Nepal is known for its scenic treks, tropical national parks with rare megafauna, as well as its warm hospitality and a delectable diverse cuisine. For the more adventurous and just plain curious out there, Nepal has something more to offer: adventure sports.
While it may seem daunting for some, adventure sports are certainly an experience of a lifetime and something you simply cannot miss. To make things easier for you to pick your next adventure, we compare three adventure sports: bungee jumping, paragliding, and zip lining to see which is most suited for you so you can add it to your to-do list.
Paragliding:
Paragliding, as the name suggests, means you will be soaring across the skies with the help of a paraglider wing or a canopy. Don’t worry, unless you have a special license for solo gliding, you will be accompanied by an experienced pilot complete with your own video camera and selfie stick. The idea is to run and launch yourself in the skies and ride on thermal currents (warm air that rises up towards the sky) much like eagles and you will be up close and personal with them too! The entire flight takes around 20-25 minutes depending on the air currents and your comfort level of course. Once you’re up in the skies, the initial adrenaline rush wears off and you feel relaxed looking down on villages, Fewa lake (should you do it in Pokhara), and the ever majestic Himalayas. You will also see other paragliders around you making it a colorful ride. For the more daring at heart, the pilot can also make the flight more exciting by flying at different angles and even somersaulting. Paragliding in Pokhara is a personal favorite as it combines amazing views of the lake, mountains, and nearby villages with the sensation of flight. What more does one need?
If you feel like paragliding is something right up your alley, below are two options you can consider:
Kathmandu:
Where? Godavari, Lalitpur and Jarsing
Pauwa, Kathmandu
When? Early October to the beginning
of May
Pokhara:
Where? Lakeside, Pokhara
When? All year round, depending on
weather conditions
Bungee jumping:
Bungee jumping is all the rage in
Nepal, not only with tourists and trekkers but with locals as well. The
thrill of jumping down a canyon or a ravine serves as a perfect adrenaline kick
that stays with you for a while. The process is quite simple, you are harnessed
in with special care and expertise, and well, made to jump onward to the valley
or ravine below. The first few seconds of freefall make for an interesting
sensation but once you are in the air, you are free to move around and truly
experience what it feels like to traverse through air. Nepal offers different
types and lengths of bungee jumping, some are shorter as the one offered in
HighGround in Pokhara (70 meters) if you want to take it slow for your first
time jumping. One the other hand, others are a much deeper dive into river
ravines like the one offered by The Last Resort (170 meters). However, for the
most adventurous at heart, Kushma is opening the world’s second highest bungee
jump (the highest being one in Macau Tower, China), with a height of a whopping
228 meters. If you want to push yourself and are a bungee jumping pro, this
would be one you would be holding out for as it opens for adventure this April.
Whichever height you decide to soar from, rest assured bungee jumping is quite
different from paragliding or ziplining as you play a much active role being
swung upside down on a harness. Needless to say, it will be quite an experience
whether you are free falling, trying out different poses in the air, or just
enjoying the wind in your hair.
Try out bungee jumping in these
locations and join a growing list of adventure sport aficionados:
Pokhara:
Where? Lakeside, Pokhara
When? All year round, depending on weather conditions
Bhotekoshi:
Where? Bhotekoshi, Sindupalchok
When? All year round, depending on
weather conditions
Kushma:
Where? Kushma, Gandaki
When? This bungee jump is slated to open on the 12th of April, 2020
Ziplining:
Last but definitely not the least, we have ziplining. This activity is one
where you are either seated or if you are fearless enough, laid down on a swing
like structure and made to traverse across hills on a cable. Zip lining is fun
because unlike paragliding, you are on your own, and unlike bungee jumping, you
can see the landscape better. The one in HighGround in Pokhara, named the
ZipFlyer, calls itself the ‘tallest, longest and the steepest zipline in the
world’ with a incline of 56 degrees, length of 1800 meters, and a vertical drop
of 600 meters. This zipline lets you see the Himalayan panorama and as the
adrenaline rush wears off in this minute and a half trip, you can enjoy the
views both below and above. On the other hand, the one in Dhulikhel offers you
a ‘Superman Zipline’ wherein you are laid down on a harnessed mat and traverse
across the hill. This one has a higher adrenaline rush but a much shorter time
span however; it is worth trying and is situated in Dhulikhel for a quick
weekend adventure. Either way, ziplining is a family friendly adventure which
can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to bring a little zest in their lives. If
you are someone who wants to try it out, below are some options to do just
that:
Dhulikhel:
Where? Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchowk
When? All year round, depending on weather conditions
Pokhara:
Where? Lakeside, Pokhara
When? All year round, depending on weather conditions
Whatever you decide, we know you will not go wrong. Of course, if these are tried and tested activities, there are many more adventure sports to consider such as skydiving in the Pokhara region as well as near Everest (where you can actually land at the base camp of Ama Dablam!) which usually is open from October to November every year. For our more grounded readers, there is mountain biking across different terrains in Nepal particularly the alpine deserts of Mustang. Other honorable mentions are white water rafting, canyoning, and rock climbing.
All these adventure sports serve something different and be assured they will definitely unleash the adventurer in you.
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