Hot Air Balloon Ride, Vilnius

I have mentioned this experience briefly in a previous post 'Lithuania; A Travellers Guide'.

We chose to go with Smile Balloons, and our instructor was the Lithuanian National Balloon Champion of 2015 which made the whole experience feel very safe and professional. We arrived 15 minutes before they instructed (which was 20 minutes before they said we would fly) and all together waited about an hour as they checked with Vilnius Airport waiting for confirmation to fly. As they lay out the balloons and inflate them they get you involved in the process and I even got the opportunity to walk inside the inflating balloon, which was really amazing.

We took off from the centre of Vilnius city, right next to the river Neris and the Central Business District, floating over the city for approximately 20 minutes, and then out into the countryside for another 20 minutes where we were met by the other instructor to land. When we landed we had a glass of champagne (at 8am) as our Inauguration and they drove us back to our starting point. After some pre-flight nerves, and worrying about the whole fire-plus-basket thing, this turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done; it was cool, calm and collected AND exciting, exhilarating and energising!

- Website: Smile Balloons

- Contact number:+370 690 55500

- Contact e-mail address: info@skrydisorobalionu.lt

- Price: 99Euros per person or 500Euros for 6 people (contact them for details of possibilities for larger groups)

- Duration: 20 minute (approx) waiting period at beginning, 40 minute flying time, 20 minute talk/champagne at end.

- Exciting point: It is possible, if you ask nicely, to fly a drone from the Balloon - something the instructors had never seen before - but the footage is absolutely stunning. You can see the final video below!