These rides are often done during the morning hours to see the sunrise and typically lasts around 3 to 3.5 hours which includes a pre-flight briefing from the pilot, takeoff and flight. The location chosen for the balloon rides are within the cultural triangle areas including bentota and dambulla. However the route taken for the ride cannot be foreseen in advance as its highly dependent on the weather and climatic conditions of the day as these trips could be subject to cancellations during bad weather. A support crew and vehicle would also be around in the vicinity to ensure that there wouldn’t be any difficulties in case of any severe casualty.
The minimum age for taking a balloon ride starts from 7+ and those under 16 needs to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children pricing options are available for those between 7 and 12 years of age. Pregnant women are also not recommended to take part in this activity and the maximum number of travellers allowed in any one ride is limited to 16.
The best time to enjoy hot air ballooning is between the months of November to April of which the latter months are more suitable than the preceding. However it can also be done even in the other months of the year depending on the weather conditions prevalent in the country at that period. Prior to taking the ride its important that all passengers wear loose comfortable clothing and footwear as high heels and other fancy accessories may not necessarily be recommended for this trip.
