The World's Greatest Balloon Adventures

Eight teams from all over the planet meet in Ulaanbaator seeking to explore the wild land of the Mongolians with their hot-air balloons. As they race across giant sand dunes, spectacular mountain and steppe sceneries, picturesque villages and ancient monasteries the balloon enthusiasts experience the wild nature and fascinating culture of Mongolia in a very special way.

The Alps in winter have always appealed to hot-air balloonists. Ascending high above the snowy peaks and enjoying the majestic alpine panorama in all its glory is only possible in a hot-air balloon. But ballooning in the Alps is no picnic. Craggy peaks, mountain lakes, forests, power lines and villages divide the landscape below into a fragmented puzzle.

Our balloon trip to Sri Lanka takes us on a journey through a beautiful country in the Indian Ocean. Rich cultures, ancient temples, exotic landscapes, old steam locomotives and tea plantations are part of the adventures. It is awe-inspiring, when the balloons rise above the canopy in the early morning mists and float over the treetops and past brilliant white temples on gigantic rocks.

African adventure: zebra, wildebeest and elephant cross the savannah of the Maasai Mara in huge herds, flamingos fly in their thousands over the enormous lake Elementaita and the red African sun sets over the green hills of the Great Rift Valley - in Kenya, every hot-air balloon ride is a unique experience.

Venezuela with its spectacular landscapes is the grand finale of our journey. The majestic Table Mountains (Tepuis) in the south of the country build the backdrop for the adventurous flights in La Gran Sabana. In this episode the renowned Director Werner Herzog joins us in search of inspiration for new unusual visuals. For a long time he has been an admirer of the austere beauty of the Tepuis.