Nepal Hot Air Ballooning

Weather and Best Season

The weather is quite significant to make Nepal Hot Air Ballooning a safe and enjoyable event. Hot air ballooning is one of the best activities that can be conducted in Pokhara, Nepal, due to its generally calm weather and open skies, particularly in the early morning. Nevertheless, it may vary in terms of the season, which is why the time is essential to choose.

The optimal seasons for Nepal Hot Air Ballooning are spring (February to May) and autumn (September to November). The climate is dry and pleasant, with the temperatures being comfortable and the skies being clear most of these months. This implies that you have a great view of the Annapurna Mountain range, Phewa Lake, and the hills. The weather is also more predictable in terms of the wind, as well, and this is a very important factor when it comes to the smooth sailing of the balloon.

Hot air ballooning is not very good during the monsoon season (June to August). Unpredictability in weather, heavy rain, and clouds usually result in flight delays or cancellations. Although it does not necessarily rain early in the morning, the cloud masses may cover mountain views, which spoils the experience.

Nepal Hot Air Ballooning can also be a good activity even in winter (December and January), though you should not be afraid of cold mornings. The weather is usually sunny, with mountain scenery being breathtaking. Temperatures tend to be low in the morning before the sun rises; therefore, warm clothes are highly needed.

Hot air balloon flights are always done early in the morning, regardless of the season of the year, but mostly immediately after sunrise. It is during this time that the air is the calmest and the safest time to fly.

It is also wise to plan your ballooning trip at the beginning of your stay in Pokhara. This will provide you with additional days of rescheduling if the weather conditions are unfavourable. Our crew monitors the weather predictions daily so that your flight is only done under safe and favourable conditions.

How Difficult is the Activity

Hot Air Ballooning is an adventure activity that is extremely easy and a very relaxing activity to undertake in Nepal. This is in contrast to trekking, rafting or paragliding, where an individual needs physical fitness, training, and prior experience. It is made to be soft, relaxing and pleasant to almost all.

The activity is graded as easy, no hiking, no running, and no climbing. All one needs to do is enter the basketball into the balloon, which will be assisted by the crew. It is just a matter of getting in, standing comfortably and taking in the views. The ride is not too adventurous but calm and gentle due to the slow and smooth movement of the balloon.

It renders Nepal Hot Air Ballooning can be done by individuals of various age groups. Children can participate with adult supervision and no rigid upper age limit, with the condition that the individual is in good health. The elderly travellers, families, as well as individuals who do not usually engage in adventure sports, find the flight very comfortable.

The landing is normally gentle and controlled; at times, the basket can bump and have small signs of tilting when it lands. This is safe and not risky. Before the landing, the crew will discuss the position of landing in order to ensure everyone is safe and comfortable.

You can easily do this activity provided that you can stand up to roughly one-hour. Nepal Hot Air Ballooning is surprisingly relaxing even to those afraid of heights since there is no abrupt movement or loud noise. On the whole, it is a relaxing trip and an ideal option for the traveller who wants to have a relaxing but memorable vacation.

Visa and Permits

Travelling to Nepal is easy in terms of visa and other permits. A tourist visa is required by the majority of international travellers in Nepal, and the procedure is user-friendly and hassle-free. A visa can be obtained at Kathmandu international airport or at the crossings of land borders.

To be issued a visa at the point of landing, you must have a valid passport, a passport-sized photo of passport size, and a visa fee, which varies depending on the time you intend to spend in Nepal. Numerous tourists also prefer pre-processing their visits online on the official government site of the immigration of Nepal that helps to save time in the airport.

In the case of Nepal Hot Air Ballooning activity, there are no special permits. A hot air balloon does not require trekking permits or any local passes, as opposed to trekking in confined regions or having to climb mountains. The companies are licensed and regulated to operate the activity, and after one has booked his or her flight, the rest is done.

Most of the time, you do not need to present permits during the trip, although it is always a good idea to make a copy of your passport or some other type of identification in case. We, Himalayan Adventure Treks, do all the local permits and operation clearance that the balloon flight needs.

You simply require your tourist visa to Nepal and a reservation for this activity. It is not a complex process, as you will have time to enjoy the ride and the memorable experience of ballooning.

Transportation

The transportation of Nepal Hot Air Ballooning is highly organisedby Himalayan Adventure Treks without inconveniences. The package includes all the local transport during the balloon flight, and therefore, it is not necessary to worry about logistics on the day of the activity.

You will be picked up on the same day of your flight in the early morning in Pokhara, right out of your hotel. The pick-up time is normally about 6:00 AM. The transfer is done in a private and comfortable car, like a jeep or van. The trip to the launch site requires 20 to 30 minutes.

