Paragliding in Pokhara: price, height, weight limit and safety
Take off from Sarangkot and fly over Phewa Lake, with a pilot.
A tandem paragliding flight in Pokhara costs NPR 8,500 per person with us, with the operator’s transfers, the pilot and the equipment included. You take off from Sarangkot at about 1,590 m, fly for 20 to 30 minutes over Phewa Lake with the Annapurnas behind you, and land by the lake, roughly 800 m lower. You need no experience: you are strapped to a tandem pilot who does the flying. Allow 3 to 5 hours in all, and come between October and April for the best weather.
How much paragliding costs in Pokhara
Our price for a standard tandem flight is NPR 8,500 per person. It includes the operator’s transfers from Lakeside, the pilot, the flight equipment and the flight itself. Photos and video are included only when your booking confirmation says so; longer flights, aerobatics and premium photo packages cost extra, and meals are not included.
The operator confirms the rate and the take-off time for your day before you pay. If you are travelling as a family or a group, tell us how many people are flying: every flyer has their own pilot. See the flight on our Things to do page.
What the flight is like, step by step
- Meet at the confirmed pickup point in Lakeside and ride up to the take-off field on Sarangkot with the operator, about 35 to 40 minutes.
- Your pilot fits the harness and helmet and gives a short briefing: how to run at take-off, how to sit in the air and what to do at landing.
- When the wind is right you run a few steps down the slope and the wing lifts you. Sometimes there is a wait: pilots launch one by one when the conditions are good.
- In the air the pilot looks for rising warm air and circles in it, so on a good day you climb above the hill before gliding out over the lake. Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and, on clear days, Dhaulagiri are in front of you; below are Phewa Lake, Lakeside and the rice fields of the valley.
- You land in a field by the lake, and the operator’s transport takes you back.
Our tip: If you want the mountains at their sharpest, ask for the earliest flight of the day. Haze builds as the day warms up, especially in spring.
How high and how long
| Paragliding in Pokhara | |
|---|---|
| Take-off | Sarangkot, about 1,590 m above sea level |
| Landing | A field by Phewa Lake, about 800 m above sea level |
| Standard flight | 20 to 30 minutes in the air |
| Longer flights | Ask us: the time depends on the operator and the day’s conditions |
| The whole outing | 3 to 5 hours with the drive up, the briefing and the wait for the right wind |
On a good day pilots climb in the thermals above the take-off before they head down, so the height above the valley can be more than the 800 m between the hill and the lake. Sarangkot has a reputation as one of the best places in the world to fly, because the warm valley air rises reliably against the hills.
Weight, age and who can fly
Every operator sets its own limits and checks them on the day. As a rough guide, many accept passengers up to about 90 to 100 kg; if you are heavier, ask before you book so the operator can find a pilot and a wing that suit you. Children can often fly if they fit the harness and a parent agrees; the operator decides. Tell us each flyer’s weight and the age of any child when you ask.
Paragliding is not a good idea if you are pregnant, have a heart condition, serious back or knee problems or epilepsy, or have had recent surgery. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.
Is paragliding in Pokhara safe?
It is an adventure sport, and nobody can honestly promise it is free of risk. Tandem flights are the everyday work of the operators at Sarangkot, and a few simple things make your flight safer:
- Book with a registered company, not a cheap offer on the street, and check that the price covers the pilot, the equipment and the transport.
- Listen to the briefing and do what the pilot says at take-off and landing.
- Accept the weather call: if the wind is wrong or a storm is building, the flight waits or moves to another time.
- Keep loose things such as hats, sunglasses and phones secured.
- Check that your travel insurance covers paragliding.
- Do not fly after a heavy night or if you feel unwell.
Best time to paraglide in Pokhara
Pilots fly from Sarangkot most of the year, but the dry season is best. October and November have the clearest mountain views. December and January are cool and clear, with gentler air. February to April are good flying months, with more haze in the afternoons. From May, storms build in the afternoons, and in the monsoon, June to September, many flying days are lost to rain and cloud.
Morning flights usually have the sharpest views; the middle of the day brings the strongest rising air and the longest flights. The operator sets the time slots. See the weather in Pokhara month by month.
What to wear and bring
- Closed shoes with a good grip: you run a few steps at take-off.
- Long trousers and a warm or windproof layer: it is cooler up in the air.
- Sunglasses with a strap, and sunscreen.
- A small bag only; leave big bags at the hotel.
Other ways to fly in Pokhara
For a bigger rush, the zipline down from Sarangkot is NPR 7,500 per person, and the bungee jump with lunch NPR 6,500 per person. The ultralight flight at dawn flies close to the mountains; its price is on request. Ask us to combine an activity with a car for the rest of the day.
How to book your flight
- Send the date and the flyersYour day, how many people, and each flyer’s weight, on WhatsApp.
- Get the time and priceWe check with the operator and reply with the pickup time and the price in writing.
- FlyWear shoes with grip and bring a warm layer. The pilot does the rest.
Ask on WhatsAppQuestions people ask
How much does paragliding cost in Pokhara?
With us, a standard tandem flight is NPR 8,500 per person, including the operator’s transfers, the pilot, the equipment and the flight. Photos and video are included only when your booking says so; longer flights and premium media cost extra.
Is the price different for Indian or Nepali citizens?
Our published price is NPR 8,500 per person. Operators sometimes have their own local rates, so ask us: we tell you the confirmed rate before you pay.
How long is the paragliding flight in Pokhara?
A standard tandem flight is 20 to 30 minutes in the air. With the pickup, the drive up, the briefing and the wait for the wind, plan 3 to 5 hours.
How high is paragliding in Pokhara?
You take off from Sarangkot at about 1,590 m and land by Phewa Lake at about 800 m. On a good day the pilot climbs above the take-off in rising air first.
What is the weight limit for paragliding in Pokhara?
Each operator sets its own limit. As a rough guide, many accept passengers up to about 90 to 100 kg. Tell us your weight when you ask, and we check with the operator.
Is paragliding in Pokhara safe?
It is an adventure sport with real risks, but tandem flights are routine for the operators here. Book with a registered company, follow the briefing and accept the pilot’s weather decisions.
Can I paraglide if I have never done it?
Yes. A tandem flight needs no experience: the pilot steers, and you only run a few steps at take-off and sit back.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The pilot and the operator decide when it is safe to fly. If the wind or the clouds are wrong, the flight waits or moves to another time, and we tell you the options.