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Hot air ballooning in the Cultural Triangle

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Ancient, mysterious and shrouded in mythology, the Cultural Triangle is the term used to describe the roughly triangular-shaped region which once served as the nucleus of the Sri Lankan civilization. In this arid dry zone, Sinhalese kings commanded their people, fought wars, built rock fortresses, planned elaborate irrigation systems and designed gigantic palaces. Fast forward 2,000 years and the modern-day Cultural Triangle has retained much of its natural beauty. The ruins and relics of previous millennia jut out of the jungle, reminders of kingdoms and legacies not yet forgotten. Flying over the Cultural Triangle moments before the break of dawn is the stuff that dreams are made of. Let your mind wander back through the ages as you take to the skies to see this fascinating area from a completely different angle.

Experience Overview

At 6am every morning as mist unfurls over scrub forest and ribbons of sunlight dance on the rocks and ruins of the Cultural Triangle, a giant red balloon drifts up into the sky. Launching next to the Kandalama reservoir you will have a quick safety briefing from the pilot as the hot air fills the balloon, and then you’re ready to go! From the safety of the basket enjoy panoramic viewing of the cultural sites, the sun rise, and the odd bird following the shadow of the balloon across the sky. During the space of an hour, you will gently float over the Cultural Triangle. Your direction is determined by the wind and as such there is no set route. On your right you will see Sigiriya, to your left the Kandalama tank and a little further off the Golden Temple at Dambulla. The balloon moves gently and steadily, allowing you enough time to drink in the view before coming to a smooth landing in a nearby field where you will be greeted by the staff proffering glasses of champagne – a traditional hot air ballooning custom.

Includes:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Includes:

transport to the launch site, balloon ride, and a glass of champagne at the end

Duration:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Duration:

One hour

Difficulty:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Difficulty:

Easy

Suitable for children: - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Suitable for children:

This experience is great for children but those under 7 years will not be allowed to take the balloon flight and children under 16 years have to be accompanied by an adult

Meeting time:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Meeting time:

The balloon takes off at 6.00am. sharp and so you will be picked up from your hotel depending on the travel time

What to wear or bring along:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
What to wear or bring along:

Cool, light clothing, comfortable shoes as you will be standing for the duration of the balloon ride

In the know:  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
In the know:

In event of unsafe weather the tour will not run and participants will be offered either a full refund or the opportunity to try again on another day. Those who are pregnant are unfortunately not permitted to take part in this experience

Private or not?  - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style
Private or not?

This excursion is not private unless you book the entire basket

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Managing Expectations

It is important to remember that, whilst they are experts in their field, the people who run or host our experiences are not necessarily used to working in the tourism industry and may not offer the level of service you would find at a five-star hotel. For example, instead of a formal lecture, you may get a relaxed conversation where open discussion is encouraged. All of our hosts are, however, extremely engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about their chosen subject and we have worked with them to ensure that they deliver worthwhile, fulfilling experiences. We welcome feedback, so please let us know what you thought and if you think any improvements could be made to the experiences we offer.

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