They take off at first light, reinforced wicker baskets filled with people, heading into the skies over Luxor, Egypt.
Only from a balloon high in the sky, in the clear air of the early morning, can a visitor begin to grasp the beauty of antiquities on the ground in this one-time Egyptian capital known in ancient times as Thebes.
The city in southern Egypt is one of the world’s largest outdoor museums, boasting majestic pharaonic temples on the east bank of the Nile River and heavily adorned tombs of some of the best-known ancient kings — including Tutankhamun, the boy king — on the west bank.
The path of the brightly colored balloons is determined by prevailing winds. On the ride, the silence is broken only by the whoosh of the gas burners and the occasional exclamations from tourists awed by the sights.
Yet there may be mixed feelings at takeoff: a healthy dose of adventurism and anticipation about what the short flight will reveal, but also concerns about safety. Three years ago, 19 people died here in a balloon accident. Since then, authorities have imposed rigid regulations on balloon operators, including cancelling flights on bad-weather days and training requirements for pilots.
The ride lasts about 20 minutes, before the pilot begins looking for a safe landing zone. Tourists brace themselves for landing, a usually bumpy affair more akin to a soft crash landing. The details of life in rural Egypt come into view as the balloon begins its descent, with farmers toiling in the fields and children heading to school in the dusty roads of the west bank.
A dedicated ground crew riding a rugged truck tracks each balloon. The trucks maneuver in anticipation of the landing spot. Once the balloon touches down, they hurry to grab ropes to prevent it from taking off again or moving sideways.
If You Go…
LUXOR BALLOON RIDES: Price for balloon rides, including hotel transfers and a souvenir DVD, currently runs at around $30, a bargain without any of the usual haggling for which Luxor is notorious.
In this Friday, April 1, 2016 photo, tourists watch hot air balloons prepare to take off at dawn, on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. They take off at first light, providing sky-high views of antiquities below. Luxor in southern Egypt is one of the world’s largest outdoor museums, with majestic temples and tombs of ancient kings. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, ground crew members collect a hot air balloon after a tour over the west bank of the Nile River, in Luxor, Egypt. They take off at first light, reinforced wicker baskets filled with people, heading into the skies over Luxor, Egypt. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, a hot air balloon flies over the mortuary temple of Ramsis III at Medinet Habu on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. Only from a balloon high in the sky, in the clear air of the early morning, can a visitor begin to grasp the beauty of antiquities on the ground in this one-time Egyptian capital once known as Thebes. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, hot air balloons fly over the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. The path of the brightly colored balloons is determined by prevailing winds. On the ride, the silence is broken only by the whoosh of the gas burners and the occasional exclamations from tourists awed by the sights. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken Friday, April 1, 2016, a hot air balloon prepares to take off on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. They take off at first light, providing sky-high views of antiquities below. Luxor in southern Egypt is one of the world’s largest outdoor museums, with majestic temples and tombs of ancient kings. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, a hot air balloon flies over the mortuary temple of Ramsis III at Medinet Habu on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, a hot air balloon flies over the Colossi of Memnon on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. Only from a balloon high in the sky, in the clear air of the early morning, can a visitor begin to grasp the beauty of antiquities on the ground in this one-time Egyptian capital once known as Thebes. The city in southern Egypt is one of the world’s largest outdoor museums. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, farmers harvest their wheat as the balloon descends, on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. The path of the brightly colored balloons is determined by prevailing winds. On the ride, the silence is broken only by the whoosh of the gas burners and the occasional exclamations from tourists awed by the sights. The ride lasts about 20 minutes, before the pilot begins looking for a safe landing zone. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, the Nile River is partially shrouded in early morning clouds in Luxor, Egypt. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, the details of life in rural Egypt come into view as the balloon begins its descent, on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. The path of the brightly colored balloons is determined by prevailing winds. On the ride, the silence is broken only by the whoosh of the gas burners and the occasional exclamations from tourists awed by the sights. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, smoke rises as farmers burn chaff after a harvest on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. The details of life in rural Egypt come into view as the balloon begins its descent, with farmers toiling in the fields and children heading to school. The path of the brightly colored balloons is determined by prevailing winds. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this picture taken from a balloon Friday, April 1, 2016, a hot air balloon lands as the ground crew secures the balloon after a tour over the west bank of the Nile River, in Luxor, Egypt. They take off at first light, reinforced wicker baskets filled with people, heading into the skies over Luxor, Egypt. The ride lasts about 20 minutes, before the pilot begins looking for a safe landing zone. Tourists brace themselves for landing, a usually bumpy affair more akin to a soft crash landing. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
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AP Images is the world’s largest collection of historical andcontemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP's iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional imagebuyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.
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