Tour Programs
Balloons in Bagan
1. Capacity
Our capacity will remain the same as during this current season.
We will therefore be able to operate a maximum of four balloons at
any one time. Total capacity will therefore be 24 passengers for
October 2009, and increase to 40 passengers per flight from the 1st
November 2009 through until the end of February 2010, and will drop
down to 32 passengers per flight during March 2010.
2. Season
October 1st 2009 to March 31st 2010
3. Balloon Safaris
After our successful promotional launch of an escorted balloon
tour through Shan State, we will be promoting 4 additional back to
back balloon safaris during December 2009. Each all inclusive and
private tour will fly over Pindaya, Inle Lake and Bagan with the
following departure and closing dates:
5th December - 10th December 2009
8th December - 13th December 2009
12th December - 17th December 2009
15th December – 20th December 2009
4. Terms and conditions
- All pre bookings must be made through our Yangon office.
- Pre-bookings can only be made up to 72 hours in advance.
- Cancellation fees will only apply upon payment and issue of
tickets. Cancellation fees have now been amended as follows:
• Cancellation 48 hours before the flight – no refund
• Cancellation between 72 hours and 48 hours before the flight –
50% refund
• Cancellation between 72 hours and 7 days before the flight –
75% refund
- Our general policy will be to accept morning flights only as
a pre booking. However, evening flights will be considered with
a minimum of 6 persons, and then at the discretion of our
office.
Conditions of flight
- No refunds will be given for failure to arrive for a
pre-arranged flight.
- Any known medical condition which may affect your ability to
fly or assist the crew must be disclosed to Balloons over Bagan
at the time of booking and to the pilot on the day of the
flight, i.e. epilepsy, recent surgery etc. Some conditions may
preclude you from eligibility to fly. Pregnant women will not be
permitted to fly. The Balloons will not accept liability for
illness or injury due to any undisclosed condition or failure to
comply with any reasonable instruction given by the pilot or
crew or company representative.
- The pilot in command is legally obliged to consider the
safety of his passengers at all times and may refuse to carry
passengers for whatever reason if it is considered their
carriage may endanger the flight, other passengers or
themselves. The Balloons reserve the right to refuse the
carriage of any passenger.
- The passenger must carefully listen to the security briefing
(see below) given by the pilot before the launch of the balloon
and indicate in case he / she doesn’t understand the security
briefing.
- The pilot of the day has absolute authority and all
passengers and crew must comply with his instructions.The
pilot’s decision on all matters is final.
- The Balloons expects passengers to assist the pilot and crew
in any situation that is deemed reasonable, during pre- and
post-flight activities.
- The Balloons reserves the right to cancel or delay flights,
change rendezvous and launch sites, at short notice, to achieve
a safe and successful flight. The Balloons will not accept
liability for any consequential loss or inconvenience.
- The Balloons carries third party and passenger liability of
US$ 3,000,000 for each balloon.
- The Balloons accepts no liability for claims arising as a
result of an act or default of any other passenger or bystander.
- The Balloons accepts no liability for loss or damage to
persons or property other than that which results from
negligence on its own part.
- The Balloons does not accept liability for loss or damage to
personal effects.
- Flights cancelled by The Balloons for safety reasons or as a
result of unfavorable weather or operational difficulties will
be refunded in full.
- The Balloons reserves the right to alter, revise or review
any terms, conditions or rates, at its discretion.
- The Balloons will not fly children under the age of 8 years.
A child under the age of 16 years will only be flown if
accompanied by a responsible adult, and the child is over 4’6”
tall (or 137 cm).
Security briefing (as given by the pilot
before take-off)
- Do not touch any coloured ropes or the fuel hoses or any of
the burner controls
- During inflation, do not move between the trucks and the
balloon.
- On the command ‘Landing Positions’;
Face backwards to the direction of travel.
Hold onto the rope handles
Bend your knees (like skiing), but do not sit on the floor
Lean back against the basket padding
Stay in this position until told to come back up.
