Who are we?
Founded in 2002 by two hot air balloon enthusiasts, the company “Les Montgolfières du Sud” is approved by the French Civil Aviation Authority for public passenger transport. Based in Blauzac, in the Gard department, we operate from Uzès and the surrounding area. We offer hot air balloon flights in the Uzège and Pont du Gard region, extending into the Cèze and Gardon valleys.
OUR TEAM
Mélanie & Samir ELARI
Inseparable on the ground and in the air!
After successfully creating and developing their air sports business for many years, Mélanie and Samir took over from Jean Donnet as directors of Montgolfières du Sud in 2021.
A milliner by trade, an ultralight pilot since the age of 22, and an aspiring balloonist, Mélanie is the cornerstone of our company. She brings her creativity and warmth to bear, ensuring our clients have an unforgettable experience!
A multi-talented pilot, Samir has been flying hot air balloons, ultralights, airplanes, hang gliders, and paragliders since the age of 16. He became an instructor at 18 and founded his first company, “ULM Découverte,” at the age of 21.
Samir has logged over 12,000 flight hours on all types of aircraft.
In parallel, he has amassed the most prestigious sporting titles in ultralight aviation:
⦁ World Champion 2001 (Spain)
⦁ European Champion 2000 (France), 2002 (Hungary), 2006 (Germany)
⦁ French Champion 1999, 2000, 2003, 2008
Samir & Mélanie Elari
Jean DONNET
An aeronaut since 1979, he has logged over 3,600 hours of balloon flight. After settling in the Gard region in 1992, this photojournalist became a professional free balloon pilot.
He participates annually in the French Hot Air Balloon Championship, becoming vice-champion in 1999 and taking third place in 2012. A certified federal instructor and tester, Jean trains candidates for their aeronautical license and instructor qualification.
Over more than twenty years, Jean has built a unique aerial photo library of the Uzège-Pont du Gard region. He has published the beautiful book “A Balloon Flight Around the Pont du Gard.”
A lover of the air, the garrigue landscape, and local heritage, Jean is the ideal aerial guide for discovering the region from the comfort of a balloon basket.
“With each flight, I strive to work with the day’s currents to unfurl an invisible thread as harmoniously as possible, thus offering the spectator suspended in the air beautiful surprises and often magical moments.”
Jean Donnet
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