Soar in a microlight plane over Pokhara to enjoy dramatic Himalayan vistas

Choosing to embark on an Ultralight aircraft flight in Pokhara is a simplistic, low-effort way to experience the beauty of the Himalayan mountain range.  Pokhara, the third-largest city of Nepal, is a popular tourist hub. International travelers flock here yearly to enjoy the easy access it provides for outdoor and mountaineering sports. Beyond flight tours, other popular excursions including boating, trekking, ziplining, and paragliding. 

Pokhara was initially established as part of a trade route that ran between China and India. Today, it’s a diverse, sprawling city filled with cultural museums and markets. Hinduism and Buddhism coexist peacefully, and a vibrant nightlife engages locals and visitors in Lakeside. Pokhara lies just a short 20-minute flight (or long 6-hour drive) from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.

Because Pokhara is the Nepalese gateway to the Himalayas, hiking treks leave here daily. If you long to explore nearby mountain ranges without dedicating weeks and hundreds of kilometers to a trek, Ultralight – Microlight flying Pokhara, Nepal is the way to go. This form of touring offers more control—and longer adventures—than paragliding. 

An Ultralight plane is a lightweight, two-seater vehicle. Its design resembles that of the early Wright brothers’ crafts. These planes can be either open-air or enclosed and can travel up to 150 kilometers per hour, although they average 80 kph during a tour. There are many companies that book tours with certified pilots out of Pokhara.

Flying in an Ultralight plane does come with several restrictions. As the name suggests, these tiny planes cannot bear much weight, so passengers must be under 110 kilograms to fly. Only one person may fly as a passenger at a time, making it great for individual excursions. Cameras are built-in to the planes, or flyers may bring a well-secured camera of their very own. No other luggage is allowed on the flights. That said, every touring company offers lockers to flyers as a way to safely store valuables within the airplane hangars.

When you choose to tour the Himalayan region, you’ll have a breadth of options at your fingertips. Flights reach altitudes of 3,000 meters and can last between 15 minutes and 90 minutes. The shorter flights allow visitors an aerial exploration of Pokhara and its surrounding valley. Terraced farmlands sweeping meadows will stretch below the wings of your Microlight aircraft. 

You’ll undoubtedly be treated to a flight over Phewa Lake as well. Multicolored boats sail on chilly waters, some of which carry visitors to a small island located in the middle of the Lake. A two-story pagoda building, the Tal Barahi Temple, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Saturdays bring many worshippers and tourists to the temple. 

For those adventurers who are looking for more, flights can extend outside of the Pokhara valley. Some of the tallest mountains in the world lie just beyond the city. Nearby is Mt. Machhepuchhre, also called Fishtail peak. Soar directly around this one-of-kind mountain structure as you grace the tops of alpine forests.

Further on lies Annapurna, the 10^th tallest peak in the world. It’s one of the most popular destinations for treks, second only to Everest. Instead of sharing challenging, chilly trails with thousands of other travelers, an Ultralight flight offers you a private experience.

The longest flights will encircle Dhaulagiri and Manaslu peaks, which are the seventh and eighth highest summits in the world, respectively. These skyscraping mountains exceed heights of 8,000 meters. Your plane will glide nimbly through the mountain air and bring you to dramatic vistas that few in the world have ever had a chance to see, all without setting foot out of your plane.

As you wing your way back among the eagles, hawks, and paragliders, you’ll pass over a handful of small villages. These more remote areas provide a glimpse into rural life in Nepal. Even from the air, it’s easy to see the whitewashed faces of these small houses. Colorful Buddhist prayer flags stretch through village streets and adorn pathways to temples and beyond. 

Every good thing must come to an end, so after your aerial tour, the plane will head back to Pokhara. Perhaps you’ll depart from the hangar satisfied, or maybe you’ll leave with a newfound inspiration to explore even more of this stunning region.