Radada Montgolfières, Hot air balloon rides in Issoire, France
Radada Montgolfières is a hot air balloon ride operator based in Issoire, a town in the Auvergne region of central France. Flights drift over fields, rivers, and rolling hills, with the pilot managing altitude while the wind sets the course.
The hot air balloon was born in France when the Montgolfier brothers completed the first crewed flight in 1783. The technology has changed over the centuries, but the core principle of trapping warm air inside an envelope to rise has stayed the same.
The name Radada Montgolfières directly references the Montgolfier brothers, whose early flights in France made ballooning part of the national story. When you look up at the brightly colored envelope rising against the sky, that connection becomes tangible rather than abstract.
Flights typically take place in the early morning or late afternoon, when wind conditions are most favorable. Weather always has the final word, so it is worth keeping your schedule flexible on the day of your booking.
Passengers are asked not to wear polyester clothing because the heat source inside the basket can damage synthetic fabrics. Guests are also invited to help inflate the balloon before the flight, which makes the whole process feel much more hands-on before you even leave the ground.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
