Paragliding is a relatively new adventure sport
in Nepal, and little information is available in tourist guidebooks.
Paragliding in this Himalayan country can be a truly wonderful and
fulfilling experience for the adventure-seekers. You can experience
unparalleled scenic grandeur as you share airspace with Himalayan
griffin vultures, eagles, kites, while floating over villages, monasteries,
temples lakes and jungles, with a fantastic view of the majestic
Himalayas.
The last three years have seen the activity flourish in Pokhara,
and it now is an internationally recognized destination for free-flight
enthusiasts.
Geography and seasons
Gliding is a weather dependent sport and the flying season in nepal
commences from November through February, the best months being
November and December. By virtue of its latitude and monsoonal climate,
the tree line in Nepal is at am incredible 3,900 m above sea level.
With conditions milder than constant atmospherics. The topography
and climate of nepal also make in an ideal destination for all levels
of pilots sub tropical conditions provide plenty of thermals and
combined with the long valleys common in nepal, they produce perfect
‘cloud streets’ ideal foe Para gliders, inviting them
to fly along this “ sky highway”. The local microclimate,
controlled by the numerous lakes in the valley, is unique, which
makes it even better for the glider
The Himalayan is made up of a series of lesser mountains increasing
in size, before the greater Himalaya, with its majestic snow –
clad peaks, dominate the sky. The range that is offered for paragliding
is the Mahabharat range, south of these giants. Most flights are
out of Pokhara, the beautiful lakeside town at the foot of the Annapurna
Himal.
Deals
There are various deals for the paragliding enthusiast as well as
those checking this sport out for the first time. There is a three-day
introductory course for beginners, as well as tandem flights (where
you fly with an instructor) for the inexperienced or less brave.
At 6000 ft, you sit back in your seat as your qualified pilot takes
you on an unforgettable journey. The take off point for these flights
is Sarankot (1592 m), which offers prime views of Phewa Tal and
the mountains at sunrise and sunset (provided the skies are clear),
the landing is by the lake.
Alternatively, experienced gliders can strike a package deal, which
includes being picked up a Kathmandu airport on arrival and spending
a night in the capital before heading for Pokhara. At Pokhara, after
a few introductory flights, you could take off on a six-day Para-trek
to the incredibly beautiful west. While on the Para trek, the flyers
will be lodged or camped in villagers, with local Sherpa guides
helping with equipment or in cooking.
Accept and accommodation
The bus trip from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes 7-8 hours and most
departures are in the early hours of the morning. Public transport
buses cost around $2, while the transport buses charge $2.5 and
the minibuses cost $3. Besides there are many daily Kathmandu-Pokhara
flights, which take about half an hour, costing $61. The flight
also gives you some seated on the right side of the plane from Kathmandu
to Pokhara, and vice versa.
Pokhara offers a wide variety of places to stay and for all kinds
of budgets. There are roughly four accommodation areas around the
bus park and bazaar, by the airport, Damside (pardi) and lakeside
(Baidam). While the bazaar area offers some cheap loading, it is
noisy and far from pleasant. The hotels by the airport are more
expensive, but they are a long way from lakeside. It is best to
check out places around lakeside, where all the action happens,
and Damside, which has some good mid-range hotels and great view.
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