Ballooning in Nepal

Memories of ballooning experiences are as varied as people. That is the nature of the sport, “every flight is an adventure”. So to look up into the sky and see the towers of the Himalayas is awe-inspiring and certainly a valid and popular reason to come to Nepal. To walk among those mountains is more wonderful still. But to glide silently among them, this is perhaps the most thrilling of all. The adventure of hot air ballooning is now available in Kathmandu too. Ballooning stepped into commercial operation in 1995 in Nepal. Mostly only one-hour flight with a backdrop of the snow capped Himalayan peaks, over the Temples, Monasteries and Paddy fields spectacular view becomes most memorable and unforgettable for the life- time. In the morning within minutes of the ascent, the Majestic Himalayan panorama will appears range after range as your horizon.

Once the balloon fills with enough hot air, it takes to the skies. From then on, it is the wind, which decides where the balloon goes. Adding more or less hot air to the envelope and in this way controls altitude; air currents can be ridden to reach a desired destination. Usually flights begin shortly after dawn, when winds are their calmest. Once the balloon is full and all systems double-checked, the lines are let loose and the passenger basket is carried up over the morning fog and into the sun-lit skies. The balloon will float at about 1,200 to 1,500 m above the Valley, which will bring passengers close to 3,000m! From this altitude, the entire Himalayan range will be in sight -360 degrees of visibility are what the balloon in the air offers, as well as fantastic downward views of the Kathmandu Valley itself. After 15 minutes or so at this altitude, enough time for people to take their photos and convince their jaws to close again, the balloon will descend for a gentle flight over the sights of the Kathmandu Valley. By the time the basket sets down again, roughly one hour after take-off, the balloonists will have experienced Kathmandu and the mighty Himalayas from an entirely new perspective.