Hot-air ballooning · Lasithi Plateau

Ballooning over the Lasithi Plateau

The balloon takes off from a field on the Lasithi Plateau, a farm plain high in the mountains inland — not from the coast, and not over the town or the sea. Here is what a flight here is really like, in plain terms, how you get to the launch field, and how to tell if it is for you.

Takes off: Lasithi PlateauFlies over: Lasithi PlateauHigh up: ~850 mEarly morningWeather permitting

How it works What you'll see

Where it flies

Over the Lasithi Plateau

Getting there

Free pickup on the Heraklion coast, or self-drive

How high the plain is

About 850 m

When

Early morning

What the pilot steers

Only up and down

Landing

Soft or bumpy

When to book it

Early in your trip

What ballooning here is

A slow, quiet float. The balloon drifts with the wind while the pilot sets how high you go.
A flight over the Lasithi Plateau — a wide farm plain high in the mountains, inland from the coast.
An early-morning thing, because the air is calmest soon after sunrise.
Wide views over fields, villages, and the mountains that ring the plain.
Different every time, because the wind is different every day.

What it is not

Not a flight over Agios Nikolaos, the sea, or the beaches. The plateau is inland, and the balloon does not go near the coast.
Not a set route. No balloon can be steered to a chosen spot.
Not a guaranteed sunrise, sea view, or view of any famous site.
Not able to stop, hover, or turn back on command.
Not certain to happen — if the weather is wrong, the flight is called off.

Where it flies

It flies over the plateau, not the town

Agios Nikolaos is on the coast. The Lasithi Plateau is a high farm plain up in the mountains inland — a completely separate place. That plain, not the town, is where the balloon takes off and flies.

Getting to the launch field is the part worth planning. The flights that include free hotel pickup collect from the Heraklion coast strip, roughly Ammoudara and Heraklion through Gouves, Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia and Sissi. Agios Nikolaos and Elounda sit outside that free zone, so from here you either drive yourself to the meeting point on the plateau or add a paid transfer. The private flights include no transfer at all and expect you to arrive under your own steam.

Either way it is an early start into the mountains before sunrise, not a quick pickup and a loop over the bay. Do not count on a public bus that early. The exact field and time are confirmed to you about twelve hours ahead, once the operator has the morning weather.

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Agios Nikolaos — where you stay

Lasithi Plateau — where you fly

You stay at Agios Nikolaos on the coast (1), then travel inland and up into the mountains to the launch field on the Lasithi Plateau (2). The two are separate places — this is not a flight over the town or the sea, and the free hotel pickup runs along the Heraklion coast rather than from here.

How it works

How a balloon flight works

A balloon goes up and down easily, but it cannot steer. The wind decides the direction. Almost everything else comes from that one fact.

Up and down only

The pilot heats the air to rise and lets it cool to come down. For left and right, they can only use the wind, so the route is never fixed.

The wind picks the way

A balloon cannot be steered like a car or a plane. It goes where the wind goes that morning. No two flights are the same.

Quiet, then the burner

Most of the time it is calm and quiet. Every so often the gas burner roars to keep you up. That is the only real noise.

Low, then high

You might drift low over the fields, then rise for a wide view of the whole plain. The height changes as you go.

You stand up in a basket

Everyone stands for the flight and climbs in over the side of the basket. If that is hard for you, ask the operator before you book.

Soft or bumpy landing

Some landings are gentle, some are bumpy. The pilot shows you how to stand and hold on. Stay in the basket until they say it is safe.

Your morning

The flight is only part of the morning

You spend far longer on the whole trip than in the air. A morning usually goes something like this. Exact times are set by each operator.

Early pickup
A drive from the coast up into the mountains, before sunrise.
Weather check
The pilot looks at the conditions and decides if it is safe to fly.
Setting up
The balloon is spread out, filled with a fan, then stood upright with the burner. Good to watch.
Safety talk
You are shown how to hold on and how to stand for the landing.
The flight
The part everyone pictures — and the shortest part of the morning.
Landing
Wherever the wind allows. Often not where you took off.
Pack up and head back
A vehicle collects the balloon, then you make your way back.

So a "40-minute flight" still takes up most of the morning. Check both the flight time and the total time on the tour you pick.

What you'll see

What you might see

The plain below is a working farm, not empty scenery. The view changes through the year with the crops. The numbers below match the map.

The farmland and villages

A wide plain of small fields — potatoes and vegetables — with villages dotted around the edge. Tzermiado is the main one.

The famous windmills

Lasithi is known for windmills, and there are two kinds. Lots of small ones with white cloth sails once pumped water up to the fields. And a row of tall stone ones stands at the mountain pass, where they ground grain into flour. The small ones are from the 1800s, not ancient, and many now stand still.

The Cave of Zeus

A famous cave on the mountainside, from the Greek myth that Zeus was born on Crete. You might spot the area from a distance, but not always — and you do not fly over it.

The Dikti mountains

The ring of peaks all around the plain. They frame every view.

