About this activity
There’s a place not far from Heraklion, on the island of Crete, where magnificent, stately mountains rise high above vast green fields. This is the Lasithi Plateau. And it is the perfect place to experience the true soul of Crete.
We invite you to embark on a journey that touches both the sky and the earth. We’ve designed this combo experience to be completely seamless, handling every detail from the heights of a hot air balloon to the rugged off-road trails of a Jeep Safari.
An Adventure Tailored to You
Why choose between the sky and the mountains when you can have both? In a single, seamless day, you will experience:
A Sunrise Balloon Flight where you drift in pure silence over the majestic Lasithi Plateau.
An Off-Road Jeep Safari climbing to 1,000 meters for breathtaking panoramic views spanning from Sissi to Analipsi.
An Authentic Culinary Experience featuring local olive oil and raki tastings, plus a full traditional Cretan lunch.
A Journey Through Myths with a visit to the ancient village of Krasi and the legendary Zeus Cave.
Why You’ll Love This Combo
Look, we know you want to see the real Crete, not just the hotel pool. This isn’t a standard bus tour. It’s two bucket-list experiences packed into one seamless day.
The Perfect Balance. Experience the quiet magic of floating 3,000 feet in the air as the sun rises, followed by the adrenaline of a 4×4 kicking up dust on hidden mountain trails like the Karfi viewpoint.
A Traditional Celebration. After your unforgettable flight, the celebration continues on the ground. You are welcomed back with sparkling wine, a personalized flight certificate, and a delicious Greek breakfast box. Later, you’ll sit down at a local tavern for a hearty traditional lunch (with chicken, pork, or vegetarian options) and plenty of local wine.
A Hands-On Pottery Workshop & Culture. You’ll enjoy a hands-on pottery workshop, working with a potter’s wheel to discover one of Crete’s oldest crafts. You’ll also stand beneath a 2,000-year-old Plane tree in Krasi, admire the Church of Timios Stavros, and capture memories at the iconic Windmills of Lasithi.
Stress-Free Convenience. To ensure your day is perfect from start to finish, we handle all the driving, flying, and food. A comfortable Jeep transfer from your hotel to the plateau and back is fully included.
Customize Your Pace. When we stop at the Dictaean Cave (Zeus Cave), the choice is yours: hike up to the birthplace of the gods, explore the Mythology Theme Park, or simply relax and take in the view with a cup of coffee.
Meeting Point
We’ve got your ride sorted! Your booking includes Round-trip Transportation. We will pick you up directly from your hotel and bring you back safely after the adventure.
Free Transfer Zone: Transfer is included free of charge for hotels in Sissi, Malia, Stalida, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Analipsi, and Gouves.
Other Regions: Please note that pickups from Chania, Rethymno, and Lasithi are not included in the standard price and incur an extra charge.
Important Notes:
Be on time: Please be ready at your hotel reception at the scheduled time. Late arrivals will forfeit their tickets, as we cannot delay the departure due to the strict schedule of the balloon launch.
Opting out? If you prefer to drive yourself or do not need the transfer, please contact us in advance so we can update your booking.
Need Help? For any questions, urgent matters regarding pickup, or to find your driver, please call us anytime at we’re always here to help!
The itinerary may change due to weather — your comfort and safety always come first.
Before You Go
Bring your сomfortable clothing, light jacket and closed shoes for the balloon flight.
Bring your camera or phone for photos!
For any questions or special requests, feel free to reach us
Ready for an Unforgettable Day?
This isn’t just an adventure — it’s a memory in the making.
With us, you’re not just a guest — you’re our traveler, our explorer, our friend.
We’re here to make your day effortless, magical, and truly unforgettable.
You just bring your sense of wonder — we’ll take care of the rest.
