As a planned city surrounding a man-made lake, Putrajaya is truly a scenic place to explore. I’ve toured this administrative center, 25 km south of Kuala Lumpur, by bicycle and cruise boat before. It was a rewarding experience seeing the mosques, monuments and government buildings all lit up at night. But visiting Skyrides Festivals Park at Precinct 2, near the Alaf Monument, brought the Putrajaya experience to greater heights – literally! – with its Skyrides Balloon. This is the first and largest tethered helium balloon ride in Malaysia!
Unlike a free-flying hot air balloon, the Skyrides helium balloon is secured to the ground by cables, allowing only a vertical ascent of up to 500 feet above the ground. The passengers are suspended inside a cylindrical, doughnut-shaped enclosure that ensures a 360-degree view of the surroundings. One could walk around the enclosure to behold different vantage points of Putrajaya. What spectacular views! From the balloon’s highest point, we could see the entire Putrajaya Lake and surrounding city, including famous landmarks like the Putra Mosque, Palace of Justice, Seri Wawasan Bridge, Seri Saujana Bridge and the shuttle-looking Alaf Baru Monument. On the clearest days, the skyline of Kuala Lumpur can be seen in the horizon, however, it was blocked by distant haze during our ride. While the ascent to the top can be nerve-wracking when the balloon slightly sways in sudden gusts of wind, the amazing bird’s eye views of the city was well worth the thrill and suspense.
Skyrides Festivals Park is a wonderful getaway for the entire family. Besides the balloon ride, there are other facilities and activities you can enjoy like the SkyWarrior obstacle course, SkyKids playground, and SkyCruise boat cruise, to name a few of the most popular.
Regular ticket prices for the Skyrides Balloon are MYR 68 for adults and MYR 60 for children below 12 years old. Find the latest news about Skyrides Festivals Park on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
Contact Details
Skyrides Festivals Park
Address: Jalan P2M, Precint 2 (next to Alaf Monument) 62100 Putrajaya, Malaysia
Contact Number: +60 14 9699482
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday – 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM; Friday to Saturday – 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM and Sunday – 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
This blog post was made possible through Kembara Cuti Cuti 1Malaysia Putrajaya 2015, a media trip held last October 29 to 31, 2015 in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The event was organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and media coordinator, Gaya Travel Magazine.
