Hello, this is Yam! Continuing from last time, I’m writing about my trip to Oman. Located at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman may not be as well-known in Japan as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Qatar, but I’ve been secretly intrigued by it, knowing that it’s a country rich in history and traditions unparalleled in the Arab world.
In this Oman travel special, I’ll introduce Oman’s new attraction, the balloon tour, along with my personal experience!
In this middle part, I’ll explain the flow from gathering to takeoff on the day of the balloon tour. As we’ll be viewing the sunrise from the air during the balloon flight, we gather before dawn. Make sure to get to bed early the night before and get plenty of rest.
Arriving at the base around 5 AM
On the day, we head to the balloon flight base at the designated time. The gathering time is around 5 AM. Since the departure time changes depending on the sunrise and wind conditions of the day, it’s necessary to contact Royal Balloon Oman the day before to confirm the gathering time.
Self-camping in Wahiba Sands the day before. We based ourselves on a nearby dune to avoid being late for the gathering on the day.
Also, make sure to check the meeting place as it changes daily. Usually, the meeting place is often a campsite near Bidiyah, such as Arabian Oryx Camp or Desert Night Camp.
The photo shows Arabian Oryx Camp. It’s equipped with restaurants and toilets, essentially a resort on the sand. It was on the front page of a newspaper I happened to see at a nearby coffee shop the day before.Early morning. Arrived at the meeting place, Arabian Oryx Camp.The balloon on standby, about to be inflated for the flight.
We arrived at the meeting place, Arabian Oryx Camp. By the way, most participants were staying at Arabian Oryx Camp, so users like us who came from outside were rare. If you’re uncomfortable with self-camping or worried about driving on the dark desert’s rough roads to the meeting place (in the worst case, you might overturn and become immobilized), I recommend staying at Arabian Oryx Camp from the start or using a tour company (which I’ll explain in the latter part).
We approach the staff wearing red caps with “Royal Balloon Oman” written on them and check in. During this time, we’re served coffee, so we can enjoy a cup while watching the balloon slowly inflate.
A break before the flight
With a loud sound, fire is applied and the deflated balloon gradually stands up. We’re about to embark on our journey in the sky with this balloon!
The balloon getting bigger and biggerFinally, the balloon is fully inflated and standing upright.
After completing the name check and paying by credit card or cash, it’s finally time to board. Up to about 12 passengers board the balloon one after another following the instructions. Once everyone is on board, the rules are explained. To fly safely, all passengers need to follow the rules, so listen carefully.
Following instructions, we board the balloon in order.The balloon’s basket is surprisingly sturdy and safe in construction.
Our pilot for this flight is a veteran balloon pilot from Mexico. He mentioned that he was in Turkey just last week, indicating that he’s a skilled pilot who flies balloons around the world year-round.
The pilot explaining the boarding rules.
He gives us a brief explanation of the rules. Roughly, the balloon follows the wind so the exact course is still unknown, everyone needs to crouch when preparing for landing, and we need to hold onto the rope at hand to brace for impact during landing – these are the main points.
We’re instructed to crouch and hold onto this rope firmly when landing.
Once the guidance is over, it’s finally time for takeoff! The flame is ignited, and with the staff’s signal, the balloon gently lifts off into the sky. Although there was a bit of anxiety, there was no big impact during takeoff, and the balloon basket was sturdier than expected, so once we were airborne, most of the fear disappeared. Our long-awaited journey in the sky finally begins!
Increasing the fire power, preparing for takeoff.With the calls from the staff and pilot, we take off!We’ve taken off! The Arabian Oryx Camp and takeoff base where we were just moments ago are now far below. We’re about to enjoy a relaxing one-hour flight.
How was it?
In this middle part of our Oman balloon flight experience report, I’ve introduced the flow of the day from gathering to takeoff. You might have various concerns when it comes to a balloon flight in an unfamiliar foreign country, but if you follow the pilot’s instructions, it’s safe and secure.
In the next “final part”, I’ll provide a detailed introduction about how we spent our time in the air and episodes after landing. This is where the real thrill of the balloon flight begins, so please be sure to check it out!
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