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.
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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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