Pokhara has long been the gateway to Annapurnas but in recent years the lakes, rivers, and mountains surrounding Pokhara have become one of the world's best playgrounds for adventure sports lovers and adrenaline junkies. Top 10 things to do Adventure in Pokhara.
1. PARAGLIDING
Imagine soaring over lakes, rivers, villages, and terraced mountains gliding on the mighty Annapurna, it's quite easy to forget paragliding is an extreme sport. Pokhara's climate provides a full year season and is one of the top places in the world for paragliding. There are more than 30 companies in Lakeside operating daily tandem flights with their professional pilots, both foreign and Nepali.
You can bring a compact camare,however its security and safety is your responsibility.For the best shots of you flying in front of the Annapurna or above Phewa Tal,pilots can capture high quality photos and movies with professional equipment while you relax and enjoy flight,available on a CD US$20(fixed price).Most flights begin 10am,11:30am,1:30pm. Times and flights can very slightly,depending on the weather and turnaround. All operators offer both 20 & 25 minute flights the latter cross country flight;For thrill seekers, some companies offer special tendem acrobatic flights and some pilots will offer to do gentle acrobatics on regular flights.Tandem flights are very safe, comfortable and can be done by people of all ages!Classes are available for begginers from some operators .It is important you listen to your pilot before and during the flight.Helmets are provided for passengers and make sure to wear protective shoes that are secured along with all items so they don't fall off!
2.SWIMMING
To cool off on a hat day its best to go for a dip in a swimming pool,Pokhara has a good quality public pool,Penguine Pool.Many of the upmaket hotels and resorts have privet swimming pools where non-guests can swim and relax poolside for a fee, Tempal Tree Resort,Waterfront Hotel,Fish Tail Lodge,Hotel Barahi,The Shangri-La Village,the Castle Resort,the Pavilions or the Fulbari Resort.
At Begnas Tal you can swim from the shore at the east ans west ends where there are several small guest houses close to the lake.WARNING: Lake can be as deep as the mountain are high,snares such as silt,submerged trees abd rocks are hidden below the surface.Rivers also have snares with the added force of water flow and are exremely dangerous;swimming in rapids can bounce you into rocks with the under-tow dragging and trapping you under large boulders."Listen to your guide and locals, follow their advice and swim only where directed with an observer present."
3.BOATING
The calm waters of Phewa Tal are the perfect place to relax and marvel at the reflection of the Annapurnas.You can hire a variety of craft from colorful wooden boats,paddle boats and sail boats that are available on the lake edge near Barahi Chowk, at the north end of lakeside ,Hallan Chowk,most boats are available for rent with/without a boatman.try the trip with a short trek up to the place Pagoda through the lush Raniban forest where there are beautiful views of the mountains and Phewa Tal along the way.You can also find these services on Begnas Tal.
4.RAFTING
Pokhara is closest to the best lake,rivers and canyons Nepal has to offer.The Upper Seti River is located just 30 minutes from Lakeside and offers an exciting half day whitewater advaenture with views of the Annapurna Mountaina. There are a variety of other 2 to 3 day trips ranging in excitement level from gentle enough for families to extreme enough for adrenaline junkies.Multi-day trips inculde remote riverside camping and provide a unique way to explore Nepal. It's even possible to raft your way to the Chitwan National Park.Some operators also offer incredibly remote 9 to 11 day river expenditions.
Nepal's famous "Kayaking Clinic"originatrd in Pokhara. You can learn to whitewater kayak right here in Nepal while enjoying a genuline river expendition. Most operators start with 1 day learning the basics on Phew Lake followed by 3 days on the lower Seti River where each day the river becomes more challenging.Experienced kayakers can join commercial rafting trips for convenience of a group environment ,or can simply rent kayaks from one of the whitewater operators in town and enjoy a totally independent adventure.Kayak Phewa Tal.Kayaks rentals are available down the alley to the Lake near Mike's Restaurant and Paradise Restaurant.Enjoy padding around Phewa Lake and get the best view of the mountais. Hourly half day and full day rentals are reasonable and offer a great way to explore Lakeside.
6.STAND UP PADDLE
A fantastic way to acquire new skills;discover a new sport and pastime while enjoying Pokhara's gorgoeous rivers and lakes.Stand Up Paddling is mostly an 'on the water' sport and can be performed all year round. The rider stands on the board and uses the paddle to control it,enjoying the unique perpective of standing on the water.This easy family activity is fun for everyone and only takes 1o minutes to learn. There are several companies around Lakeside and Begnas Tal where you can hire the boards.
7.CANYONING
Journey through intimate passage of contorted rock and powerful blasts of water as specilaized guides lead you climbing,abseiling,jumping ,scrambling,sliding and swimming down steep canyon walls to priatine pools below!Unique Canyoning Zone is inspired by breathtaking scenery of untouched jungle, karst rock formations and multiple cascading waterfalls dropping one after the other into refreshing pools and rainbow gardens.This is truly one of Nepal's best kept secrets.
One of Pokhara's extreme sports is the bungee jump and swing located at the bottom of the Zip-Line.It's the first tower bungee jump in Nepal and has a 70m vertical drop and 3 second free fall.The Zip-Line is a huge 1.8km long has a 2000ft vertical drop and takes you to 120km/hr all in the space of two minutes long enough to catch a glimpse of the Himalayas right in front of you.
There are a few companies that operate ultralight flights arounds Pokhara and the Annapurnas from Pokhara Airport.Short flights take you above Phewa Tal and World Peace Pagoda for a spectacular bird's eye view but you'll need a longer flight to get close ansd personal with Mt Fistail and the Annapurna ranges.
There are two golf coures and a driving range in Pokhara Himalayan Golf coures,13km east of lakeside, is a world class golf coures with 18 holes in a stunning ,unique location. Yeti Golf coures is a 9 hole coures on the grounds of the five star Fulbari Resort.
10.MOUNTAIN BIKING
Appart from cruiseing around lakeside you can hire a god quality mountain bike and be a little more adventurous;peddle up one of the surrounding hills such as Sarangkot or to the Peace Pagoda.Orr brave the Prithivi Highway and cycle to Begnas Tal where you can cool off with a swim in the lake.There are several different routes up and around Sarangkot,the main sealed road starts 200m on the left after Baglung Bus Park but you will have to share the narrow,windy road with speeking jeeps,buses and motorbikes.More adventurous routes on 4WD tracks pass through local villages and strat from the south side of Sarangkot alongside Phewa Tal.Extreme mountain bike adventures are offered by some specialist companies which can involed several day trips such as riding feom Mustang down to Pokhara or combining a trek with a ride.
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