Paragliding in Nepal

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Volunteer work and travel program in Nepal

Nepal is a country full of rich and diverse cultures and is home to a number of different tribal groups; who celebrate their own festivals, practice different styles of dance, art and language. From the elephant and tiger inhabited jungles of the south, to the rolling foothills of the Himalayas leading to the home of six of the highest mountains in the world in the north; including Mt Everest, Nepal’s scenery is as diverse and stunning as its culture and people.

Nepal can be visited all year round, with the weather typically being divided into 4 seasons.

Winter = December - February

Spring = March - June

Summer = July – August

Autumn = September - November

Nepal is one of the worlds top destinations for trekking, rafting and an array of other outdoor activities that many volunteers may want to experience. The best times of year to visit Nepal to take part in these activities is from Autumn through to Spring.

Alliance Nepal offers home stay and volunteer programs for students, adults and over 60’s; generally anyone with an interest in learning about and experiencing Nepali culture. The home stay and volunteer programs are flexible and catered to your interests. We offer placements in both rural and urban areas with families experienced in having foreign volunteers stay with them.

Whether your interests are research based or you wish to have a holiday with a purpose Alliance Nepal is here to help you make the most of your time and have a fantastic trip to Nepal.

No specific skills are required to volunteer or take part in a cultural home stay, though you should be;

· Flexible and patient, as you will be in a different culture, with those who are used to working in different ways.

· Sensitive and respectful to cultural differences.

· Understanding of prevailing work ethics; your ideas on changes are always useful and helpful to the development process, but don’t impose your ideas and values as right; it is about cultural exchange.

· Able to use your initiative and work independently.

· Enthusiastic and open to learning and trying new things.

· Able to work as a team.

Orientation
If you are arriving to Kathmandu by air then you will be picked up from the airport, alternatively if you are arriving overland you will be picked up from the bus station. You will spend one night in Kathmandu where you will meet with a member of Alliance Nepal staff who will brief you on code of conduct whilst volunteering or taking part in the cultural home stay. They will also discuss with you your volunteer project and placement. The following day you will travel to the lakeside city of Pokhara where you will continue with your pre placement orientation.

Your orientation will include;

· 3 days of sightseeing

· 2 language lessons

· 1 cultural lessons

Dates and Duration

· The program starts on the first and sixteenth of each month.

· You can volunteer from 2 weeks to a maximum of 5 months in a calendar year.

Accommodation

Your accommodation will be very basic as Nepal is a poor country that is developing slowly. If taking part in a home stay you will have a room within the family home; depending on the number of volunteers this may be shared. Some houses many not have electricity and they will either use solar power or candles. Houses will generally have an outside toilet, with no shower, so you will have to shower outside. If staying in a hotel for the duration of your volunteer placement then you will be in a comfortable room with a shared toilet and shower room.

Food

During your orientation in Pokhara there will be a wide range of restaurants to choose from; including choice of Nepali, Indian, Chinese, Italian and many more. During the length of your placement you will be provided with traditional Nepali food; Daal (lentil soup) Bhat (rice) with vegetable and occasionally eggs or meat if you are not vegetarian. If the family has buffalos or cows then you may also get non-pasteurized milk. Daal Bhat is eaten twice a day; in the morning at 8.30pm and in the evening around 7.30pm. In the afternoon you will be provided with a snack such as puffed corn, beaten rice, noodles or other.

www.volunteerworkinnepal.org

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Paragliding Courses in Nepal

We offer full time courses over a 9 day period. Our training hills cover most wind directions and we will do our best to provide you with the opportunity to complete your course in the given amount of time. Paragliding is weather dependent and it is possible that your course will need to be rescheduled to the next available day

What we provided

Student pilots are provided with expert instruction and the use of all training equipment, gliders, harness, helmet and radios and receive practical and theory lessons, a student pilot workbook, the use of reading material, charts and documentation, Operation Manuals and educational DVD movies.

Flying Courses:
In Nepal the flying is made more special by the continuous presence of numerous species of eagle, vulture, falcon, hawk and kite. They all love to join us, equally fascinated by us as we are by them. Often flying within feet of the glider!

Mostly there are 3 stages to becoming a pilot. We follow the Para-Pro syllabus; this is set out by the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) the controlling body for all air sports worldwide. All the instructors are highly experienced and form the backbone of a highly professional team.

