Should you fly in a hot air balloon over Bagan, Myanmar?

Flying in a hot air balloon over Bagan is a very special experience, and a unique adventure to try while you’re in Myanmar. Gazing at centuries old temples and the Irrawaddy River from the air and watching other coloured  balloons flying ahead is magical, and there is something incredibly calming about being in the air in a balloon basket! I was surprised, believe me – I wasn’t expecting to find it so peaceful. Fortunately it wasn’t scary at all, and both Emmie and I really loved our ballooning experience.

Read on for our experience, mistakes we made and how to get the most out of your hot air balloon ride. 

We were hosted by Balloons Over Bagan for our Bagan flight – and honestly we loved it so much that we booked for another balloon ride over Inle Lake when we were there a week later.

Families please check age restrictions as children must be eight years old to fly.

Balloons over Bagan

We were picked up from our hotel on the Balloons Over Bagan vintage bus and whisked off to the field where the balloons take off. We‘d been out for sunrise earlier in the week and had watched the balloons set off  – but this time knowing that we would be in one was just so exciting.

We were escorted to a waiting area with seats, blankets, hot tea and pastries and after everyone arrived we were briefed and the balloons began to get filled. There are very clean portable toilets here too.

But first Emmie got to inspect the balloon with our pilot by going inside with him as it filled. She loved it and was so excited to be inside the actual balloon. It was a really kind thing for the pilot to do and she felt very special. We couldn’t wait for our flight!

The balloons were filled with cold air and then the air was heated which is how they float. Soon there were ready for us to board, but that’s where we went wrong.

The balloon basket is in four sections and when the time came to get into the basket we got into the back section.

It’s hard to tell what is the back and what is the front of the basket, and if I’d been strategic I would have figured it out and made sure we were in the front – but even then we didn’t know that there is a big difference between the views you get in the front of the basket and the views in the back.

But I didn’t and we climbed into the back and unfortunately that really limited our view of the temples ahead and the balloons floating in front. Some pilots do turn the balloon so everyone gets a view and ours did once for a minute or so, so while it was an incredible experience, I felt a bit sad that we didn’t have the view and of course Emmie being small didn’t get to see the temples.

So my top tip is to be mindful of where you go in the balloon. Aim for the front section of the basket. But wherever you are,  the ride is still incredible, it’s still super amazing. But if you can, make sure you are in the front.  We got to see so, so much, and it was peaceful and relaxing and we were airborne for around an hour.

We landed in a field and were treated to champagne and nibbles on landing. It was a lovely way to end the flight and start the day.

Balloons over Inle

We loved our Inle flight just as much, in fact probably more than Bagan because there was less pressure to spot the temples and we could just enjoy gazing at the lake and floating gardens and villages.

It’s so incredible watching the sun rise over the mountain and the lake AND the balloons do a special lake landing onto a pontoon as part of the ride. So amazing!

Inle was very similar in that we had a super early start but we went into small motorised canoes and took a 25 minute or so ride down the river, covered in blankets to keep warm. What a start to the day! A short walk down a dirt track took us to a field where the balloons were set up and we had a cuppa and some shortbread before climbing aboard.

The balloons here are smaller and they turn a lot. I asked if we could go in the front, but I don’t think the pilot liked that and put us in the back (heheh) but it was fine anyway as he turned the balloon and we could see everything. It was just so beautiful and again so peaceful. I think I preferred Inle because there was no pressure to spot the temples,  just a chilled time gazing out over the lake.

We landed in a little paddock in Nyaung Shwe and the locals ran down the street to the field where we landed and watched open mouthed as the basket hit the ground and the balloon deflated. It was just a beautiful experience.

Unfortunately the pilots friend was leaving and he wanted to be there so instead of sitting in the field with the locals while the balloons came down we had to go to his front yard for some bubbles while he said goodbye to his mate. It was a bit strange to stand in the front yard of the pilots home, and it would have been nicer to stay in the field with the locals but I guess this is how things roll! In retrospect I should have just stayed at the field and watched the balloon come down with the locals. Oh well!

When you book this balloon ride – and if you can afford to then definitely do – just be aware that there are many factors at play – the wind, whether your pilot flies high or low (if high like ours over the temples at Bagan you don’t gets to see much below), where you are in the basket and the course the balloon takes. I would definitely suggest being strategic and getting into the from of the basket. It’s an expensive ride and you do want to see the best view you possibly can.

It really is a once in a lifetime experience.

You can book your Balloon Over Bagan trip here.

You can book your Balloon Over Inle here.

Where to stay:

In Bagan:

We first stayed at Bagan Hotel River View which was really nice but a bit out of the way and isolated, and we felt a bit down while we were there. I think this hotel would be much better suited for a couple wanting a romantic stay in a bit of luxe with easy temple access and a beautiful pool. It is lovely.

We then moved into Shwe Nadi Guest House which was budget, amazing and right in town and we felt better immediately and just loved it. It offered a huge breakfast each morning, the blokes on the front desk were lovely and we could walk into town. Totally recommend!

You can find more Bagan accommodation here.

At Inle Lake:

We stayed at this very cheap and amazing family-owned guesthouse in Nyaung Shwe, called Remember Inn.

It had huge rooms, was super clean and included breakfast and a view of the balloons landing every morning from the rooftop restaurant. It’s really close to local restaurants and bars and the markets too. We loved it here and its so affordable and lovely that I really recommend it. The owner learnt English from an Australian man who stayed in Myanmar after the war so there was a nice connection too.

You can find more Inle Lake accommodation here, and Nyaung Shwe accommodation here.