http://www.independenttraveler.com/slideshow/the-worlds-9-best-hot-air-balloon-rides 

Best wishes, 

Bob

When on a tour, you should be able to do one by yourself during your leisure time but you will need to make sure that your travel insurance covers activities such as hot air balloons.

Please understand that our customers health and safety will always come first and we don't want to put you in any kind of danger.

The team will be reviewing this excursion and all your suggestions are being taken on board.

Kind Regards,

Mildred

Thanks for your reply.  I had a brilliant time in Namibia but the icing on the cake would have been to do a balloon flight over the dunes at Sossusvlei.  I asked if I could do it during free time, but the only time the flights go is early morning - and that was the time we were visiting the dunes!  My fellow travellers, knowing that I really wanted to do one, helpfully pointed out balloons in the sky as we journeyed through the dunes!  I certainly don't want to miss out on any included excursions to do a balloon ride but it would be very helpful if the itinerary could be arranged in such a way that we could do a ride in our free time.  I have a feeling it will be the same in Burma at Bagan - that the time the flights will be operating is the very time we will be visiting the temples.  At least I got to go up in a helium balloon in Tallinn last month...

Ah well, you can't win them all....

All the best,

Bob

I know I was brave enough to do the micro light flight, but not sure if I would be brave enough to do the hot air balloon ride . On the other hand who knows - I may be tempted if it is on offer as I seem to be getting a bit 'braver' as I age!

Jaya

Cheers

Cindy

then the dreaded Health & Safety got involved banning things like hot air balloons and dune bashing in the emirates as fun isn't something they advise so says the Health & Safety man lol

Dave

Thanks for your Post. I am off to Namibia next October - like you I would love to do a balloon trip. Fingers crossed it is decided that it is a safe enough option!  What was the holiday like overall?