Paragliding in Pokhara: What First-Timers Should Know

Stable weather, a high launch above a lake and a wall of Himalayan peaks for scenery have made Pokhara a magnet for paraglider pilots. For visitors with no experience at all, a tandem flight with a professional pilot is an accessible way to see the valley from the air. Here is what the day involves.

How a tandem flight works

You book with a company in Lakeside, usually the day before. At the agreed time a jeep takes you and a group of other passengers up to the launch area on the Sarangkot ridge, a drive of about thirty to forty minutes.

At launch, your pilot fits you with a harness and helmet and clips you in front of them. The briefing is short: when told, walk, then run down the slope and keep running until your feet leave the ground. Do not sit down early, and do not stop. Within a few steps the wing lifts and you are airborne, seated comfortably in the harness.

The pilot then works rising columns of warm air to gain height, circling alongside other gliders and often a few vultures and kites using the same lift. You fly out over forest and terraces, with the lake below and the mountains to the north, before descending to a landing field beside the water at the northern end of the lake. Landing is gentle; you stand up as the pilot flares the wing.

Flight options

Operators typically sell two or three versions:

• A standard flight of roughly twenty to thirty minutes in the air.

• A longer cross-country flight of forty-five minutes to an hour, climbing higher and ranging further along the ridge.

• Acrobatic add-ons, where the pilot performs spirals and wing-overs near the end. These are optional, and you can ask for a calm flight instead.

Photos and video shot by the pilot on an action camera are usually an extra charge, handed over on a memory card or by transfer afterwards.

Choosing an operator

Tandem pilots must be licensed, and reputable companies are members of the national paragliding association. When comparing:

1. Ask about the pilot's experience and licence.

2. Check that the price includes transport, insurance and permit fees.

3. Look at the condition of the harnesses and helmets.

4. Be wary of unusually cheap offers from street touts.

5. Read recent reviews, focusing on comments about safety and professionalism rather than photographs.

A good operator will cancel or postpone if conditions are poor. That is a sign of quality, so leave a spare day in your schedule.

When to fly

The main season runs from October to April. Autumn brings the clearest mountain views. In late winter and spring, stronger thermals allow higher and longer flights, though the air is hazier.

Within a day, there are usually several launch slots. Morning flights tend to be smoother with gentler lift and suit nervous flyers and those prone to motion sickness. Midday flights have stronger thermals and more height. During the monsoon, flying is limited and often suspended because of rain and cloud.

Who can fly

Most healthy people can. Operators set a weight range, commonly from around twenty kilograms to about a hundred or a little more, and may weigh you. Children can fly with parental consent. You should not fly if you are pregnant, have a serious heart or back condition, or have had recent surgery. If you are uncertain, ask a doctor first and tell the company in advance.

What to wear and bring

• Closed shoes with good grip, laced firmly. No sandals.

• Long trousers and a light jacket; it is cooler at height.

• Sunglasses, secured with a strap if possible.

• Nothing loose in open pockets. Leave your phone zipped away unless it is tethered.

Eat lightly beforehand. If you start to feel queasy in the air, tell your pilot at once; they can fly straight and level and land sooner.

Feeling nervous

It is common to be anxious at launch and completely relaxed thirty seconds later. The sensation is of sitting in a quiet chair in the sky, not of falling. There is no stomach-drop as on a roller coaster. If heights worry you, look at the horizon and the mountains to begin with, not straight down.

Is it worth it?

A tandem flight is one of the more expensive single activities in Pokhara, and it is over quickly. Against that, there are very few places where a complete beginner can drift past eagles with an eight-thousand-metre mountain range filling the view. Choose a clear morning and a careful operator, and it is money well spent.