- Before the landing, stow all cameras/videos/binoculars etc.
DO NOT HANG ANYTHING AROUND YOUR NECK.
- After the landing, stay in the basket. Do not get out, until
the pilot has told you it is safe to do so!
- NO SMOKING IN AND AROUND THE BALLOON at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long is the flight?
Our flights normally last 45 minutes to one hour, or longer
depending on the wind. The whole experience including hotel pick-ups
and light champagne breakfast lasts between 2 ½ to 3 hours.
Ballooning is also about watching the set up of the balloon, and
being rescued at the end too, not just the flight itself. Not
knowing where you are going to land is always exciting and part of
the adventure!
2. What do we see?
Bagan as you’ve never seen it before! Like a bird would see and
wherever the wind takes you! The exciting thing about ballooning is
that you just don’t know. You may see Bagan waking up in the
morning. You will see many temples in the distance and get an aerial
view of Bagan. Sometimes you may fly over villages and see people
getting up in the morning and feeding their animals; or fly over
fields and see people going to market. It is an amazing experience.
3. Can we go to …… by balloon?
The balloon can only go where the wind takes it. So you can not
pre-plan where it will land.
4. Is it safe?
• Very. Commercial passenger ballooning is the safest form of all
air transport.
• In Bagan we are always very careful. We only fly when there are
light winds.
• Our pilots and technicians are qualified and registered in the UK.
• Our balloons are built to the highest standards of the British
aerospace industry by Cameron Balloons Ltd, the world’s largest
manufacturer of hot air balloons.
• All our crews are trained to the highest international standards
and have all been trained in first aid.
5. I’m scared of heights.
Ballooning does not usually affect those people who are scared of
heights. Because the balloon travels with the wind, the basket is
very stable and does not sway or rock during flight. There is no
sense of vertigo or motion.
6. Do we see this pagoda?
You will see lots of pagodas! Exactly which pagoda you will see
depends on the wind direction.
7. How many people can fit in one balloon?
The balloon has room for 8 passengers in four separate
compartments plus a pilot. Our largest balloon can accommodate 12
passengers also in four compartments
8. What do we get for the price?
A memory that we hope will last forever; transport to and from
your hotel to launch and landing site, flight, ‘rescue’, celebratory
glass of champagne and light breakfast.
9. Where do we take off?
The take off site changes with the wind and is decided by the
pilot in command on the day of the flight.
10. Where do we land?
Wherever the wind takes you! This could be a field by a village,
a field in the middle of nowhere, on a sandbank, or even across the
river, which will involve a rescue by boat – anywhere!!
11. What time will we be picked up?
For the morning flight, passengers are usually picked up at their
hotels by our bus between 05h30 and 06h00 in the morning depending
on the location of your hotel and the hotels of other passengers.
The exact time will be given to you by one day ahead.
12. What time do we get back to the hotel?
In the morning flight, passengers are usually back at their
hotels by 8.30 am.
13. Can we fly at sunset?
We can sometimes put on evening flights on a standby basis only.
Unfortunately because of the tropical location in Bagan, evening
weather conditions tend to be less favourable and less reliable than
in our scheduled morning flights. We believe therefore that a
morning flight affords a more enjoyable and superior experience.
14. Oh, it’s too early, I can’t get up.
Bagan is normally at its most beautiful early in the morning, and
temperatures are pleasant and cool. In addition, apart from the
views of thousands of temples, you will experience Bagan coming to
life. At this time in the morning it is common to see from above
children going to school or monks walking in long lines collecting
alms for the day.
15. Can our children fly?
For safety reasons there are age and height restrictions. We set
a minimum age of 8 years old, but as a general rule, all passengers
must be able to see over the basket.
16. How can we pay for a pre-booking?
For pre-bookings, full payment must be made in Yangon, before
your departure to Bagan. Please inform us where you are staying in
Yangon and what day and what time we can visit you to deliver your
flight tickets and to collect cash payment.
