TWO hot air ballooning companies are preparing for first flights over Inle Lake before the end of the year, giving travellers another way to experience one of Myanmar’s tourist hotspots.
Oriental Ballooning, which runs hot air balloon flights in Mandalay and Bagan, and Balloons over Bagan, confirmed with TTG Asia e-Daily that they both plan to launch Inle flights in November.
“We did a test flight in Inle and Pindaya in February, and a lot of people called our office (to enquire about it). These days, we are getting enquiries for Inle, but of course not much (yet), as this is a new destination and it will take time to increase awareness of our presence there,” said Ni Ni Khaing, operations manager of Oriental Ballooning.
Brett Melzer, co-founder of Balloons over Bagan, who has been operating in Bagan for 15 years, said that he expects the Inle filghts to attract a smaller, niche market.
“A flight over Inle and Pindaya is more of an adventure, and will be popular with people who have visited Myanmar before and want a more exclusive and intimate experience,” he said.
Both companies plan to offer one flight a day initially, with each flight hosting a maximum of either four or eight people.
