In a nutshell
There is currently a travel warning for Myanmar. The relevant authorities have issued a travel advisory, as the security situation in the country is still considered critical. It is currently unclear when the situation will improve.
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Bagan Balloon Ride: Our Experience
Early Rise and Hotel Pickup
We were scheduled to be picked up from our hotel at 5:00 AM to float above Bagan right at sunrise.
Almost to the minute, the vintage bus pulled up in front of our hotel and we were off. Balloons over Bagan has really restored some gorgeous gems to pick up their passengers.
These buses were used by the Allies in Myanmar during World War II and were left behind after the war ended.
For many years, these all-wooden buses were in service in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, until they were eventually replaced by more modern buses.
Balloons over Bagan has rescued and restored some of these buses, and the ride to the balloon launch site is already an experience in itself.
Before Takeoff
After just a few minutes of driving, we arrived at the launch site. The balloons were still lying limp on the ground, but we already got a sense of just how enormous they are.
There were cookies, tea, and coffee, and we were divided into groups that would each board a balloon together.
The excitement slowly built. Then we met our pilot, Elly. She’s from Australia and is the only woman among the 21 pilots at Balloons over Bagan.
Elly immediately gave us the feeling that she absolutely knew what she was doing. That was reassuring. A brief safety briefing followed — don’t jump out of the balloon, and so on. There really isn’t much to know.
The only important thing is the correct landing position. Since the basket can tip over on landing, you need to sit down and hold onto a handle. All very straightforward.
We also noticed that the pilots were in lively discussion the whole time, repeatedly releasing small balloons to see which way the wind was carrying them.
Ballooning only works in good weather and the right wind conditions.
October marks the transition from rainy season to dry season, and it’s very common for balloon rides to be canceled on short notice.
In the end, the pilots voted and narrowly decided to go ahead with the launch. Just how lucky we were that day, we wouldn’t find out until later.
The Balloon Ride
Then everything happened very quickly. The ground crew got the signal to inflate the balloons, and within minutes the enormous balloons towered up. It’s already an incredibly impressive sight.
After a final check by our pilot, we got the signal to board, and then we were in the air. We rose from the ground so gently, slowly climbing higher and higher.
Our pilot explained everything she was doing as we took in the breathtaking landscape from above. You really can’t put it into words — you simply have to experience it for yourself.
While the balloons are no longer allowed to fly directly over the northern temple field, the view is still absolutely spectacular.
Near the end, we flew to the Dhammayazika Temple, located far to the south, and Elly guided us directly over it, saying with a grin, “Who says women can’t drive?”
That was the absolute highlight of the whole flight.
The Landing
After about 50 minutes, it was time to land and we floated gently back down toward the ground.
After the basket touched down, it slowly began to tip backward, but with combined effort, about ten guys from the ground crew grabbed onto the ropes and the basket, keeping us from tipping over.
From what we could see, none of the other baskets tipped over either.
Afterward, there was a small breakfast, a glass of champagne, and an extraordinary adventure came to an end.
We rode the vintage bus back to the hotel, and our memory cards were filled with many, many more photos than they had been three hours earlier.
We then asked the pilot how she had gotten into ballooning — after all, it seems like a very male-dominated field.
We found her story quite funny: “I went on a balloon ride and fell in love with the pilot. So I became a pilot myself.
A classic groupie story. We’ve been married for 17 years now and fly together.” Lovely, isn’t it?
Our Incredible Lucky Break with the Weather
Afterward, we found out that several flights had been canceled in the days before. Our Bagan balloon ride itself had been up in the air — so to speak — until the very last moment.
After photographing the balloons from above, we of course wanted to get the classic shot from below the next day and photograph the balloons at sunrise.
So we climbed up on a pagoda and searched and searched for the balloons. Suddenly they appeared on the far side of Bagan — but not at the same spot where we had launched.
The strange thing was, the balloons had barely moved and were essentially hovering in place. There was probably just no wind the next day.
OK, we’d try again the following morning and drag ourselves out of bed before sunrise once more. But the same thing happened: the balloons barely moved.
We then met someone who had been on board one of the balloons. It was indeed the wind conditions — the operators had given passengers the choice of getting a full refund or flying anyway. Since they could barely move, they simply stayed in the air longer to make up for it.
It turns out we had caught the only day that week when the balloons flew normally. What incredible luck!
Unfortunately, this can always happen with ballooning and there’s nothing the operators can do about it.
From November onward, the weather becomes much more stable and cancellations become less frequent. Last year, they flew from November 1st for 91 consecutive days without a single cancellation.
If you’d like to experience a hot air balloon ride over Bagan for yourself, here’s all the important information you need.
Our Balloon Ride over Bagan on Video
Of course, we also filmed a short video of our balloon ride. Take a look:
Video: Balloon ride over Bagan
Bagan Balloon Ride: Operators and Prices
Now we get to the less pleasant part of the balloon ride: the cost.
