Taking a sunrise hot balloon ride is an incredible way to view the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar and its 2,000 plus temples and pagodas. We were picked up around 4:30 a.m. at our hotel and shuttled in a vintage bus to a remote field that served as the hot air balloon launch site. Small groups of 16 or so people sat together hundled over cups of warm tea and biscuits in the darkness waiting to be called to board one of the two dozen or so balloons being simultaneously inflated in the field. The whooshing sounds of the balloons being filled with air added to the morning’s anticipation.
We boarded and took flight with our group in time to watch the sunrise from the balloon – it was magical. From the air you really gain a sense how vast and grand the ancient city once was. The thousands of temples and pagodas that are made of stone are spread across the landscape and many are in surprisingly good condition. Floating through the air among the other balloons and watching the sunrise in this magnificent setting literally gave me chills.
We went on this excursion with Balloons Over Bagan in November 2016 and our impression was that they are a professional and safety-minded operation. Our pilot was highly skilled and our flight was smooth from beginning to end. The time in the air lasted about 45 minutes and we were treated to champagne and snacks at the end of our flight. We were able to purchase the photo shown above, which was taken by our pilot via remote control connected to a GoPro mounted alongside the balloon. This activity was our biggest splurge on our trip to Myanmar and if I had to do it over again I absolutely would. It was a once in a lifetime experience.