What's included
Round-trip Transportation: Jeep pickup and drop-off is free for hotels in Sissi, Malia, Stalida, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Analipsi, and Gouves
Professional Service: Professional driver and fuel included
Balloon Experience: Experienced pilot, small-group balloon basket, and liability insurance
Celebration & Memories: A glass of sparkling wine, personalized flight certificate, and a souvenir
Light morning breakfast box
Full Lunch in a traditional restaurant (Starters, Main dish, Dessert, Wine, and Water)
Activities: Complete Jeep Safari tour, Pottery workshop, and local Tastings (Olive oil, Wine, Raki)
Entrance Fee to the Greek Mythology Thematic Park
Transfers from distant regions: Pickups from Chania, Rethymno, and Lasithi are not included
Personal Expenses: Any private spending and extra drinks during lunch (beyond the included wine/water)
Entrance Fees: The entrance fee to Zeus cave
Other Services: Any extra services not explicitly listed in the "Includes" section
You need to know
A hot air balloon ride is a source of new and vivid emotions. Those who have been in the basket of a balloon at least once say that they felt amazing lightness and freedom during the flight.
There are no age restrictions for ballooning. But you should adequately assess your body and health capabilities. We do not recommend ballooning for pregnant women, children under 6 years old, people who have suffered serious injuries, fractures or sprains.
Balloons are an adventure and an unusual form of transport. To make the flight safe and bring only pleasant impressions, you need to take into account several important points.
A balloon has no rudder or engine. It is the only air transport that flies freely in the air.
The starting location can be changed even the day before the flight starts if weather conditions change. We do not guarantee a specific region of Crete or Athens for the flight. Weather conditions, especially wind strength, take precedence when choosing a start location. ‘VIVA let's fly!’ reserves the right to change the starting place and time even a few minutes before take-off.
If the pilot specifies your weight, don’t take it personally. The information is needed to calculate the lift of the balloon, according to the air temperature.
The warmer the air, the less lift the balloon has.
Need a ride? We can arrange pickup and drop-off, making it easy to join us for this unforgettable adventure. We have a comfortable minivan and a minibus at your disposal. Transportation depends on the tour program and the number of passengers.
If you did not book a transfer, our representative will contact you approximately 12 hours before your adventure to inform you about the meeting place and the meeting time.
We recommend that you do not drink alcohol or eat fatty foods before your tour to avoid motion sickness during the flight. Passengers usually tolerate the flight well, but you may want to take a motion sickness tablet just in case.
We recommend our passengers to wear cotton clothes and sports shoes for the tour. It may be windy at altitude — better bring a jacket.
You can take a photo or video camera. It would be better to keep the equipment in soft cases on a string or chain. That way it won’t fall overboard and won’t be damaged upon landing.
Balloon flights are possible if there is no rain, fog and wind strength does not exceed 5 meters per second. We check the weather forecast the day before the tour, but sometimes the weather situation can change suddenly. We are responsible for the safety of our guests and can cancel the flight even just before take-off if the weather is unfavorable.
Before the takeoff, the pilot explains how to behave during the flight: what you can and can’t do. These are simple rules that will help make the excursion comfortable and safe.
Forbidden: pulling on ropes and hoses; opening and closing valves; sitting on and hanging over the basket; taking weapons or explosives, such as fireworks, on board; smoking in the basket; drinking alcoholic beverages; sitting on the floor of the basket.
Landing a hot air balloon is an unusual experience. At this point you should hold on to the rope loops on the sides of the basket until the balloon comes to a complete stop.
In order to land comfortably, you need to bend your knees slightly or squat the moment the basket is about to touch the ground.
You may only drop the basket with the pilot’s permission.
Allowed: holding on to the rope loops on the sides of the basket; taking photos and videos; enjoying the view.
The flight usually lasts about 40 minutes, but due to weather conditions or any interference, an emergency landing may be necessary. In this case, the flight time may be shortened without rescheduling the flight to other dates. Money for the tour is not refundable.
After landing passengers will continue to enjoy the adventure with a sparkling wine and a light breakfast.
Each participant of the flight will receive a certificate and a special souvenir from ‘VIVA let's fly!’.
Then we’ll take you back to your hotel or meeting point if you’ve booked a transfer service. If not, you’ll have to drive yourself from the starting point.