why? Because we were about to chase it.

We got picked up from the main square in a van, and the driver seemed a little... confused? Let’s just say he took “the scenic route.” Eventually, though, we made it to the launch site just as the sky was blushing with the first colors of sunrise.

They greeted us with mint tea—a classic Moroccan welcome—and then it was time.

There were already a few balloons floating in the sky like magical jellyfish. Ours was a bright red one, lying flat on the ground, and a crew of about 15 people were working hard to inflate it. Most of our group was told to get in the basket while it was still on its side. At the time, I thought “Huh, weird”—but later we learned it was because the wind was too strong, and they needed the weight to hold it down!

Only Birgitte and I were left standing outside the basket for a moment, and for a split second I thought, “Wait, are we not going??” (Spoiler: we made it in 😅)

And then… we lifted off. 🎈✨

The first few seconds? Pure nerves. My inner doomsday brain whispered, “What if we fall?” But I shut it down fast. I reminded myself: you’re literally floating over Morocco at sunrise—shut up and enjoy it.

And I did. Oh, I really did.

The sun rose over the mountains in slow motion, painting the sky with golds and oranges. Below us, the desert stretched out endlessly. It was quiet. Peaceful. Surreal.

For 30 whole minutes, I forgot about everything else. I just floated. Smiled. Soaked in the moment. It felt like magic.

The landing? Surprisingly chill. We had clear instructions, and everything went smoothly. Afterward, we all gathered for a group photo—faces still glowing from the experience (and maybe from the adrenaline).

We watched the crew pack up the balloon—which honestly looked like a Herculean task. I can barely fold a fitted sheet, let alone wrangle a flying fabric whale into a bag. Massive respect.

If you ever get the chance to do a hot air balloon flight—especially over a desert at sunrise—do it. Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment.

It’s one of the most beautiful, grounding, and dreamlike things I’ve ever done.And now… it’s officially ✔️ off the list.