Experience
unparalleled scenic grandeur
as
you share air space with
the Himalayas.......
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.
BEST TIME TO FLY
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 an incredible
3,900 m above sea level. With conditions milder
than summer alpine, these are excellent and
constant atmospherics.
The topography and climate of
Nepal also make it an ideal destination for
all levels of pilots- subtropical conditions
provide plenty of thermals and combined with
the long valleys common in Nepal, they produce
perfect 'cloud streets' ideal for paragliders,
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 98/99 season saw 88 out
of 90 days flyable, while the 99/00 season
went one better, when we were in the air 89
days out of 90. It would be hard to find anywhere
else with such friendly and constant conditions.
The best months for flying are
November, December 
and
January. Cloud base varies between 2000m and
2700m. Come February the extremely short and
hardly noticeable winter is over and the ground
is very dry, the air hazy. Gone are the mild
conditions of the previous 3 months. By March
and April there is a mountain wind, coming
off the big peaks and some days causes strong
valley winds. Indeed you can windsurf in April
on Phewa Tal, the biggest lake in the Pokhara
valley. The heavy air is just waiting for
the monsoon and the intermittent storms in
April and May are only a forerunner for the
spectacular break in the weather come early
June.
WHERE DO
WE FLY
The main area for flying in
Nepal is the Annapurna region, more specifically
the Pokhara valley. This lakeside town is
Nepal's second "city", nestled at
the foot of the Annapurna Himal, the views
commanded from here, of 3 of the worlds 8000m
peaks, are unsurpassed. At an altitude of
800m ASL the subtropical climate means that,
year round, it is short and T-shirt weather.
The micro-climate of the valley makes it an
ideal area for flying, with far more constant
conditions than the Kathmandu valley 150 km
east.
There
are several sites around Phew Tal (the lake)
but the most accessible is Sarangkot (1500m
ASL). A view point 700m above Pokhara, it
is unique in that it has a road running to
the top. A short walk brings you to the only
purpose built take off in the country. Cut
out of the slope is a 45m by 45m clearing.
With regular cycles providing easy reverse
launches, you could not ask for a more picturesque
site. With the lake 2000 ft below, the mountains
behind, and the unlimited potential for XC
and out and returns, this has quickly become
the main site for the area, and many pilots
have based themselves in Pokhara for the season,
flying from this mountain alone.
There are an abundance of other
sites around the valley but all need to be
walked up. With names such as Dikie Danda,
Devi Falls, Poomdi and Matepani, all can be
connected by air from Sarangkot.
Different types of flying 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.
