Balloon adventures in the UAE

Take off into the skies and see the rugged desert landscape from a whole new point of view on a hot air balloon expedition.

Balloon Adventures takes you on an exhilarating journey over red sand dunes, oases and the picturesque city of Al Ain, giving you the chance to spot camels meandering about the desert and gazelles grazing.

The trip takes about four to five hours and gets off to an early start at 5.30am, which seems a small price to pay for the breathtaking experience of watching the sun rise over the still desert and the majestic Hajar mountains as a cool breeze ruffles your hair.

Pick-ups to the take-off point in the desert near Al Ain are available from various locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The trip costs Dh950 per person, and Dh800 for children under 12. Call 04-2854949 or visitwww.ballooning.ae.