Chianti Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride, 1 Hour Flight

From around 2,000 feet, about 609 metres, the view runs for miles across the Chianti Valley. Single properties become legible at that distance: the farmhouse, the track leading up to it, the blocks of vine and olive grove that belong with it. The flight lasts an hour and takes off from the village of San Casciano in Val di Pesa. The hills roll rather than rise, and the villages sit on top of them. Castles hold the higher ground. Vineyards and olive groves cover most of what is left. How far the balloon travels depends on the wind, which also decides the take-off field: it is picked during the afternoon before the flight and sent out after 18:00, so expect the meeting point to be confirmed late. A glass of Champagne is opened once the basket is back down. Hotel pick-up can be arranged on request and is not included in the price, and it can still be added the day before if plans are not settled. Cancellation is free when made 24 hours or more before the scheduled departure.