The place where the balloon is launched is in a picturesque hilltop overlooking Pokhara, usually between Laurik Hill or the Dhampus region. These are selected because of their open space, security and good views. There is no need to searchfor where to go or to organise your personal transportation and be worried about being late or arriving safely.

Once you have finished your Nepal Hot Air Ballooning adventure and landed somewhere in either Lakeside or the Phewa Lake, the transfer will take you back to your hotel. You are normally back by about 9:00 AM, hence the remaining part of the day is free to sightsee or relax.

In case you are not in Pokhara, then you will have to organise to arrive at Pokhara before the ballooning day. Pokhara is approximately 200 km from Kathmandu, and can be accessed either by a tourist bus in 6-7 hours, or a short domestic flight in the form of 25 minutes. Although this travelling is not part of the regular package, we can help you with the bookings if you require.

The logistics of transportation in Nepal Hot Air Ballooning is easy, secure, and well-controlled, so that you can just have fun without any stress.

Your Extra Expenses on the Trip

Although the Nepal Hot Air Ballooning package includes the key activity and transportation within the country, you need to set aside some additional costs. These are minor expenses that nonetheless should be considered during the budgeting of your trip.

The package does not include meals. As the flight is in the early morning, many of the travellers have a light snack to eat or drink coffee before they check out of their hotel or have breakfast when they come back. Several cafes and restaurants are available around Lakeside in Pokhara, and they can cater to a wide range of budgets.

The transport to Pokhara and hotel stay will not be included in the package. Pokhara has a great variety of hotels, including budget guesthouses and luxury resorts that you can select as per your choice.

Individual costs like snacks, refreshments, souvenirs or shopping are not included either. Although the balloon operator will offer a generic flight video, additional photos, printed souvenirs, or merchandise would be available as extra purchases.

The other potential cost is tipping. The balloon pilot and ground crew do not need tips, but will be welcome in case you believe the service was exceptional. It is advisable to have a bit of money, such as smaller bills.

Fourthly, and finally, travel insurance is highly recommended. The flight itself on the balloon comes with standard insurance, and having the travel insurance of your own, which includes adventure activities, is an added advantage to the flight.

The total cost of Nepal Hot Air Ballooning, other than your reservation fee, is largely an addition of food, lodging, transport to Pokhara and personal expenditure. These costs can be easily controlled with planning.

Don’ts on This Trip

In order to ensure that your Nepal Hot Air Ballooning tour is safe, smooth and enjoyable, you need to know what not to do during the trip. These few tips can be used to make sure that every passenger on the flight has a good and stress-free experience.

To begin with, take care of the safety advice of the pilot. The pilot and crew will provide a briefing to the passengers before takeoffon how to stand and what to expect when in the air, and a pre-landing briefing. The instructions keep you safe, and therefore, you must always listen and follow the instructions.

When flying in the air, do not lean over the basket or drop anything. Always keep your hands, arms and your camera equipment in the basket. The falling objects can cause harm to the people and the objects below the balloon; hence,they can influence the balance of the balloon.

Open fires or smoking are strongly forbidden. Fire safety is of high priority because the balloon is powered by propane burners. Do not smoke by the balloon before, during or after the flight.

The next thing is that one should not drink alcohol or use drugs before the flight. To have a safe Nepal Hot Air Ballooning, you must be fully awake. Any person who seems to be drunk might not be given the chance to fly.

Do not carry huge bags or heavy luggage. There is not much room in the basket, so only carry the necessities such as a phone, a camera or a light jacket. Keep your big luggage at your hotel.

Lastly, do not panic and make abrupt movements, particularly when landing. Landings tend to be gentle, although the basket could tilt a little. Remain composed, grab the handles and be in faith of the pilot.

With this simple common sense and the avoidance of these typical pitfalls, your Nepal Hot Air Ballooning adventure will be safe, relaxing and certainly memorable.

Trip Extension

Hot Air Ballooning in Nepal would be a welcome addition to an extended Nepal vacation. You can spend more time in the country; there are so many thrilling ways of extending your visit and seeing more of what the country has to offer.

Even the city of Pokhara is adventure-packed. Once you have experienced balloon flight, you can then have additional aerial fun with paragliding, zip-lining and ultralight flights. Boating on Phewa Lake or taking a walk on Lakeside is a good option if you want to relax.

A lot of tourists will opt to include a little trip in the Annapurna region. The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is a popular alternative where one can witness the sunrise, or one can simply do a day hike to the World Peace Pagoda. These hikes are not too challenging and provide a breathtaking view.

