Unlike any other tour event offered in Fairbanks; hot air ballooning is a community event. One in which the general public is not just invited in some vague fashion to come out and watch -- but locals and tourists alike are strongly encouraged come out and join in the nightly ballooning festivities. 

To begin with when planning on visiting Fairbanks or if you're live around town the first thing you might want to do is call MIDNIGHT SUN BALLOON TOURS to find out the time and location of their next flight. 

*It should be noted that: The Fairbanks balloon tour season is between Mid-May through Mid-September. The availibility of flights are subject to weather and wind conditions. And that while morning flights are availible upon request for groups of five or more most flights take place around sunset.

Regardless of whether you want to fly or just come out to watch what ever you do, don't forget to bring your camera and lots of film.  Because in either case you're about to have the experince of a lifetime.

Now at least for me I had never been up close and personal with a hot air balloon before.  Ever since I was a kid and had seen these brightly colored giants lazily floating across the horizon I have wanted to fly in one.  However now that I'm in my mid-forties I found much to my surprise that I was somewhat uncomfortable with the thought of just climbing on board and flying off into the wild blue yonder.

Talking on the phone with Sam Racina the owner-operator's of this fine company persuaded me to come on out and watch a flight or two and even invited me to pitch in if I liked to, to help set up their hot air balloons. 

And let me tell you going out and watching these gentle giants being laid out and inflated was so much fun and exciting, I've been back several times this season. And just as soon as I can scrape together enough money, me and my son are going airborne. 

Another thing that so impressed me about these two companies was their friendliness and level of professionalism. Not only in their crew members but their ground crews as well.  Sam answered all my questions and hand walked me through the entire process from when he and his team first arrived until we parted into the evening sky.
 

Click on the balloon to begin your Virtual Tour

 

Balloon Tours of Fairbanks

Balloon Tours

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Tourist Season

NOTE: While local Balloon Operators are open for business from May through September Hot Air Balloon rides depend on local weather conditions and as such are very hard to predict in advance. If you would like to go on a Balloon Tour you should call as soon as you arrive in Fairbanks snd check on availibility and times.