Snow-covered mountains and the morning sky adorned with over 80 colorful hot air balloons is all that can be seen in the horizon. Travelers stare up in awe, as the frosty breeze tints their faces a rosy shade of pink.   Every year, the Swiss hot air balloon capital hosts balloon pilots and visitors from across the globe who are ready to experience the showcase of magnificent aircrafts at the International Hot Air Ballon Festival in Château-d’Oex. The year-long snow, beautiful landscapes and rich source of balloon history make it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for travelers to enjoy a luxury winter holiday in the hidden gem of the Vadouis Alps.

The annual International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Château-d’Oex  is a nine-day festival with exclusive events and attractions. Visitors are treated to a “night glow” show , where the night sky is illuminated with fireworks, glowing balloons and light shows of blue, green, red and yellow.   There are packages available that offer quality experiences with balloon rides and a bottle of champagne in an exclusive VIP lounge.

The ultimate European apres ski lifestyle can be found in Switzerland. The night starts after a day on the slopes at nightclubs, ski-up bars and open air sky lounges that don’t stop until sunrise.    This cadre of elite  balloon pilots, professional alpine skiers and visitors join for a night of bottomless cocktails and dancing surrounded by the moonlight, before another day of their luxury winter holiday.

Created in 1979, the 43rd International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Château-d’Oex will take place in January 2021. In 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones set off for the first hot air balloon tour around the world on the Breitling Orbiter 3. Piccard and Jones departed from Château-d’Oex on March 1, 1999 going on a nonstop 19-day flight to Egypt. The impressive continuous flight was unimaginably pulled off without the use of fuel. For over 28,000 miles, Piccard and Jones strategically caught jet streams that propelled them along, successfully completing the nearly impossible mission.

Now the village honors them with the annual festival, celebrating the intelligence and courage of Piccard and Jones, that it took to complete the trip. The pair created the hot air balloon culture in Château-d’Oex that now attracts global visitors to learn more about how the enormous aircrafts became a staple in the Swiss village.

Château-d’Oex (pronounced Châteaudait) is located at the base of the Vaud Alps. It is surrounded by luxury chalets and hotels with Michelin rated restaurants like Megu. This restaurant offers classic Japanese cuisine like Sushi, while red and gold details and high ceiling offer a sophisticated feel to a meal.  Another Michelin-starred restaurant is Sommet, offering a seasonal menu with classic alternatives and vegetarian friendly options such as grilled tofu with Alpine herbs and fermented honey. Diners are seated next to a panoramic terrace that allows for a 180 degree view of the Alp peaks that surround the resort.

The roughly 44 square miles of land that make up Chatea-d’Oex offer a variety of sights; from cattle grazing along the wooded mountains and crystal blue rivers and lakes, to the ski lifts that take the adrenaline-seekers all across the mountains. Château-d’Oex is definitely a sight to see. In the warmer weather, the blooming wildflowers and evergreen trees blanketing the mountainsides guarantee crisp, fresh air with every breath.

After each night of the festival, visitors find themselves emerged in the European apres ski environment. The party-hungry skiers take off their snow jackets and make their way towards La Bamba Discotheque, where as soon as the sun sets, the fun begins with a heavy dose of pounding music and strobe lights.  La Bamba offers a variety of music from techno beats to smooth Jazz. The DJ keeps everybody moving and accepts music requests to please the crowd. The odd one out is the one who isn’t dancing.

The awaited  Night Glow is the most enchanting event of the festival. As the sun sets over the slopes, Swiss Ski School members, firework technicians and paraglider pilots work together to light up the night sky alongside 20 beautifully lit hot air balloons. The icy weather is no match to the radiant heat when the 20 enormous hot air balloons light up and take flight. The aurora borealis of balloons and glowing colors illuminate paragliders as they prance through the air.

Visitors’ cherished spot to see the show is on the scenic Temple Hill. Temple Hill is where the historic church, Le Temple of the Parish of Pays D’enhaut, sits on the edge overlooking the entire village. From on top of the world, the outline of the forest in the distance is back lit from the glow of the fire that power the aircrafts. Star gazing turns into balloon gazing as they float higher into the sky. Below, the village is dark except for the few lights that guide people through the streets. The soft music playing from the launch site drifts quietly in the wind to the top of the hill, surrounding onlookers with serenity.

While the festival itself is astonishing and an experience all on its own, visitors catch a ride on one of the exhibiting balloons. For about 1-1.5 hours, passengers are treated to a trip with the wind. Pushing the fear of heights aside, Château-d’Oex can be seen from a new perspective. From up above the crystal clear blue rivers turn into arteries that feed into the expanse carpet of green trees. The village disappears the higher the balloon travels into the clouds. The loud roar of the fire keeps the balloon in the air and the wind pushing it along carries the passengers through the sky amist the surrounding slopes.  What better way to get a tour of the Swiss Alps than from up above?

The International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Château-d’Oex and should be on the very top of ski lovers and winter travelers’ list.  The myriad colors of the 80 balloons that will take flight is enough reason plan your trip to Switzerland this winter. What better location to learn about the history of ballooning and experience it first-hand than the hot air balloon capital?

Article by Carmen De Alba Cardenas