Behold, the miracle of flight.
The holy-grail of man for centuries, until the dream was finally captured and contained in the envelope of a hot air balloon by the pioneers of manned balloon flight, the Montgolfier Brothers.
Ever since that miraculous first flight in November 1783, man has fallen in love with the possibilities of taking to the skies and peering down on the earth with new eyes. Tinngly, the ultimate experience gift company, has become an integral part of these adventures in the skies.
But did you know – and it’s a big one:
January 9th celebrates another milestone in the history of ballooning experiences, Balloon Ascension Day.
It was on that date in 1793, when the French inventor and aeronaut, Jean Pierre Blanchard, lifted off from a public square close to the walls of Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Jail. This achievement bestowed on him the honor of being the pilot of the first hot air balloon flown anywhere in the Americas.
Even back then, as crowds thronged the square to witness the spectacle first-hand, hot air balloons had captured the imagination of the public. This is something that has not changed in over two hundred years.
If you’ve never had the experience of climbing into a hot air balloon basket and leaving the earth behind, the anniversary of Blanchard’s achievement might be as good a time as any to start.
Why take a balloon flight?
A balloon flight is the experience of a lifetime.
Climbing on board, feeling the heat of the burners as the balloon’s envelope is fully inflated lifting the gondola silently from the ground, is something you’ll most likely never forget.
Once aloft above the earth, the world takes on a whole new perspective. Except for the occasional urgent rush of the balloon’s burner, the silence of your flight time is deafening.
Sounds emanating from below take on a whole new voice. The barking of dogs, backyard conversations, and the rushing of traffic somehow seem lost. Specters, floating nearby as the air carries you where it will.
Depending on the location of your hot air balloon flight, the earth takes on a whole new mantle. This is most true at sunrise, or during the last hours of daylight when the landscape is washed by a different, more vibrant light.
Balloon flight in every location brings its own unique thrills and experiences.
In order to help you celebrate Ascension Day in style, we’ve compiled a collection of some of the best worldwide hot air balloon flights, all available from the Tinggly Best Balloon Rides gift box.
Which one is right for you?
Turkish Delight – Cappadocia
Turkey’s Cappadocia is widely regarded as being one of the world’s most incredible locations for hot air ballooning. Famous for its amazing views and ‘fairy chimney’ rock formations the landscape has been sculpted by nature and the elements.
To reap the full rewards of this unique experience an early morning flight is highly recommended. With a bird’s eye view of the valleys below, you’re sure to be overwhelmed by the houses, hotels, and other buildings carved into the majestic living rock formations along with a landscape so unique you might believe you’ve landed on another planet.
Getting high in Vilnius
Vilnius, Lithuania’s jewel of Northern Europe, is, to use an overworked cliche, a picture-postcard fairytale city.
The city’s Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers anywhere in Europe. With a maze of winding alleyways and cobble-stoned streets, the city is a pure delight to wander at leisure.
However, as beautiful as the Old Town may be on foot, to experience it from the basket of a hot air balloon adds another spectacular dimension.
Spread beneath you you’ll be amazed as a vista of red-tiled roofs reveals itself with every rising second. 28 churches of varying design, Baroque, Renaissance, Classical, and red-bricked Gothic fantasy are sure to have you captivated. As will the sights of the presidential palace, the streets of the old Jewish ghetto and the boundless parks and green spaces.
In addition, you’ll earn the bragging rights of having taken a lighter than air flight over one of the only European capitals where such adventures are allowed.
Australian sunrise at Uluru
Uluru, located in the red center of the Australian outback, protrudes from the surrounding flat landscape like a temple to the country’s ancient geological past. The monolith remains a sacred landmark revered by Australia’s indigenous people – a natural cathedral dedicated to both the culture and ancestry of the continent’s first inhabitants.
Arriving at your outback location before sunrise, you’ll watch the balloon’s burners light up the pre-dawn darkness. Camera at the ready, watch as the balloon’s envelope inflates just in time for the first rays of light to illuminate the landscape. A morning flight not only provides spectacular views of Uluru but also lets you avoid the fierce heat of the day.
If you’re lucky you might even catch a glimpse of some local wildlife, most likely to be a troop of kangaroo before they too find shelter from the heat of the day.
Post-flight, and back on terra firma, relive the whole amazing experience over a champagne breakfast of sparkling local wines, cheeses, muffins and fresh fruits along with the fresh memories of an incredible and unforgettable lifetime adventure.
See the world from the air and be kind to the planet
The Tinggly Best Balloon Rides Experience gift box contains an exclusive hand-picked selection of some of the planet’s most spectacular balloon rides.
What’s more, if you’re concerned about your impact on the environment, with Tinggly there’s no need to be. Tinggly is leading the way when it comes to sustainability and the experience’s impact on the environment.
Here’s how we do it:
- For every experience completed Tinggly offset the carbon footprint by a massive 200%
- Remove a whopping 33lbs (15kg) of plastic from the environment, preventing them from reaching the world’s oceans – that’s almost 660 plastic bottles.
- All of Tinggly’s packaging material is 100% recycled/recyclable and are printed using environment-friendly inks.
- Tinggly has already sent a team to the Indonesian island of Bali where they installed trash traps in the rivers to prevent plastics from entering the seas.
It may not be saving the entire planet but at Tinggly we believe that we all have a part to play in the fight to protect our planet.
What other balloon experiences are in the Tinggly gift box?
On Balloon Ascension Day – or any other day you fancy giving the gift of a balloon flight – here’s an idea of the amazing experience locations Tinggly has to offer you.
Phoenix, Arizona, USA. – Prague City Experience, Prague, Czech Republic – Louisville, Kentucky, USA – Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain – Napa Valley, California, USA – Tuscany, Italy – Northern Territory Outback, Australia – Centre, Val de Loire, France – Marrakech, Morocco – Lake District, United Kingdom – Goa, India – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Luxor, Egypt – Teotihuacan, Mexico.