Pokhara, Nepal: A Paradise for Outdoor Enthusiasts

It’s good to experience paragliding at least once In Pokhara. The best way to experience both excitement and scenery is to dive down from the top of the mountain to get a bird’s eyeview of the entire Phewa Lake and the city.

Pokhara is home to nearly 20 paragliding clubs. All take-off zones are located on Sarangkot

mountain, a 20-minute drive from Pokhara. Landing zones are on the north side of Phewa Lake. One complete paragliding trip takes either 30 minutes or 60 minutes.

The best time for paragliding is around 11:30, when ascending air currents are sufficient to sustain your flying. We recommend booking tickets for this time period.

Many easy biking routes around Pokhara are available. It’s easy to explore tranquil villages

nearby with mountain bikes. Most routes start at Lakeside, Pokhara. Classic options include the "Lakeside → Old Town” round-trip route and the 40km "Pokhara → Sarangkot" round-trip route.

The "Pokhara → Sarangkot” round-trip route is especially worthwhile. This route climbs along the ridge to “Sarangkot," a spot with one of the best views in the Nepalese Himalayas. The route’s return trip features an exciting downhill path that stretches for 6 km.

Rich with hotels, the Lakeside is also dotted with bike rental shops where you can easily rent

a bike. It is best to rent a standard-sized mountain bike for long routes. Be sure to check whether the gears of your rental are adequately lubricated and inspect the wear and tear of its tires.

The Ultra-Light Flight in Pokhara, unlike paragliding, is powered by engines, enabling passengers to tour the interior of the snowy mountain range. Aircraft will end up flying to an altitude of about 4,000 m, offering passengers a clear view of the snowy mountains.

Passengers choosing the Ultra-Light Flight usually take off from Pokhara Airport and fly over

the Sarangkot mountain to the place where tourists can enjoy close-up views of the beauty

of sacred Machhapuchhre. The rides end by orbiting Phewa Lake, before the aircraft land at the airport.

Such rides are only available at the "Avia Club Nepal” company in Pokhara. There are four types of Ultra-Light Flights: one lasting for 15 minutes, one for 30 minutes, one for 60 minutes,and one for 90 minutes. We recommend that you buy either the 60-minute or the 90-minutepackage, as they allow you to reach the interior of the Himalayas, which boasts the most stunning scenery.

The ACT (Annapurna Circuit Trek) is one of world’s trekking routes that enjoys the most beautiful scenery. It rises from 820 m to 5,400 m. The change in elevation brings about diverse landscapes including forests, canyons, fields, lakes, and snow-capped mountains.

The entire route usually takes more than 14 days, but there is no need to worry about supplies as every 5-10 km along the route stands a village that affords accommodations. The biggest challenge of this route appears when trekkers cross Thorong La at an altitude of more than5,000 m. At this altitude many people begin to experience acute altitude sickness.

The Poon Hill Trek is the easiest short trekking route in Nepal. Along the way, you will see snowy mountains in the sunlight, stars, the Milky Way, and even yoga performances. The most

bewitching scene throughout this route is the sunset observed from the peak of Poon Hill at

an altitude of 3,210 m.

It takes about 4 days to finish this trek. Along the route, supply stations stand at distances 1-2 hours walk apart, and there is no shortage of hotels and restaurants to provide comfort and accommodation. Hence this route is not a problem even for those without trekking experience.

The Annapurna Base Camp trek, or the ABC for short, winds deep into the center of Annapurna, traversing below an array of awe-inspiring, snow-capped mountains that reach altitudes of 7,000-8,000 m. You also get to see ancient Nepalese villages in which you can appreciate local customs.

The Annapurna Base Camp is moderately difficult, the lowest point being at an altitude of 1,070 m and the highest (at the Annapurna Base Camp) 4,130 m. Most people experience altitude sickness when at above 4,000 m, but they can relieve their symptoms by promptly going down to a lower altitude. Since most parts of this route are paved with stone steps which can cause knee damage, we recommend that you bring trekking poles and knee braces.

Do not worry about insufficient supplies as supporting facilities along the route are complete and you will come across a village or hostel every 2-3 hours of walking.