Ubud: Hot Air Balloon Experience

Bali’s first and only hot air balloon experience lifts you above the rice fields of Tanah Gajah, with Ubud’s tropical forest below and Mount Agung often visible to the east. The balloon rises to about 50 metres, then floats at the end of a tether, so this is a scenic ascent rather than a long-distance flight.

I like the small-group setting, limited to 10 people, and the fact that a meal is built into the visit. Morning breakfast is the strongest choice for cooler air and brighter views. The main drawback is simple: the balloon ride lasts only 7 to 10 minutes, so the $189 price for up to two people depends heavily on how much you value the resort setting and meal.

Key points before you book

• A tethered ascent above Ubud: The 23-metre balloon rises about 50 metres over rice fields but does not travel across Bali.
• Three time-of-day choices: Pick an a la carte breakfast, afternoon tea, or a three-course Indonesian and Balinese dinner.
• Morning usually gives you the best odds: Cooler air and daylight can make the forest and Mount Agung easier to see.
• A polished resort setting: Tanah Gajah supplies much of the atmosphere, dining, and service around the short flight.
• The price covers two people: The $189 rate is per group of up to two, with one child possible if the total weight stays within 150 kilograms.
• Weather controls the schedule: Wind, poor visibility, or darkness can lead to cancellation or a suggestion to change times.

What the Tanah Gajah balloon actually does

This is not a cross-country balloon trip. The balloon remains attached to the ground and rises vertically, giving you an aerial view without drifting over villages, temples, or forests.

That distinction matters. You get the drama of going up in a large 23-metre balloon, but the ride itself is closer to a short observation flight. The basket climbs to roughly 50 metres above the rice fields and floats there briefly before returning. You will not cover a large distance or spend an hour in the air.

The booking includes an exclusive 7 to 10-minute flight. Elsewhere, a standard ride may last only 5 to 7 minutes, so check that your reservation carries the longer time listed for this experience. The total visit takes about two hours because breakfast, tea, or dinner is part of the outing.

The balloon basket is made of wicker and is designed for a small number of people. The experience has a gentle, old-fashioned feel, though you should still expect boarding, lifting, and landing to require ordinary care. An English-speaking host or greeter helps manage the visit, and insurance is included.

Arriving at Tanah Gajah near Ubud

Tanah Gajah, a resort by Hadiprana, is the setting rather than just a launch field. That is a major part of the appeal. The resort grounds give you a calm place to sit and eat before or after the flight, and the property itself adds polish to what would otherwise be a very short activity.

Your exact meeting point can vary with the option you book. Hotel transport is not included, so you need to arrange your own way there and allow time to find the correct entrance or meeting area.

The schedule may not run to the minute. A 6:30 AM start can move closer to 7:00 AM in practice, so leave space before any airport transfer, temple visit, or other fixed appointment. This is a poor fit for a tightly packed morning.

Once you arrive, staff help with the next steps and safety arrangements. The small-group limit of 10 keeps the process more orderly than a large attraction, although your actual flight may still depend on the timing and weight of the people booked into the basket.

Choosing sunrise, afternoon tea, or dinner

The time you choose changes the character of the visit more than you might expect.

Sunrise breakfast is my preferred option. The air is cooler, the light is softer, and there is a better chance of seeing the forest and distant Mount Agung before haze builds. The breakfast uses an a la carte menu, so you choose from the available morning dishes rather than receiving one fixed plate.

The morning slot also makes the most sense if your main goal is scenery. Daylight helps you read the patchwork of rice fields and trees below, and the eastern horizon has a clearer chance of showing Mount Agung. Visibility is never promised, though. Bali weather can change quickly, and the quality of the view depends on both cloud and flight time.

Sunset afternoon tea gives you a slower, more social version of the outing. Premium tea and coffee come with savory items influenced by food from East to West. This option suits you if the meal and resort atmosphere matter as much as the view, but late light can make distant sights harder to see.

Evening dinner is the most substantial food option. You receive a three-course Indonesian or Balinese set menu, which gives the visit a stronger local flavor than a simple snack. Drinks are not included with dinner, apart from house-pour water, so budget extra for beverages.

If you want Mount Agung, choose daylight. If you want a date-night setting and do not mind weaker views, dinner may be more appealing. The balloon may still run after dark, but the experience specifically warns that it can be too dark to enjoy the scenery fully. You can ask to reschedule if the conditions do not allow a useful view.

The short flight and what you will see

The best moment comes as the basket leaves the ground. From 50 metres up, the rice fields become a pattern rather than a path, while the trees around Ubud spread toward the horizon. On a clear day, the view reaches across the tropical forest toward holy Mount Agung in eastern Bali.

Do not expect a broad panorama in every direction. The balloon stays tethered, and the view depends on where you are positioned, the weather, and the time of day. Clouds or haze can hide the mountain, and evening darkness may reduce the scene to nearby grounds and lights.

The ride is short enough that you should decide in advance what matters most. Look outward rather than spending the whole time taking pictures. The basket gives you a quick high view, and the changing angle during the ascent may be more memorable than the time spent at the top.