The main flying courses are: Beginners, Thermalling and Cross-country.

Beginner Course

Course: 5 days
Price: €500

All Transport and equipment provided. All flights are under 2 – way radio guidance.

Course structure
• Introduction to the equipment, its transport, care and maintenance
• Pre-flight safety checks
• Glider inflations and deflations
• Takeoff and landing procedures
• Short flights below 3m
• Theory of flight, meteorology and air law
• Short flights 30m
• Left and right turns
• Speed control
• Medium flights below 200m
• 180 degree turns
• Big ears descent technique
• Theory exam

Thermalling course

Course: 3 days
Price: £ 350
All transport and radios provided.
This course is an introduction to thermal flying with the objective of improving the pilot’s knowledge and skills needed to make the most of the lift on any given day

Day 1
• Meet in the office for equipment and radio check.
• After assessing the conditions we head out to the days flying site.
• Theory lesson on the hill in understanding thermal sources, triggers and dynamics. This involves watching lots of birds of prey!
• Briefing for the days flying.
• The instructor will guide you with 2-way radio from the hill in finding, catching and staying in thermals.
• Depending on how long your flight is we try for 2 flights a day.

Day 2
• Meet in the office for equipment and radio check.
• After assessing the conditions we head out to the days flying site.
• Following on from the previous day we try and keep you in the air as long as possible. The longer you are up the more you are learning.

Day 3
• We try and take you to a different site each day to improve you knowledge and assessment of varying conditions.
• The last day of the course we try and get you to follow the instructor around the sky. We have found that it is a lot easier to get to cloud base with someone else in the thermal with you, talking you through the process.
• At the end of each day is a debriefing session, where everyone can sit down and talk about the days flying

Cross-country Course

Course: 3 days
Price: £ 350

All transport and radios provided.

This follows on from the thermalling course, as pilots master the skills of ridge soaring and turn their attention to thermal flying, the focus leads to cross country flight. The challenge and adventure of flying in unfamiliar surroundings is unbeatable. However, flying in the mountains requires a more advanced flying technique. This 3 day course aims to give an introduction to mountain flying with the objective of looking at the necessary skills and decisions that give us the best chance of thermalling away from the familiar environment of the ridge to the freedom of the open skies.
Each day will follow a similar pattern. The morning briefing is designed to give as much information to the pilot as possible to put them in the right frame of mind for XC flying. Conditons, thermal strength, xc route, retrieve etc.
Flying XC is just a case of linking 2 thermals together, but it requires the symbolic cutting of ties from the hill. This course deals not only with the practice but also the mental side of XC flying.
Each day the instructor will launch first and wait in the house thermal for the students to catch up. Then it is follow my leader down the ridge and beyond. Radio guidance will help in your decision-making and you will be amazed at how quickly you progress.
The debriefing session each day is vital to improving the next day’s performance. The decisions you made, why and when etc all need to be discussed.
The Sarangkot ridge is a perfect location for this our XC course. 10Km long with many options and easy retrieves, it provides the ideal conditions and unforgettable views, so don’t forget the camera!

Tags: Paragliding courses
Posted in Paragliding courses

Nepal Paragliding in Nepal

Tandem flight

Tandem flying involves a pilot flying with a passenger. Both have separate harnesses that are attached to each other and the wing. Paragliding harnesses are built for comfort and safety, they feel more like an armchair. Once launched, the passenger just sits back, relaxes and takes in the epic scenery. Even taking pictures is not a problem. Due to the portable nature and easy launch characteristics of a paraglider (they fit into a rucksack) We can take them anywhere and fly them from many mountains in Nepal.
First time? No worries, experience is not required! Tandem flying is when a certified pilot flies with a passenger. Both pilot and passenger sit in harnesses that are attached to each other and the wing. A paragliding harness is designed for safety and comfort, and is like sitting in a comfy chair. After an easy take-off, the passenger sits back and relaxes…enjoying the epic scenery and breathing the mountain air.

Bring with you strong shoes, and a windproof jacket. A calm scenic float, or an acrobatic tumbling routine, your choice…just tell the pilot your preference.
Flights last from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on weather conditions, and you !

Discovery tandem flight – 30 minutes, 70 €

Cross country tandem flight

Cross-country flight is for those people who want to experience more about paragliding – to fly into unchartered territory, with only the birds and the wind for company.
Cross country flight is recommended for people who have already flown a tandem flight!

