A sunrise hot-air balloon ride is an extraordinary desert experience. The balloon travels thousands of feet above the Sonoran Desert, offering unforgettable views of the terrain and mountains for miles around. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to spot wildlife as the balloon ascends, skimming close to the desert floor. Flight paths and landing sites can vary with wind speeds and directions, so a roving land crew follows each balloon in flight. Time in the air is generally between 1 and 1.5 hours, but each excursion usually takes about 3 hours total, with hotel pick-up and drop-off included. There are more than a dozen companies in Phoenix that specialize in hot air balloon rides, so take your pick and off you go. (One tour operator of note is The Hot Air Balloon Company, which offers private and group sunrise and sunset rides with sparkling beverages and fresh pastries served on touchdown.)