Another outstanding extension is cultural sightseeing. Devi Falls, Gupteshwor Cave, Mahendra Cave, and International Mountain Museum are some of the places in Pokhara where you can learn about the history and mountains in Nepal.

You may consider visiting Kathmandu after your Nepal hot air ballooning trip. Kathmandu is a city with UNESCO World Heritage sites, old temples, and local culture. Chitwan National Park is another extension with another popular tourist destination where people can have a jungle safari and see wildlife.

Himalayan Adventure Treksarrange all trip extensions, be it trekking, sightseeing or adventure sports. Prolong your trip and take the full out of your Nepal stay and transform your ballooning experience into a full-blown and memorable travelling experience.

Photography & Drone Rules

One of the best aspects of Nepal Hot Air Ballooning is photography, since the scenes are just amazing when one is up in the air. You can take your camera or smartphone along on board and take pictures of the Himalayas, lakes, and valleys beneath.

You should never leave your phone or camera unattended, and securely hold it with the use of a strap or a grip over it. Being at height, it might be risky to drop a device and impossible to retrieve. Capturing photographs is not difficult in the air as the balloon moves at a very slow and smooth pace.

The balloon operator will also give you a free video record of your flight as part of the experience. This is because you do not have to bother with shooting all the footage yourself, but you can still enjoy professional footage.

In the case of drones, the regulations are highly strict in Nepal. No flying drones during the balloon flight or around the takeoff and landing location can be done. Drones may interfere with the balloon and cause severe safety threats.

Besides that, Nepal needs the permission of the civil aviation authority to use drones in any part of the country. There are airports near the area, and the use of drones is highly restricted without approval.

In case you want to carry a drone, you will be better off using it in areas where such usage is allowed, after obtaining appropriate permission. A standard camera is sufficient in the case of a balloon flight.

With photography and drone regulations, you make it safe and enjoyable to visit Nepal Hot Air Ballooning; at the same time, you get memories that last long.

Major Attractions

The sightseeing of Nepal’s natural beauty is the key element of Nepal Hot Air Ballooning because of the amazing skyview of Nepal. Floating peacefully above Pokhara gives you a rare and unforgettable perspective of the landscape.

The mountain range of Annapurna is one of the largest attractions. As you are flying, you get to appreciate the presence of tall mountains such as Annapurna I, II, III and IV, as well as the giant Dhaulagiri. The holy Machhapuchhre or Fishtail Mountain is a distinctive structure in terms of shape and religious significance.

Phewa Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Nepal that lies below the mountains. The view of the lake is calm and reflective, with the sky and the hills around, creating a mirror-like reflection. This perspective is particularly breathtaking at sunrise.

Another attraction of the balloon is the Pokhara Valley, which leads to the beautiful scenery of the green hills, terraced farmland, rivers, and traditional villages. The landmarks that you can see include World Peace Pagoda, Sarangkot ridge, and silent rural settlements, which are difficult to observe on the ground.

The other significant attraction is the serene environment. Unlike the congested views, you can have these views of Nepal Hot Air Ballooning without noise or hurry. The smooth floating of the balloon is what makes the experience almost magical and peaceful.

And even though it is the shining mountains or the lake below or the gentle morning sunlight, every hour of this journey makes it clear why Pokhara is such a popular destination in Nepal. It is really special to have a view of it all in the air.

Tips for First-Time Travelers

In case it is your first Hot Air Ballooning or your first visit to Nepal, a small preparation during the trip would only add value. These are just some of the easy things that will make you feel safer.

Make an early booking of your balloon flight in Pokhara. Flights can be changed due to weather, and having more days would give time to reschedule the flights in case of necessity. Ballooning is famous in Pokhara and cannot be done without prior reservation during high seasons.

Dress in layers. It is cold in the mornings before the sun rises, and it warms up soon. Use loose clothes, a light jacket and closed-up shoes. Do not wear loose hats or scarves which are liable to blow away.

Eat a small preflight meal like tea and toast. Avoid heavy meals because you are going to be on your feet on the flight. Motion sickness is not a common occurrence in ballooning, though comfort matters.

Listening is very important during the safety briefing, and one should not be afraid of asking questions. The experience of being in Nepal Hot Air Ballooning can help lessen nervousness, assuming you are not used to heights.

Tie up your valuables and camera. It would be better to leave off things you do not need at your hotel and concentrate on admiring the view.

In case you are afraid of flying too high, keep in mind that ballooning is smooth and peaceful, with no abrupt feeling of dropping.

Relax after the flight,and have breakfast at Phewa Lake. Most of the travellers also tip the crew to show their appreciation of having a wonderful Nepal Hot Air Ballooning experience.