Not the sea

It is all inland. You will not see the coast, the town, or the beaches from up here.

On the map

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Markers 1–3 match the list. These are things you might see — but the wind decides the route, so nothing is promised.

Season

The weather decides, not the calendar

A balloon only flies in the right weather. Even a booked flight can be called off on the day.

Wind, cloud, rain, and having a safe place to land all matter. The pilot makes the final call on the morning — a weather app on your phone cannot. So book your flight for early in your trip: if it is cancelled, you still have other mornings to try again.

Winter (Nov–Feb)

Cold and wetter up on the plateau. Fewer flights — check what is running.

March–April

In-between weather as spring arrives. Check what is on.

May–June

Drier weather starts and the fields green up. Cancellations still happen.

July–August

Usually dry. Warm days, but cold up here before sunrise.

September–October

Right now, in October

Usually still dry. The fields change colour with the harvest.

❄ Colder up top

The plateau sits high up, so it is much colder than the beach — roughly 6–8°C in winter and 19–20°C in summer, and colder still before sunrise. Bring a warm layer even in July.

Good fit?

Is it for you?

Ballooning suits some people and not others. Here is the honest version.

A good choice if you

Like the idea of floating quietly and taking in the view.
Do not mind a very early start and a drive into the mountains.
Can follow a safety talk and handle a bumpy landing.
Want to see inland Crete — farms, villages, mountains — not just the coast.
Can keep another morning free, in case the weather changes your plans.

Maybe not, if you

Mainly want to see the sea or the town from the air.
Need a fixed time, a set route, or to see one particular place.
Cannot climb into the basket, stand, or hold on.
Have a flight or ferry to catch that same morning.
Would be very upset if it were cancelled at the last minute.

How to get ready

Book it early in your trip, so you can try again if the weather cancels.
Sort out the meeting point and pickup the day before.
Wear flat, closed shoes and trousers you can climb in.
Bring a warm layer — the plateau is cold before sunrise.
Keep your phone and camera secure, and follow the pilot's rules for them.
Tell the operator about any health issue, pregnancy, or mobility need before you book.

Before you book

The weather can cancel a flight at the last minute, and the pilot decides on the day. Do not book it for your last morning in Crete — leave a spare morning to try again.
Age, height, weight, and health limits are set by each operator — there is no single rule. Check them and tell the operator your needs before you book.
No smoking on or near the balloon.
There is no fixed route. The pilot follows the wind, so no particular view or landmark can be promised.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does the balloon fly over Agios Nikolaos?

No. It takes off from and flies over the Lasithi Plateau, up in the mountains inland. Agios Nikolaos is where you are likely to be staying, not part of the flight.

How far is the plateau from Agios Nikolaos?

It is a drive up into the mountains. How long depends on where you set off from and where the balloon flies that day, so check with the tour you pick.

Is hotel pickup included if I am staying in Agios Nikolaos?

Not on the free transfer zone. The flights that include pickup collect along the Heraklion coast, roughly Ammoudara through Gouves, Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia and Sissi. From Agios Nikolaos or Elounda you either drive to the meeting point on the plateau yourself or add a paid transfer, and the private flights include no transfer at all. Check the individual tour before you book.

Is transport from my hotel included?

It depends on the tour. Check whether pickup from your hotel is included before you book.

Can the pilot choose the route?

Not really. The pilot chooses how high to go, but the wind chooses the direction.

Will I see the Cave of Zeus or the windmills?

Maybe, from a distance, if the wind and weather line up. Nothing is guaranteed, and you do not fly over the cave.

Is the sunrise guaranteed?

No. Flights go up early because the air is calmer then, but cloud or fog can block the view.

How long is the flight?

The flight itself is short. The whole trip — drive, set-up, flight, and pack-up — takes most of the morning. Check both times on the tour.

Do I stand for the whole flight?

Yes. Everyone stands, in a shared basket.

How do I get into the basket?

You climb in over the side. If that is hard for you, ask before you book.

Can children go?

There is no single age limit. It depends on the operator, and on whether the child can follow the safety talk and stand for the landing.

Can someone with limited mobility go?

It has to be checked case by case — getting in, standing, and holding on. Tell the operator your needs and get a clear answer first.

Is the landing rough?

It can be soft or bumpy. The pilot shows you how to brace, and you stay in the basket until it is safe to get out.

What if the weather is bad?

The flight is cancelled or moved to another day. Check the tour's refund rules, and book early so you can try again.

What should I wear?

Flat closed shoes, trousers you can climb in, and a warm layer — it is cold up there before sunrise.

Can I get there by public bus?

Do not count on it for such an early start. Arrange a transfer, taxi, or car instead.

Drift above the Lasithi Plateau in a small-group hot air balloon at sunrise, landing to a sparkling wine toast and Greek breakfast.

Small group · max 8

See cancellation terms

From €250 / person

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Times, what is included, pickup, age limits, and cancellation rules are set on each tour and can change. Nothing above is a promise from any one operator.

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Guide last updated on 2 August 2026