We take off from Sarangkot (1500m) and dependant upon the weather conditions we can cross the lake, or many of the other unspoiled valleys in the area, following the Seti, or perhaps the Mardi River, reaching altitudes of between 2500m and 3400m before returning to Pokhara by air, or perhaps by bus or taxi!!

One of the best experiences of the Himalayas – everyone should try it once in their lives!!!

Cross Country Tandem flight – 1 hour, 100 €

www.sarangkotparagliding.com

Acrobatic Tandam Flight

Paragliding in Nepal with reasonal Price

Tandem flight

Discovery tandem flight – 30 minutes, 70 €

Cross country tandem flight

One of the best experiences of the Himalayas – everyone should try it once in their lives!!!

Cross Country Tandem flight – 1 hour, 100 €

Acrobatic Tandam Flight

Sarangkot Paragliding Company

Sarangkot Paragliding (P). Ltd. was established in 2007 and is registered at The Company Registrar’s office with The Nepalese Government. Sarangkot Paragliding is owned and operated by Nepalese nationals and certified by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
Our goal is to offer a professional tandem paragliding service, as well as training of new pilots, to promote paragliding as a major adventure activity in Nepal.

The main office is located at Gothadi Sarangkot-8 on Sarangkot Mountain, the branch office is at Khahare Lakeside, on the main street in Lakeside, Pokhara.

Sarangkot Paragliding’s team consists of Nepalese management and office staff and Nepalese and international pilots, each internationally certified.

Our company is insured by a third party insurance from Himalayan General Insurance Company.

Sarangkot Paragliding provides tandem flights from our designated launch site on Sarangkot Mountain ( 1500 meters above sea level ) with the landing zones at the Lakeside, with complimentary pick-ups/drop-offs at passenger’s location.

We are committed to providing the highest quality service, with no compromise to the safety of our clients.

www.sarangkotparagliding.com

Paragliding In Pokhara

Paragliding in Nepal can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure seeker. A trip will take you over some of the best scenery on earth, as you share airspace with Himalayan griffin vultures, eagles, kites and float over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungle, with a fantastic view of the majestic Himalaya .

Gliding is a weather dependent sports and the flying season in Nepal commences from November through February, the best months being November and December. The takes off point for these flights is Sarankot (1592m.), which also offers prime views of Fewa lake and mountains at sunrise and sunset (provided the skies are clear) and the landing is by the Fewa lake. Observing glory of Annapurna range and beautiful landscape around Pokhara valley, virgin Mt; Fishtail (Machhapuchhre), Lamjung Himal, Annapaurna Himal, Himchuli, Fewa Lake, Rice field, Rivers and settlements are below gives you thrills with a great photographic opportunity. Fly once in Pokhara to make your dream come true.
No previous experience is required as qualified pilots provide a short briefing before launching .

You’ll get memories to last a lifetime in 30 to 45 minute flight. For those who want to find out what paragliding is all about but cannot commit to 2 days of instruction, we offer tandem flights. During the flight pilot will explain what he/she is doing and allow you some hands-on control of the glider.

Paragliding Programs:
In the morning, after breakfast drive to Sarankot (1592m) Paragliding spot.

After arrival on the spot, briefing about flying by expert& professional pilot and fly.
About an hour of exiting flight, during the flight you have breathe taking panorama views of Annapurna Range, beautiful Mt. Fish Tail, Annapurna South, Himchuli, Annapurna II, III, IV, Lamjung Himal, Mt. Manashlu and great Mt. Dhaulagiri togethere with landscape panorama and Fewa Lake.
After landing transfer to hotel and rest or join the further program according to your itinerary.
This exiting short flight trip can be done after or before the trekking when you have rest day in Pokhara. For detail please make an inquiry to us or book this tandem flight now.
Itinerary:
Days 01: Flight or drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu – O/N at hotel.
Days 02: Hiking to Sarangkot (1590m) – O/N at hotel.
Days 03: Paragliding tour – O/N at hotel in Pokhara.
Days 04: Sightseeing in Pokhara city.
Days 05: Drive or fly back to Kathmandu

For Please for further information, and latest trip price. Paragliding in trip price.

www.sarangkotparagliding.org