Enchanting Nepal 

XC Paragliding - Club Pilot

Level 2/Level 3 pilot

This really is the trip of a lifetime, set in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas.

We have flown here for many years and the conditions have always been outstanding at this time of year.

Whether you are low airtime or a seasoned XC pilot there is something for everyone on offer here.

The Flying

Our main site in Pokhara features a long ridge with many thermalling opportunities to get high.  Our aim is to go XC of course, but for those pilots with low airtime the thermals are generally smooth and wide and beginners to thermalling will enjoy the reliable conditions while learning how to core and get high. 

Our guides will fly with you and direct you on the radio to go the distance.  There are some great cross country routes that are achievable.  In particular, a classic 25 km triangle from Pokhara can be made, which includes soaring up the ''Green Wall'', a dense forest in the foothills of the Himalaya.  We will be concentrating on progressing your climbs and transitions to gain maximum distance, but also chilling out and taking in the breathtaking scenery, flying with the multitude of birds of prey that we share the air with.  

The Location 

Nepal has got to be on any pilot's wish list of paragliding destinations and rightly so.  The Pokhara area offers some of the best flying opportunities anywhere in the world. 

We will be based next to the lake in Pokhara, which is a short domestic flight away from Kathmandu.  The weather in Nepal in February is generally pleasantly warm in the day, but often quite cold at night. This usually leads to good thermal conditions in the day time with light winds.

Our primary flying site is the famous Sarangkot ridge right above Fewa lake with its reliable house thermal, though we will also use other sites during the trip.

Take offs and Landings

The take-offs are grassy and straight forward, but as with any mountain flying trip pilots will need to be capable of forward and reverse launching. 

There are several designated landing areas along the lake shore within reach of the main ridge.  Additionally there are plenty of clear unobstructed areas to touch down when you go XC.

The recovery from the bottom landing areas next to the lake are mostly on rough, but tarmac roads, so retrieves are straightforward.

Accommodation

We will be based in a modest, but clean and bright hotel on Pokhara lakeside.  This is one of the best hotels in the area to ensure that you have a good night's sleep and are comfortable when not flying. We will be staying on a bed and breakfast basis.

In the evenings there are many good restaurants to explore along lakeside (most have free Wifi for customers) and right outside the hotel is the hustle and bustle of the local shops and street vendors with the exotic sights, sounds and smells of Nepal!

Our transport will be provided to shuttle us up to takeoff and also some retrieves will be provided.  Additionally we may hire 4x4 jeeps to take us to different sites during our stay.

We also include a mid trip visit to another flying area and usually stay for one night.  This opens up another area of paragliding to us which is usually a highlight of the trip!

Getting there

There are a few airlines servicing Kathmandu, including Quatar, Oman Air and Emirates.  We generally fly out of Heathrow or Manchester with a stop off at Abu Dhabi or Doha.  We will meet you at Kathmandhu airport and the first night we will stay in the city centre, before travelling to Pokhara by internal flight the next day.  When we return to Kathmandu at the end of the trip it will be on a short internal flight. We will then spend a night in Kathmandu before flying home.

Please Note  The Nepal trip will run from Sat 01 - Sat 15 Feb 2020.  You can book any international flights you like, as long as you are in Kathmandu on the evening of Sat 01 Feb 20.  We will fly to Pokhara on internal flights on Sunday 02 Feb 20.  That way you can shop around for flights that suit you.  Hotel accommodation on Sat 01 Feb 20 is included in the trip price, but you can arrive on the Friday, at your own expense.  On the way back we will fly to Kathmandu from Pokhara on Fri 14 Feb 20 and stop over that night.  That night is also included in the trip price.  You can fly home any time on Sat 15 Feb 20, or even stay longer at your own expense.  

Sight seeing

You will have the opportunity to look around Kathmandu on the way to Pokhara and also on the return leg.

The Monkey Temple overlooking the city is a must.

On the last couple of occasions we have hired motorbikes and visited one of the many temples around Pokhara.

There are lots of interesting places to see in the Pokhara area and non-flying partners have been easily occupied on previous trips. 

Price

This trip costs £1,395 for two weeks, which includes:

All transfers to and from the airports in Nepal

Accommodation in Kathmandu

Internal return flights to/from Pokhara

Accommodation on a B&B basis in Pokhara

Transport to take off x 2 per day in Pokhara

Transport inc 4x4s

Accommodation at the alternate flying site for one night

Daily debriefs

XC guiding throughout the week

Post Flight entertainment

We normally eat out on Lakeside during the evenings.  A stroll from our hotel features an abundance of restaurants and bars catering for the thriving trekking industry.

You will find yourself in among the hustle and bustle of daily Nepalese life around the town, as well as mixing with tourists from all over the world, sampling the cafes and bars.

The food is generally excellent and not too pricey. Beers are a little more expensive as they are heavily taxed, but this never seems to be an issue!