From Krong Siem Reap: Angkor Hot Air Balloon Ride w/ Pickup

The best part of this outing is the quiet view from above. At sunrise or sunset, you lift over Siem Reap’s rice fields and villages, with Bakong and the countryside spread below. This is a scenic flight, not a temple flight over Angkor Wat, so keep your expectations aimed at open country rather than close-up ruins.

I like the sunrise and sunset choices, since the softer light gives the fields and distant temples more character. I also like the hotel pickup and drop-off, which makes an early start far easier than arranging your own ride in the dark.

The main drawback is value. At $175 per person, the flight lasts only about 30 to 35 minutes, and haze can block the sunrise. You may also see the temples only from a distance, not directly below the balloon.

Key points to know before booking

• Sunrise flights take off around 6:20 to 6:30 am, while sunset flights take off around 5:30 to 5:40 pm.
• Bakong and Lolei are viewing points from the air, not guaranteed flyover targets.
• The balloon ride lasts roughly 30 to 35 minutes, with one reported flight lasting about 28 minutes.
• Hotel pickup and return transport are included, using a car or minivan with an English-speaking driver.
• The price is $175 per person, a high cost for a short flight, so the weather and temple views matter greatly.
• Passengers over 110 kilograms pay double, and weight details are required when booking.

A short flight over Siem Reap’s countryside

This is a simple aerial sightseeing trip built around one short balloon flight. You leave your hotel in Krong Siem Reap, ride to the launch area, spend about half an hour in the air, then return to town.

The balloon can carry up to 25 passengers, while the ground arrangement is described as a small group limited to 10 participants. That likely means your pickup and transport group is kept fairly small, even though the balloon itself may hold more people. Ask for clarification if group size matters to you.

The flight itself is the point. You are not signing up for a guided temple tour, a long countryside excursion, or a private balloon basket. You are paying for a brief view from above, with the chance to see rice fields, villages, Siem Reap, and the area around Bakong in one sweep.

That distinction matters. If you want the carved galleries and towers of Angkor Wat close at hand, this is the wrong way to see them. If you have already visited the temples and want a different view of the area, the balloon makes more sense.

Sunrise at 6:20 am, or sunset at 5:30 pm

You have two scheduled flight windows. The sunrise trip takes off around 6:20 to 6:30 am. The sunset trip takes off around 5:30 to 5:40 pm.

The sunrise option gives you the freshest air of the day, at least in theory, and places the flight before a full day of temple touring. It also requires an early hotel pickup, with the exact time confirmed after booking. You should be ready before the stated departure window because the driver may collect you about 30 minutes before the flight.

Sunrise is not guaranteed to be colorful. Haze and clouds can cover the sun, as happened on one morning flight. In that case, you still get the elevated view, but the dramatic golden light may never appear.

The sunset option is easier on your sleep and may suit anyone who has spent the morning at Angkor. The tradeoff is that you need to keep the late afternoon free. If the day has been hot and tiring, a short flight may feel like a pleasant finish. If you are hoping for a strong sunset, weather remains the deciding factor.

I would choose sunrise if you are comfortable with an early start and want to pair the balloon with temple sightseeing later. I would choose sunset if you prefer a slower morning and want the balloon to serve as the day’s final activity.

The pickup from Krong Siem Reap

Pickup and drop-off at your hotel are included. Transport is provided by car or minivan, and the driver speaks English.

You need to provide the hotel name, full address, a contact, the name used for checking in, and the room number. The exact pickup time is confirmed later. Give accurate information, especially for a sunrise booking, when a delay can quickly make the schedule feel rushed.

The ride to the balloon takes about 30 minutes. The timing can be less predictable if the vehicle collects other passengers. One morning departure involved a late pickup and a slow trip through town while additional passengers were collected.

That is worth keeping in mind. A balloon flight is tied to a narrow launch window, so even a modest delay can cut into the calm start you were expecting. I would be ready early, keep your phone available, and avoid booking anything immediately after the flight.

The driver handles the transport rather than providing a full historical tour. You should expect practical assistance in English, not a long guided explanation of every temple and village along the road.

What you see near Bakong and Lolei

The aerial route focuses on the countryside near Bakong, with Lolei also named among the points of interest. From the balloon, you can look down over rice fields, village areas, and parts of Siem Reap.

Bakong is one of the major temples in the Roluos area, and its broad setting makes more sense from above than it does in a crowded ground-level view. From the balloon, you may gain a sense of how the temple sits within the surrounding countryside.

Lolei is also part of the promised temple area, but the flight does not guarantee a close pass over either monument. The practical wording is important: you are seeing the landmarks from the air, not taking a dedicated aerial temple circuit.

One traveler chose this experience expecting a view of Angkor Wat and found the flight disappointing because the most important temples were not directly below. That is a useful warning. The name can create an expectation of flying over the famous temple complex, but the described sightseeing centers on Bakong, Lolei, fields, villages, and the city.

You might also see Siem Reap from above, including the broad spread of the town and the surrounding agricultural land. For some people, that wider view is the most interesting part. For others, open fields may feel less special after the novelty of takeoff wears off.

What the 30 to 35 minutes feels like

The listed duration is 30 minutes, while the flight information describes about 35 minutes round trip in the air. An actual morning flight lasted approximately 28 minutes. In practical terms, plan for a short ride of around half an hour, not a long airborne tour.

That time is enough to take photographs, look for the temples and villages, and watch the countryside change as the balloon drifts. It is not enough to cover a large part of the Siem Reap area or guarantee every named landmark.

