Our Reviews

Read why our guests are thrilled with our balloon rides at Balloons Above in Indio, California. We are dedicated to offering the finest balloon adventures in Riverside County. Nestled in the heart of the Coachella Valley in Southern California, we ensure each flight is a memorable experience. Join us for breathtaking views and unparalleled service—where every journey in the sky is an unforgettable.

What a fabulous experience! Was so much fun. I would recommend it to anyone.

~ Carola | December 5, 2024

So much fun! Loved the unique views. Great way to celebrate any special occasion, or just because :)

Karen | December 1, 2024

I reserved a hot air balloon ride to surprise my boyfriend for his birthday and I can’t recommend Balloons Above enough! Wil is an amazing pilot, super knowledgeable, and the ride itself was amazing and worth every penny. I had no issues with communication even with me reserving two months in advance. Definitely go with Balloons Above if you’re thinking about doing this in the Palm Springs area.

Kris S | November 11, 2024 - Google Reviews

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing a hot air balloon ride with "Balloons Above," and it was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment we took off to the smooth landing, every second was a thrill. What made our ride truly unforgettable was our pilot, Will. Not only is he the owner, but his passion and expertise as our guide through the skies were evident. With 44 years of experience, Will's deep knowledge and captivating stories added layers of enjoyment to our adventure. It's rare to come across someone so skilled and genuinely enthusiastic about their craft. Our balloon was undoubtedly the most beautiful in the sky, turning our experience into a picturesque journey we'll never forget.

After landing, we were pleasantly surprised with a mini picnic that felt like a cherry on top of an already perfect day. The wine was great, complemented by the best crackers and cheese, creating an atmosphere of luxury and relaxation. Will continued to engage us with more stories, this time about the history of hot air balloons, enriching our experience even further. The attention to detail and the effort to make our experience memorable was truly impressive.

I can't recommend "Balloons Above" enough—especially with Will at the helm, you're guaranteed to have the best pilot and an incredible ride. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore the skies in a magical way.

Alina Gordilova | May 18, 2024 Google Review

Balloons above was a wonderful experience. The pilots are so kind, laid back and delivered a must see experience. Get out there and enjoy one of the most peaceful rides ever. It is heavenly!!!

~ John B | December 10, 2023 - Google Reviews

Will and his wife, Gwen provided a fabulous experience for our hot air balloon ride! He is a top ranked balloonist and entertained us with his vast knowledge of the valley. Be sure to ask him about his around the world balloon adventures. You will have a fabulous time with beautiful views. This is the place to go!!

~ Mona Theobald | December 08, 2023 - Google Reviews

My husband and I had an amazing experience with Balloons Above! We’ve never been up in a hot air balloon before, so we didn’t know what to expect. It was absolutely magical and so fun with a pilot who is as experienced as Wil. He and his wife, Gwen, have a true heart for ballooning! We learned some fun facts about the desert and history of ballooning all while floating over the gorgeous desert scenery. If you aren’t sure which company to choose for your hot air balloon experience, choose Balloons Above!

~ Kallie Melkesian | November 4, 2022 - Google Reviews

Amazing customer service from the time you call and they actually picked up their phone as opposed to everyone else who didn't such an amazing amazing company.

~ Michelle Jacks | November 4, 2022 - Google Reviews

Great way to relax and enjoy the view of the mountains and date farms.

~ Gay | January 14, 2021

Thank you will for the ride and tour of the dessert. We enjoyed the ride we really Recommended. Will he has a lot of experience. He is professional and very nice.

~ Candy Zeledon | December 1, 2020

‌A hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list for years! This is our first time wintering in Coachella Valley and I love seeing the balloons almost daily, weather permitting above the desert! My husband and I decided to fly in early December (2017). I was a little nervous but once we left the ground it was so tranquil and beautiful! It's hard to describe the sense of calm and peace to ascend at sunrise and see the entire valley several hundred to a couple of thousand of feet up! We felt extremely comfortable with Wil, the pilot's, qualifications and decades of flying. We were very pleased at the price, as well. We enjoyed the refreshments and short talk about ballooning Wil gave after the flight! Skip the aerial tram and take a balloon ride. I was so pleased that Gay, his partner, takes pictures and shares them with you!! Highly recommend!!!

