Traveling via Hot Air Balloon in Old School RuneScape

Hey, RuneScape explorers! If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to zip around Old School RuneScape (OSRS), the Hot Air Balloon Transport System is your ticket to the skies. Unlocked through the Enlightened Journey quest, this quirky travel method lets you soar to six different locations with just a few logs and some Firemaking skills. As someone who’s navigated these balloons across Gielinor, I’m here to share the easiest ways to use them, plus some stories from my own adventures. Whether you’re chasing clue scrolls, skilling, or just want to vibe with the “Floating Free” music track, this guide has you covered. Let’s take to the skies and explore the hot air balloon system!

The Hot Air Balloon Transport System is a cool way to travel in OSRS, introduced during the Enlightened Journey quest. It’s not as fast as teleports, but it’s got charm and can be super useful for specific tasks. When I first tried it, I was hooked on the mini-game-like navigation and the awesome views. It’s like a little adventure every time you fly!

Why Use Hot Air Balloons?

• Unique Travel: It’s a fun alternative to teleports or fairy rings.

• Skilling Hub Access: Great for reaching spots like Entrana for glassmaking or Varrock for runecrafting.

• Achievement Diaries: Needed for tasks like the Varrock and Ardougne diaries.

• Firemaking XP: Unlocking new routes gives 2,000 Firemaking XP each.

Ever flown a hot air balloon in OSRS? It’s such a vibe!

How It Works

You fly balloons by burning logs to control altitude, navigating through obstacles like birds and clouds. After completing Enlightened Journey, you can travel between Entrana and Taverley. To unlock four more locations (Crafting Guild, Varrock, Castle Wars, and Grand Tree), you start from Entrana and navigate a three-screen puzzle. Once unlocked, trips are quick and only need one log. I crashed my first flight because I clicked too fast—lesson learned!

Getting Started with Hot Air Balloons

Before you can soar, you need to unlock the system and gather some supplies. Here’s how I set up for balloon travel, based on years of hopping around Gielinor.

Requirements

• Quest: Complete Enlightened Journey (20 Firemaking, 20 Quest Points, some skilling items).

• Firemaking Levels: 20 for Entrana/Taverley, up to 60 for Grand Tree.

• Logs: Different types for each route (normal, oak, willow, yew, maple).

• Weight Limit: Keep inventory under 40kg (excluding the log). I use Graceful or boots of lightness to stay light.

Starting the Quest

To unlock balloons, start Enlightened Journey by talking to Auguste on Entrana, northwest of the dock. You’ll need:

• 3 Papyrus: Buy from Ardougne or Ali Morrisane.

• Candle: Grab one in Catherby or steal from Entrana’s church.

• 12 Willow Branches: Grow a willow tree and wait 4 hours.

• 10 Logs and Tinderbox: For test flights.

I forgot to bring papyrus once and had to sail back to Ardougne—total facepalm moment!

Balloon Locations and Requirements

Here’s a quick rundown of the six balloon destinations, their Firemaking levels, and log types:

Location	Firemaking Level	Initial Logs (First Trip)	Subsequent Logs	Key Uses
Entrana	20	None (unlocked via quest)	1 Normal	Glassmaking, Law Altar
Taverley	20	10 Normal	1 Normal	Herblore, tree patch
Crafting Guild	30	10 Oak	1 Oak	Mining, Crafting
Varrock	40	10 Willow	1 Willow	Earth Altar, Lumber Yard
Castle Wars	50	10 Yew	1 Yew	Minigame, bank
Grand Tree	60	10 Maple	1 Maple	Spirit Tree, gliders

Note: Firemaking levels can be boosted. Log prices fluctuate; check GE for June 2025 rates.

How to Unlock New Balloon Routes

Unlocking new routes is the trickiest part of the balloon system, but it’s super rewarding. I’ll walk you through the process and share tips from my own flights.

Starting from Entrana

To unlock a new route, head to Entrana with 10 logs of the right type (e.g., willow for Varrock) and a tinderbox. Talk to Auguste, select your destination, and start the flight. You’ll navigate three screens of obstacles to land safely. I always store extra logs with balloon assistants to save trips—up to 4,000 charges!

Navigating the Balloon

Each flight involves a puzzle where you control the balloon’s altitude to avoid hazards. The controls are:

• Drop Sandbag: Up 2 spaces.

• Burn Log: Up 1 space.

• Relax: Move right, no altitude change.

• Pull Normal Rope: Down 1 space.

• Pull Red Rope: Down 2 spaces.

• Bail: Crash near Falador (don’t do this!).

You need to land one space above the landing pad. I crashed my first Varrock flight by overshooting the pad—patience is key! Click slowly to avoid interface bugs, as the game skips steps if you spam clicks.

Example: Unlocking Varrock Route

For Varrock (40 Firemaking, 10 willow logs), one possible control sequence is:

• Screen 1: Rope, 2 Relax, Log, 4 Relax, Rope, 3 Relax.

• Screen 2: Log, 6 Relax, Rope.