A photographer may be present and offer images for purchase. One price offered for five digital photographs was $60, with no physical copies included. Personal phone photography during the ride may also be restricted, so confirm the current rule and photo price before you arrive. If taking your own pictures is important, this detail could affect your decision.

Drones are prohibited around the resort perimeter. That protects the quiet setting and avoids a bad surprise if you hoped to bring one for aerial footage.

Is the $189 price fair?

The $189 charge covers a group of up to two people, not two separate tickets. That makes the price easier to assess as a couple or pair: you are paying for the balloon, meal, insurance, certificate, and resort setting together.

The weak point is the time in the air. Even with the longer 7 to 10-minute flight, the actual balloon portion is brief. If you judge the price only by minutes airborne, it feels expensive. A longer free-flight balloon trip would offer more distance and more changing views.

The value improves if you want a special occasion rather than a standard sightseeing stop. Breakfast at a high-end resort, a private-feeling ride for two, and a certificate give the visit more shape than a quick fairground ascent. The setting is attractive enough that the two-hour visit does not depend entirely on the basket ride.

I would also compare this cost with your wider Bali plan. If you already have a resort breakfast or several viewpoints scheduled, the balloon may feel repetitive. If you want one polished morning near Ubud with food and a memorable photo opportunity, the package makes more sense.

For a family, the limits are clear. Up to two adults and one child may be allowed, subject to a combined maximum weight of 150 kilograms. That is not a guarantee for every family group, so check the numbers when booking.

How the meal changes the visit

The food is not a minor extra. It helps fill out a tour whose flight time is short.

Breakfast is the most practical choice because it pairs naturally with the best viewing conditions. You can eat before or after the ascent, depending on the schedule, and the a la carte format lets you choose from the available menu.

Afternoon tea is lighter and more relaxed. Premium tea and coffee are served with savory bites, making it a good fit for a couple who wants a refined pause rather than a full meal.

Dinner provides the clearest Indonesian connection. The three-course set menu is based on Indonesian or Balinese food, but drinks cost extra. Remember that the dinner package includes food only, with house-pour water as the included beverage.

The food also softens the effect of a weather delay or a slow start. If the balloon cannot rise immediately, you are not simply waiting beside an empty field. Still, do not mistake the meal for a guarantee that the flight will operate. Wind and safety come first.

Weather, timing, and the practical details

Wind and weather can cancel the flight. If that happens for safety reasons, you may reschedule. Visibility also changes with the hour, so a technically successful flight may still offer disappointing views if haze, clouds, or darkness block the horizon.

I would choose a flexible day and avoid placing an important appointment right afterward. The stated total duration is two hours, and a delayed start can stretch your plans. The experience is valid for one day, with starting times shown according to availability.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the booked time for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Bali schedule is still shifting.

No hotel transfer is included. Meeting and ending points are at the designated meeting area, but the precise point can vary by booking option. Check that detail carefully, especially if you are coming from central Ubud or using a private driver.

The host speaks English, and the group size is limited to 10. An insurance policy and a hot air balloon certificate are included. Those additions do not lengthen the ride, but they are useful parts of the package for a first-time balloon experience.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this to couples who want a quiet, polished activity with food attached. It also suits someone who wants to try a balloon without committing to a long flight or a full-day excursion.

The morning option is best for photographers, first-time visitors focused on views, and anyone hoping to see Mount Agung. The dinner option fits a special evening, provided you are comfortable paying extra for drinks and accepting that the scenery may be limited.

You may want to skip it if you expect the balloon to travel across Bali. You should also think twice if the short flight feels too expensive, if your schedule cannot absorb delays, or if taking personal photos is central to the experience.

Should you book the Ubud hot air balloon?

Book it if you value the whole setting: a resort breakfast, tea, or Balinese dinner, a small group, a certificate, and a brief rise over Ubud’s rice fields. Pick the morning slot when views matter most, and leave plenty of time around the booking.

Skip it if your main goal is a long balloon flight. The ride is short and tethered, and the $189 price is easier to justify for two people sharing a special occasion than for someone counting minutes in the air.

My practical choice would be sunrise breakfast, with a flexible schedule and realistic expectations. You get the coolest conditions, the best daylight, and the strongest chance of seeing the forest and Mount Agung. Just confirm the photography policy, the exact meeting point, and the weather rescheduling terms before paying.

FAQ

How long is the hot air balloon ride?

The included flight lasts 7 to 10 minutes for this booking. A regular flight can last 5 to 7 minutes, while the full visit takes about two hours because it includes the meal.

How high does the balloon rise?

The balloon rises about 50 metres above the rice fields. It remains attached to the ground by a tether and does not travel across Ubud.

What food is included?

Morning bookings include breakfast from an a la carte menu. Afternoon bookings include premium tea and coffee with savory snacks. Evening bookings include a three-course Indonesian or Balinese set menu.

Are drinks included with dinner?

Dinner includes food only. Beverages cost extra, except for house-pour water.

Can a child join the experience?

A maximum of two adults and one child may be allowed, depending on weight. The combined total must not exceed 150 kilograms.

What happens if the weather cancels the flight?

The activity can be canceled for safety reasons because of wind or weather. If that happens, you may reschedule. You can also request a new time if it is too dark to enjoy the view fully.