Tourists enjoy stunning views of Luxor on hot air balloon rides

Balloons carrying tourists take off above the west bank of the Nile river in Egypt’s southern city of Luxor. (File/AFP)
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Updated 09 October 2023
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Tourists enjoy stunning views of Luxor on hot air balloon rides

  • Tourists were delighted to see the monuments and temples on the western mainland after being ferried by small boats across the Nile

CAIRO: More than 1,700 tourists from around the world enjoyed recreational trips in Egypt by taking part in 73 hot air balloon flights over Luxor on Monday.

The activity is popular as tourists get a panoramic view of ancient Egyptian temples, tombs, the Nile River and green agricultural fields.

Ahmed Aboud, head of the Egyptian Federation of Hot Air Ballooning Companies in Luxor, said that pilots launched weather test balloons before takeoff.

He added that Luxor is the third-largest city operator of hot air balloons globally, and is renowned for its warm atmosphere.

Tourists were delighted to see the monuments and temples on the western mainland after being ferried by small boats across the Nile.

After breakfast, tourists are transported to the hot air balloon airport by bus.

This destination is popular among celebrities and attracts many flights.

Demand for trips increases in the winter, with tourists enjoying the magic of warm weather over the historical sites in the morning.

The balloons are comprehensively examined before each flight, with safety and personal security procedures being top priorities for tourists.

On Friday, 55 hot air balloons flew over western Luxor with 1,450 tourists of various nationalities. Last Tuesday, 72 hot air balloons flew over Upper Egypt carrying 1,613 tourists from different countries.


Millie Bobby Brown spotted in new advert for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi

Updated 16 December 2025
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Millie Bobby Brown spotted in new advert for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: British actress Millie Bobby Brown is starring in a new advert for entertainment destination Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

With a nod to “Stranger Things,” Brown is seen buckling into Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster alongside her husband Jake Bongiovi.

Moments before launch, she asks him about the speed, and when he replies “240 km an hour,” she makes a quick exit. The advert continues with lights flickering and Brown and other characters glitching with effects reminiscent of the hit Netflix series.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, “Stranger Things” debuted in 2016 and quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular series, with its fourth season amassing more than 140.7 million views globally.

The series has garnered over 70 awards worldwide, including Emmys and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Brown was announced as a brand ambassador for Yas Island in November.

The Netflix show’s final season five is being released in stages. The first four episodes streamed on Nov. 26, and will be followed by three on Dec. 25, and the finale on New Year’s Eve.

In her first promotional clip for Yas Island, she is seen back in the Byers’ living room, made famous on the show, framed by the glow of the iconic alphabet wall that is a key element of the “Stranger Things” storyline.

In the video, she jokes about taking a holiday after five seasons of the show as the lights begin to flicker, illuminating one by one until they spell out “YAS.”

Brown is the latest celebrity to take on a role with Yas Island, following Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart and Jason Momoa, who were all “Chief Island Officers.”

The actors starred in a series of amusing adverts for the entertainment destination, including Reynolds appearing to skydive over Abu Dhabi.