Paragliding in Pokhara (Cost and What to Expect 2024)
Thinking of paragliding in Pokhara, Nepal?
You’ve come to the right place! I went paragliding in Pokhara recently and it is such a fun experience. It was monsoon but it was my birthday so I wanted to do something memorable. The good thing is that paragliding is possible even during monsoon season (provided that the weather is good on the day of the flight).
Pokhara is the best place to go paragliding in Nepal and a regular 20-30 minute flight can cost as low as Rs. 4,000 (USD 30). The price includes hotel pick up and drop off, insurance, equipment, pilot, photos and videos.
The best time to go paragliding is between October-April, which is when the weather tends to be the best to see the Himalayas during the flight. It is also possible to paraglide during monsoon and in case the weather is bad on the day of your flight, it will be rescheduled to the next day.
So, here is everything you need to know about paragliding in Pokhara!
Best Time to Go Paragliding in Pokhara
The best time to go paragliding in Pokhara is from October to April. The weather is the best during this time for paragliding, plus the views should be clear to see the Himalayas.
It is also possible to go paragliding during monsoon (June-August) if weather is good. You can book the paragliding trip and if it rains, it will be postponed to the next day when then weather is better. The paragliding companies only start the trips if the weather is safe for paragliding.
Paragliding companies usually offer discounts during monsoon as it is low season with fewer tourists – so you could paraglide for a low cost at this time.
Quick Facts About Paragliding in Pokhara
Paragliding in Pokhara
Pokhara is one of the most popular spots for paragliding in Nepal and it is such a fun activity to do. The starting point for paragliding is from Sarangkot which is around 45 minutes drive from Pokhara.
After take off from Sarangkot, the paragliding used to take place above Fewa Lake. If you were just hanging out at Fewa Lake, you could see all the people paragliding.
However, recently a new international airport was built in Pokhara and the paragliding above Fewa Lake was too close to the air zone for planes. Thus, the paragliding had to be moved a bit further from Fewa Lake. When you paraglide now, you can still see Fewa Lake but you will not be flying directly above it.
In peak season, there are so many people doing paragliding that just one paragliding company can have around 100-150 customers per day. In low season (monsoon, winter), one company has less, around 5-10 guests per day.
Paragliding in Pokhara Views
If the weather is good and the skies are clear, you will also be able to see the Himalayas during paragliding. Otherwise, even if the Himalayas are covered by clouds, you will see the surrounding hills and Fewa Lake in Pokhara.
- October-April: Himalayas, Fewa Lake, hills
- May-September: Fewa lake, hills (most likely no views of Himalayas due to clouds)
Paragliding in Pokhara Duration
The whole paragliding experience takes around 3 hours starting from hotel pick up to hotel drop off at the end.
The minivan takes about 45 minutes from Pokhara to the starting point for paragliding in Sarangkot. There are two take off sites in Sarangkot and depending on the weather, you will take off from one of the sites.
The regular paragliding flight takes 20-30 minutes. Once you are in the air, you can decide if you would like to extend your flight to around 40 minutes or get your pilot to do acrobatics in the air.
The acrobatics in the air is like going in a spiral at the end of the flight. You can start your regular flight and then you can discuss with your pilot if you want to add the acrobatics in the end. If you start to feel dizzy during the flight, it is better to skip the acrobatics as you can get sick.
Paragliding Flight Duration:
- Regular 20-30 minutes flight
- Longer, 40 minutes flight: you can sign up to the regular 20-30 minutes flight and then decide during the flight if you want to extend it to 40 minutes. Additional costs around Rs. 4,000.
- Regular 20-30 minutes flight with acrobatics: costs additional Rs. 1,500
Booking Paragliding in Pokhara
There are many paragliding companies in Pokhara that you can choose from. Make sure to go with a reputable company and you can check on google maps the reviews each company has. It is good to go with companies that have high ratings by many customers.
The company I went with had paragliding pilots who have each been flying for at least 9-12 years. So when you select your paragliding company, you can also ask about the experience of the pilots to make sure you are flying with experienced pilots.
Paragliding in Pokhara Price
In 2024, the cost of paragliding in Pokhara have dropped to around Rs. 4,000-5,000 (USD 30-40) for a 25-30 minute flight.
