Tuscany Hot Air Balloon Flight from San Casciano

At 2,000 to 3,000 feet the Tuscan countryside stops being a set of separate views and reads as one continuous piece of ground. Field boundaries, the curve of a ridge, the way a single road ties one village to the next: all of it resolves at that height. The flight lasts about an hour and leaves from the area around San Casciano in Val di Pesa, south of Florence.

Underneath the basket are rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, medieval villages and old castles. On a clear morning the view reaches a good deal further than the immediate valley. San Gimignano and Poggibonsi stand out in the distance, and Pisa is sometimes visible on the horizon.

Once the basket is back on the ground, a glass of Champagne is poured and a light breakfast of croissants and local products is served. Ballooning in Tuscany runs from spring through autumn, so book within that window. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.