17. Can we pay by credit card?
Please be aware that at present credit cards cannot, or seldom be
used in Myanmar. In the near future we may be able to accept Visa
and MasterCard, but we strongly advise you to bring either cash USD
or Euro with you. Additionally, we are unable to accept traveler's
cheques either.
18. Can I get my money back if the balloon flight is cancelled?
Yes of course! The Balloons only operates when the chief pilot
decides that the weather is suitable and it is safe to fly.
Therefore it could be possible that we have to cancel the balloon
flight at the last moment for safety reasons. In that case we will
refund 100% of your payment. If you have made payment through your
travel agent, we will advise them immediately so that they can make
arrangements for your refund when you return to Yangon.
19. Can I decide later in Bagan whether I want to fly or not?
It is possible to buy a last minute stand by ticket at our sales
desk in Bagan but this is only possible if we have spaces left for
the next day. In previous years at certain times during the season
we unfortunately had to turn people away who wanted to join the
balloons but couldn’t because the day they were in Bagan the
balloons were already fully booked by package tours. Therefore, to
avoid disappointment, we strongly suggest you make your booking in
advance. However if you are planning to stay in Bagan for 3-4 days
there is a much better chance to book a standby space on one of the
flights. If you are in any doubt, please feel free to contact us
directly by phone or email, and we can give you an indication of our
current booking status. Please note that this is an indication only,
and may not remain accurate for very long.
20. Why do I have to give my weight?
It is important that we receive the weight of each passenger as
soon as possible. The chief pilot needs this figure to calculate the
total ballast of the basket, so he can determine the total amount of
lift available on that day.
21. It’s very expensive.
No! For a balloon flight this is not expensive! In Africa flights
per person cost US$ 400 on average. In the UK flights are typically
GBP 150 – 175 per person. Flying in a balloon is very special and is
the best way to see Bagan. It is a once in a lifetime and unique
experience that you will never forget.
The Balloons employs highly qualified UK pilots and public transport
Inspectors, and each custom made balloon is built in the UK. Each
balloon is insured for US$ 3,000,000 third party and passenger
liability, through Lloyds of London. All our staff are trained to
the highest international standard.
22. It’s cheaper in Europe.
Some operations in Europe are cheaper because regulations for
pilots and manufacturing specifications for the balloon are not as
strict as the UK. However all EU ballooning legislation is now being
harmonised in line with UK legislation to ensure operators meet
stricter operating standards. Pricing in established commercial
operations with full international insurance cover in Europe now
exceeds 200 Euros per person.
Booking Terms & Conditions
- Payment and confirmation: The Balloons must receive payment
from the travel agent / clients in order to issue the tickets
and confirm the flight. The deadline for such payment is three
days before the flight. If the travel agent / clients are unable
to pay at this stage, the reservation will not be considered as
confirmed, and may be cancelled and given to other clients who
are able to make immediate payment.
Cancellation fees will only apply upon payment and issue of
tickets. Cancellation fees have now been amended as follows:
• Cancellation 48 hours before the flight – no refund
• Cancellation between 72 hours and 48 hours before the flight –
50% refund
• Cancellation between 72 hours and 7 days before the flight –
75% refund
- No refunds will be given for failure to arrive for a
pre-arranged flight.
- All pre bookings must be made through our Yangon office and
can only be made up to 72 hours or 3 days in advance.
- The Balloons reserves the right to cancel or delay
flights, change rendezvous and launch sites, at short notice, to
achieve a safe and successful flight. Balloons over Bagan will
not accept liability for any consequential loss or
inconvenience.
- Flights cancelled by The Balloons for safety reasons or as a
result of unfavourable weather or operational difficulties will
be refunded in full.
- The Balloons carries third party and passenger liability for
each balloon.
- The Balloons reserve the right to alter, revise or review
any terms, conditions or rates, at its discretion. Please also
read the “conditions of flight” which will be given to each
passenger in Bagan.
For further
inquiries and quotations please feel free to contact us |