It used to cost around Rs. 8,000 (USD 60) but some paragliding companies started to drop the price to get more customers and ultimately, all companies had to drop the price.
If you go paragliding in low seasons (monsoon, winter), the prices will be the cheapest as companies offer discounts. While, if you go paragliding in the peak tourist seasons (Autumn, Spring), the prices will be higher.
What’s included in the price: hotel pick up and drop, insurance, equipment, pilot, photos and videos.
Paragliding in Sarangkot
Sarangkot is not only popular for paragliding but also for the Annapurna Cable Car and watching the sunrise over the Himalayas. If you are going to stay in Sarangkot for a night to see the sunrise, and decide to go paragliding, you can ask at your hotel.
Most of the hotels in Sarangkot are also able to arrange paragliding directly from there. Most likely, the paragliding company would collect you in Sarangkot from your hotel and take you to the take off site with the other guests from Pokhara.
What to Wear for Paragliding
It is best to not pack too much when going paragliding. You can take a backpack but you will have to leave it in the car and get it back after you finish paragliding.
The best thing is to just go in a long-sleeved T-shirt or jacket (depending on the weather) and wear closed shoes. Your paragliding pilot can put some of your things in his backpack while flying but it can only be a few light items.
What to wear for paragliding:
- Closed shoes
- Long sleeved t-shirt or jacket (depending on the weather)
Paragliding in Pokhara Photos
The paragliding pilot has a GoPro camera and they take lots of photos and videos during the flight. The photos and videos are included in the price and you get around 70-80 photos and a couple of videos at the end of the flight.
Here are some photos from my paragliding experience in Pokhara:
Things to Do in Pokhara
Not sure about paragliding? Here are some of the best things to do in Pokhara:
- Boating + hike to the World Peace Pagoda
- Visiting the caves in Pokhara
- Chilling by Fewa Lake
- Sarangkot Sunrise
- Australian Camp
FAQs: Paragliding in Pokhara, Nepal
What is the cost of paragliding in Pokhara?
In 2024, the cost of paragliding in Pokhara have dropped to around Rs. 4,000 (USD 30) for a 25-30 minute flight.
It used to cost around Rs. 8,000 (USD 60) but some paragliding companies started to drop the price to get more customers and ultimately, all companies had to drop the price.
How safe is paragliding in Pokhara?
Paragliding in Pokhara is safe! There are many paragliding companies in Pokhara so you can check them out, check out their reviews on google and go with one that is a reputable company.
The company I went with had paragliding pilots that had 9-12 years of paragliding flying experience, so you can also ask about the experience of the pilots at the company.
Also, the paragliding only takes place in good weather and if the weather is not good, the companies and pilots will not fly as they follow the safety regulations. In case of bad weather, your paragliding will be postponed to the next day, or when the weather is good.
How high is the paragliding in Pokhara?
The paragliding starts from Sarangkot from around 1,650 meters above seas level.
What do you wear to paragliding in Pokhara?
It is best to not pack too much when going paragliding. You can take a backpack but you will have to leave it in the car and get it back after you finish paragliding.
The best thing is to just go in a long-sleeved T-shirt or jacket (depending on the weather) and wear closed shoes. Your paragliding pilot can put some of your things in his backpack while flying but it can only be a few light items.
Where is paragliding done in Nepal?
The most popular place for paragliding in Nepal is in Pokhara. There are many paragliding companies in Pokhara so you can check them out and go with one you feel comfortable flying with.
If you are in Kathmandu, they do paragliding from Chandragiri. If you want to go paragliding from Kathmandu, the best thing is to book one through a travel agency in Thamel.
Conclusion
Pokhara is the best place to go paragliding in Nepal and a regular 20-30 minute flight can cost as low as Rs. 4,000-5,000 (USD 30-40). The price includes hotel pick up and drop off, insurance, equipment, pilot, photos and videos.
The best time to go paragliding is between October-April, which is when the weather tends to be the best to see the Himalayas during the flight.
It is also possible to paraglide during monsoon and in case the weather is bad on the day of your flight, it will be rescheduled to the next day.
