FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Our flights on average last 45 minutes to one hour depending on the wind. Flights over 25 minutes are deemed completed. 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, not just the flight itself. Not knowing where you are going to land is always exciting and part of the adventure! 
The exciting thing is that every balloon flight is different. You will see Dambulla and Sigiriya waking up in the morning. You will see the sights in the distance and get a spectacular aerial view of the Cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Sometimes you may fly over villages and see people on their early morning rounds, feeding their animals; or going to market. It is an amazing and interactive experience.
The balloon can only go where the wind takes it. So we unfortunately cannot pre-plan where it will land. 
Hot air ballooning is an extremely safe activity which is highly regulated in Sri Lanka with strict safety guidelines. We are licensed by the Department of Civil Aviation and all of our pilots hold full commercial pilot’s licences. Our balloons are built to the highest standards of the British aerospace industry in the UK and imported to Sri Lanka. We operate under an aviation maintenance organisation with in-house engineers and inspectors who were all qualified in the UK. All of our ground crew regularly receive first aid and fire fighting training by UK and Sri Lanka Public Transport Inspectors.

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.

We aim to show you the best Exactly what you will see depends on the wind direction.

Our standard service balloons carry 16 passengers and our premium service carry 8 passengers. Each basket is partitioned so that the pilot compartment with all the flight equipment is separate to the passengers. All our baskets contain safety equipment so that passengers are seated during landing.

Our successful premium service offers a more personalised and spacious experience for a maximum of just 16 passengers per day in our two smallest 8 passenger balloons. Designed to hold just 4 couples in their own individual compartments with more personal space, the premium service offers a more intimate and private experience. A highlight of this unique premium service is a guided interactive tour around the balloon during inflation from your pilot just prior to take off and separate continental full breakfast at landing area with sparkling wine. In addition to this, clients will also receive an in-flight photos link of their flight to download.

A memory that we hope will last forever; transport to and from your hotel to launch and landing site, flight, celebratory glass of sparkling wine and light breakfast. All passengers receive a Flight Certificate signed by the pilot as a souvenir. There is also to download inflight photos from our specially designed digital camera that hangs from the balloon and photographs the entire basket and surrounding aerial scene. These inflight photos are complimentary as part of the Classic and Premium service package.
The take off site changes with the wind and is decided by the pilot in command on the day of the flight.
Wherever the wind takes you! This could be next to a field by a village, on a sandbank, or even across the lakes, which will involve a short trip by boat.

For the morning flight, passengers are usually picked up at their hotels by our Balloons over Sri Lanka bus between 04h 45 mins and 05h 30 mins in the morning depending on the location of your hotel and the hotels of other passengers. The exact time will be given to you the evening before when you or your guide come to our Sales office in Dambulla to reconfirm your flight.

In the morning flight, passengers are usually back at their hotels by 08.30am – 09.00am. Some passengers like to stay longer after landing to drink an extra glass of champagne or chat with villagers who come to witness the landing. The post flight celebrations are an important part of ballooning in this special area and not to be rushed! 

Unfortunately because of the tropical location in Sigiriya, 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. Sigiriya is normally at its most beautiful early in the morning, and temperatures are pleasant and cool.

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.
For a pre-booking, full payment is accepted by Visa or MasterCard at the time of booking through our online booking system.
Yes of course! Balloons over Sri Lanka only operates when the chief pilot decides that the weather is suitable, and it is safe to fly. Therefore, unfortunately we may have to cancel the balloon flight at the launch site for safety reasons. In that case we will refund 100% of your payment. Flights cancelled by Balloons Over Sri Lanka for safety reasons or as a result of unfavorable weather or operational difficulties will be refunded in full in the original payment form. All tickets purchased directly through Balloons Over Sri Lanka websites or purchased via agents will be refunded in the same initial payment method. For bookings made through tour agents, passengers must contact the respective agent for refunds.
It is sometimes possible to buy last minute tickets at our Sales Desk in Dambulla but to avoid disappointment we strongly advise you make your booking in advance. However, if you are planning to stay in Dambulla/Sigiriya 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.
It is important that we receive the correct weight of each passenger at the time of booking as the total combined total weight of all the passengers on board is an important calculation made by each pilot during their pre-flight safety checks.

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