Hot Air Ballooning over Bagan temples
Riding a hot air balloon over the temples in Bagan was the highlight of our trip in Myanmar. The balloons over Bagan are expensive but worth every penny. Here are the details of this incredible adventure.
J-4: We bought 2 tickets for the famous hot air balloon ride over the Old Bagan with 'Oriental Ballooning Bagan'. We were lucky to find seats available. Despite the huge price at around 400 USD, tickets book up quickly. The 2 other companies "Balloons over Bagan" or "Golden Eagle" were also sold out. Only 3 companies flew balloons over Bagan: the Golden Eagles with three yellow balloons, "Balloons over Bagan" with 12 red balloons and Oriental Ballooning Bagan with 6 green ones.
J-1: We received a phone call from 'Oriental Ballooning Bagan' to confirm the flight. We knew cancellation happened from time to time when the weather conditions were not optimal for flying. The weather is less predictable at the beginning and end of the season. November is the best time.
The Big Day
J day at 4 am: We woke up, showered and brushed our teeth. We were ready and overly excited for our sunrise balloon trip over Bagan.
4:45: The balloon minivan promptly picked us with another Australian lady from the hotel. The adventure was about to begin.
5:11: We drove to New Bagan where 6 more fellow passengers joined us for our hot air balloon in Bagan.
5:13: Last stop before being transported to the launch field. The last 3 persons hopped on board the minivan.
5:35: We arrived at the launch site near the Bagan Nyaung golf. We were greeted by tea, coffee, cookies and French pastries. The pilots had just launched two helium balloons to judge the wind direction and they seemed confident. We would fly today!
5:46: The last minivan arrived in the dark pitch field all settled with tables and chairs. The breakfast continued. The 72 passengers were then split into 6 groups and assigned a balloon and obviously a pilot. Our British pilot was Piers. All pilots were European.
5:57: Piers, who had flown in Bagan since 2004, gave us a short introduction and the last chance to hit the loo.
6:01: We were invited to reach our green balloon. The basket was still on its side, and the envelope was laid down flat on the floor. Piers gave us a quick safety briefing. Basically which position to adopt for taking off and landing.
6:05: The crew kicked into action by blowing cold air with the use of a powerful fan to establish the basic shape of the balloon. Piers went inside the balloon to check the envelope. We could see from a distance the 2 others companies actively preparing their own balloons. That's the beauty of the ride over Bagan. You'll fly surrounded by 20 other balloons.
6:12: 21 Balloons were warmed up by the propane burners. In minutes the 21 hot air balloons, the maximum authorised by the Burmese government, were ready to take off.
6:18: We safely climbed into the basket split into 4 compartments for 3 people. The nacelle was big enough to accommodate 16 but Oriental ballooning limited them to 12 passengers to provide a more comfortable experience. Our balloon named KT and made in Bristol was brand new. Just one week old. It was reassuring to know that all the equipment were in fact made from England and severely controlled.
6:25: We sat in our safety position and lurched smoothly off the ground. At 2 or 3 meters from the ground, we could stand up and waved to the smiling crew as they were becoming smaller and smaller. We slowly drifted South over the temples, rural villages, brick factories, rivers and green fields. Only the occasional burst of flame from the burners overhead was breaking the peaceful and calm atmosphere of the ride. From time to time Piers would point out temples and explain us their stories. But to be honest, we just loved too much the birds-eye view of mystical Bagan and didn't pay much attention to Piers explanation... Sorry, Piers!
7:05: The three golden eagles balloons were the first to land after a 40 minutes ride. We still had another 15 minutes as our landing site was beyond the villages. Piers was manoeuvring the balloon from high in the sky and fairly low to the ground. We could see farmers working in their fields or children waving at us, probably dreaming to flight one day over Bagan.
7:20: Piers asked us to practice the 'landing position'. We knew the flight was coming to an end.
7:25: We safely touched down with a soft bump in the landing field. The direction and duration of balloon flights dependent on the wind and on the weather conditions. Today they were optimal and we flew for just over an hour. Life is all about the moments that take your breath away and this was one of them. Damn, that was so good.
7:33: The crew serves us the traditional champagne and fruits to celebrate one of the most magical moments we were lucky enough to experience.
7:55: Back in the minivan, the head full of memories, we returned to our hotel.
8:25: We were back in our bed with surreal and spectacular images to fuel our dreams.
We spent the rest of the day biking through the Bagan and climbed temples finding secret passages. What a day!
Practical Information
Essential tips for hot air ballooning over Bagan
- Best season: October to March. November is optimal - Bagan is still green, winds are moderate, and conditions are most predictable. Weather is less reliable at season start/end.
- Price (2017): ~$400 USD per person. Expensive but worth every penny! Includes hotel transfers, pre-flight coffee/tea & pastries, post-flight champagne & snacks, and flight certificate.
- Book ahead! Only 3 companies operate (max 21 balloons daily by government regulation). Spaces are extremely limited and sell out weeks in advance, especially in November.
- Three companies: Oriental Ballooning Bagan (6 green balloons, 12 passengers max), Balloons over Bagan (12 red balloons), Golden Eagle (3 yellow balloons). All fly from same field and follow similar routes determined by wind.
- Schedule: 4:45am hotel pickup, 5:35am arrival at launch site with breakfast, 6:25am takeoff, ~1 hour flight, 8:25am back at hotel. Perfect timing to rest before afternoon temple exploring!
- Weather cancellations: Expect a confirmation call 1 day before. Flights cancel if conditions aren't optimal. Companies reschedule or refund if cancelled.
- Facilities: Basic toilets available at launch site (important for 4am wake-ups!). Multiple opportunities to use them before flight.
- Safety: All equipment imported from Europe (baskets, ropes, envelopes). European pilots with years of experience. New balloons regularly introduced. Very safe operation with excellent safety record.
- Flight details: Wind determines route and duration. Typical flight: 40-60 minutes over temples, villages, and fields. You'll fly with ~20 other colorful balloons - spectacular sight!
- Included perks: Flight certificate signed by pilot, professional photos available for purchase, champagne toast, and memories that last a lifetime!
Note:
Pin These Moments
🎈 Bagan Balloon Magic
Floating over 2,000 ancient temples at sunrise - the most magical experience in Myanmar. Worth every penny of the $400!
🌅 Sunrise Over Temples
Twenty-one colorful balloons drifting over mystical Bagan - a birds-eye view of ancient Myanmar history.
✨ Life-Changing Views
One hour of pure magic over Bagan's archaeological zone. Life is all about moments that take your breath away!
Have you done a hot air balloon ride over Bagan? Which company did you use? Was it worth the price? Leave us your comments below. We would love to hear from you.