Tourism Info Nepal

Nepal to Host First International Balloon Festival in Pokhara

Nepal to Host First International Balloon Festival in Pokhara

The International Balloon Festival is set to begin on December 24th in Nepal, marking a new height for adventure tourism in the country. The festival will take place in the Pame region of Pokhara, aiming to establish it as a key milestone for Nepal’s adventure tourism industry. Organized by Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd., the event is designed to help bring the tourism sector back to pre-pandemic levels, playing an active role in the recovery. The first edition of the festival will last for nine days, featuring nearly two dozen hot air balloons that will soar over the skies of Pokhara, Nepal’s tourism capital.

The festival aims to promote Pokhara and Nepal’s tourism internationally while advancing adventure tourism. It is expected to attract both domestic and foreign tourists, contributing to Nepal’s economy and helping revitalize the tourism sector. Representing various countries, including the United States, Spain, Lithuania, Thailand, and Vietnam, the festival will offer breathtaking views of the snow-capped Annapurna mountain range, Machapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri, along with the scenic Pokhara Valley during 40-minute balloon flights. Sunrise and sunset views will also be major attractions for visitors.

In addition to the flights, the festival will feature evening fireworks displays, balloon races, and camping. Every evening, live musical performances by top Nepali artists, such as Dipak Bajracharya & Team, Raju Lama & Mongolian Heart, Elina Chauhan, and others, will entertain the crowds. The festival is managed by Charismatic Digital Solutions with promotional support from the Nepal Tourism Board, the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Pokhara Metropolitan City, and the Pokhara Tourism Board. Pokhara Tourism Council is also a co-organizer of the event, with renowned actors Rajesh Hamal and Priyanka Karki serving as brand ambassadors.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, which started in the United States in 1972, inspired the event in Nepal. This annual festival in New Mexico features 500 balloons and attracts over a million visitors each year. Other notable balloon festivals include the Bristol International Balloon Festival in England, the Sanga International Balloon Festival in Japan, the Mondial Air Balloon Event in France, and the Cappadocia International Balloon Festival in Turkey. Balloon Nepal, founded in 2015, has been offering commercial balloon flights in Pokhara since 2017 and also participated in an international balloon festival in Thailand earlier this year.

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