Thanks Stella for taking the time to get back with your further thoughts and advice. Unfortunately I was in Bagan in November with JY and don't plan going back soon (so many other places) but I'm sure many others will read this and find it helpful. 

I got speaking to a chap at the hotel pool in Bagan. He was doing the balloon flight the following morning - his tour I recall was a bit longer than ours so probably had the time. What I do remember was thinking that sounds pricey when I asked and he told me the cost. A lot more than the flight to see Everest described above. Demand and supply.

Angie

Hi Angie

Just an addendum to my previous message. Its a bit tricky to book the ballon flight over Bagan in advance because you dont know whether you will have the time to do it. Usually it is in the early morning before the JY trip leaves. In fact we saw balloons floating over our hotel while we were having breakfast. Timing wise I could have done it with no difficulty. However as you know small things can change during the course of the itinerary and Naing was helpful in trying to see if I could go. Another Tour Guide may decide to alter the timings of the trip and by doing so make it impossible. As I said, leave it until you arrive and then you may not get a place. Catch 22

Best wishes

Stella

The flight sounds wonderful pgtip.   Plenty of you certainly took up the opportunity.   Seems like an easy thing to arrange.

Like Bob, out of curiosity, I would be interested to hear how things are on the ground in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Angie

Hi Angie

Yes you definitely should get your Balloon flight over Bagan booked in advance.  I wanted to do this on the 27th Feb tour but left booking until I got there when all three companies offering the ride were booked up on the early morning when I could have done it.

I did a balloon ride of the Valley of the Kings which was spectacular and well worth the money.

Must add my thanks to Branwen and Naing.  This is most certainly the top of my list of most interesting holidays and no I didnt get sick!

Best wishes

Stella

Hi many thanks for this information - I'm delighted that Yvette facilitated the Everest flight, which is what I would hope from JY!  This means that I may well do the Nepal tour over the next couple of years!

Delighted you had such a great time, I think that price is a fair one for what is involved and sounds well worth it.

Cheers,

Bob

Hi I have just returned from the trip to Nepal. Whilst we were there our tour manager put us in touch with the agent from Yeti Airlines , who came to the hotel and took bookings from 12 of the 17 in the group. The cost was £173 , including transport to and from the hotel, window seat, glass of champagne, and it was agreed by all that it was well worth the money. The flight is obviously weather dependent, so there is a possibility that it can be cancelled at the last minute, but we had a clear morning and saw wonderful views of the Himalayas and of course Everest.

Yip Bob what you say is 100% my thinking. Happy to arrange myself and take the consequences (hopefully a good view to remember) but with a little pointing in the right direction from local guide with a bit of own research too. Ideally I would like something kind of fixed up before I went as I'm not sure how booked up the flights get.

Anyway I'm worrying about something a bit off - I keep lining up Nepal ... most recently bumped by Iran tour. Hopefully I'll get there soon.

Angie

Very, very true Angie! Once JY make it clear that some excursions such as the Everest flight, balloon ride etc. are completely at our own risk and we must ensure our insurance covers them, then I don't see why they can't let us do them - and, vitally, leave some time in the itinerary for us to actually organise this.  I would hope, in such circumstances, the local guide or another rep from their company could organise the booking for us.  I've had TMs on other tours that have actually done this, whilst making it clear that these "extras" were not JY sanctioned tours and at our own risk.

Cheers,

Bob

I accept there is a degree of risk of flying to see Everest but it can't be any more dangerous than trying to cross the road in a busy Asian city!

Thanks Mildred, much appreciated!

Best wishes,

Bob