A trip to Myanmar is not complete without experiencing, the once in a lifetime, Hot Air Balloons Over Bagan! There is no place on Earth quite as unique as Old Bagan, an ancient city in central Myanmar, and to float swiftly across the tops of some 2,000 Buddhist monuments is one heck of a Bucket List adventure!
I have put together this complete guide of Balloons Over Bagan including where to book and what to expect!
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BALLOONS OVER BAGAN BOOKING
There are several Bagan hot air balloon companies to book a flight with, however, I highly recommend flying with Balloons Over Bagan, the most reputable hot air balloon company in Bagan.
You can book a Bagan Balloon Ride online in advance to get the best rates. The Balloons Over Bagan tour is the most top-rated tour with great reviews and hundreds of bookings.
This tour includes a 5 am hotel pick-up, pre-balloon flight refreshments, hot air balloon tour in Bagan, champagne breakfast upon landing, personalised certificate and hotel drop-off around 8 am.
- Bagan Hot Air Balloon Season: October – April
- Bagan Hot Air Balloon Price: USD $330
Book Now → Balloons Over Bagan Tour
BALLOONS OVER BAGAN EXPERIENCE
Balloons Over Bagan maintains the highest possible attention to safety to provide an unforgettable hot air balloon experience over the ancient temples in Old Bagan. When booking a Bagan balloon ride with Balloons Over Bagan you can expect a 5-star service from start to finish.
I was picked up from my accommodation, Bagan Thande Riverview Hotel, at around 5am by the crew members from Balloons Over Bagan. I jumped on board the courtesy bus with a bunch of other people who were taking the Bagan hot air balloon ride too. We drove north of Old Bagan for about 20-minutes to the starting point of where the Balloons Over Bagan flight launches.
Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits were served during an important safety briefing with the Bagan balloon pilots.
Shortly after the briefing, we waited and watched the crew members inflate the hot air balloons in the open field, which was an impressive moment in itself. Once instructed, we climbed into the basket one-by-one and prepared for lift-off!
Book Now → Balloons Over Bagan Tour
Preparing the Bagan balloons for lift-off!
Speechless views – Balloons Over Bagan
FLYING HIGH WITH BALLOONS OVER BAGAN
The hot air balloon lifted our basket off the ground with ease and barely any bumpiness at all. The Balloons Over Bagan pilot steered us swiftly across the tops of countless Buddhist monuments that covered the wide-open plains of Old Bagan.
The sun begun to rise up slowly over the horizon in the far distance, emitting a magical orange glow across the entire region. I was honestly left speechless… This moment was definitely one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen!
The airspace was dotted with dozens of colorful balloons as we floated aimlessly across the Bagan Archaeological Area with distant views of Mount Popa and the Ayeyarwady River.
Must Read → 2 Week Myanmar Itinerary
Early morning glow with Balloons Over Bagan
BALLOONS OVER BAGAN – CONTINUED
Balloons Over Bagan really put on a show, spinning the hot air balloon around in all directions to give you the best possible views of Old Bagan from your corner of the basket.
As the flight comes to an end you’ll float over peanut farms and rice fields being harvested by the local farmers. Don’t be shy, give them a wave and I guarantee they will give you a wave back!
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The Bagan hot air balloon will then descend on the outskirts of a local village and land safely on the sandbanks near the Ayeyarwady River.
Awaiting on the sand upon landing are the crew members from Balloons Over Bagan with glasses of champagne and light breakfast snacks to celebrate! The courtesy bus will also be there waiting to kindly drop you back to your hotel.
Balloons Over Bagan Myanmar
Sunrise Bagan
Flying high with Balloons Over Bagan
WHERE TO STAY IN BAGAN
Bagan has dozens of accommodations to choose from so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay to suit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers and everyone in between.
See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: Bagan Thande Riverview Hotel
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
Mid Range: Bagan View Hotel
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
Budget: Maya Bagan Hostel
Check prices on Agoda | Check prices on Booking.com
FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN BAGAN, SEARCH ON AGODA OR SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM
BEST MYANMAR TOURS
MORE MYANMAR TRAVEL GUIDES
Myanmar Guide: 2 Week Myanmar Itinerary
Bagan Guide: 5 Things To Do In Bagan
Mandalay Guide: 10 Things To Do In Mandalay
Inle Lake Guide: 5 Things To Do In Inle Lake
Hpa An Guide: 5 Things To Do In Hpa An
LONELY PLANET – MYANMAR
One of the best books to take on your trip is the Lonely Planet Myanmar Travel Guide!
BUY NOW ON AMAZON → LONELY PLANET MYANMAR
AIRBNB BAGAN
Another option for accommodation in Bagan is to stay at an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals!
WANT TO SAVE $$$ ON AIRBNB? GET MY AIRBNB MONEY SAVING GUIDE
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WHAT TO PACK FOR BAGAN
Everyday Backpack: One of the best backpacks on the market! The Nomatic 20L Backpack is perfect for on the go adventures. Featuring multiple storage spaces for valuables, drink bottles, chargers, notebooks and more. This sleek backpack was designed for you.
