Aerial Adventure in Nepal

Nepal, a landlocked country renowned for adventure, has splendid views hidden by rigid terrain. 

Fortunately, since 1950, tourists have been let into Nepal, and even before they land in Nepal, the splendor of the Himalayan range can be seen from the window of an airplane.  

Lukla is considered ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Airport’; traveling by air to remote destinations is both a risky and thrilling experience. 

These components can help filmmakers plan thrilling documentaries.  

As early as 1933, Everest peak, a destination for many mountain climbers was the location of a plane landing. There is even footage of the plane as it was such a big event. Much later, in 1991 two foreigners Chris Dewhirst and his team conducted an expedition to fly over Mount Everest- the first and only hot air balloonist to make the arduous journey. 

Hot air balloon tours started in November of 2018, in Pokhara, the tourism capital of Nepal. The hot air balloon is permitted to fly 5 times a day at a height of 500m above Pokhara city. The balloon gives a spectacular view of the Annapurna range, Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, Hiunchulu, Lamjung Himal, etc. 

The flight starts in Dhanus or Lauruk and finishes on the banks of the Mardi River. The balloons can be shared or even privately rented which can help them be used for shooting at an affordable rate. In addition, other flying techniques can be enjoyed in Pokhara.

Ultralight flight uses power gliders and has been used for sightseeing in Pokhara since 1996 and was the first in South Asia. 

Its advantage is it can fly near mountains and scenic lakes, and therefore a major tourist attraction. 

Ultralights can take off and land on dirt roads and can accommodate only two passenger

It operates between September to June and flights take place from sunrise to 11 am. And from 3 p.m. until sunset.

A 15-minute flight is used to have an experience of Phewa Lake, Sarangkot Hill, and travel a maximum height of 5,000 m. A 30-minute flight travels at 90 km/hr flies close to Fish Tail Mountain and attains a height of up to 12,000 ft. A 1 hr. flight covers the Annapurna range from 90km/hr to 130 km/hr. As getting a drone permit in Nepal can be tedious, ultralight flights can be used to improve footage for documentaries. 

Similarly, In 2016, Paratrike (Paramotor) Tandem Flying Club designed an extreme adventure on air that combined the flying feature of Ultra-light flying and Paragliding- commercially for the first time in Nepal. 

It is licensed to fly in Pokhara and Sauraha. It flies at 50 mph and achieves an altitude of 5000-7000 feet providing a view of the entire mountain range as well as mesmerizing views of Pokhara Valley. The aircraft can safely land even if the engine fails 

There is portable oxygen, and a two-way radio set in each aircraft to communicate between pilot and passenger.

The passenger sits in front unlike the ultra-light- there is only one seat- it is yet another thrilling experience to catch the majestic natural beauty of Nepal.