 Deborah C. | February 2, 2020

‌We had a great time with the Balloons Above sunrise flight during the Christmas holidays. Will is a very professional and passionate balloon pilot, who runs a very small business by himself. Everything went really smooth. We were up in the air for almost one and a half hour and saw most of the Coachella valley. There was one other couple in the basket and plenty of space. It was a fantastic experience.

 Jeroen K. | January 7, 2020

Crossed off one of our bucket list items, today!!

We went on our first hot air balloon ride today, with Will & Gaye (owners)! Two of the nicest people you'd ever want to take you on an adventure!

They asked, when we booked, if there was a special occasion and we informed them, it was our anniversary.

We had the pleasure of riding with 4 other people (super nice gang)....made our ride all the more pleasurable! (Shout out to them!!)

Just before getting in the balloon, Will made it known to everyone that we were celebrating our anniversary....and our other ballon travelers wished us a Happy Anniversary....so nice!

The ride was fabulous....they allowed us to give a helping hand in the set up of the balloon, added bonus!

Will was really a nice guy, with cheesy jokes that definitely made us feel a bit more at ease (my partner is not a fan of heights)....thanks for your kindness and ability to bring us all together, as a group of "first timers"!

Upon landing, they set up a table of cheese/crackers and wine....and the owners had special anniversary napkins for us (super sweet/unexpected). They also made a toast to us!! In a phrase; AMAZING EXPERIENCE.....trust us, this is THE balloon ride to take!! We are going to recommend them to any/all of our friends who take a trip to Palm Springs.

Thanks again to our hosts, Will & Gaye!!! Your hospitality went far beyond, and we appreciated it!

Thom & Russ from Connecticut!!!! 

 Thom L. | January 10, 2019 - Yelp Review

A hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list for years! This is our first time wintering in Coachella Valley and I love seeing the balloons almost daily, weather permitting above the desert! My husband and I decided to fly in early December (2017). I was a little nervous but once we left the ground it was so tranquil and beautiful! It's hard to describe the sense of calm and peace to ascend at sunrise and see the entire valley several hundred to a couple of thousand of feet up! We felt extremely comfortable with Wil, the pilot's, qualifications and decades of flying. We were very pleased at the price, as well. We enjoyed the refreshments and short talk about ballooning Wil gave after the flight! Skip the aerial tram and take a balloon ride. I was so pleased that Gay, his partner, takes pictures and shares them with you!! Highly recommend!!!

 Deborah C. | January 30, 2018 - Yelp Review

My boyfriend surprised me with a hot air balloon ride while in Palm Springs, it was, without a doubt, the highlight of this trip! Neither of us had ever taken a ride before, and it far exceeded our expectations. Will was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. He and Gay clearly have a passion for ballooning, and it was great to hear their stories. The toast at the end of the ride was lovely. We were so pleased with the flight we have decided to take a trip to Albuquerque in the fall for the festival. Thanks for everything guys, HIGHLY RECOMMEND

‌Michaela O. | December 23, 2017 - Yelp Review

This is our first time ballooning and it was a great experience. We had Jack, a long time balloon pilot who made us feel at ease. This particular company had shuttle service, which is very convenient for those that don't have a car (we actually did but it meant less driving for us). They picked us up on time in palm springs at 2:30pm, then proceeded to pick up others that were scheduled on the same balloon. We had 8 people in ours but another balloon has 2. We arrived at the drop off site in indio by about 4pm. We saw the balloons inflate, climbed in, and off we went.

The ride itself was the epitome of calm since the balloon moves with the air currents. I'm a little scared of heights but the experience was great and not scary at all. We had some cookies and champagne/ soda in the middle of the trip and our guide pointed out various facts in the area. Since we went in February, the day temp was cooler at 70 but the basket was nice and toasty since it's next to the burners. I was wearing shorts and a shirt and felt plenty warm. The burners do get loud as they're being fired off but that wasn't too bad. Might be scary for young children though.

We saw the mountains, the houses, the whole landscape, and skirted low to the ground at different times which was really neat. The landing bounced a little but was not scary at all. Highly recommended!

 Jack L., from Santa Clarita | February 19, 2008 - Yelp Review