Universal Power Adapter: Don’t leave home without one! I highly recommend getting this Universal Power Adapter so that you are able to charge all of your electronics when you’re on the road. Compatible in Asia, UK, Europe, Africa, USA, SA and Australia.
Hidden Money Belt: I never go on a trip without one! The best thing is they are always out of sight, hidden beneath your clothing. With RFID blocking, they are perfectly designed to keep your credit cards, cash and other valuables safe when you’re out adventuring!
Waterproof Phone Case: A waterproof phone case is a must-have item! This universal case will keep your phone safe from water damage, sand and scratches during your adventures. Suitable for all smartphone models.
Portable Charger: One of the best portable chargers on the market! The Anker Power Bank keeps your phone and accessories charged on those longer adventures. Featuring 2 USB charging ports, rechargeable battery, works with iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Oppo and Android.
Microfibre Travel Towel: To pack a towel or not to pack a towel? A standard bathroom towel can take up a lot of space in your travel bag. Get your hands on a quick-dry Microfibre Travel Towel which is perfect for the beach, backpacking, camping and general traveling.
Rain Jacket: A light-weight rain jacket is an absolute must when traveling! North Face waterproof rain jackets come in both men and women sizes, featuring a breathable mesh lining and adjustable hood that can be tucked away inside the collar.
Kindle: The best alternative for books! Kindle e-readers are perfect for long haul flights, reading on the beach or a quiet evening away from the bars. Kindle’s are waterproof with rechargeable batteries and adjustable light settings to suit indoor/outdoor conditions.
Packing Cubes: My favorite item in my backpack! Perfect for organizing your shirts, pants, jackets, socks, underwear and more. This 5 Set Packing Cubes makes packing easier and more efficient, adding extra space in your bag for your next trip.
Activated Charcoal Tablets: Want to avoid food poisoning? Most of us have been a victim of travelers diarrhea from eating street food. Organic Activated Charcoal Tablets are fast-acting and will rid your system of the bad bacteria that causes stomach upset.
MY CAMERA GEAR
Everyday Camera: The most affordable mirrorless camera on the market! I personally use the Sony A7ii Mirrorless Camera on all of my adventures. It’s compact, lightweight and super easy to use for all levels of photography. A 28-70mm Sony lens is also included.
Drone Camera: Take your photography to new heights! The DJI Mavic Pro 2 Drone is at the top of the game when it comes to high-quality images and video, easy to control functions and traveler-friendly capabilities. I guarantee you won’t regret purchasing one.
GoPro Hero 8: One of the most popular cameras on the planet! I love using the GoPro Hero 8 for all of my underwater shots and fast-paced adventures. The GoPro Hero 8 captures the best moments with its wide range of functions that are very simple to use!
Camera Bag: My favorite camera bag I have ever owned! The Lowepro Protactic 450 AW II Camera Bag features a waterproof rain cover, drink bottle holder, padded compartments for cameras, drones, lenses, accessories and it also has a laptop pocket.
Selfie Stick: Everyone loves a good selfie, right!? The Sandmarc Metal Edition Selfie Stick is sleek, stylish and can extend to 1.2m. I find it much easier to take photos and videos with the GoPro when it is mounted to the Sandmarc Selfie Stick!
Camera Tripod: The Joby GorillaPod is suitable for all cameras. This tripod is easy to use and perfect for setting up a time-lapse video or even using it as a selfie stick. The legs are flexible so you can wrap it around a tree or a pole to get creative with your shot.
GoPro Dome: Have you ever wanted to capture those under/over water shots with the GoPro? This epic underwater GoPro dome housing is the best camera accessory to have to create the perfect 50/50 shot. I use mine every time I am in the ocean!
Memory Card: The best thing about SanDisk Extreme Pro is that it delivers maximum speed for images and videos. Having 64GB of storage means that you can store hundreds of files on this SD card for 2-3 days and not have to worry about running out of space.
External Hard Drive: As a photographer, my images and video files take up a lot of space on my MacBook so I use the WD Elements External Hard Drive to store everything. With 4TB worth of storage space, this is more than enough for 1 years worth of content.
ONLINE ENGLISH TEACHING
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MY SHOP
Before you go from this Balloons Over Bagan post, don’t forget to check out My Online Shop!
I’ve got a wide range of digital products for sale and I’m sure you’ll find something that will come in handy during your travels!
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FINAL THOUGHTS OF BALLOONS OVER BAGAN
Thanks for reading this article an if you have any questions about Balloons Over Bagan please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
Happy Adventuring!
PIN IT FOR LATER
You have a very good light on that day! When I did it last time it was a bit cloudy and not such a excellent. Anyway is a must do thing in Bagan!
Author
Yes it was a perfect morning. Sorry to hear you had a cloudy day. Take Care!