Tandem paragliding in Pokhara: everything before you step off

Thirty minutes over Phewa Lake from one of the best flying sites on earth — and the one place in the world where you can fly alongside a trained bird of prey.

By Dawa Gurung · 6 min read · Updated 1 August 2026

Pokhara is one of the finest paragliding sites in the world, and that is not local pride. A ridge 800 m above a lake, facing south, with reliable thermals almost every day of the dry season and an enormous safe landing area at the bottom. Pilots move here from Europe for the winter season.

For a visitor that means a tandem flight here is smoother, longer and more spectacular than almost anywhere you could do one at home, usually for less money. Here is what actually happens, and the questions people ask us at the office the day before.

What the flight is like

You drive up to the launch field at Sarangkot, get clipped into a harness in front of your pilot, and walk — not jump — a few steps down a grassy slope until the wing lifts and the ground stops being underneath you. There is no drop and no stomach lurch. This surprises people who expected something like a bungee.

Then twenty to thirty minutes of spiralling up in thermals over the ridge, with Phewa Lake below and, on a clear day, Dhaulagiri through Annapurna to Manaslu along the northern horizon. Often you share a thermal with eagles and vultures, circling at the same height a few metres away. Landing is on a flat field by the lake, usually a gentle run-out or a sit-down. The whole thing from hotel pickup to being back in Lakeside is about three hours.

Parahawking, if you want the strange one

Pokhara is the birthplace of parahawking — flying tandem while trained birds of prey, usually Egyptian vultures or kites, come to your glove in mid-air for food and guide you toward thermals.

It started as a conservation project connected to the catastrophic collapse of South Asian vulture populations caused by the veterinary drug diclofenac, and it funds and publicises that work.

It costs considerably more than a standard tandem and runs a limited season with limited slots. If you have any interest in birds it is one of the more remarkable things you can do anywhere, and we would book it well ahead.

Timing, weather and who can fly

The flying window is roughly 10 am to 1 pm when thermals are working. Earlier flights are smoother and shorter; late morning gives the most lift and the longest air time. Cross-country flights for experienced passengers go further and last longer.

October to April is the reliable season. Monsoon flying is limited and cancellations are common — if flying is the reason you came, do not leave it to your last morning. Weight limits are typically around 100 kg with a lower bound for small children, varying by operator and conditions. Pregnancy, recent surgery, back and neck injuries are all worth declaring; a decent operator will ask.

Choosing an operator

Check that the pilot holds a current licence and that the company carries valid insurance. Both are normal here and both should be answerable in one sentence without hedging.

Be suspicious of the cheapest price on the street. The gap between a well-run operator and a bargain one is maintenance, pilot hours and equipment age — none of which you can inspect from the ground.

Agree the photo and video price before you launch, not after you land. GoPro footage on a pole is standard and the pricing should be too.

Walk it with us

Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.

Sarangkot Tandem Paragliding30–40 min flightRs 11,900 · See dates →Sarangkot Sunrise HikeHalf day · 1,600 mRs 4,700 · See dates →Ultralight Flight to the Peaks15–60 min optionsRs 17,300 · See dates →

Questions we get asked

Is it safe?

Tandem paragliding with a licensed pilot in good conditions is a mature, well-regulated activity here, and Pokhara's site is unusually forgiving. It is not risk-free — it is aviation. Fly with a properly licensed operator and do not shop purely on price.

I am scared of heights. Can I still do it?

Very likely yes. There is no edge to step off and no falling sensation — you run a few paces and you are flying. People who cannot look over a balcony do this and love it. Motion sensitivity is the thing that actually causes trouble, not height.

How long am I in the air?

Twenty to thirty minutes on a standard tandem, longer on a cross-country flight. Air time depends on the day's thermals as much as on what you paid.

Can children fly?

Usually from around five years old with a parent's consent, subject to weight and conditions. Tell us ages when you book and we will confirm with the operator rather than guess.

What should I wear?

Closed shoes with grip — you will run a few steps at take-off and on landing. Long sleeves; it is colder at altitude than on the ground. Sunglasses that will not blow off, and nothing loose in your pockets.