Often regarded as one of the most breathtaking tours available in Sri Lanka hot air balloon rides are fast becoming popular among discerning travellers exploring the island nation. Offering visitors a bird’s eye view of one of Asia’s premier holiday destinations hot air balloon excursions allow travellers to uncover the natural beauty and culture of the island in a short period of time. Although hot air balloon operators are a novelty to the tourist Mecca their advent in to the tourism foray has been nothing short of revolutionary in terms of the wealth of tours and experiences on offer for the first time.
The Cultural Triangle hot air balloon experience is one of the most coveted tour packages offered by operators as the excursion explores the lower altitude heartland of the island’s proud historic sites. Littered with UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Sigiriya and the ancient Dambulla Temple the region is a landscape steeped in history, myth and legend. Visitors can expect to see the rock fortress and its surrounding areas surrounded by water buffaloes and meandering lakes. Monkeys jumping from tree tops and elephants making their way to a water hole are other common sights on this tour.
Ballooning Trips around the Uda Walawe National Park is another highlight that should not be missed by visitors as the verdant landscapes of this elephant infested wilderness is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Wildlife enthusiasts and naturalists alike will enjoy the panoramic views of the national park located on the eastern edge of the country while beach lovers must set off on a balloon tour of Galle and the southern coastal belt.
Although a typical balloon ride lasts a mere hour a tour incorporates a 3 to 4 hour process from picking up guests from their hotels and transportation to the launch site as well as other elements such as flight briefs, balloon inflation time, taking off , the tour, landing and transportation back to the hotel. Most tours also include a hearty breakfast with champagne as most rides take off in the wee hours of the morning, meaning two hours after sunrise. Afternoon balloon rides are also organized after sunset while curious visitors can also join in the processes of deflating and inflating the balloon to gauge firsthand experience in hot air ballooning with the aid of experts. Private and exclusive hot air ballooning experiences are also on offer for couples, wedding anniversaries and other occasions.
Hot air balloon season falls between November and May when the wind conditions are conducive to the activity while March and April boasts the finest weather conditions for ballooning. The Tourism Promotion Bureau of Sri Lanka also organized the first ever Sri Lanka Balloon Festival in March, 2011. The annual event takes guests from Europe and Asia on week-long balloon rides around the island’s premier attractions.
Travellers in search of Sri Lanka tour packages this holiday season can choose Shanti Travel Sri Lanka for all their reservations. Organizing an array of exciting excursions to suit every budget this well-known name in the tourism industry provides the best holiday packages Sri Lanka has to offer.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.