Does anyone know of a safe & reputable company who does hot air balloon rides in Chiang Mai? I'm going in late December/early January, and my hotel recommended a company called Earth, Wind & Fire, but they want 20,000 baht per person! I have since discovered a company online called Chiang Mai Marvel Travel for a little under 10,000 baht per person, but I know nothing about them and am worried about the safety aspect of the balloons and the pilots. A friend of mine living in Chiang Mai found a place through a travel company called The Unique Tour, but again, I know nothing about them. Would really appreciate some help. Thanks!

Does anyone know of a safe & reputable company who does hot air balloon rides in Chiang Mai? I'm going in late December/early January, and my hotel recommended a company called Earth, Wind & Fire, but they want 20,000 baht per person! I have since discovered a company online called Chiang Mai Marvel Travel for a little under 10,000 baht per person, but I know nothing about them and am worried about the safety aspect of the balloons and the pilots. A friend of mine living in Chiang Mai found a place through a travel company called The Unique Tour, but again, I know nothing about them. Would really appreciate some help. Thanks!

Plenty of people in Chiang Mai are full of hot air--shouldn't be too hard to find.

To be slightly more serious--I, too, would be somewhat concerned about 'the safety aspect' of just about any dangerous, or semi, sport/leisure pursuit undertaken here--unless they've got a farang doing safety inspections--little bit too much 'Mai Pen Rai' about.

I took balloon flying lessons last season with the Dutch operation at Doi Saket which is, as far as I know, the only licensed balloon operation in CM. I can certainly vouch for their competence and attention to safety as I have been a pilot for over 30 years and also learned to fly microlights there. HOWEVER that operation was called Oriental Balloon and I can no longer find their web site and it now appears they are called CM Marvel, the company you already found.

http://www.cmmarvel.com/sky-adventure.html

BUT I AM NOT SURE THAT THIS IS THE SAME BALLOON COMPANY. I will find out and get back to you as there are a few dodgy operations in the area also and I don't want to recommend any other people than the Dutch op. And - I need to finish up my training when the season starts in November!

OK here is the website of the company I took lessons from. I also flew as human ballast on several of their commercial ride flights and can highly recommend them.

http://www.balloonadventurethailand.com/

Chiang Mai is a very good area for ballooning and I hope you have a nice flight!

OK here is the website of the company I took lessons from. I also flew as human ballast on several of their commercial ride flights and can highly recommend them.

http://www.balloonadventurethailand.com/

Chiang Mai is a very good area for ballooning and I hope you have a nice flight!

OK here is the website of the company I took lessons from. I also flew as human ballast on several of their commercial ride flights and can highly recommend them.

http://www.balloonadventurethailand.com/

Chiang Mai is a very good area for ballooning and I hope you have a nice flight!

Thanks Cloudhopper. As it turns out, Balloon Adventure is the same company that the travel agency recommended to my friend there, so now I feel alot better about using them. I appreciate your help. It will be my first balloon flight, and I can't think of a prettier place to do it!