A hot air balloon ride over Bagan is not a cheap thrill. Depending on the operator and the size of the balloon, you’ll need to budget between **$320 and $400**.
There are three operators in total. The pioneer is Balloons over Bagan, which has been offering balloon rides over the temples of Bagan since 1999. In recent years, new competition has entered the market.
Joining the red balloons of Balloons over Bagan are the green balloons of Oriental Ballooning and the yellow balloons of Golden Eagle Ballooning. The sky has become quite a colorful show.
The price differences aren’t particularly large.
Balloons over Bagan
Balloon with 16 passengers – $330
Balloon with 8 passengers – $390
Oriental Ballooning
Balloon with 8 passengers – $395
Golden Eagle Ballooning
Balloon with 12 passengers – $320
Balloon with 8 passengers – $380
Passengers weighing over 125 kg must pay double the price.
All balloons are piloted by experienced international pilots. We flew with Balloons over Bagan ourselves, but have only heard positive things about Oriental Ballooning as well.
With all operators, roughly the same services are included in the price: hotel pickup, snacks and coffee before launch, the balloon ride itself, a small champagne breakfast after landing, a certificate, and the return ride to your hotel.
Booking a Balloon Ride — When and Where?
You should definitely book your Bagan hot air balloon well in advance. Especially during peak season, balloons can be fully booked weeks ahead of time.
It is generally possible to book last-minute spots on-site. However, these are considerably more expensive and the chances of there actually being spots available aren’t very high.
Booking is done online directly on the operators’ websites:
Premium Balloon or Standard Balloon?
While Oriental Ballooning only offers premium balloons with 8 passengers, Balloons over Bagan and Golden Eagle give you the choice of how many passengers you share a balloon with.
We flew on the standard balloon from Balloons over Bagan, which holds 16 passengers. The basket is divided into four compartments, each holding four passengers. The pilot stands in the center.
We were lucky and had only 14 people in our balloon, so there were just three of us in our compartment. With four people it would have been a bit tight. Is the extra $60 worth it for a little more space in the basket? Hard to say.
If the extra $60 doesn’t matter to you, go ahead and book the premium spot — otherwise, the standard balloon works just fine too.
Important Questions and Answers
A balloon ride isn’t something you do every day, and before booking we had quite a few questions ourselves. So here are quick, concise answers to the most important ones. Got another question? Leave us a comment — we’re happy to help.
# Are there also sunset flights?
Regular sunset flights are not offered. Occasionally, spontaneous evening flights are organized — just ask at the local office.
In the evenings, weather conditions are generally not suitable for ballooning, which is why it isn’t offered as a regular option.
# How long does the balloon ride last?
On average, a flight lasts 45 minutes. Depending on weather and wind conditions, it can be shorter or longer. For flights under 25 minutes, Balloons over Bagan will refund part of the price.
# What happens if a flight is canceled?
Unfortunately, that can happen from time to time. All operators will give you a full refund in the event of a cancellation — no questions asked. If you’re lucky, you might find an open spot on one of the following days, though the chances aren’t very high.
# What route do the balloons fly?
The route depends on wind and weather and can vary from day to day. This applies to the launch points as well.
Exactly where the landing will take place is usually decided during the flight and can’t be predicted in advance.
It also occasionally happens that the balloons land on the other side of the river and passengers get a complimentary boat ride back.
As already mentioned, the balloons have not been permitted to fly directly over the main temples for some time now. That’s a shame, but the flight is still a wonderful experience nonetheless.
# When can I take a balloon ride over Bagan?
The flying season runs from **October 1st to March 31st**, which also coincides with the main travel season for Myanmar. Especially at the beginning and end of this period, the weather tends to be more unpredictable and flights have to be canceled more frequently.
# Balloon rides and a fear of heights — is that okay?
Absolutely! I have a fear of heights myself and was pretty nervous before the flight. But the balloon floats so smoothly through the air that I wasn’t scared at all. Our pilot also gave us a real sense of safety throughout, which helped a lot.
# How high do the balloons go?
That depends heavily on wind conditions, as air currents vary at different altitudes.
The maximum height is up to **2,000 feet** (roughly 600 meters). On our flight, we reached up to 1,500 feet, or about 450 meters.
Of course, it can also happen that the balloons fly at much lower altitudes, but that usually isn’t determined until during the flight.
# Are children allowed to fly?
Children aged **8 and up** are allowed on the balloon ride when accompanied by an adult. They must, however, be tall enough to see over the basket — roughly 1.35 m (about 4’5″).
Bagan Balloon Ride: What was your experience?
Have you already taken a balloon ride over Bagan? Or maybe somewhere else? Share your experiences in a comment — we’d love to hear them, and of course your questions are always welcome too.
