By David Kiknadze, Transport & Openings Reporter · 25/10/2026
- Book ahead and keep the rest of the morning flexible, since flights depend on wind and may be rescheduled.
- Arrange a private transfer rather than relying on public transport, as the launch field changes location with wind direction.
- Pair the flight with a Kvemo Kartli wine cellar visit to make full use of the dawn-to-midday window.
South of Tbilisi, in the open fields of Kvemo Kartli, hot air balloons lift off at dawn to carry passengers over a landscape that mixes city and steppe in a single view. October is one of the better months to try it: autumn mornings in this region tend to bring the calm, low-wind conditions that ballooning depends on, and the cooler air makes the early start more comfortable than it would be in high summer.
The flight itself runs roughly 45 minutes to an hour once airborne, after 30-45 minutes of inflation and a safety briefing. From the basket, on a clear morning, passengers can pick out Narikala Fortress and the domes of the Old Town, the Mtkvari River curving through Tbilisi, the Tbilisi Sea reservoir, and the Caucasus foothills on the horizon. Beyond the city, the view opens into the dry steppe, vineyards, and small villages that define Kvemo Kartli – a side of the region most Tbilisi visitors never see from ground level.
Who it suits and what to combine it with
This is a family-friendly, photography-oriented outing rather than a historical site, and it works best for travellers who can keep their morning flexible, since flights are weather-dependent and operators reschedule when winds pick up. It is not generally suitable for very young children, pregnant travellers, or those with certain heart or mobility conditions, and age or height limits for the basket should be confirmed when booking.
Because the launch field sits 30-45 minutes from central Tbilisi by road, with no direct public transport to the site, a private transfer or taxi is the practical way to get there; GTour arranges this with an English-speaking driver. The same morning slot pairs naturally with a wine stop in Kvemo Kartli, a region increasingly known for its cellars – Georgian German Wine House, Amate Winery, Saduni, Demi’s Winery, Shavnabada Monastery Winery, and Shalos Marani all sit within reach of the launch area and make a logical follow-on once the balloon has landed.
Dress in layers regardless of the season, since mornings are cool even later in the year, and wear closed shoes for standing in the basket. Travellers coming from Kutaisi or Batumi should treat the flight as part of a multi-day itinerary rather than a same-day round trip from either city, given the driving distances involved.
Read more on gtour.ge: Hot Air Balloon in Tbilisi
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GTour runs private tours with English-speaking guides from Old Tbilisi. See all tours or ask the desk on WhatsApp +995 577 416 314.
Source: GTour desk. Reported by the GTour desk; updated 22 October 2026, 12:02 (Tbilisi).
