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About Paragliding in Nepal
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.
FAQs
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.
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