The only hot air balloon ride in Bali is tethered, not free-flying: it lifts straight up about 50 meters at Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana in Ubud, holds briefly, then lowers back to the same launch pad over 7-10 minutes. A Ride Only ticket is IDR 2,200,000++ (about IDR 2,662,000 net) for two guests, with sunrise departures from 6:30 am or sunset from 5:30 pm (tanahgajahubud.com and hotairballoonbali.com, September 2026).
Is There a Hot Air Balloon in Bali?
Yes, one, and it is not the balloon most travelers picture from Cappadocia or Pukhara. Bali has no free-flight balloon operation: there is a single tethered ride, anchored by rope and winch at Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana, on Jalan Goa Gajah in Tengkulak Kaja, Ubud. No other Bali address currently advertises a hot air balloon experience as of September 2026, so a listing promising a drifting Cappadocia-style flight over Bali’s rice terraces is either a mislabeled tethered ride or an error.
Search demand is genuinely small, around 50 searches a month in Indonesia per Ahrefs (September 2026) — a niche add-on rather than a headline activity like paragliding or parasailing. Most people asking the question just want a straight yes-or-no answer before they book, which is what this page gives first.
What Is the Bali Hot Air Balloon Experience Actually Like?
The balloon does not travel horizontally. It rises vertically on a tether to roughly 50 meters above the resort grounds, giving a few minutes of elevated view over the Tanah Gajah gardens and the surrounding Ubud valley, then descends to the same pad it left from. The full ride runs 7-10 minutes, and the basket only goes up when conditions allow: no flight in rain, and no flight if wind exceeds 5 knots, since a tethered balloon has less margin for gusts than a free-flying one.
Because it is weather-gated on the day, and the resort needs a minimum of two reservations to run a session, treat the departure time as tentative until confirmed on the day, not at booking.
How Much Does a Bali Hot Air Balloon Ride Cost?
Tanah Gajah publishes five ride formats, each priced net per couple (up to two adults). Third-party marketplaces resell the same experience at a markup, converted to a “from” USD band per group.
| Ride option | Net price (IDR, for 2 guests) | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Only | 2,662,000 | Tethered ascent/descent, 7-10 minutes, sunrise or sunset slot |
| Sunrise + Breakfast | 3,569,500 | Ride plus a seated breakfast at the resort after landing |
| Sunrise + Floating Breakfast | 4,477,000 | Ride plus a floating breakfast tray at the resort pool |
| Sunset + Afternoon Tea | 3,569,500 | Ride plus afternoon tea service |
| Sunset + Three-Course Dinner | 4,537,500 | Ride plus a three-course dinner at the resort |
OTA resale: GetYourGuide lists the same ride with prices varying by season and operator for a group of up to two guests (September 2026), the marked-up equivalent of the resort’s own IDR pricing above. Both sides are date-stamped to September 2026 and subject to change without notice by the resort.
What Are the Rules Before You Book?
A tethered balloon carries the same passenger limits as most gondola rides its size, plus a few operational conditions specific to Tanah Gajah.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Maximum 2 adults per ride, 150 kg combined weight |
| Age range | 3-70 years old, for insurance purposes |
| Minimum to operate | At least 2 reservations must be confirmed before a session runs |
| Booking order | First-come, first-served; no guaranteed slot without confirmation |
| Weather | Session can be cancelled or delayed last-minute for wind above 5 knots or rain |
| Drones | Not permitted during the ride or on the launch pad |
These are set by the resort, not negotiable through any booking desk.
Tethered Balloon vs Free-Flight Balloon vs Paragliding: Which Fits You?
Tethered (Bali, and Java too) vs free-flight (not available in Bali). A free-flight balloon drifts with the wind for 45-90 minutes and lands downwind, which is why Cappadocia runs dedicated launch fields and chase crews. Bali has neither: the Tanah Gajah ride stays on its rope the whole time, and Java’s balloon rides are also tethered. If a fully drifting flight is the goal, Bali is not that destination in September 2026.
Tethered balloon vs paragliding for nervous flyers. The balloon is the calmer option: only up and down at a fixed, slow pace, with a hard weight cap and a resort crew running the winch. Tandem paragliding off the Bukit cliffs (Timbis, Uluwatu) is a faster, wind-driven glide with a licensed pilot, launching from a cliff edge rather than a garden lawn. Nervous first-time flyers tend to prefer the balloon; those wanting more sensation prefer paragliding.
What Is a Bali Tethered Balloon Ride, Step by Step?
Guests arrive at Tanah Gajah ahead of the 6:30 am sunrise or 5:30 pm sunset slot. The crew checks the day’s wind reading first; above 5 knots or in rain, the ride is held or rescheduled. Once cleared, up to two adults (150 kg combined) board the basket, ascend vertically to about 50 meters, hold briefly, then descend to the same pad. Air time is 7-10 minutes; guests with a breakfast, tea, or dinner package then move to the resort’s dining area.
How Does Booking Through the Juara Holding Group Desk Work?
Juara Holding Group is an independent concierge and coordination desk, established 2015, not the resort and not the balloon operator. The desk does not own the balloon, employ its crew, or set its prices; it contacts Tanah Gajah’s reservations team on the guest’s behalf, checks the two-reservation minimum for that day, and relays the resort’s own confirmation back to the guest.
- Message the desk on WhatsApp with your preferred date and sunrise or sunset slot.
- The desk checks live availability with the resort’s reservations team.
- Once confirmed, the desk sends back the exact time, meeting point, and price in IDR.
- Guests pay and check in directly at the resort; the desk does not process payment or offer discounts off the resort’s published rates.
Reserve a sunrise or sunset ride: WhatsApp (https://wa.me/6281139414563) or email bd@juaraholding.com. The desk arranges the booking with Tanah Gajah’s own reservations team and makes no discount claims on the resort’s published pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a real hot air balloon ride in Bali, or is it always tethered?
It is always tethered as of September 2026. The only balloon operating in Bali is at Tanah Gajah in Ubud, and it rises and falls on a rope rather than drifting freely. No operator currently runs a free-flight balloon anywhere on the island.
How high does the Bali hot air balloon go and how long does it last?
The balloon climbs to roughly 50 meters above the resort grounds and stays up for 7-10 minutes total, including ascent and descent. It does not travel sideways or cross the valley; the entire ride happens above the same launch pad.
What happens if it rains or the wind is too strong on the day of my ride?
The resort will not fly in rain or when wind exceeds 5 knots, since a tethered balloon has less margin than a free-flying one. If conditions don’t clear, the session is held or rescheduled; the concierge desk relays the resort’s call rather than making the weather decision itself.
Can children ride the Bali hot air balloon at Tanah Gajah?
Yes, within limits: riders must be between 3 and 70 years old for insurance purposes, and the basket carries a maximum of 2 adults with 150 kg combined weight. A young child would typically ride within a parent’s lap inside that same weight cap.
Is the Bali hot air balloon ride worth it compared to paragliding on the Bukit?
It depends on what you want. The balloon is a calmer, 7-10 minute vertical lift with a fixed weight cap, suited to nervous flyers or a sunrise or sunset photo moment. Paragliding is a longer, wind-driven glide off the Bukit cliffs for guests wanting more sensation and comfortable with a cliff launch.