• Screen 3: Sandbag, 3 Relax, Red Rope, Rope, 4 Relax, Log, Rope, 5 Relax.

I followed the OSRS Wiki’s sequence and landed perfectly after a few tries. You get 2,000 Firemaking XP for unlocking it

What’s the toughest route you’ve unlocked? Varrock gave me a headache at first!

Tips for Success

• Practice in Enlightened Journey: The quest teaches you the controls. I replayed the test flights to get comfy.

• Store Logs: Use the “Store logs” option with assistants. I bank noted logs and store them for quick access.

• Boost Firemaking: Spicy stew or Firemaking potions work. I used a stew to hit 60 for Grand Tree.

• Click Slowly: Fast clicks mess up the interface. I learned this after crashing twice!

Best Uses for Hot Air Balloons

Once you’ve unlocked routes, balloons are great for specific tasks. Here’s how I use them and why they’re worth it.

Skilling and Resource Gathering

• Entrana: Perfect for glassmaking (seaweed and sand spawns) or Runecrafting at the Law Altar. I craft glass here for Crafting XP.

• Varrock: Close to the Earth Altar for runecrafting and the Lumber Yard for planks. I use it for mud rune runs with a ring of dueling.

• Crafting Guild: Great for mining gold or clay. I mined here for early Crafting levels.

• Taverley: Handy for Herblore (near herb shop) or tree patches. I balloon here for Farming runs.

Achievement Diaries

• Varrock Medium Diary: Fly from Varrock to another location (e.g., Entrana) for the “Engage” task. I did this for 10 diary points.

• Ardougne Medium Diary: Fly to Castle Wars for the “Arriving in Style” task. I had to fly twice because the first trip (unlocking) didn’t count

  

Clue Scrolls and Niche Uses

Balloons are awesome for clue scrolls or penguin hunting. I’ve used the Varrock balloon for Lumber Yard clues and Entrana for hops patch clues. The Grand Tree route pairs with spirit trees for a major transport hub.

Ever used a balloon for a clue scroll? It’s oddly satisfying!

My Hot Air Balloon Adventures

When I first unlocked balloons, I was Clueless about their value. I did Enlightened Journey for quest points, but the balloon system grew on me. Unlocking Castle Wars was a Pain because I kept crashing—yew logs aren’t cheap! But landing there for the Ardougne diary felt epic, and I celebrated with a Castle Wars game. My favorite moment was using the Varrock balloon for mud rune runs; it’s slower than teleports but so chill, and I made decent profit. Now, I keep logs stored for quick trips when I’m feeling nostalgic. What’s your favorite OSRS transport method? Balloons are high on my list!

Why I Love Balloons

• Nostalgia: The quirky mechanics scream old-school RuneScape.

• Practicality: Great for ironmen or players without teleports.

• Fun Factor: Navigating feels like a mini-game.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even pros like me mess up sometimes. Here’s how to dodge common balloon pitfalls.

Crashing the Balloon

Clicking too fast or misjudging altitude can crash your balloon, costing logs. I lost 10 willow logs on a Varrock run by spamming “Relax.” Click slowly and follow Wiki sequences carefully.

Forgetting Logs or Charges

You need charges (stored logs) to fly. I once showed up with no stored logs and had to bank for willows—wasted 10 minutes! Store logs in advance with assistants.

Ignoring Weight Limits

Over 40kg (excluding the log) grounds you. I tried flying with a full inventory of runes and got stuck. Use weight-reducing gear like Graceful or boots of lightness.

Not Unlocking All Routes

Skipping routes limits your options. I ignored Grand Tree at first but regretted it when I needed a spirit tree hub. Unlock all six for the “Around the World in Six Ways” achievement and max flexibility.

Advanced Tips for Balloon Pros

Ready to level up your balloon game? Here’s what I do to make the most of the system.

Optimize Log Storage

Store 4,000 charges with assistants using noted logs. I keep 100 willow and yew logs stored for Varrock and Castle Wars trips. Higher-tier logs give more charges (e.g., 1 willow = 3 charges).

Combine with Other Transports

Pair balloons with teleports or spirit trees for efficiency. I fly to Varrock, craft mud runes, then duel ring to Castle Wars to bank. For Grand Tree, I spirit tree to the Gnome Stronghold and balloon to Taverley for Farming runs.

Use for Ironmen

Ironmen benefit from balloons for Entrana’s glassmaking or Varrock’s runecrafting without needing teleports. I used the Entrana route on my ironman for early Crafting XP—super handy!

Runelite Plugin

The Runelite “Quest Helper” plugin can guide you through balloon routes. I wish I’d used it for Castle Wars—it would’ve saved me a crash or two

Conclusion: Soar with Style

The Hot Air Balloon Transport System in OSRS is a fun, underrated way to travel. Sure, it’s not the fastest, but it’s perfect for skilling, diaries, and clue scrolls, plus it’s got that old-school charm. With Enlightened Journey done and a few logs in hand, you can unlock six awesome routes and enjoy the skies of Gielinor. So, grab some willow logs, head to Entrana, and start flying! What’s your next balloon destination? Drop it in the comments!