Balloon Flights in Bagan

Certainly, spending hundreds of bucks at one time is not a light move to take. Scroll down and get the answers to all these burning questions and maybe they will help you decide.

• Is it safe to do the flight?
  Yes, the flight is perfectly safe. All three companies in operation are abided by international ballooning standards with all pilots certified by UK license companies and the balloons are under regular checking and maintenance conducted by a professional team.
  Besides the tech support, the weather condition during the ballooning season is also suitable and seldom windy or rainy (in which case the flight will be cancelled).
• Where and how can I book the ride?
  You may book directly through the company’s website or an agent. The balloon companies take payment by credit card and their rates to the agents are the same as published.
• How long ahead should I book the ride?
  As super-hyped as it is, balloon flight is always short of availability during the peak season. Hence, it’s smarter to book at least three months ahead.
• What’s the cancellation policy?
  Cancellation policy differs but mostly they will charge a fee of 20% for cancellation made via email/fax 7 to 60 days ahead of the flight date and other details can be found on their websites.
  The companies hold the right to cancel the flight on the spot due to bad weather condition without beforehand notice. In that case, guests may change the date or ask for refund if possible.
  Booking via any agent follows the same policy to the companies accordingly.
• Will I get my money back if the ride is cancelled due to weather condition?
  In most cases, they will likely change the flight date instead of refunding and that is only under severely bad weather condition such as rain, strong wind or other unpredictable scenarios.
• Is there any restrictions for passengers?
  For safety reasons, passengers who weigh over 200kg / 441lb, aged above 70 years old or under 6 years are not advised for the ride. Different details can be found on their websites.
• Any discount for children/senior/groups?
  No.
• I have done ballooning in other countries, why does Myanmar cost so much?
  Every piece of equipment is imported from other countries and all pilots are foreigners with years of professional ballooning experiences. Also, locals are hired to retreat the balloon after the flight. This is all counted as the cost for every flight, thus the high price.
• Is Bagan the only place in Myanmar that I can do ballooning?
  No. The company Balloons Over Bagan also flies over Inle Lake and Ngapali Beach in different seasons. Other two companies only operate in Bagan.
• Instead of the balloon flight, can I fly my drone over Bagan?
  Burmese government has yet to release any regulations on private drone flights so the answer remains uncertain. For political and safety reasons, we wouldn’t suggest you risk that.
• Can I take a flight at sunset?
  Not really. All flights are in the early morning when the wind and light seem more stable for ballooning.
• Can I bring my camera gear onto the balloon?
  Yes it’s possible but be aware that movement during the flight makes it hard to capture anything even if you set the camera on a tripod; and you might probably need a long lens to do it, too.
• Other options for the morning except for the balloon ride?
  Besides the flight, you can also go for a morning view at one of the pagodas or capture the photos of balloons floating up the sky.