Have you ever looked up at a hot air balloon and wondered what it would be like to be a passenger in one of them? Or even better, to pilot a balloon by yourself over the beautiful mountainous Swiss landscape? You will no longer have to wonder.

Hop into the one-person basket, put on your VR headset, and take control of your very own balloon, taking off from Château-d’Œx and traversing the beautiful Pays-d’Enhaut. Based on a highly detailed 3D scan of the region, you’re transported into a realistic virtual representation of the area. Using nothing but your burners and parachute valve, you’re able to fly an accurately simulated hot air balloon across the landscape, while marveling at the sights and sounds the region has to offer. Don’t get too distracted though, you’ll still need to land safely.

The accuracy of the simulation allows for experienced pilots to hone their skills, while novice users can take a risk-free flight, and attempt to make a safe landing at the end of their experience. A variety of gamified flight modes challenges even the most experienced pilots to be precise not just in terms of navigation, but also their use of fuel. Follow the leader, land on a sequence of targets; the better you perform, the higher your score will be. And when joining the experience as a group, you’re able to not only see your fellow pilots, but you can also communicate with them through the radio in your basket.

The experience opens in January 2024 at Espace Ballon in Château-d’Œx.