Hot Air Balloon Dubai | Sindbad Gulf Balloons — Attraction in Dubai

This is a joint review of JTR Holidays (Jokers Travel Holidays) and Sindbad Gulf Balloons - enjoy

You book a balloon ride You get a phone call a few hours later from Jokers TR saying “sorry we don’t actually have any availability for the balloon ride that you just booked and paid for online”… So you ask for a refund But they want your money so suddenly you hear that actually, there is availability!! Hooray!!!! You then ask the Jokers if they’re absolutely sure, because if not, there is still enough time to book a balloon ride elsewhere before the end of your holiday, but they reassure you that it's ok, there is availability! Result. At 9:30pm the night before the 5:45am ride, you finally receive details of the pick-up location and time….. Ok. But then, just for laughs, your balloon ride is cancelled 90 minutes later at 11pm(!!), the night before the 05:45am trip start, which is actually on your last day in the UAE. It’s cancelled for "technical safety reasons" of course, no further explanation provided. Nothing to do with being unprofessional disorganised money grabbing Jokers, not giving a toss about customers and their holiday plans or wishes. No absolutely nothing to do with any of that of course! It's due to “technical safety reasons”.

The trouble is, when it’s your last day of your holiday and they cancel the ride at 11pm (whilst you’re sleeping, preparing for the early start) there is no time to rebook a ride with another - reliable - provider. But don’t worry, you can just laugh it off, because it’s all one big joke, right? Ha ha!!!! AVOID

Addendum:

When you contact Sindbad Gulf Balloons the next morning to make a complaint (whilst you're supposed to be having the ride) you're told by Gouda at Sindbad that the reason for cancellation was in fact because of Corona virus among the staff: "we lost business of 86 customers" he says….. Ok I thought, let's check how busy they are at the moment - and Google showed that they are in fact "As busy as it gets"!!!! (see photo)

So when I send the Google screenshot to Gouda and ask him why they are so busy even though he has sent all his staff home(?), he pretends to not understand my question... and suddenly 15 minutes later the business is somehow "Less busy than usual" with the Google attendance chart level right down at zero!!!! (see second photo). It's a miracle!! Or - is it because these people are unprofessional disorganised money grabbing...

Singbad gulf balloon flight typically had me on 10/10😊

A hot air balloon ride is nothing short of magical – a perfect blend of adventure, tranquility, and breathtaking views that simply can't be replicated by any other form of travel. From the moment the burners roar to life and the massive envelope begins to inflate, you know you're in for something special.

The experience begun at dawn, when the air was crisp and still. There was something mesmerizing about watching the skilled crew prepare the balloon, a process that builds anticipation for what's to come. As you climb into the wicker basket and feel the gentle lift-off, all earthly concerns seem to float away with remarkable grace.

What sets hot air ballooning apart is its unique sensation of flight. Unlike the enclosed experience of an airplane, you're truly immersed in the atmosphere. The silence between burner blasts is profound – we were floating in perfect harmony with the wind, offering unparalleled panoramic views of the sand dunes below. Whether you're drifting over beautiful Dubai, Camel trucks, urban landscapes, the perspective was simply unmatched.

The pilot's expertise added another dimension to the experience, sharing insights about the art of ballooning while ensuring a smooth and safe journey. The flight typically lasts about an hour, but the memories last a lifetime. The traditional Breakfast, upon landing (more info on this) adds a touch of celebration to an already spectacular adventure. I love that they were from Other parts of the world and non racist, Egypt ,Pakistan, Ghana and am from Kenya so I felt better to see other diversified. Why it deserves a perfect 10: Unmatched 360-degree views Serene and peaceful experience Skilled pilots and professional operations Perfect blend of excitement and relaxation Unique perspective on unfamiliar landscapes Safe yet adventurous👌 Unforgettable memory-making opportunity Often includes sunrise views and Break fast celebration -Camel ride 🥰

Shout out To Captain Eric Bosman -Ibrahim Hamid ,Ahmed &Hanif Thank you so much ,Lots of love from...

My family was really looking forward to this experience, but it turned out to be miserable.

The pickup and drop off were fine, but the actual ride was underwhelming and unenjoyable. We stayed within a small radius, not seeing much of the landscape and staring at the same patch for 45 min.

The real nightmare started when we began to land. This was quite literally a "crash landing". Captain Karim seemed unconfident throughout the entire landing, as the balloon violently plummeted into the ground multiple times. After the first impact, the balloon rose up high into the sky again and repeatedly hit the dunes more intensely and worse than the first time. This caused many of the passengers to be thrown around the basket, falling on top of each other, leaving most of us traumatized and sore as we journeyed home. One of the passengers had a serious injury by his eye, I have a concussion, and other members of my family sustained full-body injuries. Captain Karim as well as the entire ground crew were unable to gain control of the balloon throughout the entire landing, inducing fear in all of us.

I have been on a hot air balloon in Dubai before through a different company and had a significantly different experience. The trip was smooth, fun and overall unforgettable in a positive way.

Save your money...