Activities
Adventure activities in Nepal
Nepal is not just trekking: you can paraglide facing the Annapurnas, raft Himalayan rivers and bungee jump over a gorge. Where, how much, in which season, and how to choose a reliable operator. Indicative prices checked in October 2026 with operators and agencies: they vary by agency, duration and nationality (Nepalis and Indians pay less). No sponsored links or commission.
At a glance
| Activity | Where | Indicative price | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tandem paragliding | Pokhara | ≈ 8,500 NPR (≈ €49), 20 to 30 min | October to June |
| Ultralight flight | Pokhara | ≈ 95 to 160 USD (≈ €85 to €145), 15 min | October to May |
| Everest mountain flight | Kathmandu | ≈ 180 to 275 USD (≈ €160 to €245) | All year, clearer skies October to April |
| One-day rafting | Trishuli, between Kathmandu and Pokhara | ≈ 40 to 75 USD (≈ €36 to €67) | October to December, March to May |
| Bungee jumping | Bhote Koshi (160 m), Pokhara (Hemja) | ≈ 50 to 130 USD (≈ €45 to €115) | Outside the monsoon |
| Giant zipline | Pokhara (Sarangkot) | ≈ 65 to 80 USD (≈ €58 to €71) | All year, weather permitting |
| Safari | Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park | ≈ 1,500 to 6,000 NPR (≈ €9 to €35), plus park entry | October to April (Bardia: until May) |
Flights and river trips are cancelled in bad weather or high water: keep a spare day in Pokhara.
In the air
Pokhara
Tandem paragliding
≈ 8,500 NPR (≈ €49)
Pokhara's great classic: 20 to 30 minutes with a pilot above Phewa Lake, facing the Annapurnas. Since Pokhara International Airport opened, take-off is from Toripani on the Sarangkot ridge, with landing at the far end of the lake (Khapaudi). Longer flight (40 to 60 min): ≈ 13,500 NPR (≈ €78). Photos and video cost extra: ≈ 2,000 to 3,000 NPR (≈ €12 to €17).
- Season
- October to June, best October to April
- Time
- half a day, transfer included
Pokhara
Ultralight flight
≈ 95 to 160 USD (≈ €85 to €145)
A small two-seater ultralight with a pilot: 15 minutes takes you over the lake and the Peace Pagoda; from 30 minutes, for ≈ 170 to 240 USD (≈ €150 to €215), you get close to Machapuchare. One hour: ≈ 270 to 350 USD (≈ €240 to €310). Weight limit around 100 kg.
- Season
- October to May, early morning
Kathmandu
Everest mountain flight
≈ 180 to 275 USD (≈ €160 to €245)
One hour in an airliner along the Himalayan range to Everest, with a quick visit to the cockpit. Dawn departure from Kathmandu airport (Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines…). It is the way to see Everest without trekking, but book it early in your stay: if it is cloudy, the flight is often moved to the next day.
- Season
- All year; clearest skies October to April
Pokhara
Hot-air balloon
≈ 200 USD (≈ €180) and up
A flight of about 30 minutes at sunrise over the Pokhara valley, when the wind allows. Few operators and prices that vary a lot between agencies: compare.
- Season
- October to May
On the water
One day
Rafting on the Trishuli
≈ 40 to 75 USD (≈ €36 to €67)
The easiest trip to fit in: morning bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara, 2 to 3 hours of moderate rapids (class III), lunch by the river, then back on the road. No experience needed. Handy on the way between Kathmandu and Pokhara or Chitwan, as long as you leave your luggage on the bus or with the agency.
- Season
- October to December, March to May
Several days
The big rivers
Seti (2 days from Pokhara): warm water, gentle rapids, ideal for families. Bhote Koshi (1 to 2 days, near the Tibetan border): the most demanding, class IV to V, for the sporty. Kali Gandaki (3 days): deep gorges and villages. Sun Koshi (8 to 10 days) and Karnali (7 to 10 days): real expeditions, camping on sandy beaches. Prices on request, meals and camping included.
- Season
- October to December, March to May
Waterfalls
Canyoning
Abseiling down waterfalls, natural slides and jumps into pools, over one or two days: at Jalbire, near the Kathmandu–Pokhara road, or in the Bhote Koshi valley. Led by instructors, open to fit beginners who can swim. Prices on request from rafting agencies.
- Season
- October to November, March to May
Pokhara
Boat, kayak and paddleboard on Phewa Lake
boat ≈ 900 NPR (≈ €5) / h
Rowing boat with a boatman to Tal Barahi temple, or kayaks and paddleboards for hire in Lakeside. Drownings on the lake are frequent: since June 2026 the district administration has required a life jacket for every user. Insist on one, even for a short trip.
- Time
- 1 to 3 h
Thrills
Bhote Koshi
160 m bungee jump
≈ 90 to 130 USD (≈ €80 to €115)
One of the highest bungee jumps in the world, from a suspension bridge over the Bhote Koshi gorge, about 3 hours by road from Kathmandu, at The Last Resort. There is also a giant swing. All-inclusive day trips from Kathmandu cost ≈ 180 to 200 USD (≈ €160 to €180). The valley is regularly hit by floods: check that the site is operating before you go.
- Season
- Outside the monsoon: October to May
Pokhara
Bungee jump at Hemja
≈ 50 to 70 USD (≈ €45 to €62)
A shorter jump (about 70 to 80 m, cliff and tower above a river), 20 minutes from Lakeside. Minimum age 13, weight 35 to 125 kg.
- Time
- half a day
Sarangkot
Giant zipline (ZipFlyer)
≈ 65 to 80 USD (≈ €58 to €71)
About 1.8 km of cable and 600 m of drop, from the top of Sarangkot to the valley floor, at over 100 km/h. The ride is short, but the view from the start is superb.
- Time
- half a day, transfer included
On foot, by bike, by jeep
- Safaris: by jeep, on foot or by canoe in Chitwan National Park (rhinos, crocodiles, birds) or Bardia National Park (the wildest, with a chance of seeing a tiger). Always with licensed guides; we advise against elephant rides.
- Day hikes: Dhampus and Australian Camp above Pokhara, the ridge trails around Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, or the two-day Chisapani–Nagarkot trek. For real treks: Trek Nepal.
- Mountain biking: day hire in Thamel and Lakeside, or a guided ride on the trails around the rim of the Kathmandu valley and around Pokhara. Check the brakes, and set off early to avoid the traffic.
- Scooter: handy in Pokhara, but you need your national motorcycle licence, an international driving permit and a helmet, and riding must be covered by your insurance.
Safety and insurance
- Choose the operator, not the price: a registered agency with an office, qualified pilots or guides and equipment in good condition. Ask how many flights or trips they run per season, and be wary of touts in the street.
- Check the equipment: life jacket and helmet for rafting and canyoning, life jacket on the lake, helmet and harness for paragliding. Refuse to go without.
- Respect the weather: a reliable operator cancels when the wind picks up or the river rises. Allow a spare day, and do not book the day before an international flight.
- Avoid the monsoon (June to September) for rivers: floods make most trips dangerous.
- Insurance: paragliding, rafting, bungee jumping and canyoning are often excluded from policies, or sold as an option. Check that they are named in your policy before booking: see Travel insurance.
You get your visa on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at the border: form, fees and pitfalls to avoid on our dedicated site.
Visa Nepal →Fancy a few days of walking? Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Langtang… permits, guides, transport and day-by-day itineraries on our trekking site.
Trek Nepal →Comments
A question, recent information (prices, opening times, transport), your own experience? Share it here.
Loading comments…