Balloons Over Bagan

What Balloons Over Bagan is and where it flies

Balloons Over Bagan is a hot air balloon company in Myanmar that flies its own balloons with its own pilots and crew. Its main operation is sunrise flights over the temple plain of Bagan, sold as "your gateway to flights over 8,000 pagodas". It also runs Balloons Over Inle, over Inle Lake in Shan State, and Balloons Over Loikaw, over the Kayah hills, though both of those are currently marked "returning soon". The Bagan sales office is near Hotel Zfreeti in Nyaung U, and the Inle office is on Phaung Daw Side Road in Nyaung Shwe. Prices are "quoted in US Dollars", with payment in Myanmar kyat possible through the sales offices.

The About page tells the story: a "chance meeting in July 1997 in Yangon" brought together Brett Melzer and Khin Omar Win, who set up "the first commercial hot air balloon operation in South East Asia". Cary Crawley was the first pilot, in 1999, and the Bagan page says visitors have flown "Since 1999". The company says it grew "from a single small balloon operation with 8 crew, to a 12 balloon operation employing over 100 local staff and 16 foreign pilots and technicians", and that "Since 26 December 2017, Memories Group Limited" has owned and managed the Bagan and Inle businesses. The homepage marks its "26th Season" with flights "1,500 feet over Bagan".

Flights and packages in Bagan

Bagan flights take off "each morning just before sunrise", and the site offers Classic and Premium service. The Classic Package, which runs from October to March, shows $350 alongside $230. It includes pickup in a converted antique bus, tea, coffee and refreshments during inflation, a safety briefing, a flight of about 45 minutes, a light breakfast with sparkling wine, fruit and pastries on landing, a flight certificate, and free inflight photos taken by a camera hanging from the balloon. The FAQ says "Our standard service balloons carry 16 passengers".

The Premium flight is listed as "$450 originally! (Contact us for details)". It uses the company's "two smallest 8 passenger balloons", with "no more than 2 passengers per compartment", its own launch area, a guided tour of the balloon during inflation by the pilot, and a full continental breakfast after landing. The site says premium service takes "a maximum of just 16 passengers per day".

Hotel packages are also sold. "Two Nights and a Flight" gives a couple 2 nights at The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate, Bagan Thande or Bagan Heritage plus 2 balloon tickets for $335. The Solo Stay and Fly pairs 1 ticket with 2 nights at Temple View hotel and is shown at $175, although the offer text on the page still carries 2024 dates, so it should be confirmed.

Inle Lake and Loikaw

Balloons Over Inle flies over the lake's floating gardens, stilt houses and Intha fishing villages, with breakfast "next to one of the beautiful Shan villages wherever we land". The season runs from 5 November to 15 March, flights last about 60 to 90 minutes, and the page lists the classic service as "2 balloons or 14 passengers", one balloon carrying 8 and the other 6. The price shown is $300, marked "returning soon". Pickup is usually between 05h00 and 05h30, and guests are back at their hotels by 9.00 or 9.30 am.

Balloons Over Loikaw flies over Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State, which the site describes as "remote and sleepy", with "boutique balloons" carrying 6 to 12 passengers from 15 December. The page says pilots fly "at heights of upto 5000′ feet" and that landings often draw children and villagers. Flights last about 45 to 60 minutes and the price is $250, also "returning soon". The page adds that the operation carries insurance "through Lloyds of London" with "USD 10 millions per balloon" of passenger and third-party cover.

How a flight works, and the rules

Pickup in Bagan is "between 05h00 and 06h00", with the exact time given the evening before when guests reconfirm at the sales office. The whole morning lasts "between 2 ½ to 3 hours", and guests are usually back at their hotels by 8.30 to 9.00 am. The take-off site is chosen on the day, and the landing is "Wherever the wind takes you", sometimes "across the river, which will involve a short trip by boat". The site notes that regulations sometimes prevent flying directly over temples and monuments.

The rules are published in full. The minimum age is 7 and the minimum height 125 cm, and "all passengers must be able to see over the basket". Body weight must be given at booking, with a maximum of 125 kg, above which an extra ticket is charged. "Pregnant women will not be permitted to fly", and medical conditions must be disclosed. Passports and the service voucher must be shown at pickup, passenger details are due 7 days before the flight, and the site recommends long trousers and long sleeves in natural fibers. The FAQ describes the company as "licensed by the Department of Civil Aviation", with UK-built balloons and UK-qualified inspectors.

Booking, cancellation and what it suits

Pre-bookings are paid in full by Visa, Master, MPU card or other digital payment. The cancellation policy is graded: cancelling at least 16 days ahead is free apart from a 10% administration fee; 15 to 11 days ahead costs 20%; 10 to 4 days, 50%; and under 3 days or a no-show, 100%. Date changes are free more than 15 days out, and a move to a later date costs 15US$ per passenger. If the chief pilot cancels for weather, the company offers the next day, space permitting, and otherwise "100% of your payment will be refunded". Flights over 25 minutes count as completed.

The site does not say when Inle and Loikaw will reopen or confirm current Bagan dates, so checking with the sales office first is sensible. Balloons Over Bagan suits travelers in Bagan who want a sunrise flight with a long-established operator, a choice between a larger classic basket and a smaller premium one, and clear written rules on children, weight and cancellation.