$2.6 Million Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Mt. Everest – The Experience of a Lifetime

Climbing Mount Everest is an item on a lot of adventure seeker’s lists, but flying over Mount Everest in a hot air balloon was only done once before, and the experience for the second attempt is now being offered for sale.

Chris Dewhirst who’s team were the first and only people to ascend higher than 30,000 feet and fly over Mount Everest in a Hot Air balloon back in 1991.

National Geographic documented the whole trip in a documentary called “Ballooning Over Everest”.

IfOnly, a website offering extraordinary experiences is now selling two seats on the balloon ride for $5,215,000 or $2,607,500 a person, however if you wish to buy a single seat the price rises up to $4,800,000.

A feat like ballooning over Mount Everest isn’t as simple as just hopping int o a balloon and taking off as you can imagine, the description warns that “although Chris can train most people with decent physical and mental faculties to complete this journey, the experience is understandably only appropriate for the most intrepid of thrill-seekers. You will need to be in moderate physical shape and able to make a considerable commitment to the project, as a trip of this nature requires substantial fitness and skills training. However, with enough enthusiasm, determination, and preparation, you and Chris will conquer one of Earth’s greatest obstacles. If you’re up to the challenge, then gear up and strap in.”

The whole experience requires you to commit up to a month for physical and skills training, as well as waiting around at base for an opportune window to make the attempt.

The experience only includes an attempt and does not guarantee the successful completion of the journey, but if  the journey is postponed due to weather or does not succeed in crossing Everest, you can schedule a later attempt for an additional expense.

Feel like you’re up for the task?

You can reserve the experience here: http://www.ifonly.com/adventure/product/2397/balloon-expedition-over-mt-everest

A BBC documentary on the first attempt can be seen in full on YouTube here: