Pokhara
Pokhara, the second largest city of Nepal is one of the most popular tourist destination. The great Himalayan ranges, lakes, lush green vegetation, mysterious caves and temples, monastery, etc. are some of the major attractions of the city. It is equally popular for outdoor sports including the most relaxed boating and to the extreme ones like rafting, canoying, paragliding and bungee jumping.
The “Jewel of Midwest” is simply put as a heaven in earth and is a favourite of tourists from round the globe. The valley overwhelms one with its amazing scenic beauty and exciting spots and offers the best travelling experience in Nepal. Strolling around the lakeside market, cycling, spending happy hours in local bars or enjoying serenity watching sun rising and setting while sitting back, relaxing by the bank of Fewa Lake makes Pokhara valley a perfect destination to spend one’s vacation.
Pokhara Valley is a gateway to the Annapurna trekking zone. Most of the hikers and trekkers expedite making Pokhara as their first stop before entering to some serious walking through the rusty trails of Himalayas all the way to Ghandruk or Annapurna.
A short excursion to feel the calm waters of Begnas and Rupa Lake, experiencing the sublimity of Davis Waterfall and hiking to Sarangkot and World Peace Pagoda is highly recommended for the visitors. A quick information on the various adventure sports available in Pokhara are provided as under;
Paragliding
Paragliding in the Himalayan country like Nepal can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure seekers. The experienced pilots may take you to tandem flights or let you have a solo through fully certified paragliding courses.
One can see through the scenic grandeur floating over the villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungles, majestic Himalayas sharing the airspace with Eagles and Kites. There are 19 paragliding companies operating commercial tandem fights in Pokhara and they all have fixed price which is same regardless of the companies you choose.
Standard Flight (30 minutes)
Cross-country (40-60 minutes)
GoPro footage (5 minutes video, 30 stills)
In case of solo flights, one should be a certified pilot and get the flying permit from the civil aviation office, Pokhara. The permit is granted upon verifying the copies of documents like passports, visa, insurance proof, paragliding license and a passport size photograph. The permit costs rupees 4,520 ($45) which is valid till 15 days and can be renewed upon the expiration.
The safety is always first priority and paragliding in busy intersection is wouldn’t be a very wise choice. Your chute and the large lake underneath are for safety of course, but the sudden changes in wind can be unpredictable and one should brace themselves strongly. Make sure to choose the company with insurance coverage with good reputation.
The standard paragliding flight takes off from Sarangkot, floats over Sarangkot and head towards Pokhara before spiraling acrobatics (optional) and then descent to Fewa Lake next to Lakeside, around Pame area.
Three flights take off every day at 10:30, 12:00 and 14:00 respectively. The best option is to choose your timing considering the weather conditions. The sun needs to have been out for long enough to heat the earth and create the thermals necessary for lift. The best time to fly is during afternoon flights. The peak season for bookings are during fall i.e, September-November and February/ March. However, if the sky is clear monsoon also gives an amazing view because of the lush vegetation and thundering rivers.
Ultralight Aircraft Flight
Ultralight is a very light, two seater aircraft without window. Ultralight flights fly you up in the air, all for fun! You will observe the magnificent Pokhara valley and these aircrafts reach so close to the towering mountains that you can literally feel the proximity of the mountains. For those who wish to fly like a bird, high up to the mountains, this adventure sport is a must.
The flights from Pokhara airport begins from September through June from 11:00 to 15:00 every day. Several packages are offered and one can uniquely experience the feeling of stretching their wings in each of these services;
- Fly For Fun (Open Aircraft Only)
Duration: 15 minutes
Places Covered: Sarangkot, Fewa Lake, Peace Stupa, Power House, Seti River and many more
Price:
- Glory of Mt. Fishtail (Open and closed aircraft)
Duration: 30 minutes flight
Places Covered: Mt. Fishtail Foothills, Naudanda Hills, Sarangkot Circle and many more
- Mountain Sky Trek (Open and closed aircraft)
Duration: 60 minutes
Places Covered: Panoramic view of Annapurna range, Mt. Fishtail foothills and many more
- In Heart of Himalaya
Duration: 90 minutes flight
Places Covered: Flying inside the Annapurna circle and from Manaslu to Dhaulagiri Mt. Range
Zip Flyer
Gear up for the most exciting adventure. Zip flyer is not just another Zipline but the most awesome experience that before this, one had not even known that they could have. This is surely pushing your adrenaline to the maximum and set your spirits to thrills and excitement.
The zipline consists of a trolley mounted on a steel cable of 1.8 Km. The ride descends 2000 vertical feet at an angle of 56% at speed of over 90 miles per hour. This is one of the most extreme zipline ride giving you the sense of utter madness and freedom.
Safety is the first priority and the whole system is designed with most advanced technology, ensuring the comfort and safety of riders. The duration of ride is 2.5 hours.
Bungee Jumping
Adventure in Pokhara has been added with an introduction of bungee jumping in the list. It is Nepal’s first and only tower bungee. The spot of bungee jumping is located in Hemja, a nearby suburb in the northern part of Pokhara, and offers a spellbound view of the Himalayas, mountains and rivers.
The 70 metres, vertical drop for 3 second is insanely thrilling experience and goes on with the saying, “look, jump, breathe, repeat”. The safety standards are kept very high with adopting the latest technology and highest quality bungee cords. Further, insurance coverage is also assured. The jumpers are well oriented on techniques and safety issues before they run through.
Our Pokhara Tour Packages can be found as below :