Hot air balloons travel with the wind, so the exact route depends on conditions. You are not getting a fixed flight path with a pilot steering toward each temple. The advertised sights are best treated as possible views within the area, not promises of a close pass.

Bring your camera, but remember that early haze can flatten the view. Sunrise light may be beautiful when the air is clear, yet clouds and mist can hide the sun or soften distant buildings. Sunset has its own weather risk.

The balloon ride is likely to suit you if you enjoy slow scenic viewing and do not need constant commentary or action. If you prefer a tightly planned sightseeing route with guaranteed stops, a tuk-tuk or car tour of the temples gives you more control.

The price and what you receive

The cost is $175 per person. Included are hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by car or minivan, and an English-speaking driver. The balloon flight is the main paid feature.

That is a substantial price for a roughly half-hour ride. The value depends almost entirely on three things: clear weather, your interest in aerial views, and how strongly you want to see the temples from above.

The price feels easier to justify if you have already explored Angkor from the ground and want something different. It is harder to justify if this is your only paid temple activity, especially since the flight does not promise a direct view of Angkor Wat.

You should also budget mentally for the possibility of an ordinary view. A balloon cannot fix haze, clouds, or a plain route. One flight crossed dry rice fields for most of its time, with the view described as similar to what could be seen while arriving at Siem Reap airport. That will sound peaceful to one person and underwhelming to another.

A strong positive point is that the flight is not burdened with extra paid add-ons in the stated inclusions. Your transport is covered, and you do not need to arrange a separate early-morning transfer. Still, the base price remains high for the amount of time in the air.

Weather, delays, and cancellation rules

Weather is central to this experience. If the flight is canceled because of weather, or because the authorities do not permit flying, the stated policy provides a full refund.

That protection is important, since poor conditions can turn a scenic balloon ride into a disappointing one. It also means the flight schedule is not fully within the operator’s control.

The cancellation terms need careful attention because the general booking information and the detailed conditions do not match perfectly. One section says you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The detailed conditions say cancellation before two days may incur a 50 percent charge, and cancellation within two days receives no refund.

Because of that conflict, I would confirm the exact policy in writing before paying. Rescheduling is allowed once if arranged before two days, with a $25 per person charge. Cancellation within two days does not allow rescheduling under the detailed conditions.

The booking also requires your flight date, sunrise or sunset choice, passenger count, passenger weights, and hotel information. Anyone weighing over 110 kilograms is charged double the fare. That is an important cost detail to settle before confirming.

Who will enjoy this balloon ride

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• People who have already seen Angkor Wat and want a fresh view of the wider area
• Photographers who enjoy sunrise or sunset light and accept that weather controls the result
• Couples or small groups looking for a calm, unusual sightseeing activity
• Visitors who value hotel transport for an early morning departure
• Anyone curious about rice fields, villages, and Siem Reap from above

I would be more cautious if this is your first and only Angkor activity. The balloon does not replace walking through the temples. It gives you scale and scenery, but not carvings, courtyards, galleries, or close views of the monuments.

I would also think twice if $175 is a major part of your trip budget. The flight may be memorable, but it may also be a short ride over dry fields in hazy weather. That risk is built into the experience.

Practical tips for getting the most from it

Choose the time of day that fits your energy, not just the one that sounds most dramatic. Sunrise requires an early pickup and may offer softer air, while sunset lets you sleep later and end your sightseeing with the flight.

Confirm the exact pickup time after booking and be ready before it. Give the hotel address clearly, since the vehicle may be collecting more than one passenger.

Ask specifically what temples are likely to be visible on your date. Bakong and Lolei are part of the advertised area, but the route can change with wind and flying conditions. Do not book this expecting a guaranteed flight directly over Angkor Wat.

Keep your schedule flexible after landing. The flight is advertised as about 30 minutes, but pickup delays, transport, and the return journey make the whole outing longer than the time in the air.

Finally, check the cancellation terms before you pay. The supplied conditions contain different refund language, so clarification is sensible, especially when the fare is $175 per person.

Should you book the Angkor balloon ride?

Book it if you want a short, peaceful aerial view of Siem Reap, Bakong, rice fields, and villages, and you are comfortable paying a premium for the chance of good weather.

Skip it if you are mainly seeking Angkor Wat from above, need guaranteed temple views, or would be unhappy spending $175 on a flight that may pass over ordinary countryside. The most positive response to this experience came from someone who found it fantastic and would recommend it, while another found the haze, dry fields, and lack of major temple views poor value.

My advice is simple: treat this as a scenic countryside flight, not an Angkor Wat tour. With that expectation, it can be a graceful addition to a Siem Reap visit. Without it, the name and price may set you up for disappointment.

FAQ

How long does the hot air balloon flight last?

The flight is advertised as about 30 to 35 minutes. One reported flight lasted approximately 28 minutes, so you should plan for roughly half an hour in the air.

What time do the sunrise and sunset flights take off?

The sunrise flight is scheduled to take off around 6:20 to 6:30 am. The sunset flight is scheduled to take off around 5:30 to 5:40 pm.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and return transport to hotels in Krong Siem Reap are included, using a car or minivan with an English-speaking driver.

Will the balloon fly directly over Angkor Wat?

The stated sights include Bakong, Lolei, Siem Reap, rice fields, and villages. A direct flight over Angkor Wat is not guaranteed.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $175 per person. Passengers weighing over 110 kilograms are charged double the fare.

What information is needed when booking?

You need to provide the flight date, sunrise or sunset choice, total passengers, passenger weights, hotel name and address, the full name used at hotel check-in, room number, and contact information.

What happens if bad weather cancels the flight?

If the flight is canceled because of weather or because flying is not permitted, the stated policy provides a full refund.