An ultralight flight from Pokhara airport is the closest thing to flying yourself. The aircraft is a two-seat open microlight with the passenger sitting behind the pilot under a clear canopy, and the view is unobstructed in every direction — nothing like looking through an airliner window.
Three flight lengths are offered. The 15-minute circuit covers Phewa Lake and the Pokhara valley; the 30-minute flight climbs to the Sarangkot ridge and along the foothills; and the 60-minute mountain flight goes north towards Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna wall, reaching around 3,500 m with the peaks close enough to see individual glaciers.
The Flight at a Glance
| Standard flight | 30 minutes over the valley and the Sarangkot ridge |
| Other options | 15-minute circuit, or a 60-minute mountain flight |
| Maximum height | Around 3,500 m on the mountain flight |
| Departs | Pokhara airport |
| Difficulty | Easy — no experience required, no walking |
| Best season | September to November, February to April |
| Aircraft | Two-seat open microlight, passenger behind the pilot |
| Price | From USD 165 per person |
We run it as a half-day activity with the 30-minute flight as standard. The 60-minute mountain flight is an upgrade. For the other way to fly over Pokhara, see paragliding.
Which Flight to Take
| Flight | What you see | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | Phewa Lake, the lakeside, the Pokhara valley floor | A taster, or if you are nervous about the aircraft |
| 30 minutes (standard) | The above plus the Sarangkot ridge and the foothills, with the Annapurnas on the horizon | Most people. The best value of the three |
| 60 minutes (upgrade) | North towards Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna wall, up to around 3,500 m, glaciers visible | Photographers, and anyone who came to Pokhara for the mountains |
If the weather is clear and you can afford the upgrade, the 60-minute flight is a different experience rather than a longer one — it is the only way short of a helicopter to be level with the Annapurna foothills.
What It Is Actually Like
You sit behind the pilot in an open two-seat aircraft under a clear canopy, wearing a helmet with an intercom so you can talk to them throughout. There is a pre-flight safety briefing, and no previous experience of any kind is needed.
The microlight flies low and slow compared with anything else you will have been in, which is the point. You can see the lake bottom, individual houses, farmers in the terraces, and on the longer flights the glacier lines on Machhapuchhre.
Flights are morning activities. Thermals and haze build through the day, and the microlight is a light aircraft — an afternoon flight is both bumpier and worse for views.
What It Costs
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 traveller | USD 230 |
| 2 to 4 | USD 205 |
| 5 to 7 | USD 190 |
| 8 to 10 | USD 180 |
| 11 to 14 | USD 170 |
| 15 and over | USD 165 |
The 60-minute mountain flight and the photo and video package are priced separately.
What Is Included
- A 30-minute ultralight flight over the Pokhara valley and the Sarangkot ridge.
- Private vehicle transfer between your Pokhara hotel and Pokhara airport.
- Airport and civil aviation charges.
- A licensed ultralight pilot with commercial certification.
- Helmet with intercom to the pilot.
- A pre-flight safety briefing.
- All government taxes and service charges.
What Is Not Included
- Travel insurance covering adventure activities — check the wording, as many policies exclude ultralight flight or list it as a paid extra.
- Meals not specified in the itinerary.
- The photo and video package, shot on mounted cameras.
- Upgrade to the 60-minute mountain flight.
- Luxury vehicle upgrade — private transport is included as standard.
- Drinks, snacks, laundry, phone calls and souvenirs.
- Tips for the pilot and driver.
- Any additional cost caused by flight delays, weather or other circumstances beyond our control.
Practicalities
- Allow half a day including hotel pickup, transfer, briefing, kitting up, and waiting for your slot. The flight itself is short; the day is not.
- You cannot take your phone or camera in the air — loose items are a hazard. The operator shoots photo and video on mounted cameras, sold separately.
- Dress warmly. It is an open cockpit and it is cold at height, even on a warm Pokhara morning.
- Combine it with something. A morning ultralight and an afternoon zipline or a lakeside evening is a common pairing.
- Nobody is pushed. If you change your mind before boarding, most operators refund a portion of the fee less fixed costs already incurred.
See our adventure activities guide for what else is available in the same few days.
